Guardsmen rescue man trapped in burning truck

Guardsmen rescue man trapped in burning truck

Staff report
Posted : Saturday Aug 22, 2009 8:17:47 EDT

Two Tennessee National Guard soldiers are being credited with saving the life of a man who was trapped in his overturned, burning truck, according to a Friday press release.

On Aug. 4, Sgt. Keith Lewis and Pvt. Anthony Billings, who are on temporary duty with the Guard recruiting office in Covington, Tenn., were on their way to pick up a potential recruit when they saw smoke in the distance. When Lewis and Billings got closer, they saw a 2003 Ford Ranger pickup with smoke coming out the front. Leonard Darby, of Covington, was traveling south on State Route 54 when his truck blew its right front tire, ran off the road, struck a tree, flipped over and caught fire.

The soldiers were first on the scene, and if they hadn’t been there the man would have died in the fire, State Trooper Billy Jackson told the Guard. As Lewis and Billings approached the truck, they heard screaming. “Someone help me. Get me out!” the voice said, according to Lewis, who said he could see a man pinned inside.
read more here
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/08/army_rescue_082209w/