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Carnegie Hero Fund Medal

Carnegie Hero Fund Medal, Large Type, awarded to Harry W. Thornton, 15th APril 1944. Harry W. Thornton saved Lorraine Sinchak from being killed by a train in Trenton, New jersey…

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Origin: United Kingdom
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Carnegie Hero Fund Medal, Large Type, awarded to Harry W. Thornton, 15th APril 1944.

 

Harry W. Thornton saved Lorraine Sinchak from being killed by a train in Trenton, New jersey, on 21st March 1944.

 

Lorraine, aged 6, ran on a crossing onto a track on which a passenger-train was approaching at a speed of 40 mph and fell prone between the rails. She tried to rise but again fell.
Thornton, aged 23, assistant store manager, who just had walked over the crossing, ran 15 feet on hard packed snow and ice to Lorraine, reaching her when the locomotive was within 60 feet of her.
Grasping her coat beneath her arm with his hand, he jerked her up, and partly carrying and partly dragging her, started to run from the track. At his second step he slipped and fell to his knees at a point three feet form the track. Clasping Lorraine to his chest, he quickly crawled four feet farther. The locomotive then passed at slightly reduced speed. Neither Thornton nor Lorraine were injured.