Violet Howard Ulen, 43, buyer, attempted to rescue Leonard J. Ricci, 31, U. S. Navy ensign, Irving W. Schwartz, 25, U. S. Marine Corps lieutenant, and Sarah W. Padgett, aged 24, from exposure, Atkins, Virginia, February 23, 1945. At night when the airplane in which Mrs. Ulen, Ricci, Schwartz, Mrs. Padgett, and 18 other persons were riding crashed on Glade Mountain, Schwartz and Mrs. Padgett were thrown clear of the wreckage, Ricci crawled out; and all three, being seriously injured, lay near the fuselage. No flames broke out. A cold rain was falling, which later changed to sleet and snow. Mrs. Ulen was wedged in the fuselage, under a fatally injured man, who pleaded with her not to move him. Several hours later, although seriously injured, she climbed out. She had suffered fractures of the right shoulder, three ribs, and an ankle. One of her arms was useless, her legs were stiff, and her feet and fingers were numb from frostbite. Telling Schwartz and Ricci she would go for help for them, with great difficulty she descended and climbed steep pathless slopes over rugged and rocky terrain by holding to trees and saplings. Seven hours after leaving the airplane, she had reached a point only a mile and a half from it. A man who was searching for the wreckage then met her and took her a mile and a half to his home and later to a hospital. She suffered no additional injuries after leaving the plane. Meanwhile Ricci, Schwartz, Mrs. Padgett and one other person were rescued by others and recovered, 17 persons having lost their lives. 40422-3446
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