U.S Rep. Barry Moore and Enterprise, Alabama, Mayor William E. Cooper, far right, presented the Carnegie Medal to constituent Marvin A. Pinckney, center, during an Enterprise City council meeting on Tuesday, May 20.
Pinckney was awarded the medal in December 2024 after he saved two women from burning in Enterprise on September 4, 2022.
An 82-year-old woman and her caretaker, 56, were in a den on the first floor of a two-story house when flames broke out in the garage of the home. Retired army aviation operations specialist Marvin A. Pinckney was outside his home nearby when he saw smoke coming from the garage. He knew the woman utilized oxygen and a wheelchair which limited her mobility and called 911. As Pinckney ran to the home’s back door, he saw flames in the garage. Pinckney entered through the back door and found the women in the den. As spreading flames blocked Pinckney’s exit at the back door and heavy smoke blocked a clear pathway to the front door, Pinckney assisted the caretaker in moving the woman from an electric lift chair, which wasn’t operating because power was out due to the fire, into her wheelchair and guided them toward a front bedroom to escape through a window. As they followed him, the caretaker became disoriented in the smoke. Pinckney called out to guide her and moved ahead of the women to clear a path to safety. He lifted a bed which allowed space for the wheelchair and the caretaker pushed the chair near the window. Pinckney opened the window and pushed out the screen. He guided the caretaker through the opening to others waiting outside, who pulled her the rest of the way out to safety. Pinckney then did the same for the woman, helping her from the chair and pushing her upper body through the opening to others outside. He then also exited through the window. The house sustained extensive damage and was later torn down. Both women were taken by ambulance to the hospital. The caretaker was treated for smoke inhalation and was released. The woman remained at the hospital overnight. Pinckney was treated for minor smoke inhalation and recovered.
“Mr. Pinckney, your courage and quick thinking made a tremendous difference that day,” said Mayor Cooper. “Your selfless actions are truly inspiring.”
When asked about the honor, Pinckney never expected to receive any recognition for his actions.
“I never expected to receive anything remotely close to a national award,” Pinckney said. “I did what I thought was the right thing to do.”
After serving in the military for 30 years, Pinckney said he never second guessed his choice to act and help.
“We are expected to put our life on the line for our fellow man. That’s what made me go into that house, and just being a decent person. Just knowing that there were two elderly folks in that house, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I knew they perished because I didn’t at least try.”
Pinckney was humble in his response to receiving the medal.
“I am not a hero. I am an everyday American who saw someone who needed help. I would do it again,” said Pinckney.
