Overview
- Scafidel, an armory chief with 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, was decorated on Feb. 6, 2026 at Camp Pendleton.
- He responded on Sept. 1, 2024 after hearing a splash near the Del Mar Boat Basin and found a truck on its side, half-submerged with the driver trapped.
- With Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Andrew James and later Sgt. Jason Baughman, he smashed the windshield with a hammer and pulled the driver to shore.
- Fire department personnel later noted Scafidel’s hands were bleeding and shredded, while the driver was taken to the naval hospital and fully recovered.
- The Navy and Marine Corps Medal is the Department of the Navy’s highest non-combat decoration for heroism, with leaders praising his selflessness.