The San Diego Fires were a time of tragedy for sure. But as in all tragedies, heroes emerged. There were the brave firemen (aren't they all) , the people who live there and face this kind of problem regularly, and there is John Gibbons.
John lived with his 76 year old mother, and half-brother David in a trailer park located in a canyon so remote that cell phones do not even work there. It was not much, to be sure, but for them, it was home.
When the inevitable happened and the firefighters came to evacuate them, Johns mom refused. and refused. and refused. Finally the time came for them to forcible remove her from her only home, and relocating her,and her two sons to a friends home a couple of miles away. the sight of this woman was truly a tragic one, bleeding from the nose, and crying "I have no where else to go"
After an hour of this, John Gibbons could stand no more of this. He persuaded his friend to help him onto a motorcycle where he proceeded to head back to the mobile home, and the flames.
For two days he raced around the perimeter with his friend, frantically shoveling dirt on any small fires that were erupting on the property, as huge palm trees exploded nearby beside the propane tanks around them.
Finally after two days it was over. 80 per cent of the trailer park was gone. Moms trailer still stood. When asked why he did it, John said "Mom wanted to go home, and its all we got".. Nuff Ced.
Was he a fool or a hero?? well I guess it depends on your take. If he and his friend would have died, people would have called them fools I guess, but in my opinion, a real man, a real hero will come to the aid of a woman in tears anytime. A fool to some, but a hero to others, and I hope a good story of inspiration for my first day of Christmas.
You can read the link here for more details.
1 comment:
Good for people to know.
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