Three Massachusetts Firefighters to be Honored With National Medal of Valor for 2008 Rescue

Three current and former Brookline firefighters will be presented with the national Medal of Valor today at the White House for rescuing a fellow firefighter from a blaze in 2008, according to The Brookline Patch.

Lt. Paul R. Pender, Firefighter Frederick C. Johnston and Acting Lt. Gerald J. Murphy, who is now retired, are set to receive the honor later today from Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder in a ceremony to be held on the White House grounds.

The Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor is the highest national award for valor given to first responders.

The three men pulled Firefighter Steve Nelson out from under a burning pile of debris while battling an April house fire on Harrison Street that hospitalized eight firefighters.

Murphy and Nelson were fighting the fire from the second floor when an explosion knocked Murphy down the stairs and pinned Nelson under the rubble.

Pender and Johnston responded and, along with Murphy, dragged the semi-conscious Nelson out of the house to safety, according to the report.

All three firefighters were treated for second-degree burns to their face, head and arms.

Nelson's rescuers have since been awarded with medals from both Brookline and the state.

Chief Peter Skerry told the newspaper that their latest honor is different.

"This carries a little bit more weight," he said, noting that the firefighters were "happy to accommodate them and happy to go down there" to accept the award.