The story of Chris Mintz is one of them.
On the morning of October 1, 2015, Chris Mintz called his uncle to remind the family that it was his son Tyrik’s sixth birthday.
Just hours later, he was on the floor of Snyder Hall at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon, with seven bullet wounds in his body.
Chris Mintz, 30, was an Army veteran and part-time student who had moved from North Carolina to Oregon to study fitness and raise his son.
When the gunfire started, others thought books were falling, but he recognized it immediately. He pulled fire alarms and ran back toward the building, telling anyone he saw to get out.
“He put himself against a classroom door to keep the gunman out,” – his aunt, Wanda Mintz, recalled.
He was shot three times. When he hit the floor, he looked up and said it was his son’s birthday. And then he was shot at least twice more.
In total, he was hit in both legs, his abdomen, his back, and his hand. Both legs were broken, but no vital organs were struck.
In his own account of that day, what he remembers saying, as a classmate knelt beside him crying, was: “Please call my son’s mother and tell her I can’t pick him up from school.”
Nine people were killed before the gunman died in a shootout with police.
An Act of Courage, a Recovery Journey, and a Lasting Legacy
1. Chris Mintz: From Veteran to Student and Father
Chris Mintz was an Army veteran who had served 8 years, including a deployment to Iraq. He had moved to Oregon to study fitness and raise his 6-year-old son, Tyrik. On that fateful day, he was simply a student trying to improve his life and his son’s future.
2. The Act of Courage: “He Didn’t Run Away”
When the gunfire started, Chris Mintz didn’t run. He recognized the sound immediately and acted. He pulled fire alarms, ran into the building, and yelled for people to get out. Then, he used his own body to block a classroom door, preventing the gunman from reaching the students inside.
He was shot seven times, but that didn’t stop him. He saved countless lives through his sacrifice.
3. His Only Plea: “Call My Son’s Mother”
In his moment of greatest pain, lying on the floor with seven bullet wounds, Chris Mintz didn’t think of himself. He thought of his son.
“Please call my son’s mother and tell her I can’t pick him up from school.”
It was a simple request, but it said everything about Chris Mintz – a father who loved his son more than his own life.
4. The Aftermath: Recovery and Recognition
Chris Mintz survived, but he faced a grueling recovery. He needed rods in both legs and had to learn to walk again.
A fundraiser started by his cousin with a $10,000 goal brought in nearly **$800,000** to support him and his family.
In 2016, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society named him a Citizen Honors awardee for a single act of heroism.
5. A Lasting Legacy: A Hero Never Forgotten
Chris Mintz became a symbol of courage and sacrifice. His actions inspired millions worldwide and remind us that even in the darkest moments, there are glimmers of goodness and bravery.
Conclusion: A Father, a Hero
Chris Mintz isn’t a superhero. He’s just a father, a veteran, and a student who stood up to protect others in the most dangerous moment. He paid with his body and nearly his life, but he never regretted it.
“He didn’t run away. He ran toward danger,” – his aunt, Wanda Mintz, said.
And that’s the definition of a hero.