Lt. Comdr. David Tarantino received this Medal of Valor for his rescue of people trapped in the Pentagon.

Pentagon rescuer's name tag and medal

Description: These artifacts from Lt. Comdr. David Tarantino include his uniform name tag and Navy/Marine Corps Medal.

Context: September 11 was filled with acts of heroism. Lt. Comdr. David Tarantino, a Navy physician, was in his Pentagon office when the hijacked plane hit. He went to the damaged section of the building and began searching for injured people. Tarantino, along with Navy Capt. David Thomas, rescued civilian employee Jerry Henson, who was trapped in his office in the Navy Command Center by fallen debris. After witnessing Tarantinos heroic efforts to save Henson, Thomas was worried he might never see Tarantino again. He tore Tarantinos name tag off so he would remember his name. In recognition of his heroic acts, the Navy awarded Lt. Comdr. Tarantino the Navy/Marine Corps Medal.