'Let's talk about Hard Freaking Core. Always Fine, brother'

Lauded by his peers, the US Marine Corps veteran who was reportedly hit twice at the tragic Trump rally was seen on video walking to help despite his injuries.

“Talk about hard core.”

When a would-be assassin opened fire on former President Donald Trump's rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, at least three attendees became victims along with the GOP leader. In addition to the fatal injuries of firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50, retired grandfather James Copenhaver, 74, and Marine David “Jake” Dutch, 57, received critical injuries.

The latter was seen in a video posted on social media led by a law enforcement official out of the stands after he was said to have been hit in the stomach and liver, according to Fox News Digital.

Sharing the dramatic footage which apparently showed Copenhaver being taken away, Mando Fierro detailed: “In this video you see two of the victims being taken out of the scene. The only one that has made it out is Superman Who I served with, David Jake Dutch. Talk about Hard Freaking Core. Always Fi.”

The Marine who served in Operation Desert Storm was highly regarded by his peers at the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania, with the latter's commander, Lee Johnson, saying Fox News Digital, “He's been a big help for this club.”

“He's involved with a couple of different things that we have here at the club. And I feel really bad for David, his wife… great people. They've been members here for a long, long time,” he added.

Similarly, Roger Milliron Jr., who said he had known Dutch for 20 years, told the company, “If you didn't know he was a Marine, you'd never know.”

“He's not a loud or boisterous person. He keeps to himself. He's a hard worker. He's a friend,” Milliron continued as he described how he felt the day after the tragedy at the American Legion. “And then we told everyone that was here what happened, and it went from a jovial conversation to you could hear a pin drop.”

Speaking to CBS News, Anthony Grimes of the American Legion expressed“It was shocking, very shocking. It's kind of hard to know that a member of our organization has been injured.”

“He's a great guy, very caring, very supportive,” she added. “It's so sad that things like this happen.”

Similarly, Steven Penn told Fox News Digital: “He'll talk to anybody. He's an all around good guy.”

“Our publication is 100% behind supporting his family in everything,” it was relayed.

As it had been previously reported, a crowdfunding page was set up to support the victims of the tragedy with an initial goal of $1 million. After raising more than $2.4 million by Sunday afternoon, the fundraiser topped $5.1 million by Wednesday morning thanks to contributions from more than 65,000 donors.

Both Dutch and Copenhaver were said to be in stable condition, and a statement from the Marine Corps League to KDKA-TV said, “David Dutch serves as the commander of Westmoreland Detachment #1416, from the Department of Pennsylvania. The Our immediate support continues for David and his family as they continue their recovery from this attack. We offer comfort to David and his family along with eternal thoughts and prayers for all the victims of this tragedy.”

Staff writer

A native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College, where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and seeker of truth, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and dog, and when he's not researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel ·the.

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