But the real story is how a former lieutenant discovered one of his
troops had never got the recognition he’d deserved and spent three
years rectifying the deficiency.

Lupori, who was Hernandez’s commander during the battle,
recommended the young man for the medal. Lupori was soon transferred to
another battalion and lost contact with Hernandez, but he always
assumed that Hernandez had been awarded the honor.

Forty years later, Lupori found out that wasn’t the case.

By chance in 2005, another Marine brought the two men together for
lunch. When Lupori congratulated Hernandez on the medal, Hernandez
didn’t know anything about it.

“It was then...

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But the real story is how a former lieutenant discovered one of his
troops had never got the recognition he’d deserved and spent three
years rectifying the deficiency.

Lupori, who was Hernandez’s commander during the battle,
recommended the young man for the medal. Lupori was soon transferred to
another battalion and lost contact with Hernandez, but he always
assumed that Hernandez had been awarded the honor.

Forty years later, Lupori found out that wasn’t the case.

By chance in 2005, another Marine brought the two men together for
lunch. When Lupori congratulated Hernandez on the medal, Hernandez
didn’t know anything about it.

“It was then I decided to do everything in my power to get him his
medal,” said Lupori, who believes the paperwork was lost in the
military bureaucracy.

What does a real hero say about his medal?

He dedicated the honor to all Marines and soldiers and the youths at Hollenbeck.

“In my company,” he said. “I did not own valor. It was not exclusive to me. My company owned valor.”