Fleek, right, accepts the honor from Fanning
(US Army photo)
WASHINGTON – United States Military Academy Historian Sherman Fleek was presented The Secretary of the Army Award for Valor for exhibiting great courage or sacrifice involving heroism or bravery. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning presented the award to Fleek at the Pentagon on May 25.
Fleek was honored for thwarting an armed robbery at an I-Hop restaurant while on leave in California. As he waited for a table with a friend, he heard screams and saw women running from their chairs. He saw a man with a gun pointed at the cashier as the man shouted for her to put the money in a bag.
The historian, who is a retired lieutenant colonel, jumped the gunman allowing the cashier to duck behind the counter. He fought with the gunman, trying to get the gun away from him. As they broke apart, the man took off.
No one in the restaurant was injured.
