Fort Huachuca, Arizona - A Marine Corps sergeant assigned to Fort Huachuca received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the second highest Navy commendation in a non-combat environment, during a ceremony July 14 at the installation's Hunter Hangar, Black Tower.
Sgt. Ger Lao, 26, an unmanned aerial vehicle technician and Sacramento, California, native, was recgonized for heroism after he helped rescue a Marine from a downed helicopter Jan. 23, 2015, while serving as an unmanned aerial vehicle technician and quality assurance representative with the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron One, Marine Aircraft Group 13, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, I Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Combat Air-Ground Training Center, Twentynine Palms, California.
"Initially, Lao looked shocked [when he learned about the medal]," said Maj. James Hale, commanding officer, Fort Huachuca Marine Corps Detachment and Lao's commander. "He was both humbled and ecstatic when he learned he'd been recommended and approved for the award," after official word of the medal presentation came down to Hale through his chain of command. "We called in the senior enlisted advisor and officers to notify Sergeant Lao," Hale stated.
Lao explained what happened during Integrated Training Exercise 2-15 at the Twentynine Palms Strategic Expeditionary Landing Field, after he witnessed the aftermath of a single UH-1Y Huey helicopter crash and immediately sprang into action.
"I was working inside a building and did not hear the crash, but saw a man running behind the operations area," Lao explained. "I asked him where he was going and he said there had been a helicopter crash."
"I never saw a helicopter crash except on TV and video, so I decided I wanted to see it," the sergeant said. Lao then headed in that direction.
"When I saw the smoke and the fire, it hit me -- this is reality."
The young Marine then took immediate action.
"There was no slow motion moment. Instinct and training kicked in. There was no pause or hesitation. I just had to do something right now," Lao said. "It just happened."
Wearing only a flight suit and no protective equipment, Lao arrived as the first responder and entered the cockpit to assist along with Cpl. Vance P. Apuakehau, assessing the two pilots' injuries.
"A lot of us were out there and there wasn't a moment where we didn't think we could get injured," Lao said. "I also assessed the environment and cautioned the others to not take safety risks."
The pilots were strapped in with seatbelts, and the wrecked helicopter lay on its side. The seats were falling through the frame of the severely damaged aircraft, and the windows were shattered. The Marines entered and cut the straps securing the pilot who lay on the bottom, closest to them and who cried out for help. They extracted him and pulled him to a safe distance from the burning aircraft. The other pilot was unconscious.
By the time the Marines went back for the second pilot, the Crash Fire Rescue crew had arrived and took over the operation. "I had to stand there and watch the second pilot lying there, unconscious, as the crew sprayed down the helicopter [to extinguish the fire]. I couldn't do anything, and that was the hardest part," Lao said.
The Marine explained that, to him, the event was surreal. "Another side of me just took over [as I reacted]. I wasn't my day-to-day normal self," Lao explained during an interview prior to the ceremony.
On July 14, Lao received his award during the formal ceremony.
Brig. Gen. Jason Q. Bohm, commanding general, Marine Corps Training Command, Quantico, Virginia, made a special visit to Fort Huachuca to be the guest speaker, present the award and have lunch with Lao and his Family. Ten family members from the Sacramento area attended.
"I could not be prouder than to be here today" Bohm stated. "Our Marines are men and women of action. We train our Marines to run to the sound of the gun, to run into the danger and not away from it. We teach them to operate in uncertain, chaotic and dangerous environments. In fact, Marines embrace the fight -- that's what we do.
"We teach our people to be … tactical problem solvers in uncertain circumstances, to be men and women of action. That's absolutely what we saw on that January day last year," the general said.
He then called Apuakehau and Lao to the front of the room, recounted the events of Jan. 23, 2015, and described how the men took immediate action.
"Regardless of the danger, they knew that seconds mattered. The aircraft was on fire, and they knew there were Marines inside of that aircraft." Bohm stated. "Marines are not only people of action, but they are also people of great faith. We have a motto in the Marine Corps -- it's sacred to us. Semper fidelis! That stands for 'Always faithful' -- to God, to our country, and to our Corps. When I say to our Corps, I mean to each other.
"These two Marines didn't know the gentlemen flying in the helicopter that day. They didn't know how many of them were in there. All they knew is that Marines were in harm's way. They knew they needed help. They knew they didn't have the time to wait for Crash Fire Rescue to show up because that aircraft was on fire, so they took action. They lived up to the epitome of what it means to be a Marine. Semper fidelis!
The general presented the pair with coins, and then presented Lao the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Apuakehau had already received his medal.
"In all honesty, I never truly reflected upon the tragedy that took place that day because I think a part of me felt that I had failed, that had I done something different or something better, those Marines would be alive today," Lao said. And every time I shared my story with someone, they would say there was nothing else I could have done. But, it doesn't feel that way. So, I did what most Marines did and buried it in the back of my mind.
"It wasn't until I was told that I'd be receiving the Navy and Marine Corps Medal that I really took the time to actually think about it. For a long time I was very selfish in thinking that I alone had the burden, this pain of failure and loss. It deeply disturbed me every time I shared my story, and I faked closure when someone said they were proud of me.
"However, I think this award means something else. As I reflect on Marines that have passed and the actions they took to receive their awards, I couldn't help but notice that I was proud too, proud to be a Marine, proud that I am serving in the same Corps as they did. And I think that when someone says they are proud of me it is the same feeling that I have for those Marines who have passed. So I accept this award with great pride, and I can honestly say that I accept the events for what they are. That this Marine Corps is filled with men and women with honor, courage and commitment. I am proud to be a United States Marine.
During an earlier interview, Lao said the incident has led him to think differently.
"While the event hasn't changed me as a person, it's led me to think differently in terms of how I see things. It has put things in perspective, such as how to apply the training I learned in boot camp. What happened has disturbed me and initially kept me up at night, but I am not traumatized.
"It was hard to explain what happened [that day] to my wife, Sherrie. She says she's proud of me, but I am not sure if she knows how to accept it," he said.
Lao, who has been a Marine for six years, plans to apply for the Marine Corps Officer Program and, once completed, hopes to make the Corps his career.
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