ProudTO SERVE

eroism, like the mail, comes in head, to try to calm him down. The Saginaw, many packages—think of police Michigan Branch 74 member, who is also a officers or fire fighters. But for 17-year fire fighter, used his training to assess H some citizens in need of assis- the boy’s possible injuries. He worried if he tance, their heroes come in the form of con- relieved too much pressure too quickly, blood cerned letter carriers. might pool, which could prove to be fatal. Letter carriers are members of nearly every Leipert placed the jack under the front pas- community in this nation and know when senger side of the vehicle and used it to lift something is wrong. Spotting fires and the car up about 4 inches. Craighead was able injuries, they are often the first to respond. to breathe a little more freely and ease his The following stories document their heroism. face out of the snow. “His hips were still kind For them, delivering for America is all in a of stuck, and each time he was moving the day’s work. car would rock,” the carrier told The Saginaw Fire fighting skills News, so he didn’t want to attempt to pull the boy completely out until emergency respon- help carrier save boy ders arrived. “Help! My baby’s pinned under my During the wait, Leipert laid down on the car!” The scream cut through a typical floor next to the boy to try to calm him. “His hips were cold winter day in Michigan as Chris- Shortly thereafter, police and fire fighters topher Leipert set out to deliver his arrived to use the “jaws of life” on the vehicle still kind of route. Hearing the shouts from a fran- to raise the car high enough to pull the boy tic customer about four houses down, out. Craighead was rushed to the hospital, the carrier quickly locked his mail and once Leipert saw the boy was in good bag in his LLV and ran to the stuck, and each hands, he returned to his route. woman’s aid. Leipert entered the The woman told police that earlier in the garage and saw where the car’s front time he was day, as she and her son returned home, she axle had plowed through the back of the garage, creating an opening to the asked him to get out of the car to open the moving the car snow-covered back yard. Blood garage door, Saginaw Police Detective Joseph stained the snow where the boy was Dutoi said. As the woman accelerated the car would rock.” trapped, stomach down, partly in the toward the garage, it hit a patch of ice. She garage with his face pressed to the yelled to warn her son, and pressed her brake —Branch 74 member Chris- ground. “I can’t breathe,” he gasped. pedal all the way to the floor, but the vehicle topher Leipert recalled Leipert thought quickly, asked for didn’t stop. “I’m a parent, too,” Leipert told helping a young boy stuck a car jack and began talking to the The News. “Things like this can happen when under a car in a garage boy, 10-year-old Christopher Craig- you least expect it.

28 POSTAL RECORD I JUNE 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS Eyeon the ELDERLY

WHILE DELIVERING MAIL, BEVERLY SEEING MAIL PILING UP IN A PATRON’S been lying for four days. Medical Edwards witnessed her elderly cus- mailbox, carrier Penny Bell became responders found her responsive but tomer, Rose Eichenbaum, take a bad very concerned about her elderly cus- disoriented. Hasenbank had a medical fall as she was leaving her house. The tomer, Mildred Hasenbank. Bell looked alert device, but it wasn’t functioning. Maine Merged Branch 92 member into the matter further and noticed that Norton Shores Fire Capt. Andy Casper- responded quickly to help the woman Hasenbank, who has hearing difficul- son praised the carriers. “If help had and called 911 and the customer’s hus- ties, no longer had her TV on at high arrived only 12 hours later, it might be a band. “Rose was examined, treated and volume, as she normally did. Bell different story,” he told The Muskegon released from the hospital without any thought Hasenbank might be away for Chronicle. “It was nice to see someone complications, thanks to Beverly’s the weekend with one of her kids, so like the Postal Service or anyone in our help,” Mr. Eichenbaum wrote in a let- she moved on with her route, but asked society take an extra step.” ter to the post office commending the her sub, fellow Muskegon, Michigan carrier. “She does a great job.” Branch 13 member Debbie Czarny, if HEARING CALLS FOR HELP WHILE she would check on the situation the delivering mail, carrier Jennifer Lopez DURING ONE OF THE WORST SNOW became worried. Following the direction days of the year, nine-year postal next day. Czarny noted the accumulated of the voice, she found an elderly and veteran Charra Turner was walking mail and quiet house again, so she went disabled customer who had fallen out of along her route when she came upon to a neighbor’s house for help. The someone with a familiar face lying in neighbors kept pounding on the door his wheelchair at his home. The West- the alley. The elderly customer had fall- until they finally heard a small, faint ern Wayne County, Michigan Branch en down on the ice and could not pick voice in reply. Since the neighbors had 2184 member called EMS and waited himself back up. Turner helped the a key, they opened the door and found with the customer until help arrived man to his feet and led him along the Hasenback on the floor, where she had before continuing on her route. path back to his home. The Columbus, Ohio Branch 78 member was praised for the concern she shows to the mem- bers in her community.

