High School Teacher From Ventura Receives Bronze Star

Buena High School teacher Emmett Cullen received a Bronze Star Medal Thursday morning in front of the Buena High School campus in Ventura for his heroism while serving with the U.S. military in Iraq.

The medal, presented by U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., was given to Cullen, and Army sergeant, for his efforts to protect his platoon and saving the lives of 20 Americans during his service in Mosul, Iraq.

At the ceremony Brownley described what Cullen did to receive this award. She said the road under one of the vehicles in his platoon started to give way, endangering the lives of the men inside. Cullen was able to attach a tow line to the vehicle, even though he was under fire, and attach it to another vehicle to bring the men to safety. Later while clearing nearby buildings, Cullen engaged in hand-to-hand combat to subdue an Iraqi man who had attacked a fellow soldier.

“They were in a treacherous, very dangerous, situation, very surrounded and outnumbered by the enemy, and it was his bravery that saved 20 American lives,” Brownley said.

“I am really happy to except this award because my son will know down the road what his dad did when I am not there to tell the stories,” Cullen said.

The Bronze Star with a “V” for valor is the fourth-highest military honor and, according to the U.S. Army, only 2,460 service members have received this award for their service in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Cullen is now a social studies teacher at Buena High School. His students and family describe him as a humble man with a heart of gold.