Eagle Scout Midshipman awarded Navy and Marine Corp medal

[RememberSchiff 3668]

Braving a life-threatening storm to rescue stranded scouts, Naval Academy Midshipman 3rd Class Jonathan Dennler, was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal — the two services’ highest award for non-combat bravery.

The award ceremony was held Jan. 10 at the Naval Academy in front of fellow Midshipman.

In July, Dennler was on a camping trip with Boy Scouts from Texas at Quetico Provincial Park in Ontario, Canada. The troop under came a life-threatening storm with 80 mph wind gusts and lightning strikes.

A young scout, 3-year-old Christian James Sanchez, and adult leader, 39-year-old Rorth Lac, were killed when hurricane-like winds brought down two trees into their campsite near Basswood Lake in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

Unable to call for help, Dennler selflessly put the lives others before his own — canoeing more than 1.5 miles in 60 mph winds to a ranger station to call for help and to retrieve medical supplies.

 

"It was an incredibly humbling and unexpected experience," said Dennler. "I'm very thankful to everyone who helped to make that happen and for the support of my family and friends."

The award wasn't a surprise to his parents, who also attended the award presentation. Dennler's mother, Monica Dennler, described her son as "persistent and tenacious."

"He knows how to persevere, and has a kind heart," she said. "He was the only one who knew what to do back in high school when a classmate broke their leg at a basketball game, because he was an Eagle Scout."

 

Dennler is a political science major and member of 20th Company. He completed two years of college at George Washington University before transferring to the Naval Academy.

"USNA has taught me how to work and think in environments where many things are out of my control, and I think the academy helps to create mindsets that put others first," said Dennler. "I am incredibly thankful for those lessons."

An active member of the academy's Semper Fi Society, he hopes to serve in the Marine Corps after graduating from the academy in 2019.

In attendance at the award ceremony were the proud parents of Dennler, though not surprised by their son’s actions.

 

 

The Navy and Marine Corps Medal falls in order of precedence just below the Distinguished Flying Cross and above the Bronze Star. It was first bestowed during World War II, to then Lt. j.g. John F. Kennedy. Only about 3,000 have received the award since. To win this award, there must be evidence the act of heroism involved very specific life-threatening risk to the award

 

Scout salute,

 

http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=98373

http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/midshipman-awarded-navy-and-marine-corps-medal-for-heroism

 

http://www.fox9.com/weather/177885712-story

[desertrat77 1144]

Well done, Mr. Dennler.

 

I join RememberSchiff:  scout salute!

[fred johnson 936]

I was just reading about this late last night. Great positive story from a very sad situation.  

[RememberSchiff 3668]

Apologies. In my OP, boy scout Christian James Sanchez was 13 years old.

Edited January 13, 2017 by RememberSchiff

[Stosh 3452]

"It was an incredibly humbling and unexpected experience," said Dennler. "I'm very thankful to everyone who helped to make that happen and for the support of my family and friends."

 

I will continually stand in awe and be totally inspired by the Real Eagles of this world.  Well done, Scout!

[Oldscout448 697]

Also saluting !