“You know those situations where your heart starts pounding and your blood starts rushing?” says his brother David Blain, 27, of San Juan Capistrano, a lawyer. “He doesn’t seem to experience that. He’s never been afraid to risk his life.”

Because of that, he saved four men’s lives. And because of that, the Army sent a colonel, a lieutenant colonel, two sergeant majors and two captains out this week to present Blain with the Army’s highest award for heroism not in combat…

“It brings tears to my eyes,” says Blain’s wife, Megan, who was seven months pregnant at the time of the rescue.