NOTICING THAT AN ELDERLY CUSTOMER on his route had not picked up his mail in several days, Russ Brennen grew deeply concerned, especially since he knew the man was in failing health and that his wife had recently passed away. The carrier knocked on the customer’s door, but received no response. Bren- nen checked with neighbors, but they all said they hadn’t seen the man in a while, so he decided to call his supervi- sor, who in turn called city police. Offi- cers arrived a short time later and were able to gain access to the house via the back door. The customer was found in an incoherent state and had apparently not eaten for several days. Police credited the Seattle, Washington Branch 79 member with saving his photo by Ken Stevens, The Muskegon Chronicle customer’s life, saying if he hadn’t Muskegon, Michigan Branch 13 members Debbie Czarny (l) and Penny Bell checked on an intervened when he did, the man may elderly customer when they saw mail piling up. The woman had been lying on the floor for a have died. few days and was in failing health before she was discovered.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS JUNE 2010 I POSTAL RECORD 29 Eyeon the ELDERLY

LYNNETTE THONNE USUALLY SAW ONE she felt there was something not right of her elderly customers every day about the situation. Green turned her when the woman came to collect her vehicle around and went back to the mail, and she had gotten to know her. woman’s home, finding her still in her So when the carrier came across about “She’s probably driveway. She had apparently fallen two days’ worth of accumulated mail, a and injured herself. After calling for red flag went up. She went to the build- help, the Gulfport, Mississippi Branch ing manager to ask about the cus- alive today 1374 member stayed with the woman tomer, and it seemed that no one had until medical personnel arrived. “She’s seen her recently. The manager went to because of Mrs. probably alive today because of Mrs. the apartment to check on the woman Green,” Fire Chief Keith Brown told and heard her calling for help. She had the Picayune City Council. been unable to get out of bed for days Green.” AS HE WAS DELIVERING HIS ROUTE, and had been trying to summon atten- —Fire chief Keith Brown Eric Legner heard pleas for help from tion. She suffered from dehydration commended Branch 1374 an elderly customer inside a home. He and a swollen leg but responded well to made his way inside the home and treatment. Thonne, a Green Bay, Wis- member Sherri Green for found 93-year-old Elsa Schmidt in the consin Branch 619 member, was com- looking after her patron after bathtub. Legner covered her, called mended for the care and concern she she fell and injured herself emergency services for assistance and showed to her customer. stayed with her until she was safely WHILE DELIVERING A CERTIFIED LET- bathtub faucet. “I really appreciate the inside the ambulance. Schmidt had ter to the home of an elderly customer, concern Michael Estes showed in figur- slipped outside her bedroom the day Dick Lauer noticed the door was open. ing out something wasn’t right,” Ross told before and broken her arm. She was Concerned, he investigated further and The Montgomery County Chronicle. “I look able to pull herself into the bathroom, when he looked inside, he discovered so forward to thanking him personally but was unable to pull herself all the the woman lying on her floor and seem- when I see him.” But the Independence, way up. In an attempt to stand, she ing very disoriented. The St. Paul, Min- Kansas Branch 1035 member brushed off swung her feet over the tub, but lost nesota Branch 28 member called para- praise for his actions. “I didn’t save her balance and fell in. She spent the medics, covered the woman up, and Alpha’s life,” he said. “The police and night there, cold and with no water. stayed with her until help arrived. EMTs did. I just made the telephone Schmidt thanked the Bloomington, Illi- call.” nois Branch 522 member, saying that AS MICHAEL ESTES APPROACHED THE without his help, she would have waited mailbox of one of his elderly patrons, he ONE RAINY DAY, ALTA MARSHALL FELL there for five days for her living assis- saw that the previous day’s mail was still while she was in her front yard, break- tant to come to the home. there. He knew immediately something ing her hip. She lay on the ground, must be wrong, since Alpha Ross always unable to move and unable to get any- SEEING AN ELDERLY CUSTOMER’S picked up her mail—sometimes before one’s attention. Since she knew the screen door and front door slightly Estes even left her front porch—and mail would be coming soon, Marshall open, Scott Rector grew concerned. would often tell her carrier when she decided to stay put. When Pasadena, He knocked on the door, but got no would be out of town. Investigating fur- Texas Branch 3867 member Joe answer. He then looked through a win- ther, he realized her car hadn’t moved in Villalovos came along, he immediately dow and saw what looked like someone lying on a bathroom floor, so he called days. So, Estes called Ross’ daughter, spotted her and rushed to her aid. He out for her a few times. The woman Denise Cox, who also happened to be a quickly called 911 and stayed with his finally made a mumbling noise in former classmate of his. Cox told him to patron until help arrived. “He was an response, and Rector immediately con- try opening the front door, but it was answer to my prayers,” Marshall wrote tacted police. The responding officer locked. Estes phoned the local police to the postmaster. department, and officers showed up found the customer inside and called within minutes to break down the back WHILE DRIVING ALONG HER ROUTE, paramedics, who arrived to take her to door. They found Ross in her bathtub, Sherri Green noticed an elderly cus- the hospital. The officer told the where she had been for five days after tomer sitting in her driveway. Waving Spokane, Washington Branch 442 mem- she had fallen while cleaning the tub. to her and wishing her a nice day, she ber that the woman had been on the She was clinging to life and had been continued on. As she drove away and floor for a few days and might not have surviving on drops of water from the put mail in a couple of boxes, though, survived if he hadn’t found her. ✉

