Area Heroes Honored by the Red Cross

Each year the Willamette Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross recognizes those who go above and beyond the call of their communities.

The Red Cross is packed with caring volunteers, and they recognize that these community heroes also make huge contributions to their community

(SALEM, Ore.) - The Willamette Chapter of the American Red Cross honored local citizens at the third annual REAL HEROES Breakfast Thursday.

“The event is held in September not only because it is National Disaster Preparedness Month but also as a time when we recall the incredible heroism of so many Americans following the attacks of September 11th”, said Karen Schultz, executive director of the Red Cross.

The honorees included:
Humanitarian Adult Hero ~ Tammy Atkin

A special Christmas gift from Tammy Atkin’s Mom and Dad offered her a vacation from her regular duties as a home health nurse with the Salem Hospital Home Care Program. The fun-filled trip to New York City began with a limousine ride from Salem to Portland for Tammy Atkin, her two sisters and Mom. The vacation continued in New York when the ladies were met by a second limousine at the airport for a tour of the city. After a few days of lavish restaurant meals, taking in shows, sightseeing and shopping, the group rose early one day to beat the crowds at the Statue of Liberty on Ellis Island.

After successfully securing places near the front of the line at the ferry landing, Tammy’s attention was immediately drawn to another tourist in distress. A large elderly man several rows behind her had just collapsed. With no regard for her self, Tammy dropped her purse, dashed over two sections of guard rails losing her shoes, and then took charge of the man’s care.

Just as the Red Cross trains people to, Tammy checked the man’s pulse and breathing, called out for someone to get an ambulance and then began giving care. She administered CPR and rescue breaths. Several minutes later others offered to help with the chest compressions, but Tammy continued to fill the man’s lungs with air to sustain his vital organs. Even after the man expelled his breakfast of orange juice, Tammy didn’t relent. She was committed to give care until the ambulance arrived about 25-minutes later. Apparently, traffic delays in the morning prevented the ambulance from arriving earlier.

After the ambulance took over the man’s care, Tammy immediately consoled his wife, assuring her that every possible action was being taken to save her husband’s life. Sadly, they later learned the man did not survive.

Tammy’s family members describe her as a caring person, who is always thinking of others. Since her youth she has been a natural caregiver, enjoying babysitting, reaching out to others in need, and ultimately pursing a career in nursing. The American Red Cross is proud to honor her commitment to helping others. Her caring nature, years of training and selfless actions truly define what lies in every hero’s heart.

Community Partner Hero ~ Sergeant Rick Igou

Sergeant Rick Igou grew up in the small town of Independence, married his high school sweetheart and together raised their son and daughter. Igou remembers a motorcycle cop coming to talk to his 5th grade class in school. That was the day he decided to become a police officer. And that is exactly what he has done.

In 1987 Igou was hired by Independence Police Chief Vernon Wells. The next year he would be named Officer of the Year by his department, going on to be promoted to Sergeant in 1990.

Over the years his community involvement in a variety of programs has earned him multiple awards and recognition for consistently going above and beyond the call of duty. The Community Partner Hero Award is given for Igou’s work with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program which the Independence Police Department administers.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency developed the program to fill a gap in emergency response capabilities, which are likely to occur in the event of a catastrophic disaster. Such an event could overwhelm the resources available to first responders like police and fire departments. Trained teams would perform emergency services until professional help becomes available and can access affected areas.

CERT members are trained in a variety of areas including: disaster preparedness, medical operations, fire suppression, light search & rescue, team organization, disaster psychology and terrorism awareness. Over 200 people in Polk County have completed the CERT training, with about 150 maintaining active status.

In addition to the structured training which Igou oversees, he has served as an inspiration to his students, co-workers and members of his community. His dedication to community policing and fostering of community enriching programs has been making a difference in the Independence community for 20 years.

We applaud Sergeant Igou and his commitment to family and community. It’s nice to know that in times of non-disaster, there are people who are preparing to help their neighbors in a time of disaster!

Spirit of the Red Cross Heroes ~ Dick and Gayle Withnell

This award is presented for multi-faceted community contributions consistent with the voluntary humanitarian service work performed by the American Red Cross. The services performed by Dick and Gayle Withnell in our community clearly embody this honor. The couple has been instrumental in the acquisition of the United Way of the Mid-Willamette Way building and the many services which that organization administers. Also on their list of contributions to our community is their work with Family Building Blocks, the Kroc Center, the No Meth Task Force and the local faith based community to provide foster care to children affected by our community’s methamphetamine epidemic. These are just a few examples of the work they have done.

