Ashby to receive Idaho Medal of Honor
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.