Name it, and Greg Hudnet has recovered from it.
Broken ribs, a ruptured disc, pinched nerve, serious burns, a shredded knee and one quadruple bypass surgery. And he got blown out of a building backdraft-style.
A 35-year veteran of the Baltimore County Fire Department, Hudnet?s laundry list of on-the-job injuries was one reason he?s been named the Veterans of Foreign Wars? National Firefighter of the Year, the first Marylander to receive the honor in its 17-year history.
“Captain Hudnet was one of those candidates that literally blows the candidate committee away,” said Steve Van Buskirk, VFW?s national director of programs, who oversees the awards program. “There was no question this one was head and shoulders above the rest.”
Hudnet, who received the VFW?s silver medal last year, was selected out of 54 nominees for the top honor, which was presented to him Tuesday night at the county department?s annual commendations ceremony at Goucher College.
Hudnet ? who, at 58, responded to four calls Monday night ? said the award was a “total surprise.” The son of a firefighter and father of three more, he said fighting fires is more of a calling than a career.
“It?s a combination of service to the community and service to your fellow firefighters,” said the lifelong Baltimore County resident, who lives in Hereford.
Van Buskirk points to a fiery car crash the summer of 2005 on Route 702 in Essex. Arriving to see a sport utility vehicle on its side and engulfed in flames, Hudnet discovered a victim trapped inside the car. Hudnet had to remove his protective equipment to squeeze through the vehicle?s sunroof and check the victim?s vitals while other firefighters cut the roof off.
The victim died two hours later, but Hudnet did “everything he possibly could,” Van Buskirk said.
“He certainly went way, way beyond the call of duty,” Van Buskirk said. “He has a history of doing whatever is necessary to save lives.”
