One Man's Perspective: Heroes don't count the personal cost

Is it something we plan for?

Is it something we prepare for?

Unless you're in the service or employed in some kind of emergency response profession, probably not. Most people who find themselves involved in heroic acts are ordinary humans placed in extraordinary positions. Most heroes don't walk into a situation like Superman - waiting for their opportunity to step in and do good or save a life. It happens in a flash. There's an element of danger. There isn't time to think, you have to react. Sometimes, the actions of the hero are a measure of last resort.

That's what makes these following Iowans so special. They didn't hesitate or count the personal cost. They acted and as a result, lives were saved.

Gov. Chet Culver recently recognized 23 citizen "heroes" during the Iowa State Fair, honoring for stepping up and doing the right thing. These people make a difference in other peoples lives, sometimes at the risk of their own safety. Since many of you probably didn't make it to the state fair to pay tribute to the Hawkeye state's heroes, allow me to dedicate this space this week to honor them.

Because of space limitations, I'm forced to break this list into two. The remaining heroes will be recognized next week.

These are the heroes and their stories:

Dan Davis was in his home in Badger, caring for his two-month-old son when he noticed his neighbor's garage and two-story home engulfed in flames. His neighbor, Technical Sgt. Kevin Edwards, with Iowa Air National Guard in Ft. Dodge, had been deployed two days earlier to aid with the 2008 floods in Des Moines. Without hesitation, Dan dialed 911, passed his son to his wife, and then ran to the burning home. He pounded on the door with no answer before entering the Edwards' home. By this time, the split level residence was almost completely consumed in flames.

Without regard for his own safety, Dan crawled on his hands and knees, searching throughout the home before he found Hannah (17) and Max (16), asleep in their bedrooms. Fighting through the thick black smoke, he helped the two teenagers escape.

On July 18, 2008, 21-year-old Ms. Sarah Elrod, a senior at the University of Iowa, was traveling west on Highway 163. Normally divided as a four-lane highway, 163 was reduced to two lanes of head-to-head traffic for road construction. Elrod lost control of her vehicle, rotating backwards into the path of an oncoming straight truck carrying 300 gallons of ammonium sulfate. The impact caused the rear-end of Elrod's car to immediately ignite, leaving her badly injured and unconscious.

Toby Ames and his 14-year old daughter witnessed the accident. After telling his daughter to dial 911, he leapt from his vehicle and ran to the scene. Upon reaching Elrod's car, there were outstretched flames between the two vehicles. Toby could already feel the heat burning close to his legs. He opened the door and was able to pull Elrod from her car and carry her to safety. Toby held her head while talking to keep her conscious until emergency responders arrived. Elrod was airlifted to a Des Moines hospital with life-threatening injuries and spent two months making steady progress in recovering from a traumatic brain injury.

On June 30, 2009, Alan Neely and Patricia Ralph-Neely were boating on the Des Moines River when their boat was swept over the Center Street Dam. Witnesses watched as the boat crashed into pieces. Mr. Neely was swept away by the powerful current and Mrs. Ralph-Neely could be seen struggling in the boil. After nearly 30 minutes of rescue attempts on Mrs. Ralph-Neely by Bobby Karpan, Shawn Tough, Dave Arp, Kevin Brammer, the Des Moines Fire Department's Wet Team, and Des Moines Police, Cramer & Associates workers Chad Coalbank, Joe Lowe and Jason Oglesbee joined the rescue effort. Chad worked to remove equipment that was blocking access to Mrs. Ralph-Neely. Joe successfully operated a crane which lowered Jason into the churning waters where Mrs. Ralph-Neely was fighting for her life. Jason was able to hold onto Mrs. Ralph-Neely while the crane directed them to a rescue boat.

The heroic actions of Chad, Joe, Jason, Bobby, Shawn, Dave, and Kevin ultimately saved the life of Patricia Ralph-Neely.

On Jan. 5, 2009, 84-year-old Melvin Cronk was on his way to his garage when he slipped on the ice and could not get back up. The snow along the sidewalk where he lay was piled high enough that vehicles passing by could not see him. After nearly 45 minutes in 10 degree weather, 13-year-old Dakota Mullen responded to Cronk's plea for help. Dakota assisted Cronk back inside and ensured he was all right before continuing to school. Without Dakota's generous assistance, the outcome may have been more severe.

On May 25, 2008, in the wake of an F-5 tornado which moved through the community of Parkersburg, Jesse Lamp, James Hansel, Brian DeBower, Connie Reynolds, Edwin Blanchard, and Chad Blanchard arrived on scene at 712 3rd Street, within minutes after the storm to render aid to Karen and Dana Anderson.

Mr. Anderson was trapped in the basement of his home by walls of debris. A metal object had been driven into his right foot. He was losing a considerable amount of blood and beginning to go into shock. Chad and Edwin Blanchard responded without regard for their own safety to gain access to Mr. Anderson. As they assisted Trooper Souhrada to free him, he shared that his sister, Karen, was buried in the rubble on the upper level of what was left of the house. Without hesitation, Chad and Edwin followed Trooper Souhrada to assist with the search for Ms. Anderson. She was situated beneath the rubble, but still alive. She was having trouble breathing as she was being crushed and overcome by fumes. Rescuers were encouraged to remove Mr. Anderson immediately because any disruption of the debris piles around Ms. Anderson would fall directly onto him. The only option was to remove him before rescue efforts could begin for Ms. Anderson.

Once Mr. Anderson was evacuated from the house, J.J. Hansel and Jesse Lamp stayed to assist with the evacuation of his sister. After the combined efforts of all the rescuers, Ms. Anderson was freed from the rubble.