PORTLAND, Ore. -- Senior Airman Joshua Mayer, a cyber systems specialist assigned to the Oregon Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Squadron was awarded the Certificate of Merit by Portland Fire and Rescue this June at a ceremony in Portland, Ore.
Mayer, a Battle Ground, Wash. native who works in Portland, was on his commute home while off duty. He was stopped at a stop-light when a car came around the corner and hit a light pole “square on.”
“I shouted, ‘are you okay?’ and he said, ‘no’,” explained Mayer.
Mayer and two other witnesses ran to the vehicle as the driver appeared unable to get out of the small hatchback.
“He looked like he should have been able to get out but he was kind of dazed,” explained Mayer. “His ankle was busted I think, and when I saw the others run to help out, I thought, ‘oh I've got to help out.’”
The situation quickly intensified, as the vehicle began to ignite.
“The engine slowly started smoking, the fire started to show up and started building. It felt like 10 minutes, but really it was 1 or 2,” said Mayer.
There were two other people helping, but they needed help removing the man from the vehicle, Mayer explained.
Mayer was one of two individuals who teamed together to pull the man from the vehicle.
“I was one of the two big enough people to help get him out and over to the grass. By the time the fire and rescue arrived, that car was turned into a marshmallow in a campfire.”
Portland Fire and Rescue Public Information Officer Rick Graves plainly stated that their efforts saved that man’s life.
“Based on the information I received from both Josh and the commanding officer of the fire engine that responded, there is not a chance the driver survives had Josh and the other member of the community not responded as they did.”
Portland Fire and Rescue held an awards ceremony earlier this month to honor members of the community who stepped up to help fellow citizens in the face of danger.
Mayer felt unsure about attending, feeling guilty about his reaction time, but knew that this recognition was bigger than himself.
“As a dad, if my kid did something I'd want to be there to be proud of my son. I went for my dad so that he could be proud of me.”
Mayer noted that one of the highlights of the ceremony was seeing and hearing about all the other heroic individuals that were also recognized that night.
“The stories of the other people who helped out and the way that the civilians in the community got awards, that was inspiring. Wow, these guys killed it out there.”