Florida Fire Fighter Awarded Two Medals for Service

August 21, 2008 – After learning that Suncoast Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics Local 2546 member Donald Wendt had earned the Bronze Star for his service in Iraq, the City of Bradenton, Florida, awarded Wendt with the Distinguished Service Medal.

“We are very proud of him,” says Mike Stephenson, president of Local 2546. “He had a dangerous job to do and he did it, even at the risk of his own life. We are glad to have him back in Bradenton.”

In 2005, Wendt was serving as a staff sergeant in the 103rd Armored Division of the Army Reserves when a Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Device (VBIED), which is similar to a car bomb, detonated and flipped a vehicle over onto a fellow solider. Using tow chains, Wendt was able to free the soldier, who later died.

Wendt was recognized for that incident with the Bronze Star in November 2007. However, the news did not reach the City’s ears until recently.

When asked about how he felt about receiving the two medals, Wendt says, “If any one of my brother or sister fire fighters had been in my position, they would have done the same thing.

“I hope that this will call attention to the fact that soldiers aren’t the only ones putting their lives on the line to help others. It is the fire fighters, too,” he added.

Wendt spent 21.5 years in the U.S. Army before retiring in May 2006. He has been a fire fighter since 2000.