Robert Reyes - William H. Taft High School
Navy Helicopter Rescue Swimmer2004 Pillar of Caring
Naval Petty Officer First Class Robert Reyes, 24, a member of the Taft High School water polo and swim teams just five years ago, has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. He received the medal for rescuing four shipmates whose helicopter crashed in rough seas while operating from the USS Kearsarge just off the coast of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea in June 2001. While sports and ROTC kept him busy during high school, he now stays busy serving in a Search and Rescue Squadron in Pensacola, Fla. When asked by news reporters where he learned to save lives, Reyes replied, “Taft High School, sir!”
For more information, call the NEF office at (210) 397-8599.
