Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick, XVIII Airborne Corps commander, pins the Bronze Star with Valor on 1st Lt. Luis Reyes, 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, during a ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., Feb. 12, 2010. | | FORT BRAGG, N.C. (ANS, February 16, 2010) Two acts of bravery saved the life of a Soldier, whom others said most definitely would have died had it not been for the heroic action.
On May 17 in the Rusafa district of Baghdad, 1st Lt. Luis Reyes twice entered a burning Humvee to rescue his injured gunner, Spc. Robert Mayes. The two men were assigned to the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division.
Not only was their Humvee hit by an improvised explosive device, but the vehicle began to burn after the ammunition stored between its rear seats exploded after a projectile struck it following the first attack, said Col. David Buckingham, squadron commander of the 73rd Cavalry Regiment.
"There is no question that Lieutenant Reyes' valor in entering the burning vehicle, then re-entering the vehicle after the explosion of the ammunition, saved Specialist Mayes' life," said Buckingham, who pinned the Bronze Star with Valor medal on Reyes' chest Feb. 12. |
