Staff Sgt. Richard Giertz couldn’t believe his eyes.

“It took me a second to recognize that the house was on fire,” he said Saturday morning as he recalled a February 2009 fire.

What Giertz did next saved a little boy’s life.

Driving through Parkland, he and a passenger noticed a house on fire.  Giertz exited the vehicle and approached a man who had attempted to enter the structure through the front door.

“I asked him if there was anyone else in the house, and he indicated that his son was trapped inside,” recalled Giertz, an Army reservist assigned to the 301st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

A native of Milton, Wash., Giertz has been on active duty since 9/11.  His future plans are to work as a police officer.

After locating the bedroom where the little boy was, Giertz broke a window and entered the smoke-filled room to find him.

“I heard a faint cough,” he said.

After several attempts, Giertz found the child, carried him out of the house and handed him over to the arriving emergency personnel.

“I did what I was trained to do,” explained Giertz.

“I was at the right place at the right time.”

He also pointed out that as he rescued the little boy he could not help but think of his own son, Tyler, as he saved the little boy.

“My son is my world,” continued Giertz.

“I am glad that the outcome was a good one for the boy I rescued.”

For his actions, Giertz received the Soldier’s Medal this past Saturday morning.

Created in 1926 to honor heroism outside of combat, the medal recognizes the personal hazard or danger, the voluntary risk of life, and a degree of heroism equal to that of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“His actions represent the epitome of the Soldier’s Creed,” said Brig. Gen. Joe Chestnut, deputy commander, 416th Theater Engineering Command, before Giertz’s fellow soldiers, family members and friends.

“What you see here before you is the best of the citizen-soldier.”

Chestnut said that Giertz’s leadership and courage served him well in saving the boy’s life.

“He acted on the Soldier’s Creed,” continued Chestnut.

“Staff Sgt. Giertz did not accept defeat and he did not give up in saving a life.”

After the ceremony and as the brigade’s soldiers began to accomplish their weekend training, First Gentleman Mike Gregoire walked over and congratulated Giertz.

“You are a great American, and it is an honor to meet you.”