LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Airman 1st Class Michael Ornelaz wasn't expecting to be a hero as he made his way to work Sept. 27, 2008.
During that Saturday morning drive on Hampton highway, he swerved to avoid hitting a man lying unconscious in the road. Relieved that he hadn't hit the man, he parked his jeep and went to inspect the body.
"I thought he was dead," said Airman Ornelaz.
He checked his vital signs and discovered the man was still alive with a steady pulse. He tried unsuccessfully to wake him when he saw head lights head coming straight toward him.
"I immediately took out my cell phone and began waving it around hoping the driver would see the light since it was very dark and there were no street lights," Airman Ornelaz said.
The oncoming car barely missed Airman Ornelaz and the unconscious man. Airman Ornelaz then repositioned his vehicle in front of the man and put on his emergency flashers. Still unable to wake the man, Airman Ornelaz followed his training and reported the situation to the Security Forces Emergency Control Center who notified the Yorktown Police Department.
While staying on the phone with the ECC, Airman Ornelaz went back to the man to look for further injuries.
"He was wearing only a pair of gym shorts and one shoe, there was no blood or bruises but his knees were skinned," said Airman Ornelaz. "I opened his eyelid and discovered his pupils were extremely dilated."
Bethel Manor base housing security were first to arrive and took control of the scene.
Master Sgt. Travis Harris, 1st SFS operations superintendent, wasn't surprised when he heard details of Airman Ornelaz' actions. He said the training prepared may have prepared him, but it was Airman Ornelaz' heart that made him care.
"Airman Ornelaz is a top-shelf Airman," Sergeant Harris said. "Don't call him a hero, call him a defender."