Naomi Thompson Clinton

Naomi Thompson Clinton rescued Harold A. Martin from burning, Columbia, South Carolina, October 12, 1972. Martin, 25, truckdriver, was driving a trailerless tractor when it was involved in an accident causing one of its fuel tanks to rupture and spew gasoline over the vehicle and the highway. Martin was thrown to the pavement amid flames resulting from the spilled gasoline having ignited. His clothing caught fire, and he called for help. Mrs. Clinton, 35, ignored bystanders’ warnings of a possible explosion and ran to Martin, who was within eight feet of the burning tractor and then was only semiconscious. Although a tire blew out on the tractor and sprayed beads of hot rubber on her, Mrs. Clinton dragged Martin out of the burning area. She then flung herself full length on him and thereby smothered the flames on his attire. Martin recovered from his burns.