Evening star., 1949-11-13
Policeman, 7 Firemen
Awarded Gold Medal
For Saving Lives

f0r 9dvlng lives
Continued From First Page.)
monthly awards are selected by q
committee Of newspapermen.
Pvt. Clark won his gold medal
for his courage in twice entering
q blazing second-floor bedroom to
rescue q 5-month-old baby and
q 2l-month-old girl. He was driv-
ing by q dwelling on January 1.
194o. when he saw smoke pouring
from the frame house and heard
q woman cry, my child" Al
though on light duty because of
. physical disability. Pvt. Clark
rushed upstairs, groped through
smoke and flames and CARED out
smoke and flames and carried out
screamed that there was another
child and he braved the burning
room again to rescue the baby.
Pvt. Minnick won his gold medal
for risking his life to dive fully
clothed into the Anacostia River
August IL, 1948. to save a drown
ing man. Only the mans hand
was above water when Pvt. Min
nick reached the scene. Without
pausing even to kick off his shoes,
the policeman leaped into the
deep. muddy water, swan so feet
to the drowning man, grappled
with him. swan to shore with him
and applied first aid until the
man revived.
Pvt. EicholtZ was awarded his
gold medal for courage beyond
the call of duty and devotion to
the highest traditions Of the Fire
Department in attempting to res
cue a fellow fireman trapped in
a three-alarm fire December 80,
1947.
After being burned and hurled
down stairway by a flash explo-
sion, Pvt. Eicholtz re-entered the
f1ame-swept area in a vain search
Tor his comrade, Pvt. L. M. Nevitt.
Unable to see because OF dense
oil smoke, he. crawled about the
burning floor until forced outside
by the unbearable pain of his
burns. Pvt. hewitt died In the fire
and Pvt. Eicholtz was hospitalized
Tor a long time for third degree
burns Of his face and hands.
Rescued 5 Aged Persons.
Pvt. York won his silver medal
for his off-duty rescue Of i've
aged persons September 8, 194s. |
With a civilian friend, he re-
peatedly entered a burning board
ing home at TraviIah, Md, to |
carry out the old people.
1t. Fairall's silver medal was
awarded for his rescue of three
youths marooned March 26, 1948.
on a partially submerged rock
and menaced by rapidly rising
flood waters below Chain Bridge.
He went 125 feet down a rope
to the rocks. tied life lines around
the youths and had them hoisted
to safety. 's.-.. - |
Pvt. Southcomb won his silver
medal for knocking out the win
dow Of a burning room to create
q draft and then crawling about
IN the smoke and heat to locate
an infant under the bed covers
and carry it to safety March 5,
a94s.
Pvt. Dykes won the bronze bar
Tor personal bravery and extra
ordinary judgment in the face of
extreme personal risk" on August
"a. 1948. when he faced an armed
bandit and withheld his own IRE
because Of possible injury to al
bystander. The unnerved bandit
dropped his gun and Pvt. Dykes
captured him.
Honorable Mention Awards.
The following f1remen won hon.
orable mention for meritorious
service during the 1949 fiscal
year:
Pvt. John L. Rabe, No. 19 En-
gine Company, who on July 81,
1948. saved the life of a woman
hit by runaway auto by applying
q tourniquet to her torn leg.
1t. George r. Flaherty and Pvt.
Henry A. Lange, both Of No. z
Engine Company, who on March
6, 1949, risked their lives to rescue
five small children trapped in a
burning second-hoor room.
Policemen awarded honorable
mention for deeds of valor during
the 1949 fiscal year included:
Pvt. John q. Myers Of the 18th
Precinct, Policeman of the
Month" who smashed open the
door Of a burning room and car
ried an unconscious woman to
safety on May q, 1949.
Pvt. Bradford A. McLendon Of
the Traffic Division who, on Sep
tember 80, 1948, saved the life
of a child thought to have choked