By Erin Hicks
FireRescue1 Staff
WASHINGTON — Four responders who risked their own lives during a sniper attack that killed a member of their department have been honored with the highest award given to public safety officers.
Firefighter-medics Andrew Neff and Michael Chellis, Firefighter/EMT Timothy Wisely and Fire Lt. William Appel were given the Medal of Valor at a ceremony in Washington, DC, Wednesday.
The members of the Maplewood, Mo., Fire Department were acknowledged for their response during the July 21, 2008, gunman attack that left Firefighter-medic Ryan Hummert dead.
They received the awards during a ceremony in an office building adjacent to the White House presided over by Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder. During the event, a total 14 EMS personnel, firefighters and police officers were honored.
“Today is a day for every man and woman in uniform to feel proud of you and, quite frankly, for you to feel proud of yourself,” Vice President Biden said
During the day of the incident, Appel, Wisely, Chellis, and Neff were dispatched, along with Hummert, to a reported vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found a small pick-up truck engulfed in flames in the driveway of a house.
As Hummert and Wisely advanced a hose line toward the burning vehicle, there was a loud explosion and Hummert fell to the ground. Wisely began medical treatment and quickly saw Hummert had been shot in the head.
Neff ran to help Wisely treat Hummert but none of the responders knew the location of the gunman. While waiting for an ambulance, the gunman fired again, wounding Maplewood Police Officer Adam Fite in the shoulder.
While still in the line of fire, Neff administered emergency medical treatment and dragged him to safety. While Hummert died at the scene, Fite was treated at the hospital and made a full recovery; the sniper set a house on fire at the scene and died.
“What always amazes me is how you guys do it like it is part of your DNA,” Vice President Biden said during the ceremony to the 14 award winners. “I don’t know what you’re made of. I think you’re all crazy. But God love you for it, risking your life every day.”
Others honored with the Medal of Valor at the ceremony included:
Chief Randy D. Poindexter
Fire Department, Kingfisher, Oklahoma
Lieutenant Brian S. Sturgill
Oklahoma Highway Patrol
On August 19, 2007, Lieutenant Brian S. Sturgill and Chief Randy D. Poindexter worked together to coordinate multiple rescues of individuals who were stranded as a result of Hurricane Erin, which had flooded parts of Oklahoma the previous night. In one of their rescues, Lt. Sturgill and Chief Poindexter assisted two occupants of a submerged pickup truck. Lt. Sturgill maneuvered the helicopter’s skids so they were just under the water and Chief Poindexter was able to remove the first occupant. The rescue of the second occupant was riskier because Lt. Sturgill positioned the helicopter’s skids so they were deeper under the water. Lt. Sturgill’s efforts enabled Chief Poindexter to reach both occupants and ride with them to safety.
Lieutenant Paul R. Pender, Jr.
Acting Lieutenant Gerald J. Murphy
Firefighter Frederick C. Johnston
Fire Department, Brookline, Massachusetts
On April 16, 2008, the Brookline Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire which indicated that someone in a wheelchair was trapped on the second floor. Due to the heavy smoke and volume of the fire, all the firefighters were ordered out of the building. During the evacuation, a backdraft caused the partial collapse of the second floor ceiling.
At the same time, Firefighter Stephen Nelson was knocked down and was partially buried under debris. The backdraft also knocked down several firefighters at the second floor doorway, sending one of them tumbling down the stairs, taking Acting Lieutenant Gerald Murphy with him. Acting Lieutenant Murphy quickly recovered and immediately crawled back up the stairs, found the nozzle of Engine Co. 1’s line, and began moving into the heavily involved fire.
At the same time, Lieutenant Paul Pender and Firefighter Frederick Johnston rushed up the stairway and Acting Lieutenant Murphy directed them to Firefighter Nelson. Without hesitation or concern for their own safety, they all advanced into the second floor, located Firefighter Nelson, and rescued him. Afterwards, all four men were treated for second-degree burns.
Captain Edwin Lynn O’Berry
Fire/Rescue, Palm Beach County, Florida
On April 8, 2009, Fire Rescue Captain Edwin O’Berry was one of several firefighters at the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Station 31 changing shifts when they saw Officer Doug Rua of the Palm Springs Police Department struck in the head and rendered unconscious by a robbery suspect.
Capt. O’Berry retrieved his personal firearm from his vehicle, jumped a 6-foot fence with barbed wire on it, and ran to Officer Rua’s aid. Another firefighter followed Capt. O’Berry, and he dragged Officer Rua to safety while Capt. O’Berry covered them with his weapon.
The suspect, still carrying Officer Rua’s handgun, then ran into a 3-foot-wide alley behind a nearby apartment building and Capt. O’Berry followed. Once the suspect realized he was cornered, he turned toward Capt. O’Berry and pointed the handgun at him. Fearing for his life, Capt. O’Berry and a responding police officer fired four rounds at the suspect. Afterwards, Capt. O’Berry immediately rendered aid to the suspect, who was flown to the local trauma center where he later succumbed to his injuries.