He jumped from a bridge to save a toddler. This week, he got to ride with the Thunderbirds
A man who risked his life to save a toddler who was ejected into an Ocean City, Maryland, bay during a crash got a hero’s thank you.
[June 20, 2021: Josh Shavit]
A man who risked his life to save a toddler who was ejected into an Ocean City, Maryland, bay during aJonathan Bauer got to fly with the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds Friday as part of their "Hometown Hero" program. crash got a hero's thank you.
He got to ride in the back seat of an F-16 from Wallops Island, Virginia.
"It was amazing," Bauer told WRDE. "I mean, you'd be surprised at how smooth the plane flies and you're not working the pedals. It's more or less the joystick and then the plane is kind of taking over and compensating."
"There was no fear in his heart going flying and I put him through the ringer. We went rolling. We pulled some Gs. We did some loops and he crushed all of it," Air Force Thunderbirds Maj. Jason Markzon told WRDE.
It's not the only honor Bauer has received. The Ocean City Fire Department named his family honorary members of the department. Last month, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan presented a governor's citation to Bauer, saying in a Facebook post, "I'm so glad I had the chance to meet his family and thank him, on behalf of all Marylanders, for his incredible selflessness and bravery."
Last month, Bauer jumped 25 feet off the Maryland Route 90 bridge to save the life of a toddler. The vehicle the young girl was riding in crashed, causing her to be thrown from her seat.
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Joseph Shavit
Science News Writer, Editor-At-Large and Publisher
Joseph Shavit, based in Los Angeles, is a seasoned science journalist, editor and co-founder of The Brighter Side of News, where he transforms complex discoveries into clear, engaging stories for general readers. With experience at major media groups like Times Mirror and Tribune, he writes with both authority and curiosity. His work spans astronomy, physics, quantum mechanics, climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and medicine. Known for linking breakthroughs to real-world markets, he highlights how research transitions into products and industries that shape daily life.