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The 2012 Real Heroes Breakfast will take place on April 24. Check back then to see this year's heroes! In the meantime, here are the incredible heroes Red Cross honored in 2011.
12th Annual American Red Cross of Alaska ConocoPhillips Real Heroes Breakfast Award Recipients
On Tuesday, April 19, 2011 American Red Cross honored these Alaskans for their extraordinary acts of courage and compassion.
Home Safety Award - Willow
Buddy
Sponsored by ASRC Energy Services
On Easter evening in 2010, Ben Heinrichs was working in his family's shed with his dog Buddy as it caught fire. He evacuated and began hosing down the shed to control the flames moving toward his home, exclaiming to Buddy that he needed help. Neighbors called 911. As Trooper Terrance Shanigan approached the remote woods in Willow to respond to the call, without a working GPS, he noticed a frantic German Shepherd waiting on the corner of the main road in the dark. Buddy started running. Following his gut, Trooper Shanigan turned and trailed behind Buddy, who led him miles down unmarked roads to the Heinrichs' property. Buddy ran off upon delivering Trooper Shanigan to the scene. Trooper Shanigan radioed for all emergency response to follow the dog. Minutes later, Buddy led firefighters to the blaze, just in time to save the Heinrich's home.
Fire Rescue Award - Anchorage
Joey Jenkins
Sponsored by International Firefighters Union 1264
In February 2010, Joey Jenkins heard a strange sound coming from his family's laundry room. When he opened the door, he smelled something bad, so he went to let his mother know immediately. Within seconds, Tammie Jenkins told her seven children to quickly get out of the house. Moments after each sibling was in the car and Tammie backed out of the driveway, the Jenkins' house exploded. Joey credits his family's emergency preparedness plan to his quick-thinking.
Adult Good Samaritan Award - JBER
Senior Airman Ferdie Villaflores
Sponsored by Providence Health & Services Alaska
In fall 2010, Ferdie Villaflores, an Alaska Air National Guardsman assigned to the 176th Operations Support Squadron, was enjoying time with friends at the Elmendorf Fitness Center swimming pool. He noticed the lifeguard looking at the deep end of the pool, near where he was relaxing. Villaflores put his goggles on, looked underwater, and saw a child twitching underwater. He immediately dove to the bottom of the pool to rescue the boy and bring him to the side of the pool. Villaflores ensured the child's airway was open, and the lifeguard gave medical assistance, saving the boy's life.
Medical Rescue Award - Valdez
Dr. John Cullen and Midshipman William Cullen
 
Sponsored by Alaska Regional Hospital
In December 2010, Dr. John Cullen and his son William, home from the Merchant Marine Academy, were driving the Richardson Highway after a day of skiing. The road was glare ice, and ahead of them a van began to fishtail. The van, carrying Tisha Watts and her 9 month old baby, rolled off the road and into the river. The Cullens immediately pulled over. Dr. Cullen rushed to the river while William grabbed the first aid kit from the car. William used his ski boot to kick in the back window of the submerged van, pull the baby, and then Tisha Watts from the river. Dr. Cullen treated the victims while bystanders supplied blankets and their heated cars for warmth.
Military Rescue Award - Alaska Interior
Chief David Shuman, 212th Rescue Squadron of the Air National Guard of Alaska
Sponsored by Aurora Military Housing and JL Properties, Inc.
Last March, pararescuemen with the 212th Rescue Squadron of the Alaska Air National Guard got a call about a medical emergency in a remote cabin in the Interior. Chief David Shuman and his partner MS Mike Sullivan boarded a HC-130 Hercules plane in heavy snowfall and terrible winds. Despite poor visibility and a heavily wooded area, Shuman parachuted to a clearing where the son who'd called for help for his father's severe chest pains was waiting on a snowmachine. Shuman got to the cabin and assessed the man's critical medical needs, contacting Eielson Air Force Base for more medical equipment. There was no way to transport the man in his condition, so Shuman managed his severe pain for hours until the weather permitted a helicopter to land on a nearby riverbed to take him to a Fairbanks hospital - where he made a full recovery.
Community Safety Award - Anchorage
Officer Ed Janitscheck
Sponsored by BP
Last September, Ed Janitscheck was making his normal patrols of the downtown parking garage that Purcell secures. He heard a commotion, then spotted two men threatening a woman with a knife. One of the men told the woman, "I will kill you!" Immediately, Janitscheck called his supervisor, who called APD for backup. Janitscheck then advanced on the men, calling out for them to drop the knife and announcing that APD had been called. The men turned their attention from the woman to Janitscheck, slicing through his right cheek with a knife. The diversion allowed the woman to run and hide in safety. Janitscheck retreated to a public area, and within minutes APD arrived and arrested the attacker.
Water Rescue Award - Anchorage
Captain Mike Ascone, Engineer James Tobin, Firefighter Nik Nielsen, Battilion Chief Chris Bushue
  
Sponsored by Dowland-Bach
In July, Firefighters from Station 7 in Anchorage got a call of a drowning man in Jewel Lake. Being the closest emergency services, Captain Mike Ascone, James Tobin, and Nik Nielsen responded within a minute. Assessing with bystanders where the man was last seen bobbing in the lake, Nielsen quickly borrowed a kayak and paddled out. Tobin borrowed a paddle boat and was shortly behind him. Ascone borrowed a rowboat and jumped into the lake, diving to search underwater for the drowning swimmer. He found the victim, came up for air, dove again and brought him to the surface. The men got him into the boat and immediately began CPR and resuscitated the man.
Workplace Safety Award - Oooguruk Island Heliport, North Slope
Joey Cortez, Randy Fernlund, David Lacy, Savoy Ximenez
   
Sponsored by ConocoPhillips Alaska
In October, Randy Fernlund was working at Pioneer Natural Resources Oooguruk tie-in pad when a man hit the ground. Noting he was turning purple, Fernlund immediately called for medical support and began to check him for a pulse. He cleared his airway and began chest compressions. Joey Cortez arrived and began a CPR assist, and then Savoy Ximenez relieved the men. David Lacy, EMT, arrived on the scene and noted the three men were successfully administering CPR. Lacy attached an automated external defibrillator (AED) and shocked heartbeats into the victim. The men worked in conjunction until the man wakened two minutes later. He made a full recovery.
Youth Good Samaritan Award - Anchorage
Jacob Cox
Sponsored by First National Bank Alaska
Jacob Cox was enjoying a field trip to H2Oasis with his Tae Kwon Do classmates when he noticed a boy in the wave pool who was underwater and not moving. Without hesitation, he dove underwater to check for a response from the lifeless body. Jacob came up for air, then dove back to rescue 6-year-old Antonio Allen. At the surface, he and a friend yelled for a lifeguard to help assist pulling Allen to the edge of the pool to recover.
Wilderness Rescue Award - Tuluksak
Marty Williams
Sponsored by Petrotechnical Resources Alaska
Last September, Marty Williams and his dog Tobey were on a Cessna 207 waiting to head back to Fairbanks after a long day of search and rescue. As the plane took off, Williams braced himself and Tobey as the plane crashed into the trees at the end of the runway. Williams first thought was his beloved dog, having recently lost a dog friend he'd had for ten years. Tobey was howling but Williams noted he was uninjured. Williams then checked on the other passenger and pilot, both slumped in their seats. Williams acted quickly, using his experience from two previous crashes, and hurriedly got the men out before the busted fuel tank could ignite. Local villagers helped get the men to a nearby clinic, but there were no medical personnel. Again, Williams took charge and used his annual Red Cross training to tend to the wounded victims.
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