Odis Lee Jones, Jr.

Odis Lee Jones, Jr., 27, conveyor operator, rescued Berry Jo Walden, 3, from burning, Shannon, Mississippi, December 9, 1966. When a tire blew out on the truck in which Berry Jo, her sister Margaret Ann, and her brother were riding with their parents, the vehicle toppled onto its side and skidded along the highway before stopping. One of the two fuel tanks was ruptured, and escaping gasoline caught fire. Flames appeared in the cab, in which the occupants were trapped. Jones and George W. Jordon ran to the truck, where flames surrounding the fuel tanks rose 15 feet above the pavement. Jones kicked the windshield but could not break it. He obtained a bumper jack from his automobile and used it to break a hole 18 inches wide and three feet high in the glass. Seeing the father’s hand at the windshield opening, Jones grasped it and pulled without result. The father withdrew his hand. Berry Jo then appeared at the opening. Jones reached into the cab to within six inches of the flames inside and withdrew Berry Jo, whose clothing was afire. While Jones beat out the flames on Berry Jo and carried her away, Jordon moved to the windshield. Margaret Ann appeared in the opening, her clothing also afire. With his hands within six inches of the increasing flames, Jordon removed Margaret Ann. He put out the flames on her attire as he carried her away. The flames continued to increase, issuing through the windshield opening and rising high above the pavement at both sides of the overturned vehicle. Jones and Jordon attempted to reach into the cab again but were forced back by the intense heat. Firemen later removed the bodies of the parents and their son. Berry Jo and Margaret Ann were hospitalized for serious burns and recovered. Jones and Jordon sustained burns which soon healed.