One year ago, U.S. Marine Sgt. Amed Issa was kneeling outside of a packed restaurant in Waikiki, Hawaii, applying lifesaving aid to a shooting victim鈥檚 23 fresh gunshot wounds. As those around him ran away from the seemingly never-ending barrage of gunfire, Issa placed himself directly in the center of the chaos, using his shirt and a fork as a makeshift tourniquet and praying for a miracle.
Now a first-year exercise science student in the College of Education at the University of South Florida (USF), Issa has been awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal 鈥� the highest noncombat decoration awarded for heroism by the U.S. Department of the Navy to members of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. But to him, his actions weren鈥檛 heroic or worthy of an award.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no way I could let someone die alone on a sidewalk,鈥� said Issa. 鈥淭he only award I wanted from that night was him surviving.鈥�
After his best friend and retired Marine Corps Sgt. Michael McCroan, who served with him for six years, fastened the medal to Issa鈥檚 uniform at Monday鈥檚 award ceremony, Issa thought of only one word of advice as he turned to speak to the attending Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) unit: humility.
鈥淎t the end of the day, we鈥檙e all living breathing humans, and we just want to live a happy life,鈥� said Issa. 鈥淪omeone might be wealthier or in a better social stature, but that doesn鈥檛 make them better than anyone else. We all deserve an equal amount of respect.鈥�
While it is seemingly uncommon to not want to be recognized for one鈥檚 good deeds, especially at such a high caliber, those around him were not surprised by his reaction.
鈥淚ssa has more humility than I do,鈥� said Captain Michael Puffer, commanding officer of the Naval ROTC at USF. 鈥淒o not congratulate him 鈥� but thank him for being the man he is.鈥�
At the time of the shooting, Issa was a platoon sergeant for third battalion, third marine regiment and stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. Having already been accepted into the Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program, he was deciding between universities and quickly landed on USF as his future home. Issa chose USF because of its large veteran community, diversity, and support for veterans that he says he didn鈥檛 see at other colleges.
鈥淚鈥檓 inspired by the passion of my professors,鈥� said Issa. 鈥淭he campus is alive, and there is always something to do and opportunities to be surrounded by supportive people.鈥�
Fueled by his passion for helping others, Issa hopes to teach people how to have the courage to act and take the initiative to step forward to help when others take a step back. He wants to teach others what he learned in the Marines and plans to couple that with his exercise science degree from the College of Education and recent certification as a personal trainer. Above all, he hopes to instill confidence in them and emphasize the connection between physical and mental well-being.
鈥淚 want to give people the confidence that they don鈥檛 have in themselves,鈥� said Issa.
With the support of USF and the U.S. Marine Corps, Issa explained that his future opportunities are endless. After graduation, he will commission as officer in Marine Corps and work toward his goal to be pilot. Then he plans to further his education in a medical program or in exercise science and maybe become a teacher.
鈥淚 just want to be someone who has a positive impact on people,鈥� said Issa. 鈥淚 found my purpose that night, and I hope others can find theirs too.鈥