John Bekemeyer has been named the 2012 Lady's Island-St. Helena Fire District's firefigher of the year by his peers.

"John was nominated overwhelmingly," district spokesman Lee Levesque said.

"John goes above and beyond in everything he does," Chief Bruce Kline said during the recent awards banquet. "He has excelled in every aspect of our job."

Bekemeyer has worked for the district for about three years and served in the Marine Corps, where he participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom and was decorated with a Navy Commendation Medal with combat "V" for valor and two Purple Hearts.