Drake a beloved eight-year-old miniature poodle was rescued by the Marines, well, a Marine.

Denise Jordan-Williams watched in horror Sunday afternoon as two roaming Akitas pounced on her little poodle Drake right in her front of her eyes.

The Akitas who had gotten loose from a nearby yard, viciously attacked the little poodle and Denise, said she was afraid that, “They were going to kill him,” she continued. “I have never in my life seen anything so vicious. And I just screamed ‘No!’ And before I knew it they were just tearing at him.”

It was at this point the Marines arrived in the person of James Cockrell a Marine who served in the Iraq War and was visiting family nearby. Quickly assessing the situation the Marine jumped into action.

Cockrell described the situation, “You see somebody in distress or anything in distress, you want to help, and the only way to help unfortunately was to jump in and possibly suffer some consequences. I couldn’t sit there and watch it. I don’t think anybody could. But I guess the dog is fine and I’m fine so everyone’s on full recovery.”

According to the story on ABC7 News WJLATV, Denise Jordan-Williams appreciates the Marine’s modesty but she preferred to describe Cockrell’s actions in more valiant terms, saying, “He’s a Marine. He’s what this country needs. He is a brave man that’s prepared to step in on instinct.”