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Ashby to receive Idaho Medal of Honor
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May 14, 2012 |
 Idaho State Police Corporal Allen Ashby, the son
of Mike and Linda Ashby, Moyie Springs, is one
of 10 peace officers and two firefighters set to
recieve the Idaho Medal of Honor from Governor
Butch Otter on Friday, May 18.
It is the highest honor the state can bestow on
its peace offucers, fire fighters and emergency
medical service providers.
Ashby and three other men are being recognoized
for action above and beyond the call of duty in
working to save two young children trapped in a
car that crashed and overturned in Fernan Lake
near Coeur d'Alene on the afternoon of
August 28, 2011, ending up copletely submerged.
According to the Medal of Honor citation, Ashby
and ISP Specialist Gerald Stemm arrived first on
scene and, learning that a one year old girl and
her five year old brother were trapped inside
the vehicle, immediately dove into the lake in
an attempt to effect a rescue. Both men made
repeated dives, attempting to open doors to
reach the trapped children, but deep water and
limited visibility, along with the fact that the
vehicle continued to settle and sink deeper,
rendered their attempts unsuccessful but not for
naught.
When a fire crew arrived, they found Ashby and
Stemm standing on the car, attempting to catch
their breath as they prepared for yet another
dive.
Firefighters, knowing at the outset where the
vehicle was, were able to don self-contained
breathing gear and dive on the vehicle, where
they were able to free the children and, with
Ashby's help, bring them to shore to waiting
EMTs.
Sadly, the boy didn't survive, but the young
girl did.
"Corporal Ashby's extraordinary heroism and
resolute courage, fortitude and endurance, with
grave danger to his own life above and beyond
the call of duty, are in the highest traditions
of the Idaho State Police and Idaho law
enforcement," his citation reads.
Governor Otter will bestow this years' dozen
Medals of Honor at the Idaho Peace Officers
Memorial in Meridian, Idaho, at 10 a.m. Friday. |
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