30 POSTAL RECORD I JUNE 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS Good Samaritan saves old man, pulled him out of the cab the and get him to safety. Emergency para- same way he had entered and took him medics arrived to take over and air-lift- three in fiery car crash to the side of the road. ed the victims to trauma centers while While driving home after a day of As he turned back to assist the other fire fighters worked to put out the work, Jim DuPont saw something hor- passenger, the truck erupted into a blazes. rific: a head-on collision involving a blaze. A 17-year-old passenger, stuck in Due to his heroic actions, the 13- truck and a car. He parked his own car the middle of the fire, watched in hor- year postal veteran dislocated both nearby, turned on its blinkers and tried ror as her clothes became engulfed in shoulders, had burns on his arms, and flames from the neck down. DuPont suffered smoke inhalation. The three to call 911 as he got out of his vehicle. went back for her, and as he carried passengers suffered from a variety of He was going over to check on the dri- her, her skin peeled off, sticking to his ailments, ranging from multiple bro- ver of the car to evaluate his situation uniform. Finally, DuPont was able to get ken bones, a leg amputation and skin when he heard screams coming from her out of the vehicle and bring her to a grafts, but all came out of the ordeal the truck, so he rushed over to the sec- safe place to lie down. alive. When asked if he felt like a hero, ond vehicle instead. The truck doors With those two passengers safely out DuPont responded, “No, I am not a were jammed shut, but DuPont noticed of the fire’s way, DuPont set his sights hero. The fire department that that the driver inside, covered in blood, on the car in the crash, now also on fire. responded were the heroes-—they are seemed to be in a lot of pain. The The motor had slammed back into the volunteers who don’t get paid, they just Rogers, Arkansas Branch 1514 member front seats, jamming the door, so he do what needs to be done. If you want entered the truck through the back pulled with all his strength, bending the to call me something, just call me a window, carefully grabbed the 21-year- door open enough to remove the driver Samaritan.”

homas Pierson was on his route when immediately ran to the The heard patron Rita Schiavo calling for house and helped his help. She saw what she thought was mother outside while a heavy yarn on her dining room floor, but neighbor called 911. Fire NEIGHBORHOOD discovered instead that it was a 3-foot- department officials said long snake when it uncoiled and slithered there was a gas buildup across the floor. The Fort Myers, Florida that, left unattended, Branch 2072 member came quickly with a could have led to an shovel at Schiavo’s plea, but the snake explosion with the light- WATCH had disappeared out of sight. They looked ing of a cigarette or the for it for a while and found it curled up by furnace kicking on. the front window, sunning itself. Pierson “Postman Mr. Clyde cornered the reptile and killed it before Pence may have saved ‘Momma Dees’ with the customer’s furnace and were able carrying it away to the back yard. Schiavo life,” the customer’s son, Charles Dees, to fix it right away, preventing any further wrote a letter to The Postal Record prais- wrote to the postmaster and a local news- danger. The Rochester, New York Branch ing Pierson. “I want to thank my letter car- paper about the Southern Illinois Merged 210 member was commended for her rier Thomas Pierson for not only deliver- Branch 1197 member. “I would like it quick thinking. ing my mail to my door six days a week,” known at the highest level the value I put she wrote, “but also for coming to my aid on the Postal Service employees who take on-Yough, Pennsylvania Branch 332 and bringing me peace of mind.” the time to just say ‘hi’ or check in on our Mmember Todd Cipolla was delivering elderly. What dollar sign can be put on his mail one morning when he saw 19- hile on his route, Clyde Pence that kind of service they perform?” month-old Isabelle Edder walking down Wbegan to smell natural gas at the the middle of the street. She had appar- home of an elderly customer. Since he ancy Klein was delivering her daily ently opened the screen door and started knew the woman’s son was working at a Nrounds when she came upon the walking away while her father was in a dif- church about 50 yards away, he rushed unmistakable odor of natural gas coming ferent room. Cipolla picked the small girl over and yelled to him that he smelled from a garage on her route. She called up and took her back to her house, where strong gas fumes at the house and he 911 and waited for the gas company to he knocked on the door to reunite Edder should go check on his mom. The man arrive. Officials found a serious problem with her very appreciative father. ✉

