State Traffic Officer

California Highway Patrol

12/24/1990

Special Act Award (Gold)

State Traffic Officers Thomas R. Greenstone and Wesley John Maehler, on December 24, 1990, performed an extraordinary act of heroism at great personal risk to their own safety and life in the rescue of two adult males from a burning pickup truck. At approximately 03:30 a.m., Officers Greenstone and Maehler were on routine patrol when they observed flames south of their location, near Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. Immediately responding to the location the officers encountered a burning pickup truck with two unconscious adult males in the cab of the truck. Officer Maehler got the fire extinguisher from the patrol car while Officer Greenstone ran to the right door of the pickup. The engine compartment was fully engulfed in flames, and had ignited the surrounding vegetation which quickly became six-to-ten foot wall of flames, along the left side of the truck. Officer Greenstone opened the right door and located the passenger in the thick dense smoke that filled the interior of the truck. The passenger was extremely intoxicated and resisted Officer Greenstone’s attempt to get him out of the truck. Overcoming the passenger’s resistance, Officer Greenstone pulled him to safety as the dash and windshield started to melt from the extreme heat and flames which had made their way through the firewall. Officer Maehler then entered the truck, and located the unconscious driver slumped up against the driver’s door and the dashboard. He began pulling the driver toward the passenger’s door, but due to his large size, the driver became stuck between the seat and the steering wheel. After considerable effort Officer Maehler was able to free the driver and pull him through the open door. Both Officers Greenstone and Maehler carried the still unconscious driver to a safe distance away from the truck which was now fully engulfed in flames.