| Name: | James Scharnhorst |
| Gender: | Male |
| Agency: | Oak Forest Fire Department |
| Type of Firefighter: | |
| Rank: | Firefighter |
| Type of Duty: | Water rescue operations |
| Type of Award: | Medal of Valor |
| Year of Award: | 2006 |
| Incident City: | Oak Forest |
| Year of Incident: | 2005 |
| Incident Location Type: | Water/Waterfront |
| Incident Attribute: | Traffic accidents |
Lieutenant Leonard Bonnevier, Firefighter James Scharnhorst, and Engineer Thomas Stotts were awarded the Medal of Valor for their efforts to rescue a Sheriff’s Officer from an automobile submerged in water in Oak Forest, Illinois on March 12, 2005.
The Oak Forest Fire Department received a call that an automobile was submerged in cold water with possible victims still inside, including a Cook County Sheriff’s Officer. Lieutenant Bonnevier, one of the first on the scene, entered the frigid water. He discovered only one female victim inside the car. He was unable to open the door. Shortly thereafter, Engineer Stotts and Firefighter Scharnhorst arrived in an ambulance. Scharnhorst entered the water and smashed the window open. Stotts and Scharnhorst removed the victim from the chilly waters, and took her to their ambulance where she was treated for severe hypothermia. Firefighter/EMT John Janozik put on an ice rescue suit and entered the water to search for more victims. Fortunately, no others were found.
Citation:
”Gov. Blagojevich honors fallen firefighters, recognizes 28 other firefighters for extraordinary acts of bravery.” Illinois Government News Network, May 11, 2006.