PITTSBURGH — A 20-year-old man who rushed into a burning house in Chimacum 11 months ago in an attempt to save the woman inside receives the Carnegie Hero medal and $6,000 award today.
Gregory Bryant of Port Hadlock tried to rescue Sandra J. Bundy, 74, from her burning house on May 21, 2008. He was making deliveries for his employer, Edensaw Woods of Port Townsend, when he spotted the fire and heard Mrs. Bundy’s cries for help.
Despite his valiant effort, Mrs. Bundy died in his arms on the front lawn of the house at the corner of West Valley and Egg and I roads..
Steel baron Andrew Carnegie launched the hero fund in 1904 after hearing about rescue stories from a mine disaster that had 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.
More details will appear in the Friday/Saturday editions of the Peninsula Daily News.
From The Associated Press:
Recipients of Carnegie Hero medals, which were awarded today:
—John A. Lloyd, 64, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., helped save William G. Wynne from drowning at Fernandina Beach on May 25, 2007.
—Ross McKay Barfuss, 16, of Aloha, Ore., died trying to save River Jenison, 11, from drowning at Gleneden Beach, Ore., on March 8, 2008. Jenison also died.
—James D. Crocker, 52, of Valley City, Ohio, saved Douglas K. Spielberger, 49, from burning in a vehicle fire in Valley City, on Sept. 3, 2007.
—Shalinder Kaur Basran, 58, of Surrey, British Columbia, tried to save Navreet K. Waraich, 23, from assault at Waraich’s apartment on Oct. 29, 2006. Waraich died of her wounds.
—Richard Conine, 49, of Queensbury, N.Y.,
—Joshua E. Mattison, 24, of Fort Ann, N.Y., saved Charles L. Mingo, 62, from drowning when he broke through ice while ice fishing in Lake George on April 2, 2008.
—Clerc Higgins Cooper, 14, of New Orleans, helped to save two men from drowning in Lake Pontchartrain when their disabled boat capsized on Jan. 13, 2008.
—Robert Ferrell, 14, of Jobstown, N.J., died trying to save his mother, Michelle A. Ferrell, 53, from a house fire on Feb. 27, 2008. His mother also died.
—Gregory Bryant, 20, of Port Hadlock, Wash., tried to rescue Sandra J. Bundy, 74, from a house fire in Chimacum, Wash., on May 21, 2008. Bundy died.
—Beth MacDonald, 40, of Franklin, N.H., died trying to save her daughters Molly, 11, and Jennifer MacDonald, 9, from a house fire on March 23, 2008. The daughters also died.
—Jeffrey M. McNeil, 32, of Midwest City, Okla., tried to rescue John H. Gumm, 78, from a house fire on March 22, 2008. Gumm died.
—Christopher Hess, 28, of Philadelphia, saved Corey Baxter, 6, from drowning after the car he was in went into the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia on April 19, 2008.
—Courtney E. Butler, 16, of Stephenville, Texas, died helping save Carlos Manzano, 19, from drowning in the flooded Paluxy River in Glen Rose, Texas, on May 29, 2007.
—Christopher A. Howard, 36, of Warren, Ore., rescued Matthew T. Lovo, 32, and his son, Matthew R. Lovo, 9, from a tractor-trailer that lost control in St. Helens, Ore., on Aug. 7, 2007.
—Shawn William Edele, 31, of Fruitport, Mich., died after helping to save John P. Van Etten, 23, from drowning at Delray Beach, Fla., on May 31, 2007.
—Kenneth A. Oedewaldt, 63, of Mapleton, Ill., saved David L. Peterson, 36, from burning after a fire broke out in a church boiler room in Mapleton on March 7, 2008.
—A. J. Skiptunas III, 49, Wrightsville, Pa., rescued Mary E. Caldwell, 63, from an attacking dog in Windsor, Pa., on Oct. 6, 2007. Both had to be hospitalized for bite wounds.
—Ledford Wayne Arthur, 53, of Paint Bank, Va. saved Dennis D. Williams, 48, from electrocution while they were repairing a commercial oven in New Castle, Va., on April 20, 2007.
—Francis William O’Hara, 48, of Riverside, R.I., tried to save Jose A. Orellana, 43, from drowning in a rip current in Narragansett, R.I., on July 16, 2007. Orellana drowned.
