Honoring Lincoln's Firefighters

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.