Captain

California Highway Patrol

7/24/1982

Special Act Award (Gold)

Just after 1 p.m., Captain Richard Noonan was off duty and traveling to a local store when he spotted a residential fire and stopped to investigate. He learned from those at the scene that a man was in the house and two people had already made unsuccessful attempts to enter the residence. With no regard to his own personal safety, Captain Noonan went into the burning house. Despite heavy smoke that cut visibility to nearly zero, he located the severely burned victim and with the help of arriving firefighters, pulled the man out. Unfortunately, the victim succumbed to his injuries later.