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS JUNE 2010 I POSTAL RECORD 31 ELP H on the Way

elivering his route one day, Jericho master. “She is one who will go above and Carrier delivers a DTabor noticed an 85-year-old customer beyond her normal task of delivering the in her front yard with a large, unfamiliar mail. To us, Kristine will never be ‘just the special birthday present dog, which belonged to her granddaughter mail carrier.’” Frank Whall was on his postal visiting from Nebraska. When the woman ackie Torain had just returned to work route one Saturday when he pulled opened her fence gate, the unrestrained dog following time off to recover from surgery over at his last stop to drop off a fled the yard. The woman tried to capture J on her thumb when she saw a regular cus- package at a church. Something the dog, but the animal turned on her and tomer on the ground after a fall. The woman shiny on the ground reflected the started attacking, biting her several times on had lost her balance near her mailbox and light from his mail truck’s head- both forearms. Tabor rushed to the woman, had taken a spill. The woman’s husband was lamps. Getting out and looking clos- and the dog moved on to another yard. He blind and disabled and couldn’t provide help. er, he discovered a platinum ring moved the customer a safe distance away Torain helped the customer to her feet and with several diamonds on it. He from the animal and calmed her down as he guided her up several steps to her porch and picked it up, and on Monday morn- called 911, staying with her until emergency into her house. The customer had suffered ing, delivered a letter to the church medical responders and animal control several lacerations to her arms, so the asking anyone who may have lost a arrived to take care of the situation. The Raleigh, North Carolina Branch 459 member valuable piece of jewelry to call him. customer later called the post office to provided first aid until further help arrived. Mary Dolabany, the owner of the thank the Minneapolis, Minnesota Branch 9 The woman expressed immense gratitude member, saying she didn’t know what ring, had been out running errands for Torain’s help. “I just did what I thought with her husband that day. When would have happened had he not been there anyone else would do, and that’s help some- and willing to help. they stopped at the church, she took one in need,” Torain told USPS officials. “It’s off the ring to apply lotion to her a part of the job I take seriously, to look after s Anthony Hussey was driving along hands and dropped it on the ground our customers.” Ahis route one winter day, he heard a as she was exiting the car. The cou- customer, Raivo Luik, calling his name from arly one morning, Ralph Dubossi was ple called all the places they could somewhere outside. The carrier stepped out Ewalking up the steps to the first stop on think of where they had run of his truck and kept calling out, “Where are his second relay when his attention was errands, including the church, but you?” until he found his patron. Luik had drawn to the customer’s storm door because had no luck. slipped on ice on his way to the mailbox, her small dog was frantically barking. Then Dolabany’s phone rang—a had fallen in between some bushes, and Though the dog would normally bark when it priest from the church called to wish had been lying there for more than an hour was in the back yard, this time it seemed dif- her a happy birthday and told her until Hussey helped him. The New Jersey ferent. Dubossi looked over and saw the about Whall’s letter. She called the Merged Branch 38 member tried to make customer lying on her back just outside the Boston, Massachusetts Branch 34 Luik comfortable, giving the man a pair of door. From her appearance, the carrier was member later to ask about the ring. gloves to wear since his hands had gotten afraid she was dead, and he immediately very cold. He then rushed across the street called 911, then waited outside the door for Whall asked her to describe it, and to ask a neighbor for help, and the two of rescue services to arrive. Paramedics com- her description perfectly matched them were able to get Luik back inside his plimented the Norfolk, Virginia Branch 456 the ring he had found. He told her warm home. member’s actions, saying the woman would she could meet up with him at the likely have died if they had arrived just five to post office, and it was there that she outh Suburban Merged, Illinois Branch 10 minutes later. reclaimed her precious possession. S4016 member Kristine Smart noticed “I would like to thank the postal that mail had started accumulating in a cus- obert Mack thought he heard a faint office for hiring Frank Whall and tomer’s box. She decided to check on the Rcry for help while delivering to the resi- making our community a place we dences on his route, so he decided to look situation and knocked on the man’s door. can truly say honest, moral individu- She heard a cry for help in response and into it further. Searching for the origin of the als exist,” Dolabany wrote in a letter. grabbed a phone right away to call 911 sound, he soon came upon its source: a “He walks our streets, delivers our before attempting to recruit assistance from customer inside a garage who had broken anyone nearby. When emergency personnel her knee. She was unable to walk but man- mail and is an awesome example arrived, she told them she heard a faint voice aged to crawl into her garage. Mack called and role model for our kids.” Whall coming from inside. They entered and found 911 and began to administer assistance said he just did what he thought was the man on the floor, where he had been for before summoning one of the woman’s right. “If my wife lost her wedding four days. “Knowing Kristine is part of the neighbors for help. The Chicago, Illinois ring, I would hope someone would Postal Service is a good feeling,” the man’s Branch 11 member stayed with the injured do the same thing,” he told The niece and nephews wrote to the local post- woman until responders arrived. ✉ Boston Globe.

