Marilyn J. Park

Marilyn J. Park saved Donald M., Jr., Constance K., and Jean K. Goodwillie from burning, South Haven, Michigan, November 22, 1946. While Donald, 7, and Constance, 5, were asleep in a bedroom that adjoined the living room of their one-story frame home, and Jean, 20 months, was asleep in another room, the house caught fire. Miss Park, 17, schoolgirl, who was in charge of the children in the absence of their parents, ran from the living room into the adjoining bedroom, roused Donald, told him to awaken Constance, and then returned to the bedroom door to observe the fire conditions. Both of the children got out of bed, and Miss Park led them through the living room and the dining room to the kitchen and outside. Re-entering the kitchen, she ran to the living room, then past a hallway that was full of flames, and through another room to the room where Jean slept. Lifting Jean from her crib, she wrapped a blanket around her and ran through dense smoke to the living room. Flames then extended from the hallway into the room. Miss Park stumbled and fell to her knees at the edge of the flames opposite the hallway, but she kept her hold of Jean, got to her feet, and ran to the kitchen and outside. Meanwhile a man had reached the house and had attempted to enter but was forced back by smoke. Jean suffered minor burns. Miss Park sustained burns on her face and one arm which healed within a week.