Sergeant Moises Martinez

Sgt. Moises Martinez doesn't expect anything in return for saving a stranger's life.

Martinez was in the Tacoma Mall in Washington state on Nov. 20, 2005, when a gunman opened fire. The Iraq veteran shielded two young children and whisked them and another child to safety, then returned to the mall and found a shopper who had been shot five times.

Even though the shooter was in the store next door, Martinez treated the man's wounds and kept him from going into shock.

He stayed with the man for about 90 minutes and made a litter from a folding table before police and paramedics arrived.

"The only thing you want to do is give the guy some kind of hope and reassure him that everything's going to be OK," Martinez said.