FORT SMITH (KFSM) -- A local hero was awarded the Bronze Star Tuesday (Sept. 29), but instead of keeping the award, the sergeant who received it gave it to his father.
Sergeant Robert Lopez was presented the award at his parents’ restaurant in Fort Smith.
"The Marine Corps 8th and 9th came from Little Rock, and they came and presented it to me for actions done in Afghanistan in 2010," Sgt. Lopez said.
Sgt. Lopez was in the Marine Corps four years and was deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan where his brave actions earned him the Bronze Star.
"I had a grenade thrown at me, and some stuff happened after that," Sgt. Lopez said. "I also was, my squad was being suppressed from three fire positions, so I took it upon myself to run across the wall and start firing back."
Even though Sgt. Lopez said he’s honored to get the Bronze Star, he gave the medal to someone else.
"I ended up giving it to my dad, so he is the one that is carrying it around right now," Sgt. Lopez said. "It was something I could give him physically to show him that even though you were not there physically, you are still there for me the rest of the time."
With tears in his eyes, all his father said was how proud he was of his son.
"It is the best moment I have in my life to have a son like that," Domingo Lopez said. "He gave me this recognition."
Sgt. Lopez said he does not consider his actions brave, just part of his duty.
"Doing these actions I was not doing it, like hey, I am going to get a Bronze Star," Sgt. Lopez said. "I was doing it because it needed to be done, and I could not have lived with myself if one of my Marines, or anybody at the time, would have got hurt or died."
Sgt. Lopez said being able to accept the Bronze Star at his family’s restaurant surrounded by family and friends was the best part of getting it.