Pine-Richland junior awarded after saving man in riptide

What started off as a fun day at the beach ended with a Pine-Richland high school student being dubbed a hero.

On June 23, junior Blake Thompson rushed to the rescue when he noticed a man caught in a riptide at Bethany Beach, Del. Thompson, a cadet senior airman in junior ROTC, swam out past shallow waters, put the man on a surfboard, and stayed with the man while lifeguards came to aid.

His heroic act earned him the Air Force JROTC Silver Valor Award — the second highest award that a cadet can receive. His fellow cadets and Pine-Richland JROTC instructors presented him with the award during a surprise ceremony on Nov. 22.

Thompson appeared humbled by the honor as cadets loudly cheered for him several times during the ceremony. He said the award “means a lot.”

“I just decided to do the extraordinary in an ordinary situation,” Thompson said. “…I didn’t expect anything in return.”

The cadet’s award consisted of a medal, ribbon and certificate. According to AFJROTC guidelines, Silver Valor Awards are given to cadets for voluntary acts of heroism that do not meet the risk-of-life requirements of the Gold Valor Award.

Thompson’s family watched him accept the award, as did representatives from the Richland American Legion post, state Rep. Rob Mercuri’s office and state Rep. Conor Lamb’s office.

In a statement from the Air Force read by AFJROTC instructor Chief Master Sgt. Michael Gasparetto, Thompson was described as a someone who emulates integrity, service and excellence.

Pine-Richland High School Principal Frank Hernandez agreed with that description of Thompson. He added that Thompson’s family, JROTC and the entire Pine-Richland school district should be proud of the cadet.

“It’s been a wonderful fall into the winter here at Pine-Richland — lots of sports teams are doing really well, (we have) 20-plus National Merit Scholars,” Hernandez said. “Blake’s accomplishment ranks right up there with all of those.”

Looking to the future, Thompson hopes to pursue military or college.

“Wherever life takes me, I just have to be ready,” he said.