Army honors 3 for help in Calif. shark attack - Army News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Army Times

Army honors 3 for help in Calif. shark attack

MONTEREY, Calif. — Two soldiers and a civilian paramedic have been honored for helping a surfer who was attacked by a shark off the Monterey County coast.

Twenty-seven-year-old Eric Tarantino was surfing with friends off Marina State Beach on Oct. 29 when a 9-foot shark bit him on the neck and right forearm.

Army Maj. Jonathan Bleakley and Master Sgt. Garric Banfield were on the beach at the time and brought Tarantino to shore. They and paramedic Lorenzo Navarro rendered first aid before the victim was flown to a San Jose hospital.

Tarantino was treated and released after a couple days.

The Monterey Herald reports that military officials honored Bleakley and Banfield on Tuesday with the Army Commendation Medal. Both served tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Navarro was awarded a certificate of commendation.