| Name: | David Morris |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Pekin Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | Career |
| Rank: | Engineer |
| Type of Duty: | Firefighting operations, Search and rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Honor |
| Year of Award: | 2011 |
| Incident City: | Pekin |
| Year of Incident: | 2010 |
| Incident Location Type: | Residential |
| Incident Attribute: | Fires |
Engineer David Morris of the Pekin Fire Department was awarded the Medal of Honor for his efforts to rescue two men from a residential fire in Pekin, Illinois on March 24, 2010.
Engineer Morris was off-duty, driving down Derby Street, when he saw smoke billowing out of the second story of a house on a side street. Noticing that the Pekin Fire Department was not yet there, Morris, without his protective gear or regard for his own safety, entered the house to search for possible victims. He found a man on the first floor who he helped to safety. He then noticed a second male in the house, attempting to go upstairs to put out the fire. Morris dissuaded the man from going upstairs, fearing the man would face a potentially fatal outcome, and also escorted him to safety.
Citations:
“Firefighter recognized for off-duty valor,” Pekin Daily Times, June 18, 2010.
“Firefighters honored in Springfield,” Central Illinois News Center, May 12, 2011.