Henry John LeBlanc, 26, oilfield worker, attempted to save Lamar F. Devine, 29, oilfield worker, from burning, Lafitte, Louisiana, April 10, 1946. When gasoline that was spilled on the deck of a barge became ignited, Devine, whose clothing caught fire, attempted to lunge overboard; but his foot became caught; and he fell forward on a casing head three feet from the side of the barge. Flames three feet high rose from him and the deck around him. Crouching, LeBlanc ran through the flames, grasped Devine, and attempted to pull him overboard but was jerked to his hands and knees. He again grasped Devine but lost his hold and fell overboard. Climbing into a motorboat that was moored to the casing head, be started the motor and tried to pull the casing head overboard but could not move it. Climbing back onto the barge, he and three other men put out the flames with water. Devine was dead. LeBlanc suffered severe burns, which healed in seven weeks. 40826-3496
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