L. Darrell Reeves helped to save Richard A. Griffis from suffocation, Natchez, Mississippi, February 13, 1973. When a severe electrical storm made a ventilating fan inoperative, Griffis, 19, and another workman were affected by paint fumes inside an elevated water tank. The other man was able to climb out, but Griffis collapsed. Help was summoned; and among those who arrived was Reeves, 31, fire hoseman. Despite the storm, Reeves, two other firemen, and an oil well driller climbed attached ladders and reached the top of the tank about 90 feet above the ground. Two firemen entered the tank long enough to tie a rope around Griffis. Reeves and the others then pulled Griffis onto the top of the tank. As the storm continued, Griffis was given artificial respiration; and Reeves made two trips to the ground to get a resuscitator and then a stretcher which was used to lower Griffis from atop the tank. Griffis recovered.
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