William M. Mitchell, III

William M. Mitchell III saved Charles Williams from burning, Kings Creek, South Carolina, November 9, 1973. When his tractor-trailer turned over onto its side, Williams, 40, was knocked unconscious and trapped inside the cab as vinyl acetate escaping from the ruptured trailer caught fire. Mitchell, 18, college student, ran to the front of the tractor as flames were spreading on the rest of the vehicle. After breaking out one portion of the windshield, Mitchell entered the cab through that opening and freed Williams, whose hand was caught. Backing out of the cab, atop which flames were burning, Mitchell pulled Williams through the windshield opening. The fire spread to the interior of the cab; and flames soon engulfed the entire rig.