Harold V. Johnson, Jr., helped to save Eugene Bocock from burning, Gifford, Illinois, July 14, 1944. The tractor that Eugene, 16, farmhand, was driving overturned, and he was pinned on his back on the ground, suffering serious injury to one of his feet. Fire started on the ground beneath the fuel tank, and gasoline and oil dripped onto the fire. Eugene’s shoe and trousers caught fire. Johnson, 20, laborer, and another man ran to the tractor. Johnson made four trips carrying dirt in his hands, and he threw it onto flames, which were up to two feet high and covered an area two feet in diameter beneath the tank. Twice flames flashed from the cap of the tank, and the tank made a pounding noise. The other man rubbed out flames on Eugene’s trousers and poured water from a can onto them. As Johnson ran a mile for help, the other man carried dirt and piled it up around the tank, putting out the fire. A little later, Johnson returned with help. While five men lifted the end of the tractor, Johnson pulled Eugene from under it. Eugene sustained serious burns, and his leg was amputated. 40447-3454
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