Sharid E. Gantz, 31, telephone installer, helped to save an indeterminate number of persons from possible assault, San Francisco, California, March 16, 1969. At night a man ran along a street, striking people with a steel pipe three feet 1ong. On meeting George L. Purdom, the assailant struck him on the back and then hit another man, knocking the latter to the sidewalk. Gantz witnessed the two attacks and started after the assailant, as did Purdom, who was in pain from being struck by the pipe. The man ran across the street and around the corner with Gantz and Purdom in pursuit. When the assailant darted into the street a passing vehicle nearly hit him, and he swerved back toward the sidewalk. Purdom tried to tackle the man, who threatened him with the pipe. Gantz then jumped at the assailant from behind and grasped him by the shoulders. The man fell to the street with Gantz astride his back. Purdom wrenched the pipe away from the assailant and then sat on the man’s feet. Gantz and Purdom kept the man pinned until police arrived.
50815 – 5581
50815-5581