Larrie W. Coombs rescued David G. Henline and four others from burning, Wainville, West Virginia, March 22, 1967. At night while David, 12, his three younger brothers, and their mother were asleep, fire broke out in the living room of their one-story frame dwelling. Coombs, 23, coal miner, was attracted and learned that the mother and her sons were inside the dwelling. He forced open the front door, but conditions prevented him from entering. He then broke a window and climbed into the bedroom, to which the flames had spread. Coombs found David near the window and lowered him to the ground outside. Coombs then located two of David’s brothers and removed them, taking in fresh air each time he returned to the window. He was coughing from the dense smoke by the time he found the mother, who was in shock. She was holding the fourth boy. Coombs took the boy to the window and lowered him outside as he had done with the others. Returning to the mother, whose clothing then was afire, Coombs dragged her to the window and pushed her through it. Another woman used a blanket to put out the flames on the mother as Coombs climbed out of the dwelling. Minutes later the house collapsed. David and his brothers, who had suffered extensive burns, were hospitalized along with their mother, who had sustained lesser burns. Coombs was treated for burns on his hands and shoulders. All recovered. 49505-5428
49505 – 5428
49505-5428