Chief Wesley Williams Medal

Firefighter Sheldon L. George Ladder Company 30

September 2, 2005, 0810 hours, Box 75-2445, 13 Clarke Avenue/Corona Avenue, Staten Island

Appointed to the FDNY on September 14, 2003. Member of the Vulcan Society. Cited on two previous occasions. Attended Texas A & M University. Resides in Manhattan.

Being a Firefighter is not what you do; it is what you are. And so, although he had fewer than two years on the job, when FF Sheldon George came upon a situation at the start of the 2005 Labor Day weekend, because of who he is, he reacted immediately.

On the beautiful morning of September 2nd, FF George, an off-duty member of Ladder 30, had been house-sitting on Staten Island and decided it was time to go out for breakfast. He hopped into his car and was traveling on Clarke Avenue toward Amboy Road. Just before reaching the intersection, he noticed a group of people off to his right, staring across the street.

As he came around a bend in the road and drew closer, he saw an out-of-control automobile approaching a gasoline station and heading toward one of two pumps that were in operation. After slamming into the first pump, the car hit the second pump, bounced along while overturning a number of times and finally came to rest upside down.

The outcome of the initial crash was an immediate explosion and fireball, with the resulting flames engulfing the pumps and another vehicle whose owner was filling its tank. FF George observed a person’s arm hanging out of the window of the overturned car and realized that the driver was trapped.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he stopped his car, exited and ran to the overturned vehicle. Although there was an extremely heavy fire burning and gasoline continuing to flow, FF George managed to extricate the unconscious driver--Michael Garcia, a 26-year-old male.

As soon as the victim was freed from the car, FF George picked him up and carried him away from the inferno. As he was ready to lower the man, a second fireball erupted, hurling both rescuer and victim into the air and depositing them on the ground, almost 10 feet away. The Firefighter quickly recovered, picked himself up, once again hoisted the victim and carried Mr. Garcia to safety.

The victim started to regain consciousness as FF George administered first aid. Shortly thereafter, EMS personnel arrived and assumed patient care. Mr. Garcia was transported to Staten Island University Hospital for treatment.

The end of a tour does not mean that one stops being a Firefighter. Although he was off duty, FF George demonstrated his true grit by displaying extraordinary courage, which resulted in a lifesaving rescue. His actions are all the more impressive because he accomplished them without any personal protective equipment or the benefit of a hose-line being in place. He acted decisively and without hesitation. For these reasons, the Chief Wesley Williams Medal is presented to Firefighter Sheldon L. George.—BDG

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