[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 12]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 17991]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 RECOGNIZING RAUL CARABAJAL FOR RECEIVING THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF 
            LETTER CARRIERS' REGIONAL HERO OF THE YEAR AWARD

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. MIKE THOMPSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 13, 2000

  Mr. THOMPSON of California. Mr. Speaker, today I recognize Raul 
Carabajal of Fairfield, California, for receiving the National 
Association of Letter Carriers' Regional Hero of the Year Award.
  Mr. Carabajal is being recognized for his selfless and heroic act of 
rescuing a postal customer from a smoky house fire. While delivering 
mail, as he had for the past 15 years, along his regular route, Mr. 
Carabajal spotted smoke rising in the sky above the neighborhood 
rooftops. Following the smoke, Mr. Carabajal arrived at a house on 
fire, ran to the door, pounded it open, then dropped to his hands and 
knees and crawled into the house.
  Blinded by smoke, he followed sounds until he saw the pale arm of an 
elderly woman as she lay in the hallway. He immediately dragged the 
woman out of the house to safety and returned into the house to rescue 
her two Pomeranian dogs, leading them to safety through the garage.
  Hearing the siren of fire trucks arrive, Mr. Carabajal quietly jumped 
back into postal vehicle and resumed his normal mail deliveries.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. Raul Carabajal put his own life on the line to save 
the lives of an elderly woman and her two pets. This valiant and noble 
act is the reason for his receiving the Regional Hero of the Year Award 
from the National Association of Letter Carriers.
  Mr. Speaker, it is appropriate at this time that we recognize Mr. 
Raul Carabajal for his bravery and commitment to the community. 
Congratulations to Mr. Carabajal for receiving this distinguished 
award.

                          ____________________