2ID Warrior Receives Soldier's Medal

Photo By Chin-U Pak | Maj. Richard E. Hull receives the Soldier's Medal April 23, 2015, from Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal for actions in September 2014 in Nantucket, Mass., when he and a friend risked their personal safety in aiding in the rescue of five people who had been ejected from a private boat. (Photo by Pak Chin U)  

CAMP CASEY, SOUTH KOREA

04.23.2015

Courtesy Story

2nd Infantry Division/ROK-U.S. Combined Division

CAMP CASEY, SOUTH KOREA — Maj. Richard “Ned” Hull, an aviation officer with the operations section, 2nd Infantry Division and a St. Petersburg, Florida native, was awarded the Soldier’s Medal on Indianhead Field, Camp Casey, South Korea, April 23.

“Maj. Hull risked his life to save the lives of five individuals from the dangers of an unmanned boat circling around them, and a strong current pushing them towards a rock jetty while he was on a vacation visiting his friend in Nantucket, Massachusetts,” said Maj. Gen. Thomas S. Vandal, former commanding general, 2nd Inf. Div.

Hull and his friend had planned to go fishing on Sept. 2, 2014. However, what began as a fishing trip, became a rescue operation.

“We knew five people were trapped and needed our help,” said Hull. “We looked at each other and said ‘let’s go.’”

Four passengers and the driver aboard a small hard-bottom inflatable boat were approaching man-made rock jetties, which were used as a channel to enter and exit a harbor.

“At first, I thought the small craft would safely pass through the small opening of the east jetty, but it became apparent that the operator of the small boat was going to miss the opening and hit the jetty at a fast speed,” said Perrone.

Although Hull warned the passengers, their boat struck the rocks, ejecting all five passengers approximately 10-15 feet into the water near the rocks.

“There were three males and two females screaming for help, and a couple of them were saying they couldn’t swim,” said Hull.

Perrone positioned his boat in order to throw life preservers to the five individuals in the water. However, their boat continued to run, dangerously circling them at a high rate of speed.

“We maneuvered my boat between the five trapped in the water and the jetties to shield the five from the oncoming unmanned inflatable boat,” according to Perrone.

The smaller boat then struck Perrone’s boat, disabling its engine.

Ignoring any threat of injury to himself, Hull leaped out of Perrone’s boat, barely reaching the unmanned boat circling around the individuals trapped in the water.

Hull shut off the motor and took control of the smaller boat.

Once the unmanned boat came to a halt, Perrone threw life preservers to the five and Hull pulled them in to safety.

Despite limited experience with nautical equipment, Hull turned the engine back on and steered the small boat to retrieve them from the water.

Perrone said, “My motor was disabled … as I was approaching the rocks in the jetty, I called Mayday on my radio for additional help for the individuals being pulled out by Major Hull and for help with my boat.

“A lot of times you do things without thinking of the danger and without thinking of recognition. You hop into action because of your past training and who you are.”

Luckily, a Coast Guard from the Brant Point station was nearby conducting a training exercise and arrived five minutes after the Mayday call.

“Originally the Coast Guard boat was going to John’s [Perrone] boat, but I was able to flag them down and yell that we were taking on some water. They came over to us and threw us some ropes to attach the two boats together,” said Hull. “I helped transfer the passengers to the Coast Guard boat and stayed on the smaller boat to pump water out.”

The Soldier's Medal is the highest noncombat-related award for Soldiers and Department of the Army civilians who perform heroic acts.

Hull’s military and civilian education includes the United States Military Academy at West Point, Georgetown University Executive Master of Business Administration Program, the Command and General Staff College Interagency Fellowship Program, including one year as an Interagency Fellow at the Federal Aviation Administration Headquarters, Air Assault School, the Rotary Wing Aviator Course, the Aviation Officer Basic and Career Courses, Command and General Staff College and the UH-60 Aircraft Qualification Course.

His decorations include the Army Aviator Badge, Air Assault Badge, Bronze Star, and the Soldier’s Medal.

• Date Taken: 04.23.2015
• Date Posted: 05.01.2015 00:23
• Story ID: 161872
• Location: CAMP CASEY, KR