When a baby in Iraq was born with a unique and life-threatening birth defect, University of Massachusetts student Eric Valdepenas jumped at the opportunity to lend a helping hand.
AUDIO SLIDESHOW: Eric’s scholarship
The baby was born with its organs outside of the body and couldn’t receive treatment while in Iraq. Valdepenas was part of a group of Marines who volunteered to take the baby out of Iraq and transport it to a hospital in Boston where it received proper treatment. He received a purple heart for the mission.