Rural Carrier John Kooyenga was delivering mail in Clifton, IL, on a bitterly cold day in January when he saw a customer on the ground near a residence. The 85-year-old man, who lives in a remote area, had been stranded for more than an hour after taking a tumble and losing his cellphone in a … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Hayden Dale was delivering mail recently in Wilmington, OH, when he heard shouts coming from a barn. Dale found a customer on the barn floor who had fallen off a ladder, hitting his head and sustaining other injuries. Dale ran to the man’s residence to alert his wife, who called 911 while … Read more
Rural Carrier Deborah Cummins was delivering mail in a remote area of Fort Dodge, IA, when she encountered a farmer who needed medical help. The man, who had injured his hand, was bleeding profusely. Cummins called 911 and rendered first aid to stop the bleeding and reduce swelling. She stayed until paramedics arrived to take … Read more
Rural Carrier Chasity Lowe was making deliveries last month in Murfreesboro, TN, when a distressed customer approached her. The woman, Lucille Reynolds, said her husband, James, had gone missing from their home about a half-hour earlier. Because he has a medical condition, Lucille said she feared for his well-being. Lowe said she would keep an … Read more
Rural Carrier Carolyn Norton was driving to work at the McKinney, TX, Post Office one morning last September when she saw $20 bills flying around. Norton pulled over and safely collected as much of the money as possible, then called 911. Police arrived and helped gather the rest of the money, which totaled nearly $10,000. … Read more
Rural Carrier Keri VanEtta was driving along her Newman, IL, route in December when another vehicle passed her, leaving a trail of black smoke. The driver appeared to be unaware of the problem, so VanEtta safely caught up with the vehicle and motioned for her to pull over. VanEtta also stopped, called 911 and helped … Read more
Rural Carrier Sandra “Marlene” Faulknor was delivering mail recently at a home in Dalton, GA, when she heard screaming. The cries were indecipherable at first, but she soon realized she was being called by name: “Marlene, help me, please!” The Postal Service employee followed the voice down the home’s driveway and found the older customer … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Bryan Boyd was recently driving along his Bath, NC, route when he saw a couple near a vehicle parked on the side of a road. The woman was crying and the man was searching for something on the ground. Boyd pulled over and approached the couple. He learned that the woman had … Read more
Rural carriers recognized as going above and beyond for their customers
Rural Carrier Gary Sherman saw smoke coming from a home in Warsaw, NY, while he was delivering mail recently. The Postal Service employee, who is also a volunteer firefighter, called 911 and headed to the residence to warn anyone inside. No one was home, but Sherman could hear the customer’s dogs. He found an unlocked … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Allison Bundy was recently delivering mail in Throckmorton, TX, when she spotted an older customer lying face down in the middle of a road. Bundy pulled over and checked on the woman, whom she recognized. She helped the woman get back on her feet and to safety. The customer, whose face was … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Katherine Duvall recently put her emergency medical training to good use at the Pulaski Post Office in Tennessee. A driver had accidentally sliced his radial artery with a box cutter, which had slipped while he attempted to open a package while stopped at a red light near the Post Office. The man … Read more
Rural Carrier Brandon White was driving along his Russell Springs, KY, route on a sweltering day in August when he noticed a customer lying on the ground in her backyard. White parked his postal vehicle and found that the woman had injured her ankle after falling. He called 911 and comforted her until an ambulance … Read more
Rural Carrier Juan Ocasio was delivering mail recently in New Port Richey, FL, when he spotted smoke rising from behind a customer’s residence. Ocasio checked the rear of the home and saw a tree, shed and the back of the residence enveloped in flames. As a neighbor called 911, Ocasio ran to the home’s front … Read more
Rural Carrier Associate Tabitha Kendle was delivering mail in Excelsior Springs, MO, in the summer when she noticed a customer’s mail piling up. Kendle also saw that the man’s normally closed garage door was open. She grew concerned and called the police, asking for someone to check on him. Responders found him passed out in … Read more
Rural Carrier Mary Bengston was delivering packages last December in DeFuniak Springs, FL, when she noticed an unusual sight and sound. As Bengston neared a customer’s residence, she spotted a vehicle parked outside with its door open and heard yelling coming from inside the home. Bengston rushed to the front door and found the customer … Read more
Rural Carrier Mark Harsevoort was delivering mail recently in Rockford, MI, when he spotted smoke coming from a customer’s home. As he approached the residence, he found an all-terrain vehicle in flames that were spreading to the deck and to the house itself. Harsevoort also saw the residents — a mother and her child — … Read more