Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 25, 1984
• Invested on: November 09, 1984

In the early evening hours of 10 December 1982, Gregory Deans noticed smoke billowing from a downtown apartment building. Mr. Deans, when told that the occupants were still inside and despite the seriousness of the fire, went to the rear of the building and climbed the fire escape. He saw a tenant attempting to re-enter his apartment to retrieve some clothing but urged him to climb down the stairway. Then, guided by the sound of a voice calling for help, Mr. Deans reached a third-floor window where he found a man trying to escape with his unconscious wife. He stretched his head and shoulders through the narrow opening, pulled the woman out and carried her over his shoulder down a few steps. As the heat and suffocating smoke intensified, Mr. Deans realized that the man was also unable to get out unaided. He returned to the window and helped him through, then led the couple to safety.