32 POSTAL RECORD I JUNE 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS Carrier first on scene inside, he tried to tackle the fire that had by then engulfed most of the kitchen A loud bang caught the attention of area. He was successful at quelling a Ed Walsh while he was out delivering majority of the flames before the fire his route one early spring day. Turning department arrived to put out the rest. around, he was horrified to discover Vollmar was treated for smoke inhala- that two women had just been the vic- tion and was later commended by the tims of a hit-and-run car crash and were local borough council for setting aside lying injured on the ground. concern for his own safety to help others. Walsh immediately ran over to the pair “When someone is in need of help, and identified himself. Noticing that the you can either let someone else older of the two, Phyllis, was bleeding respond, or do the right thing,” he told profusely from a gash in her temple and The News Transcript. “I know that no was not fully conscious, he quickly took matter what the cost to me, I will off his jacket and used it to apply pres- always do the right thing.” sure to her wound to help stop the bleed- ing. He then turned his attention to the Attentive carrier saves other woman, Buffy, and tried his best to patron from apartment fire make her feel comfortable, since she said she believed her leg was broken. Hearing a cry for help and the smell The Northeastern New York Branch of smoke while delivering his route, 358 member then grabbed his phone to Thomas Matuszek was jolted into call 911 and stayed with the women action. He ran to the house and, when until help came. Once EMTs arrived on he saw it was on fire, he quickly the scene, Walsh did his best to fill dropped his mail satchel and entered them in on the situation. The respond- the smoke-filled kitchen without a sec- ing police officer commended Walsh ond thought. for his role in helping mitigate an other- He saw that the fire had started from wise disastrous situation. something burning on the stove, so the Buffalo-Western New York Branch 3 Fire meets its match member called 911 immediately. He then searched the apartment, found Leadership Academy While a shout brought Jeffrey Voll- elderly patron Adele Stokes, and car- mar running from his route, it was ried her outside of the smoky residence applicants sought what he heard next that stopped him in as he shouted for other occupants of Applicants for the 2011 Lead- his tracks. A young woman told the the building to escape. He then ran Freehold, New Jersey Branch 924 mem- back inside the apartment to make sure ership Academy are now being ber that her house was on fire and her all of the burners on the stove were accepted. The form is posted mother was still inside. turned off to avert a possible explosion. on the NALC’s website at Not stopping to consider the danger “It happened so fast that there was no nalc.org and is also available to himself, Vollmar told the woman to time to really think,” the carrier told call 911 and then, without hesitation, he The Buffalo News. from national business agents. ran into the smoke-filled home and Fire department officials commend- In order for candidates to be began searching for the girl’s mother. ed the carrier, saying how wonderful it eligible for 2011 training, forms He finally found her on the second was for Matuszek to go out of his way must be received at National floor, where she was disoriented and to save the woman. “It certainly doesn’t Headquarters by September 30. having trouble breathing. He grabbed make me a hero,” Matuszek said. “It her and was able to assist her down the makes me attentive, and I enjoy helping Please note: Previous appli- stairs and outside the house. people.” But Adele Stokes was certainly cants must reapply and include But he wasn’t done yet. Once he saw glad he was there. “Without him, I updated information, along with that she was safely out of harm’s way, he wouldn’t be here,” she said. “He was a renewed commitment from ran back into the house to look for any the perfect person to have at my side. their mentors. other residents, but he found none. While He did all the right things.” ✉

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS JUNE 2010 I POSTAL RECORD 33