CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A man born in the Tri-State who was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his actions on 9/11 has recently passed away.
74-year-old Captain Dennis Kern died on Dec. 17 from brain cancer.
Kern was born in Cincinnati and lived in Aurora. He was commissioned in the Navy in 1971 following his graduation from Miami University.
During the terrorist attack on the pentagon, Captain Kern saved the lives of 30 people from certain death. He led the group to safety after the explosion from the plane hitting the building filled the room they were in with black smoke.
Kern personally blocked a fire suppression screen from closing, preventing the group from being trapped in the inferno.
A requiem for mass will be held in San Francisco on Jan. 11.