Airman rescues woman, child from river

[rainbow4321]

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/R/RIVER_RESCUE?SITE=TXSAE&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

TULSA, Okla. (AP) -- An airman home on leave from basic training jumped into the frigid water of the Arkansas River to save a mother and her 2-year-old son after their car lost control and crashed.

Bills' car, which swerved to avoid hitting a pickup truck that had cut in front of her, crashed into the water. Johnson, 18, who saw the accident from his own car, jumped in after her.

"I tried to open the door, and it was locked," Johnson said. "I banged on the top and told her to unlock the door, so she did. I helped her open the door. She got out, and the car started sinking more under." Bills screamed that her son was still inside, and Johnson went under water at least two more times to pull the little boy to safety.

Johnson, who is training to work on ground radar in Biloxi, Miss., credited his Air Force training. "That's all I was thinking is, `I don't know who's in there or what, but I need to get them out,'" Johnson said. "I mean, they teach us really not to think - just to act. I'm just glad that child survived."

[C.C.D.]

1. God bless Airman Johnson. (nt)

[tkmorris]

2. None of us know for certain, until it happens

how we will react under such circumstances. Airman Johnson has received a precious gift; he now knows he has what it takes under fire to get the job done, whatever it may be. He will walk a little taller for the rest of his life, knowing this.

May Lady Fortune grant us more Airman Johnsons. We need them.

[Skittles]

4. oh I know how I'd act

I wouldn't think twice about jumping in. Funny, I got my tech training at Keesler AFB in Biloxi to. :)

[Tsiyu]

3. An Angel with Airmens' Wings

O8) O8) O8) O8) O8)

[roguevalley]

5. what a good boy. his parents can be proud of him.

[Divernan]

6. At 1st I thought it would be an Iraqi mother & child.

This young man was heroic and selfless, and should be honored. But my first thought was of the Fallujans who were shot from US helicopters while swimming across the river to try to get out of Fallujah. Crazy world, this.

[lawladyprof]

7. I thought of them too--eom

[okasha]

8. Me, too.

But if it had been an Iraqi mother and child, the Airman would have gone in after them, too. This is one fine young man.

Okasha

[karlrschneider]

9. I happened to be driving by just after this happened. The kid was just

climbing out of the river...I thought at first glance he was drunk or crazy, couldn't see the sunken car. I pulled over at 31st st and ran back to where it was happening but someone had already gotten him into a warm car (it was about 20 degrees outside). I'm glad I wasn't a minute earlier 'cause I'm not sure I'd have been brave enough to jump into that freezing water.

[rainbow4321]

10. Tulsa: Fund set up for airman who saved woman, baby

I was in OK visiting relatives and saw this follow-up on the Tulsa news:

http://www.sunherald.com/mld/sunherald/10498169.htm


TULSA, Okla. - A group of Tulsa businessmen is establishing a fund with F&M Bank for a serviceman who risked his life to save a mother and child after their car crashed into the Arkansas River. Pete Adamson, a managing partner with Adams Hall Investment Management, said men from his golf group were moved by U.S. Air Force Airman Joshua Johnson's efforts Thursday.

"We think that this is a true American hero," Adamson said of Johnson. "Just the story and what he did inspired us to say that this young man needs to be idolized as opposed to the bad things that sometimes get into the paper."

The group pledged $2,500 to start the fund and is asking the public for further donations, Adamson said. Johnson - recently out of basic training and home for Christmas leave - proposed marriage to his girlfriend, Brittany Campbell, on Thursday at the Pedestrian Bridge.
Moments after she accepted his proposal, Johnson saw an out-of-control car crash from Riverside Drive into the frigid river north of the bridge.

Johnson, 18, and his 19-year-old fiancee will receive the donations as a wedding present when they marry in about six months, Adamson said. Johnson, who is training to work on ground radar at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Miss., said he was surprised by the attention he has gotten over the rescue. "I did not expect this kind of recognition," he said. "I didn't do it for anything like that".