Bruce O. Johnson saved Charlie Smith from suffocation, Prattville, Alabama, February 10, 1967. Fire broke out in the kitchen of a small frame dwelling where Smith, 68, an invalid, was alone in the adjoining living room. The flames spread rapidly, and Smith tried to leave but was affected by the dense smoke and fell to the floor. Johnson, 24, letter carrier, was attracted and ran to the dwelling’s front door, which had been forced open by a young man before he was driven back by the dense smoke. When another man attempted to enter the living room but also was forced to retreat, Johnson dropped to his knees and crawled into the dwelling in the less dense smoke near the floor. Guided by Smith’s groans and coughing, Johnson crawled to him. Flames which filled the kitchen then were spreading on the ceiling of the living room. Grasping Smith by the arm, Johnson dragged and pulled him 10 feet to the front door. The other two men reached into the room and removed Smith. Flames broke through the living-room wall as Johnson got to his feet and ran from the dwelling, which was completely afire a few minutes later. 49459-5381
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