Six Wright-Patt firefighters decorated for life-saving efforts

Published May 17, 2023
By Matthew Fink
88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs

Six Wright-Patterson firefighters pose for a photograph in front of a fire truck. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

(From left) Capt. Richard Tarr, Lt. Chad Engman, Capt. Greg Arnold, District Chief David Warner, Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth, and Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, assigned to the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, pose for a photograph after an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. During the ceremony, Tarr, Engman, Spaeth, and Hoffman received the Command Civilian Award for Valor and Warner the Civilian Achievement Award for their roles in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. Arnold was awarded the Command Civilian Award for Valor for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Maj. Nathan Thomsen shakes hands with Capt. Greg Arnold while awarding him a certificate. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Maj. Nathan Thomsen, left, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron commander, presents the Command Civilian Award for Valor to Capt. Greg Arnold, during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. Arnold was presented the award for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Capt. Greg Arnold, Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, and Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth sit and listen to a speech. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

(From left) Capt. Greg Arnold, Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, and Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, listen to a speaker during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. Hoffman and Spaeth received the Command Civilian Award for Valor for their role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire, and Arnold received the same medal for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Six Wright-Patt firefighters sit and listen to a speech. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

(From left) Capt. Greg Arnold, Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth, Lt. Chad Engman, Capt. Richard Tarr, and District Chief David Warner, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, listen to a speaker during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. During the ceremony, Tarr, Engman, Spaeth, and Hoffman received the Command Civilian Award for Valor and Warner the Civilian Achievement Award for their roles in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. Arnold was awarded the Command Civilian Award for Valor for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Capt. Greg Arnold and Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman stand at attention. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Capt. Greg Arnold, left, and Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, stand at attention during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. Arnold received the Command Civilian Award for Valor for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim, and Hoffman received the same medal for his role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Medals and citations sit on a table. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Medals and citations sit on a table prior to an awards ceremony at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. During the ceremony, five firefighters assigned to the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron received awards for rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire and one received an award for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio – Six firefighters assigned to the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base received medals for their life-saving efforts in the line of duty during a ceremony at the base’s fire station, May 10.

Capt. Richard Tarr, Lt. Chad Engman, Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, and Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth received the Command Civilian Award for Valor, the second-highest civilian decoration for heroism, for their roles in rescuing an unconscious victim during a March 2022 house fire in Fairborn.

“They made entry under high heat and zero visibility due to smoke conditions,” said Maj. Nathan Thomsen, the commanding officer of 788 CES, who hosted the ceremony. “Without hesitation, even as they started to experience low air alarms, they quickly packaged the patient and began the heroic task of removing him from the residence. In doing so, they demonstrated outstanding courage and competence.”

District Chief David Warner received the Civilian Achievement Award for his role in coordinating the emergency response to that event.

For a separate incident, Capt. Greg Arnold also received the Command Civilian Award for Valor for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim from a pond in May 2022.

“While the dive team was still assembling and donning gear, Arnold removed his personal floatation device and made the decision to free dive, saving precious minutes,” Thomsen said. “He willingly placed himself in harm’s way to bring the victim to safety.”

As dozens of friends, family, and fellow firefighters looked on, Thomsen pinned a medal on each honoree and presented them with their certificate. Capt. Steven McKee, a lead firefighter with 788 CES, concluded the ceremony by praising both the recipients and the work of the entire squadron.

“The men and women of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force are proud of all of our first responders and the heroic events that took place to bring us all here today,” McKee said.

Comprised of over 130 personnel, the mission of 788 CES is to provide a safe operating environment for air and space systems on Wright-Patt. Within 788 CES, the firefighting department’s primary mission is to prevent or minimize injury, loss of life, and damage to property.

District Chief David Warner stands at attention in front of a fire truck. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

District Chief David Warner, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, stands at attention after receiving the Civilian Achievement Award during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. Warner was presented the award for his role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Capt. Richard Tarr stands at attention in front of a fire truck. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Capt. Richard Tarr, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, stands at attention after receiving the Command Civilian Award for Valor during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, May 10, 2023. Tarr was presented the award for his role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Maj. Nathan Thomsen pins a medal on Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, receives the Command Civilian Award for Valor during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, May 10, 2023. Hoffman was presented the award for his role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Maj. Nathan Thomsen pins a medal on Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, receives the Command Civilian Award for Valor during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. Spaeth was presented the award for his role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Maj. Nathan Thomsen pins a medal on Lt. Chad Engman. — Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

Lt. Chad Engman, 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, receives the Command Civilian Award for Valor during an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10, 2023. Engman was presented the award for his role in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)

SLIDESHOW | images | Six Wright-Patt Firefighters Decorated for Live-Saving Efforts

To learn more about 788 CES as well as the missions of the 88th Air Base Wing, visit https://www.wpafb.af.mil.