Evening star., 1946-01-27
District Policeman
And Three Firemen
Get Heroism Medals

Three flremen and policeman
have been awarded medals fol
heroism during the fiscal year 1945
it was announced yesterday by tn,
Commissioners. -Four f1remen alst
received honorable mention.
The awards were made by thu
Committee of Award for Meritori.
Gus Service, Police and Fire De.
partments, and presentation will bt
at date to be announced later, II
was said.
The winners are 1t. John r
Barry, No. Is Engine Company, golo
medal; Pvt. william H. Steuart
No. 6 Engine Company, silver med
al; Pvt. Salvatore L. Cocimano, No
10 Engine Company, the bronze
bar, and Pvt. John M. Thot, No. l;
police precinct, silver medal.
Chased Assailant.
1t. Barry receives his medal, ac-
cording to the citation, for volun-
tarily giving chase to a colored as
sailant of a woman in front of
1912 v street Sc. At one point 1t
Barry caught up with his quarry
in an alley and in the ensuing strug-
gle was struck on the arms and
shoulders with an instrument re-
sembling blackjack. The colored
man escaped and fled into some
nearby woods. The incident oc-
CURED about am. December 16,
1914, when 1t. Barry was on his
way to report for duty.
Pvt. Steuart was the driver of the
truck which answered a fire call at
63 Defrees street NV, last April
q ak which two colored residents of
the building were rescued from the
SECOND floor. After placing the lad
der truck and assisting in raising the
ladder, Pvt. Steuart then went up
and effected both rescues. One of
the victims, Thomas Williams, 35,
was suffering from severe arm lacer-
atlons and Pvt. Steuart was forced
to cover the wound with one hand
to stop the squirting blood while he
dragged Mr.. Williams to the window
and carried him down the ladder,
the citation said.
Early in the morning, two days
latelHs Pvt. Cocimano answered a fire
call at l09 Fifth street Sc. where the
basement apartment was in flames.
Occupants of the building were in
the upper two stories. He was Or
dered to get to them and keep them
from jumping out until the ladder
equipment was ready to get them
down or the fire brought under con-
troll. Pvt. Cocimano suffered burns
from the hot metal of the fire escape
he ascended and calmed the occu-
pants until the fire was brought un-
der control.
Risked Life for Child.
Pvt. Thot receives the police sill,
yer medal for risking his life on the
afternoon of last May 3 in pulling
a child from the path of a skidding
automobile at Eighteenth and Cali
fornia streets NV.
The certificates of. honorable men
ton go to:
Pvt. Frederick J. Ross, of No. 20
engine company, for rescue work
performed at fire at 1926 Twenty
fifth street NV. November IA, 1914
Pvt. Benjamin R. Howard, of No.
! truck company. for rescue work
performed at 35 H street NE. De-
cember 81, 1914.
Pvt. Ernest w. Howard, of No. 6
Truck company, for rescue work
performed at fire at 1856 Monroe
street NV. last February /.
Pvt. Charles M Chamberlin, of
Rescue Squad No 1, for rescue work
at a fire at 927 street NV. last
June IA.
Robert v. Fleming, president of
the Riggs National Bank, was chair
man of the committee making the
awards. Other members were Ben
jamin M. McKelway, president of the
Board of Trade; Acting Supt. of
Police Harvey G. Callahan, and Fire
Chief Stephen T. Porter.