Fort Leonard Wood firemen soak up accolades

By Mrs. Melissa Buckley (Leonard Wood)October 9, 2014

Fort Leonard Wood firemen soak up accolades
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Ask any of the Fort Leonard Wood firefighters if they do their -- sometimes dangerous -- jobs to win awards and they will say no. However, eight post firemen have been recognized for doing just that.

Competing against about 26 other fire stations at the central regional level, Olaf Jensen was named the 2013 Region Civilian Fire Officer of the Year; Brent Saba was named the 2013 Region Civilian Firefighter of the Year, and Guy Johnson was named the 2013 Region Civilian Fire Instructor of the Year.

At the Army and Department of Defense level, five Fort Leonard Wood firefighters won the 2013 Firefighter Heroism Award. Those firefighters are William Allis, Bobbie Liveoak, Michael Sheek, Kenneth Gremp and Roy Conner.

"Anytime our fire station wins an award at these levels, it is a significant event for us," said Lloyd Fox, Fort Leonard Wood fire chief. "We have great people doing great things."

Jensen, Fort Leonard Wood fire inspector, said it is an honor to be selected as the region's fire officer of the year, but he could not have done it without the entire fire prevention team.

"My job saves lives and property, and I get to teach personnel on Fort Leonard Wood about the importance of fire safety and why we have fire codes," Jensen said. "This award means the entire fire prevention team works together for a common goal, and that goal is to protect, serve and educate the people of Fort Leonard Wood."

The five firefighters winning the heroism award were nominated for their response to the Waynesville flood in August 2013.

"They got a call August 6, 2013, to go to Waynesville and rescue people during the flooding. They used their rescue boats to rescue people and bring them to dry land," Fox said.

The flooding claimed the lives of two community members, and emergency crews from five counties were part of the rescue operation. Between 100 and 200 homes were flooded in Waynesville after the Roubidoux and Mitchell Creeks rose rapidly.

The high waters washed debris through the streets and yards.

Emergency personnel went door-to-door in the flooded areas to check on residents.

Allis said he never expected to be awarded for doing his job, but being recognized for a job well done is a good feeling.

"What I remember is the self-sacrifice of all the emergency workers and civilian community members who came together to help those in need," Allis said.

Gremp agreed and said he feels honored and humbled to be receiving an award for his heroism.

"I remember the courage of everyone at the scene helping and being reminded how precious life is," Gremp said. "There were many more heroes at the flood who deserve recognition."

Sheek was in charge of one of the boats.

Sheek said some of the tensest moments are still fresh in his memory from that day.

"It was a horrible day to be in emergency services, because of the amount of rain and lighting we had had all day. We had non-stop calls. I went up to our dispatch office to help. The next call was Pulaski County stating they needed all the rescue boats we could send."

Sheek said he couldn't believe what he was hearing.

"I was told Waynesville was under water. I have lived here nearly all my life. We have water flooding from the Roubidoux or some low water crossings, but this was nothing like we were about to see," Sheek said.

To top off an already stressful situation for Sheek, he was getting calls about his own home flooding.

"I couldn't fathom the idea that I had water in my house, as I am not in a flood plain," Sheek said.

But he said he couldn't do anything to help his home -- he had lives to save. Sheek said he remembers the rain coming down so hard they could only drive about 25 miles per hour to Waynesville.

"As we drove down to meet with Waynesville Rural (Fire Protection District), I could not believe what I was seeing. We pulled into Westside Baptist Church parking lot and (firefighters in a boat) began rescuing a family out of their house uphill from the church. If you know where that is, you will understand my awe as I was taking this in."

On his way to a family trapped in their car, his mom called.

"I don't know why I answered it, but when I did the first thing that came out of her mouth was that water was in her house and was getting deep fast. I told her to just get on something, that I had to go and I would talk to her later. I could not help her, because I was helping people who were right in front of me," Sheek said.

"At this point it was raining so hard again that I could not see through the rain with all the emergency lights flashing. It just looked like a wall of water," he added.

After a few stressful minutes of rescuing people from stranded cars, his cell phone rang again. His mom said her house had broken in half and she was in the back of it.

"I told her that she had to get out. I told her that I could not get to her, and I loved her very much. Mom understood and she said that she just wanted to say goodbye -- so we said our goodbyes," Sheek said.

Sheek's pushed on. After the Fort Leonard Wood Fire Department had rescued everybody that they knew about, Sheek said he was asked if anybody knew of anyone else needing rescue.

"I spoke up. I didn't know if she was still alive, but I told them about my mom," Sheek said.

He was given permission to leave his boat and try to save her.

"(Roy) Conner and I went to go get her. As we approached her house I saw a Waynesville Rural firefighter. He had just gotten her out. It was an intense moment," Sheek said.

Sheek said he has mixed feelings about his heroism award.

"It feels really good to be recognized for the efforts my team put forth, however there were other people out there doing exactly the same thing my team was doing. I don't really feel that I should get an award any more than the next guy," Sheek said.

The DoD Firefighter Awards program is administered by the Assistant Deputy Under Secretary of Defense on behalf of the Secretary of Defense.

"There are no awards or trophies that could take the place of saving a a life. As long as I can save one life from fire and keep one child safe and one family from losing their home that is all the award I need," Jensen said.

Fox said a ceremony to honor the award winners is being planned for next month.

Related Links:

Fort Leonard Wood GUIDON Newspaper

Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood