HFD Honors Servicemembers

November 18, 2009
By (Sw) Mark Logico
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(Sw) Mark Logico
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class
Commander, Navy Region Hawaii Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR (NNS) - The Honolulu Fire Department recognized two Sailors and a Marine Corps police officer at Pearl Harbor Nov. 4 for their actions during a fire incident in August.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Shelby Nieto and Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Wyatt Timmons from Naval Health Clinic Hawaii (NHCH) and Marine Corps Sgt. David Alexander, from Marine Corps Police Department Kaneohe Bay, received a certificate of commendation for their quick actions in preventing a fire outbreak in the apartment complex where they live.

On Aug. 18 at approximately 5 p.m., Nieto smelled something burning and walked outside of her townhouse to see smoke and 30-foot flames coming out of an upstairs apartment.

Nieto immediately ran inside to inform her husband, Robert, and Timmons. She and Timmons took off to fight the fire. Alexander, who just arrived at his nearby apartment, joined Nieto and Timmons to fight the fire.

When the neighbors realized there was a fire, they immediately assisted Nieto, Timmons and Alexander and provided them fire extinguishers.

Nieto said they were able to put the fire out within 20 minutes, just before the fire department arrived.

Nieto attributed her quick response to the training she received at Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill.

“We’ve all been through firefighting training in boot camp,” said Nieto. “I went to boot camp six years ago, but that training is secretly in you. I have never fought a fire in my life except for boot camp and that day.”

“What they did was [nothing] short of heroic,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman (SW/AW) Arthur Cachero, the Sailors’ senior enlisted leader. “It was outstanding, and I’m happy for them.”

“It’s surreal right now,” said Timmons, before the awards ceremony. “What we did that day we would have expected any one of the people living next to us to do to the same, so it’s kind of a courtesy to our neighbors. We all take care of each other. I don’t think we deserved something like this, but we will accept it.”

NHCH Command Master Chief (SW) Patty Roe-buck, who attended the ceremony in support of her Sailors, said she was impressed with what all the public had done to honor the corpsmen.

“I’m absolutely pleased and proud,” said Roe-buck. “I think it’s a wonderful thing that the city of Honolulu and the fire department are awarding and recognizing them for their efforts.”