Soldier Becomes a Hero in the DC Metro on Fourth of July

A story coming out of Washington, D.C. today reminds us just how awesome our troops are.

U.S. Army Spc. Michael Menchaca was coming down a Metro escalator on July 4 when he noticed a man in an electric wheel chair fall off the platform and onto the tracks, inches from the high-voltage third rail:

“I just jump down there, start helping him out,” Menchaca said. “Tried picking him up but realized he was still seat belt-strapped to his wheelchair.”

Menchaca struggled to free the man from his seat belt, worried that a train could be barreling down on them at any moment.

“Every second felt like 30 seconds,” he said. 

That’s when a passenger from the opposite platform jumped into action and leaped over both third rails to help Menchaca. A third good Samaritan descended onto the tracks and, together, the three men were able to pull the man to safety.

The unidentified man only suffered minor injuries and now Menchaca is now being considered for the Soldier’s Medal,  the Army’s highest peacetime award.

Whether abroad or right here at home, our soldiers are truly American heroes. God bless the troops.