Grays Harbor Member Saves Lives, Honored as Hero

Last summer, John Patterson Jr., a Grays Harbor Church member, rescued a family of three from a burning vehicle west of Olympia. For his heroic efforts, Patterson was honored at the Washington State Capitol. With all three people trapped, Patterson first assisted the young girl by breaking open the door before moving to free the woman in the passenger's seat. Emergency crews used Jaws of Life to extract the driver. Patterson believes that God placed him in the right place at the right time. “Without a thought," he said, "I wouldn’t hesitate to spring into action to help in a similar situation in the future.”

Last summer, John Patterson Jr., a Grays Harbor Church member, rescued a family of three from a burning vehicle west of Olympia. For his heroic efforts, Patterson was honored at the Washington State Capitol. With all three people trapped, Patterson first assisted the young girl by breaking open the door before moving to free the woman in the passenger's seat. Emergency crews used Jaws of Life to extract the driver. Patterson believes that God placed him in the right place at the right time. “Without a thought," he said, "I wouldn’t hesitate to spring into action to help in a similar situation in the future.”

Featured in: October 2006

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