Mentor High Graduate Honored For Catching Terrorist Murder Suspect

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Trevor Brewer -- a Mentor native who graduated from in 2006 -- received the highest civilian award possible from the country of Germany after he helped to capture an Islamic extremist who had killed two of his fellow airmen, according to the AP.

Brewer received the Federal Cross of Merit Monday.

Donald Brewer, Trevor Brewer's father, said he was impressed the German government would bestow an award on a member of the U.S. military.

"I thought it was awesome they would give him that award," Brewer said. "It's the highest possible award for someone who's not in their military."

On March 2, 2011, Arid Uka, a 21-year-old Kosovo Albanian, walked up to a U.S. Air Force bus in the Frankfurt Airport and boarded it. Then he shot four airmen, killing two, according to Stars and Stripes.

Uka then pointed his gun at Brewer, said "Allahu Akbar" -- which is Arabic for "God is great" -- and pulled the trigger. But the gun jammed because of a faulty cartridge.

Brewer chased Uka from the bus. He and airport employee Lamar Conner -- himself a former U.S. Army sergeant -- pursued Uka until German police arrested him.

Donald Brewer said his son's actions potentially saved the lives of everyone on the bus.

"If he hadn't done that, (Uka) had another clip with 15 rounds," Brewer said.

At the ceremony in Germany, Trevor Brewer said he accepted the award on behalf of the two airmen who died during the attack: Senior Airman Nicholas J. Alden, 25, from South Carolina, and Airman 1st Class Zachary R. Cuddeback, 21, from Virginia.

Donal Brewer said he and his wife, Diana, were very proud of their son.

"It's pretty incredible to realize your son could do something like that," he said.

While Trevor Brewer and his family now live in Gray, Tenn., he grew up in Mentor, Ohio. He went to and before graduating from Mentor High School.

Brewer played viola for the Mentor High Mannheim Orchestra and Cleveland Youth Orchestra. He joined the Air Force, hoping he could play in its orchestra, Donald Brewer said.

However, the orchestra did not have any openings so he worked in security forces.

His orchestra teacher, Beth Klayman, said she heard about Brewer's heroic actions from a relative of his who is in her class.

"I was so flabbergasted and awestruck by his bravery," Klayman said. "He's an incredible kid."

Trevor Brewer will also receive the Air Force Airman's Medal and Col. Billy Jack Carter Award later this year, Donald Brewer, said.

The Col. Billy Jack Carter Award is given annually to the person who makes the most significant contribution in protecting Air Force people and resources.

Meanwhile, Uka confessed to both murders. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 30 and faces up to life in prison.