MEDALS AWARDED PRISON OFFICERS HONORED FOR SAVING LIVES, RESISTING ATTACK.Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer LANCASTER - Three state prison officers and one former prison officers have received awards for going above and beyond the call of duty while they were on the staff at Lancaster. The California Department of Corrections' highest honor, its Medal of Valor For other medals of the same name, see . The Medal of Valor (O't Ha'gvora, Hebrew: עיטור הגבורה) is the highest Israeli Military decoration. , went to a correctional officer who ran into a burning house and carried an 83-year-old blind woman to safety. ``I was just glad we were able to help,'' said the correctional officer, David Perez, who said a motorist who stopped when he saw the fire also ran into the burning home. While Perez looked for the blind woman, the motorist led out an 85-year-old man. ``It didn't really hit me - what we had done - until I was able to sit back and think about it. The whole incident went so fast,'' Perez said. Other honors went to Officers Thomas Case and Thomas Vasquez, who were attacked by inmates at the Lancaster prison, and to Randy L. Fields, who had been on the Lancaster staff but was on National Guard duty at Burbank Airport when he caught caught a baby falling head-first from a countertop just before the baby hit the floor. Perez and Case still serve in Lancaster. Vasquez has transferred to another prison, and Fields has become a state parole officer. Perez was mowing mow 1 n. 1. The place in a barn where hay, grain, or other feed is stored. 2. A stack of hay or other feed stored in a barn. his lawn in March 2001 when he spotted smoke and flames pouring from a home three doors down. He told his wife to call 911 and ran to the home while other neighbors grabbed garden hoses. Neighbor Lorena Green yelled yell v. yelled, yell·ing, yells v.intr. To cry out loudly, as in pain, fright, surprise, or enthusiasm. v.tr. To utter or express with a loud cry. See Synonyms at shout. n. to him that people were inside. Perez kicked open the front door and ran inside, and the motorist who had stopped to help followed him in, led out the 85-year-old man and left without giving his name. In a rear bedroom, Perez found the elderly blind and disabled woman, frightened fright·en v. fright·ened, fright·en·ing, fright·ens v.tr. 1. To fill with fear; alarm. 2. and disoriented dis·o·ri·ent tr.v. dis·o·ri·ent·ed, dis·o·ri·ent·ing, dis·o·ri·ents To cause (a person, for example) to experience disorientation. Adj. 1. . Perez scooped her up and carried her outside. The elderly couple survived with minor smoke inhalation Smoke Inhalation Definition Smoke inhalation is breathing in the harmful gases, vapors, and particulate matter contained in smoke. Description Smoke inhalation typically occurs in victims or firefighters caught in structural fires. . The fire destroyed their home. Case and Vasquez received Gold Stars, the department's second-highest award for heroism Heroism See also Bravery. Achilles Greek hero without whom Troy could not have been taken. [Gk. Lit.: Iliad] Aeneas Trojan hero; legendary founder of Roman race. [Rom. Lit. , after being attacked, beaten and stabbed last August by inmates as they were marching to breakfast. Vasquez had noticed an inmate INMATE. One who dwells in a part of another's house, the latter dwelling, at the same time, in the said house. Kitch. 45, b; Com. Dig. Justices of the Peace, B 85; 1 B. & Cr. 578; 8 E. C. L. R. 153; 2 Dowl. & Ry. 743; 8 B. & Cr. 71; 15 E. C. L. R. 154; 2 Man. & Ry. 227; 9 B. & Cr. step out of line and ordered him back. When the inmate refused, Case approached him and also ordered him back in line. The inmate bumped Case with his shoulder, and Case reached for his baton. The inmate began punching Case in the face while a another inmate attacked from behind. Case was knocked to the ground and stabbed. Vasquez rushed to Case's aid, and while the inmates turned on him, Case was able to get to his feet and start using his baton. Other officers arrived and used batons and pepper spray. Case and Vasquez recovered from their injuries and returned to work. Fields, who now works for the state parole department, received a Bronze Star Bronze Star n. A U.S. military decoration awarded either for heroism or for meritorious achievement in ground combat. Noun 1. from the Department of Corrections as well as the California Air National Guard's Award of Merit for catching the baby. Fields was on National Guard duty at Burbank Airport when a couple set their 6-month-old baby in a carrier on a counter and did not notice that the carrier was close to the edge and rocking. Fields made a successful leap and grabbed the baby whose head was just inches from hitting the floor. Greg Botonis, (661) 267-7802 gregory.botonis(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) The state Department of Corrections has given its highest honor, the Medal of Valor, to David Perez, left, while another Lancaster correctional officer, Thomas Case, has received a bronze medal for bravery Bravery See also Heroism. Achilles foremost Greek hero of Trojan War; brave and formidable warrior. [Gk. Hist.: NCE, 12] Adrastus courageous Indian prince; Rinaldo’s enemy. [Ital. Lit. . Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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