Frank C. Colello, Sr., rescued John E. Caraway from burning, Los Angeles, California, October 8, 1964. Caraway, 36, an invalid, was asleep in a one-story frame dwelling when fire broke out in the bedroom. Colello, 53, retired longshoreman, and another man were attracted and ran to the dwelling. Colello, who had a serious heart condition, threw his full weight against the rear door, which was bolted, and broke it open. In dense smoke he ran through a storage room and reached the kitchen, which adjoined the bedroom. Unable to breathe because of the smoke and intense heat, Colello left the dwelling. The other man, who had obtained a hose, sprayed water on the bedroom window. It broke, and smoke and flames issued through the opening. Although the man tried to dissuade him, Colello re-entered the dwelling. He got to his knees and crawled to the bedroom, where smoke and heat were almost unbearable. Flames covered one entire wall, part of another, and the ceiling above the doorway between the kitchen and the bedroom. Colello crawled to the side of the bed, the opposite side of which was burning. Probing, he touched Caraway, who was barely conscious. Colello pulled Caraway onto the floor and, passing beneath the ceiling flames, dragged him into the kitchen. He continued through the storage room to the outside door, where the other man aided in taking Caraway outside. Caraway recovered from extensive burns and smoke inhalation. Colello experienced temporary heart pains.
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