Dick Withnell is a very visible member of our community, but few people are aware of how instrumental his wife Gayle is as well. Dick credits his wife of 44-years with supporting him in all that he has achieved. In the early years of their marriage, Gayle took care of their children and home while Dick worked hard to build a successful automobile dealership. Later when Dick sold the business to their son, the couple jumped wholeheartedly into community service. He says that the couple’s work together is a classic example of one plus one equaling something greater than two.

When asked why they were working so hard to improve our community, the Withnells explained their motivation to leave our community a better place than when they joined it. They speak passionately about offering the most vulnerable youth in our community an opportunity not only to succeed, but to thrive and become contributing citizens themselves. They pose the question, “If not us, who will serve as champions for these children”?

The couple shares a common trait with our other honorees in that they don’t feel like heroes. They are quick to point toward others who have collaborated in their work. They point to law enforcement officials, firefighters and foster families and say, “those are your heroes”. Even though colleagues have credited the couple with making the difference in hundreds of lives in our community, they shy away from recognition.

Animal Rescue Heroes ~ Detective Curtis Pitt and K-9 Deputy Vader

On September 14th, 2006 Search and Rescue teams searched for missing 3-year old Matty who had wandered away from his home near Dayton. For more than an hour teams searched on the ground and from a helicopter through heavy woods, open fields and a vineyard, to no avail. Then the Yamhill County Sheriff’s office requested assistance from the K-9 unit in Polk County. Within 10-minutes Detective Pitt and K-9 Deputy Vader were on the scene.

Detective Pitt was provided with a pair of overalls that the boy was last seen wearing. Pitt then took Vader to the area where the boy was last seen, Vader sniffed the overalls, and then began to track. Vader tracked along a fence line, through an open field and then continued into a heavily wooded area. Vader tracked for over three miles and then appeared to lose the trail.

When other handlers may have given up, Pitt and Vader remained dedicated to track and search for Matty. The team began to work a hillside when they passed a trail that immediately caught Vader’s attention. The team was back on track. After almost three hours of tracking, they found the boy who was crying. The boy was in good condition, considering the ordeal. Any changes in weather, continued exposure, darkness falling or any other variables could have made for a tragic outcome.

Detective Pitt constantly trains with Vader to keep their skills sharp. Pitt says that Vader becomes excited when they are preparing to leave their home for a day’s work. While other officers with the department typically work alone due to limited funding, Pitt says he feels very secure working with Vader. “He’s got my back”, says Pitt.

Vader was purchased with a $10,000 donation from a local citizen. Additional donations from individuals and organizations have supported his training, equipment, veterinarian fees and even his food. Vader is certified in drug detection as well as being a certified tracking animal.

Roger Caras, host of the annual Westminster Dog Show and animal rights activist, is credited with saying, "Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole." We would like to expand on that thought by saying that K-9 Deputy Vader and his handler Detective Pitt, have helped to make our community whole. Their dedication to law enforcement, drug detection and tracking to find lost people most certainly saves lives!

Professional Rescue Heroes ~ Troopers Andrew Goffrier & Adam Turnbo

Over the past 20 years there have been between 118 and 124 Oregon State Police (OSP) Officers in the Fish and Wildlife Division. These officers are primarily responsible for enforcing fish and wildlife laws which protect our natural resources. Daily they are patrolling our hills, streams and rivers, ensuring that Oregon families are safe while enjoying our open spaces.

Every day is different for a police officer; many of the routine calls an officer answers are potentially life-saving events. When a drunk driver is arrested or a speeding car is pulled over, other motorists may have been saved from deadly crashes.

It was on the morning of April 9, 2006 that OSP Troopers Goffrier and Turnbo were patrolling the Willamette River. The day was cold, the water was colder. As they rounded a bend with particularly swift moving waters, they saw three people perilously clinging to an overturned canoe. The stranded boaters had been immersed in the frigid water for 10-15 minutes. The effects of hypothermia were already setting in on the victims who were unable to reach shore, but stayed afloat because they were wearing lifejackets.

With clear thought, the troopers took life-saving actions, just as they had been trained to do. The troopers raced downstream of the victims, quickly pulling their numb bodies to the safety and warmth of their boat. The two men and one woman were then taken to meet a waiting ambulance in Independence.

Once the boaters were receiving medical attention, the troopers set back out to secure the canoe. They were successful in returning the canoe and all of the boater’s gear to Wallace Marine Park ~ the party’s original destination.

Over one half of boating fatalities reported in Oregon last year were traced back to non-motorized watercraft. Even though accidents come about in a variety of ways, over 80% of those fatalities could have been prevented if the victims were wearing life jackets.

Troopers Goffrier and Turnbo offer this advise, “If you are going boating, plan to go in the water ~ and prepare accordingly. Wear a lifejacket, know the water conditions & temperature, know your ability in the water, prepare for an accident. That may mean wearing a dry suit in April as the snow in the mountains is melting and the water is running high, cold and fast. Be prepared”.