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Life-saving heroics met with awards
1 man receives highest honor
Source:
Butler Eagle
Written by:
Ed Biller
Published:
August 11, 2010
MARS — The Adams Area Fire District honored several firefighters, police officers and EMS personnel on Saturday for their actions in three separate emergencies, with one man receiving the department's highest award.
"This is a once in every five years or so opportunity for us to honor those who went above and beyond the call of duty," said Al Minjock, assistant fire chief.
Adams Lt. Douglas Mellinger received the department's Medal of Honor for pulling Michael Rupert, 42, of Sarver from his burning pickup truck following an accident on Route 228 on May 27.
"I've never seen the Medal of Honor awarded in my 30 years with the department," Minjock said.
Mellinger, who was off-duty and had no safety equipment, teamed with several civilians to pull Rupert from his truck after it was hit head-on by another vehicle.
Rupert had been pinned inside the truck as it caught fire.
Mellinger and the other men used a fire extinguisher to douse the flames on Rupert, who suffered burns to about 90 percent of his body and is recovering at UPMC Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh.
Quality Ambulance Paramedic Patricia Kelly received the Silver Lifesaving Award for her actions that day, and Minjock, Lt. Talo Capuzzi and firefighter Jeff Leonburg received a unit citation.
"The work you do is without prejudice. You are truly equal opportunity heroes," said Eric Beck, director of marketing and product planning at MSA in Cranberry, where Rupert works.
Rupert is on the company's development staff, creating everything from ballistics vests to the self-contained breathing apparatuses used by firefighters nationwide.
"We all pray for the day Mike Rupert is healthy enough to visit your station and thank each of you personally," Beck said.
He presented the station with a new thermal imaging camera as a token of MSA's thanks, as well as plaques reading "Mike's hero" and a leather fire helmet for each person involved in the rescue.
Several emergency personnel also received awards for their actions in two other emergencies.
Capt. Richard Mann, Capuzzi and EMT Josh Klein received the Silver Medal of Honor for the rescue of an injured woman from a structure fire along Dorchester Road in Seven Fields on May 18, 2007.
Adams Township police officers Michael Bailey and Edward Lenz, as well as firefighters Kyle Frederick and Kevin Whittington, received commendations for resuscitating an unresponsive woman following a vehicle accident along Myoma Road in Adams Township in 2008.
All of the men and women receiving awards declined to comment.
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