George Karkoc, a Vietnam War veteran, was left with shattered bones in both legs. He says it was his military training and sheer survival instincts that helped him save himself, his wife and his neighbor.
He says he remembers every second of the violent attack.
"I'll never forget it."
Landlord shoots and kills naked intruder who body-slammed him at Studio City apartment: LAPD
Just before 7 a.m. Friday, security cameras near his Studio City home on Tujunga Avenue captured a naked man meandering down the sidewalk, rambling in Spanish, flailing a sign in the air and trying to get in through a neighbor's gate.
As Karkoc alerted 911 of the bizarre behavior, he says the man ran into his neighbor's apartment "and she started screaming. It was just horrendous."
At the sound of her cries for help, the veteran fetched his gun.
As the woman made an escape, Karkoc's son, Taras, says: "The guy came out after her and he tried to talk him off the ledge."
LAPD officers, deputy recognize Vietnam veteran who fought off intruder in Studio City
The language barrier between the two made that difficult and that's when the elder Karkoc says the man jumped on him.
"I don't know what he did, but he intertwined himself."
Pinned on the ground and writhing in pain, as his wife, who has Parkinson's, stood nearby, Karkoc says he somehow maneuvered just enough.
"I pressed the gun against him and I fired... fired three times and the last shot... I made sure I was going to kill him."
Police believe the assailant, who died at the scene, may have been under the influence or suffering mental challenges.
Karkos, who has a long and expensive road to physical recovery, says he did everything he could.
His son says that even with veteran's benefits, medical bills are already starting to pile up so the family has started a GoFundMe account.
LAPD officers and a sheriff's deputy visited Karkos in the hospital Tuesday and recognized him for his military service and quick action last week.