My firefighter son receives Medal of Commendation

Okay. Now I get to brag a little. My firefighter son, Captain Guy Smith, received a medal for some amazing rescue work.

He commands a team of firefighters that save lives in one way or another every day. But recently he and his team were recognized for saving a man under very difficult circumstances.

A truck had hit a guardrail, fell 30 feet down a steep embankment, smashed into a tree, and came to rest half submerged in a fast moving river. The driver of the truck made it out on his own but a badly injured passenger was trapped inside.

The rescue was made all the more difficult because the firefighters had to carry their gear and equipment down the steep, nearly vertical embankment. Also the passenger side of the truck was pinned against the tree making it difficult to reach the injured man.

Guy had some of his team tie the vehicle to shore to prevent it from breaking loose and tumbling downstream. Then he and another firefighter cut into the truck, pulled the man free, and got him to a safe area for treatment where medics stabilized the patient and rushed him to the hospital.

My son received a Medal of Commendation for his actions and a meritorious unit citation ribbon. Five members of his crew also received meritorious unit citations.

Capt. Jon Hillebrant, a member of the awards committee, said “Captain Smith’s quick analysis of the situation and the entire crew’s efforts to accomplish the extrication of the patient in less than 18 minutes, under extraordinary circumstances, is a feat worth recognizing,”

As I mentioned in a previous post, my son is one of the three bravest men I know. He received his Captaincy over three years ago. And each year he participates in the Scott Firefighter Stair Climb to raise money to fight leukemia.

His mom and I, in fact the whole family, are so very proud of him. Whenever I’m feeling down he and his sister are the touchstones I use to pick myself back up.

Love you, son.