Community Corner
Camp Pendleton Navy Petty Officer Receives Service Member Award
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Johnnharley S. Delacruz based at Camp Pendleton, recipient of the 2021 USO Service Member of the Year Awards.
OCEANSIDE, CA — The Department of Defense announced the names of the recipients of the 2021 USO Service Member of the Year Awards, including a Navy Petty Officer based at Camp Pendleton.
According to the DOD, Nearly 2.3 million active-duty and Reserve personnel serve in the U.S. military. While most of those service members are outstanding at what they do, only a few are chosen to be their branch's USO Service Member of the Year.
Every year since 2003, one junior enlisted service member from each branch — E-5 or below — is nominated by command leadership to be honored for an act of valor. Whether it's saving the life of a comrade or stranger or leading during a critical moment, these men and women proved their commitment to helping others in times of need. In doing so, they embodied the values for which the armed forces stand.
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"In displaying selflessness and bravery, these men and women have gone above and beyond the normal course of duty to be recognized as the USO's Service Members of the Year," said USO CEO and President J.D. Crouch II. "We are proud to honor their achievements and encourage all Americans to join us in doing the same."
Among the six recipients of the 2021 USO Service Member of the Year Awards is Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Johnnharley S. Delacruz, a hospital corpsman from Fountain Valley, California. He serves with Combat Logistics Battalion 15, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force based at Camp Pendleton, California.
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On July 30, 2020, an amphibious assault vehicle began to sink off the coast of San Clemente Island, California, during routine Marine Corps training operations. Delacruz was on a rescue vehicle that went to the ship's aid, and he quickly jumped into action to help the Marines trapped inside. He helped save one life by giving a patient in distress multiple rounds of CPR, epinephrine and other intubation medications.
As Delacruz was helping evacuate the patient via helicopter, he noticed the injured Marine's eardrums had ruptured and his oxygen tank was depleting. Relying on his medical training, Delacruz protected the patient's airway, monitored vital signs and found IV access. Delacruz then covered the patient with his own body to ward off hypothermia. Thanks to his quick thinking, the patient survived.
Meet the 2021 USO Service Members of the Year
