SAN ANTONIO – The U.S. Coast Guard on Monday posthumously honored a two-time Purple Heart recipient who saved two teenagers from drowning.
The family of Rodney Buentello received his Gold Life Saving Medal at a golf tournament held in his honor at The Golf Club of Texas.
Related: Football team honors coach who died while saving two children
Buentello, a John Jay High School alumnus and volunteer coach, died after he jumped into the Medina River to save the two teens at Bandera City Park.
His wife, Lisa, said her husband's sacrifice spoke volumes about the kind of man he was.
Related: Hundreds remember Marine Corps veteran killed saving teens from drowning
"Everyone wants to be remembered, but he never did. He did these things because it was in his heart, it was in his mind, and he didn't think about that part," she said.
Lisa Buentello said she and her family miss Rodney every day, but knowing that he saved lives helps them cope with their grief.
--------------------------------------------------------
Don't miss a thing. Get email alerts from KSAT12 today.
Get alerted to news events as they happen or sign up for a scheduled news headline email that is delivered right to your inbox. Breaking news, severe weather, daily forecasts, entertainment news, all of the day’s important events to keep you up to date wherever you are.
Sign up today. It's Free.