Juan Aranda to Receive the Air Force Commendation Medal

Written by Claudia Cruz

Mountain View community member Juan Aranda will receive the Air Force Commendation Medal from Rep. Anna Eshoo for an act of heroism and bravery 57 years ago.

Aranda—then an Airman 1st Class stationed at Ramey Air Force Base in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico—saved four people stranded during Hurricane Santa Clara, Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) announced Thursday. 

"Airman 1st Class Aranda acted without hesitation and bravely saved the lives of a father and his three sons who became stranded during Hurricane Santa Clara in August 1956," Eshoo said.

"With courage and conviction he put his own life at risk when others were in need. I am immensely proud to announce that Mr. Aranda will be awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal."  

Born in Puerto Rico in 1934 and raised in New York, in 1956, the 22-year-old returned to Puerto Rico with the Air Force and was coincidently stationed about 10 miles from his family's home.

On August 11, Hurricane Santa Clara (also known as Betsy) tore through Puerto Rico killed nine people, left 15,000 homeless and caused $25 million of damages, according to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration. The NOAA reported that Ramey Air Force Base registered wind speeds of 115 mile per hour.

"In circumstances like the one I encountered that fateful night, you do what you have to do, regardless of the consequences," the 78-year-old Aranda said after he heard from Eshoo he would be awarded the medal. When she called him Aranda was "flabbergasted."

"We are all really here to serve humanity. I just happened to be at the right place at the right time."

As the storm made landfall, Aranda—who worked in air-to-ground communication—learned of the destruction the hurricane was causing and worried about his family's safety. So he and a friend broke curfew and through left the base without authorization to check on them.

Through the heavy winds and torrential rain, Aranda made it to his family's house. When he realized they were safe, he began his trip back to the base.

That's when he came upon people who asked that he help a father and his three sons trapped in a palm tree inside a flooded brook.

A talented and strong swimmer, Aranda tied a rope around his waist and entered the chest-deep raging waters of the brook upstream. The water current pulled him toward the tree, which he "miraculously" reached on the first attempt, he told Patch.

He tied the rope to the tree and then he and bystanders formed a "human chain" to bring the family to safety. 

Though Aranda almost faced court martial for breaking curfew, the local mayor and Red Cross praised him for his efforts. He received an honorable discharge from the Air Force in 1961, which stated "the wheels are rolling for an award," according to documentation received by Eshoo's office.

"Unfortunately, Mr. Aranda never heard any further mention of an award from the Air Force, even after writing to the National Personnel Records Center and local military authorities," stated a press statement from Eshoo's office.

Aranda remained in Puerto Rico working in air to ground communication at San Juan International Airport. Afterward Aranda moved to Mountain View in 1985 and soon became involved in the community. Eventually he was elected as a trustee of the Mountain View School District.

"I  never really cared for the recognition, but became interested when I was a trustee," Aranda said. "At this age I felt it would be more about satisfaction, of something that I did beyond what I was expected to do."

"It also involved my family, so it became personal. When you do it with your heart, you don't think of the consequences."

But Eshoo became interested in Aranda's recognition and she wrote to the Secretary of the Air Force to specifically request that they review Aranda’s file for consideration. The Air Force ultimately responded by writing that he would be awarded with the Air Force Commendation Medal. 

"They should have given it to him a long time ago. It's a big deal for me and it's really good for him," said his brother and Anaheim resident Andres Aranda. Now 72 years old, "Andy" was 16 at the time and part of the family on the island during the hurricane.

"You call a heroic act something done that you don't have to do, but you do it anyways. That's why I admire him. He's always been like that."

Eshoo, the Department of the Air Force, and the California Air National Guard Unit, the 129th Search and Rescue Wing, will hold a ceremony at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View to present Mr. Aranda with his medal on July 15th at 3:30 p.m. PST. Members of the public are invited to attend. More details will be announced prior to the event.