[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15746]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       JERRY HALE AND DAVE BRAGG

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MIKE PENCE

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 12, 2005

  Mr. PENCE. Mr. Speaker, on the quiet afternoon of July 7, 2005 in 
Parker City, Indiana, Tim Hammer, who is paralyzed and wheelchair-
bound, was crossing a set of railroad tracks on Franklin Street. Almost 
immediately after he began to cross the tracks, the traffic arms 
lowered to signal an approaching train. Hammer's wheelchair hit a rough 
spot and he was thrown to the ground. At the same time, Jerry Hale and 
Dave Bragg of Parker City were repairing an herbicide sprayer about 
fifty feet from the railroad crossing. Hale and Bragg saw Hammer lying 
on the tracks unable to move and the freight train approaching the 
crossing at approximately 55 miles per hour. In an instant, Hale and 
Bragg dropped their work and sprinted to the crossing where they pulled 
Hammer to safety just seconds before the train barreled through and 
crushed his empty wheelchair.
  Hale and Bragg should be commended for their feats of courage and the 
nobility of purpose behind their actions. These men risked their lives 
in order to save the life of a stranger during his moment of need. 
Their actions on July 7th speak volumes about their good character and 
the high regard with which they hold human life.
  After the incident, Hale and Bragg stated that they were 
uncomfortable with being called heroes and believed that they had been 
placed near the railroad crossing by the grace of God. Mr. Speaker, 
through the grace of God, America is blessed to have heroes such as 
these men, and I am honored today to commend them as heroes whose 
courage and selflessness should serve as an example to all Americans.

                          ____________________