[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 28 (Friday, February 14, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S2521]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING LINCOLN'S FIREFIGHTERS

 Mr. NELSON of Nebraska. Mr. President, today at the White 
House six brave Nebraska firefighters will be honored by the Vice 
President of the United States for their stirring acts of bravery and 
heroism during a dangerous and daring rescue in Nebraska.
  All Nebraskans are tremendously proud of these men. They showed 
uncommon bravery when they selflessly risked their lives in service of 
others and today's honor is but a small payment toward all they have 
given for their communities.
  The Vice President will present Deputy Chief Ron Kennett, Captain 
Rick Klein, and Firefighters Bob Borer, Jeremy Hosek, Guy Jones, and 
Mike Wright of the Lincoln Fire Department with Public Safety Officer 
Medal of Valor awards. The award recognizes the firefighters' role in 
recovering an accident victim from a television tower in Bassett, NE, 
on April 22, 2002
  During that rescue a man was trapped on a 1,500-foot tall Nebraska 
Educational Telecommunications, NET, tower. The man, Timothy Culpepper 
of Meridian, MS, was part of a crew installing a new cable and 
transmission line on the tower about 15 miles south of Bassett. It is 
believed Culpepper was killed instantly when a steel cable snapped. His 
body was about 1,180 feet above ground.
  After an air rescue was determined to be impossible due to winds, 
tower wires and lack of expertise, Lincoln Fire and Rescue was called 
in. The six-person crew was flown to Bassett in a Nebraska State Patrol 
aircraft, usually used by the Governor's Office. Deputy Chief Kennett 
and Captain Klein directed the recovery operation from the ground. The 
six firefighters climbed for an hour and a half to reach the accident 
victim. They lowered Mr. Culpepper's body 300 feet at a time, with the 
descent taking more than 3 hours.
  Men and women like these firefighters are our first line of defense 
whenever tragedy strikes. They are truly an inspiration to us all. I 
join with my fellow Nebraskans and this entire nation in thanking them 
for their courage and for making my home State proud.

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