PORT HADLOCK — A 21-year-old man who rushed into a burning building to save a Chimacum woman from the fire 11 months ago has been recognized as a national hero.
Greg Bryant of Port Hadlock is one of 19 civilians nationwide who were awarded the Carnegie Medal for heroism on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Bryant, who suffered second- and third-degree burns when he rescued a stranger, is eager to enter more burning buildings.
This weekend, he will try out for East Jefferson Fire-Rescue as a volunteer.
“It took some time, but I’m getting around to it,” said Bryant, whose hands carry the scars of numerous skin graft surgeries, on Thursday.
“I can’t believe it has already been a year. It doesn’t seem like that long ago.”
While he’s grateful for the medal awarded by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission — and the $6,000 award that comes with it — Bryant said he’s received a lot more from many kind people in the last 11 months.
“That’s the sort of thing that doesn’t really matter,” Bryant said of the medal.
“Don’t get me wrong; it’s special and I appreciate it, but it’s just something you hold in your hand.
“It’s not the result of what you did.”
Bryant was driving a truck for Edensaw Woods of Port Townsend when he spotted a house on fire in Chimacum on May 21.
He dashed into the house owned by Bob and Sandra Bundy and pulled Sandra — who was alone in the home — from the flames, burning his arms and face badly.
Sandra died in Bryant’s arms shortly after he rescued her.
Bryant said then that he wishes he could have done more to save her.
He still thinks about that.
But rather than let the story end there and focus on the past, Bryant found a way to get something — and give something — out of that fire.
Great friends
The day after he was discharged from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Bryant returned to the house at West Valley and Egg and I roads and met with Bob Bundy, 74.
While grieving his wife, Bundy asked for donations for Bryant — “the young man who risked his life to try and save hers” — in a death notice published in the Peninsula Daily News.
“One of the first things Greg did after he got out of the hospital was, he came over and he met with me,” Bundy said.
“I think that says a lot about him, that he wanted to meet me.”
Despite the tragic circumstances, Bundy is grateful that his life intersected with Bryant’s.
“After it happened, I never really thought we would ever meet,” Bundy said.
“But I’m glad we did, because he’s someone who is very worthy to have on your list of friends.”
Bryant said he’s glad he sought out Bundy.
“Bob comes out to my family’s barbecues, and I head out there just to talk to him sometimes,” Bryant said.
“We’ve become great friends.”
Getting to know Bundy was a better reward than the medal, Bryant said.
Bryant also received awards from the Olympic Peninsula Chapter of the Red Cross and East Jefferson Fire-Rescue — as well as financial help.
Through the awards came donations from the community, which have paid off thousands in medical bills.
Thanks community
“I can’t say thank you enough to the community for donating money,” he said.
“I don’t know what I would have done without them to help pay all those bills.”
Bryant will never forget the day he entered the fire — or his sorrow that the woman he rescued died.
“Yeah, I still think about it,” he said.
“It’s something that I will always remember and will always be a part of my life.
“But my life is starting to come together.”
Bryant returned eight months ago to Edensaw Woods, where he is now working in the mill house. Owner Jim Ferris had said he would hold his job for him.
Bryant had worked at Edensaw for only a week before he was hurt in the fire, and so he had not yet qualified for medical insurance.
Ferris set up set up bank funds for donations, both for Bryant and Bundy.
Ferris was out of the country on Thursday and was not available for comment.
Bryant has moved into a house in Port Hadlock, and is looking forward to his try-out with the fire department.
Fire department
Keppie Keplinger, spokeswoman for Fire-Rescue, said she was happy to see Bryant sign up to volunteer.
“We’re all happy to have him come down,” she said.
“He’s the kind of person we are looking for.”
Keplinger said the department was contacted about the award last year and worked with the Carnegie Hero medal group to provide information.
“It took a long time, and they asked a lot of very specific questions,” Keplinger said.
“I’m glad he got it, because he deserves it.”
Steel baron Andrew Carnegie launched the hero fund in 1904 after hearing about rescues in a mine disaster that killed 181 people. Since then, $31.2 million has been awarded to 9,262 people. Recipients or their heirs receive $6,000 and a medal.
Bryant said the medal is being made, and he expects it will arrive in the next month.
He doesn’t intend to put it on the wall.
“It really is nice to get it, but it’s not something to rub in people’s faces,” he said.
“It will probably go into the top drawer.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
