On Saturday, the Kern chapter of the American Red Cross will honor ten people or groups who are real heroes in our community.
This year's military hero is an alumni of West High School in Bakersfield and a decorated veteran, who served a year in Afghanistan.
And, he's getting ready to deploy again.
25-year-old Corporal Bryan Henn didn't dream of serving in the Army.
In fact, he didn't enlist until age 22.
"He and I started talking one time about the Army and he asked me what I thought about it. I said well there's good benefits, it would help you pay for an education once you got out of the Army and that would be a great help. So, he thought about it, next thing we knew he was in a recruiting office in Oregon," said Darryl Cornett, Corporal Henn's father.
In 2011, Corporal Henn was deployed to Afghanistan with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Their mission was detecting and disarming IEDs.
"One of Bryan's primary jobs was to carry the largest and most lethal weapon in the squad. He had to be first out of the vehicle, set up his machine gun, a Bravo Lima machine gun, and he suppressed enemy fire while his comrades could dismount the vehicle and take cover," added Cornett.
During his twelve-month mission, Corporal Henn suffered a severe concussion in an IED explosion and a ruptured ear drum.
Upon his return to the U.S. in July, he was awarded a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal with Valor.
But, those awards couldn't erase the pain of losing half his squad in Afghanistan.
"When he first came back he said no, he would never go back. As time went on and everything settled, he decided that's what he knew best. That's what he's comfortable with," said Darlene Cornett, Corporal Henn's mother.
During a recent training exercise in Fort Carson, Colorado, Corporal Henn suffered a crushing injury to his hand.
After three surgeries and soon a fourth, he is eager to deploy again.
"I tried my best to talk him out of it, not deploying or re-enlisting. I talked and talked and talked because it is frightening," said his mom.
"Bryan keeps telling me he's good at it and what he does saves lives, and I'm proud of that," added his dad.
This year's military hero is an alumni of West High School in Bakersfield and a decorated veteran, who served a year in Afghanistan.
And, he's getting ready to deploy again.
25-year-old Corporal Bryan Henn didn't dream of serving in the Army.
In fact, he didn't enlist until age 22.
"He and I started talking one time about the Army and he asked me what I thought about it. I said well there's good benefits, it would help you pay for an education once you got out of the Army and that would be a great help. So, he thought about it, next thing we knew he was in a recruiting office in Oregon," said Darryl Cornett, Corporal Henn's father.
In 2011, Corporal Henn was deployed to Afghanistan with the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.
Their mission was detecting and disarming IEDs.
"One of Bryan's primary jobs was to carry the largest and most lethal weapon in the squad. He had to be first out of the vehicle, set up his machine gun, a Bravo Lima machine gun, and he suppressed enemy fire while his comrades could dismount the vehicle and take cover," added Cornett.
During his twelve-month mission, Corporal Henn suffered a severe concussion in an IED explosion and a ruptured ear drum.
Upon his return to the U.S. in July, he was awarded a Purple Heart and an Army Commendation Medal with Valor.
But, those awards couldn't erase the pain of losing half his squad in Afghanistan.
"When he first came back he said no, he would never go back. As time went on and everything settled, he decided that's what he knew best. That's what he's comfortable with," said Darlene Cornett, Corporal Henn's mother.
During a recent training exercise in Fort Carson, Colorado, Corporal Henn suffered a crushing injury to his hand.
After three surgeries and soon a fourth, he is eager to deploy again.
"I tried my best to talk him out of it, not deploying or re-enlisting. I talked and talked and talked because it is frightening," said his mom.
"Bryan keeps telling me he's good at it and what he does saves lives, and I'm proud of that," added his dad.