John Firneno didn't expect to become a hero that February night, but Friday he was recognized by none other than the president of the United States.
Firneno, a 20-year-old Army private from Centerville, was patrolling the streets of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, last month when he and his companions saw a woman in labor on the sidewalk. He jumped out of his Humvee and in, shall we say, less than ideal circumstances delivered a healthy baby boy.The mother was so grateful she told Firneno she was going to name her boy after him.
Firneno may have had purely altruistic motives for his good deed, but he's getting plenty of recognition for it. President Bill Clinton repeated the story Friday morning in a nationally televised speech to U.S. troops occupying Haiti.
"It's been a big thing down there," Firneno's friend Helen Langan said, "(but Clinton's speech) was definitely a surprise."
"I met Pfc. John Firneno, a medic from the 32 ACR," Clinton said, with Firneno sitting in a place of honor near the front of the audience. "He was on patrol about midnight last month when he came upon a young Haitian woman about to give birth. Now, that requires courage. As his comrades clustered around him with flashlights, he helped to deliver an eight-pound baby boy. Well, he didn't get a medical degree, but the boy now bears his name. Thank you, Private Firneno."
Firneno's Utah relatives learned more about the birth from Clinton's speech than from Firneno himself, who gave only sketchy details about the adventure in phone calls and letters. He did, however, relate his feelings about it.
"He said, `Ma, it was really neat. But it was kind of gross,' " said his mother, Linda Firneno.
Clinton isn't the only VIP who has recognized Firneno. The soldier met with former President Jimmy Carter and Colin Powell a few weeks ago to tell them the story and get his picture taken with them.
He also met with Clinton the night before he addressed the troops.
"He called us last night to tell us he was going to be mentioned in the speech," Linda Firneno said. "He says, `Now Ma, don't get crazy, it's no big deal.
"I have no idea why Clinton was emphasizing it. It was probably to say we're not here just to enforce things - we're here to help you."
It was probably inevitable that Firneno should become involved in heroic medical practices. He comes from strong stock. Linda Firneno was an Air Force nurse, and his father worked for a time in military hospitals. In fact, they first met on a maternity ward on Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas.
"I guess that's apropos," Linda Firneno said.
John Firneno was so anxious to be in the Army that he signed up in high school a year before he could actually join. Upon his induction, he trained as a combat medic, the equivalent of a paramedic.
Linda Firneno said her son wants to become a physical therapist after he leaves the service.
But Langan said Firneno's stint as an obstetrician may have converted those plans to more lofty aspirations.
"In the letter he sent me (relating the incident) he signed his name, then under it he put "Doc" in parentheses," Langan said.