Joseph S. Cicirello, 29, electrician, rescued Cecil W. Crowell, 47, water conditioning service operator, from burning, Hartland, Wisconsin, August 23, 1959. At night the panel truck which Crowell was driving struck an automobile, overturned on its left side on a paved highway, and burst into flames. Crowell was caught inside the cab, most of which was filled with three foot flames. Other flames rose as much as 15 feet from the body of the truck. Cicirello and another man were attracted. While the other man ran to the automobile, the driver of which had been dazed, Cicirello ran to the truck. Crowell, his clothing afire, was screaming for help. Heat was intense as Cicirello broke the windshield by kicking it. As the wind drove the flames back from the windshield opening, Cicirello reached into the cab and took hold of Crowell’s arm, but it slipped from his grasp. Reaching farther into the cab, Cicirello grasped Crowell around the waist and pulled but was able to draw only the head and shoulders of Crowell through the opening. Cicirello then called for assistance from the other man, who ran to the truck. Standing behind Cicirello, the man encircled his waist with both arms and pulled as Cicirello in turn pulled on Crowell, drawing him from the cab. Firemen extinguished the flames, but the truck was a total loss. Crowell, who had been severely burned, died several weeks later. Cicirello sustained a body burn which healed. 44892-4369
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