Patrolman

California Highway Patrol

11/26/1963

Special Act Award (Gold)

At approximately 7:40 pm, Officer Charles E. Medicus and his partner Robert Blecksmith were on patrol in the Littlerock area when they observed a house on fire in a field near Highway 138. The officer notified the fire department and then proceed to the house to see if they could be of assistance. A locked gate blocked the driveway, but Officer Blecksmith quickly opened it and Officer Medicus drove through and on to the house. Upon his arrival the residence was full of smoke and when he opened the back door he discovered an elderly woman lying on the floor overcome by the smoke. Officer Medicus quickly dragged her to safety, incurring painful injuries to one of his legs when he encountered cacti plants in the yard. While Officer Blecksmith ran to call an ambulance, Officer Medicus applied mouth to mouth resuscitation until he revived the victim. Fearing that another person might still be in the house, he entered the back door and by crawling on his hands and knees through the smoke filled rooms, located an elderly man who was being lifted out a broken window by a passing motorist. Choking on the smoke, Officer Medicus jumped out the window and immediate started mouth to mouth resuscitation on the victim while Officer Blecksmith applied cardiac massage. They continued their attempts until the fire department arrived; unfortunately, the second victim expired before the rescue.