State Radio Technician

Department of General Services

3/18/1968

Special Act Award (Gold)

Contractors were installing a sewer line in the area of the Sunnymead Fire Station in Riverside County. The Fire station was staffed with Fire Captain George McGuire; Fire Captain Delbert Tate and DGS State Radio Technician Ronald James were on site also for other business, when they were alerted that a cave-in had occurred at the construction site. Mr. James, along with the Fire Captains answered the call. Two men had been working at the bottom of a 13 foot deep trench when the bank gave way and completely buried them. The rescuers succeeded in uncovering one man’s head, but loose dirt was falling into the trench. Captain McGuire placed himself between the victims and the sliding dirt and was quickly buried to his waist. Captain Tate was buried to his knees. Despite this setback, Mr. James, along with the Fire Captains continued their rescue operations and managed to uncover and revived the two buried men.