William Howard Miles, 18, saved Solomon A. Jones, Jr., 4, from suffocation, Baltimore, Maryland, October 20, 1958. When fire broke out in the living room of the Jones apartment on the third floor of an apartment house, Solomon was left behind in the excitement as his mother and a neighbor woman took four other small children to safety. They twice attempted to go back for Solomon but were prevented from doing so because of the heat and smoke. Miles, who lived three floors above, was attracted by their screams and attempted to go to Solomon’s aid but also was driven back. He then obtained a wet blanket and, with it completely covering his body, crawled into the front room, where flames burned on the ceiling, walls, and furnishings. Heat was intense, and the smoke was dense. Following the sound of Solomon’s cries, Miles crawled 25 feet to a bedroom at the rear of the apartment, where he found Solomon on the floor. Miles then crawled with Solomon to a window, which he opened for air. Covering himself and Solomon with the blanket, Miles crawled 37 feet back through the apartment and out the door. Firemen arrived and extinguished the flames. Neither Solomon nor Miles was burned, but Miles required treatment at a hospital for smoke inhalation. He recovered.
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