When looking back on the night of March 15, 2006, former Goochland, Va. Volunteer Firefighter Howard Thurston is humble about the rescue that recently earned him a Carnegie Medal.
Thurston, 59, and good friend Samuel J. Shealy, 72, helped pull Ann H. Robertson from her car following a fiery crash last year.
"I didn't even think about it," Thurston, an equipment repair technician and farmer, said. "I didn't think about not doing it."
He and Shealy were two of 19 people recently awarded the Carnegie Medal. Each year the award is presented to close to a hundred people who risk their lives to save another. The award is presented by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, a Pittsburgh-based philanthropic foundation.
Along with the award, both Thurston and Shealy also will receive a $5,000 grant. During the 100-plus-year existence of the fund established by industrialist-philanthropist Andrew Carnegie in 1904, more than $30 million has been given in grants, scholarships, death benefits and assistance.
Taking Action
Thurston was at the wheel with Shealy in the passenger seat as they drove along the road in Midlothian, Va. that Wednesday night. They immediately stop after spotting Robertson's car being struck from behind. A fire erupted on the car's rear on impact as it left the road.
As the two men stopped, Thurston dialed 9-1-1 on his cell phone, but realized that there wasn't much time.
"After talking to the dispatcher I just closed the phone and ran over there," he said.
The car sat off the road in the woods, about 100 yards from where Thurston pulled over. While he hastily made his way to the burning vehicle, his friend was slower to get there.
As he approached the car, Thurston opened the driver's-side door, finding Robertson on the floor behind the seat. The smoke was too strong and he retreated to the passenger-side door, but trees blocked access.
Shealy soon reached the car and he too entered the car, but the flames were too much. Thurston reentered the vehicle and attempted to pat out the flames around Robertson.
He then tried to pull her out again, but had to leave for air. On the third attempt, Shealy joined him and they successfully pulled her to safety.
Within moments, the flames spread to the font seat and the interior of the car was fully engulfed.
Looking Back
Thurston doesn't look at himself as a hero, and in fact played down his role as a firefighter. When the incident occurred it had been almost two years since he had served as an active volunteer, something he did for close to 35 years.
"I did it for a long time and had a lot going on in my life," he said. "I was just stretching myself too thin."
He has since served in an honorary capacity with Goochland Fire Company No. 4, helping with fundraisers and other functions.
But that night, Thurston's experience in the fire service was evident as he didn't hesitate to do what needed to be done.
He said that while he had worked accident scenes in the past, however, this was much different than what he was used to.
"I had seen that sort of thing before firsthand, but by the time we'd get there it would pretty much already be calmed down," he said. "It was the first time I had witnessed it and had been able to help right when it happened."
Unfortunately, five months after the incident, Robertson passed away after catching a staph infection while staying at the hospital. Both Thurston and Shealy attended her funeral.
Although he might not be the twenty-something rookie he once was, Thurston said he would never hesitate to do exactly what he did that night to help someone in need.
"(Firefighting) gets in your blood," he said. "It's 24 hours, 7 days a week."
Related Links
