Rural Carrier Hero

Rural Carrier Kevin Wescott was making deliveries one day last summer in Freeport, ME, when a 94-year-old woman riding an adult tricycle approached him. She seemed distraught and confused, so Wescott assured her he would help her. He immediately called 911 and comforted her until emergency responders arrived. Authorities determined that the woman resided at … Read more

Rural Carrier Chad Rhoades was recently driving to work in Buckhannon, WV, when he witnessed a vehicular collision that sent a logging truck crashing into the side of a mountain. Rhoades and another passerby immediately stopped to rescue two occupants from the truck, which had burst into flames. The victims were mobile but injured, so … Read more

Rural Carrier Associate Abby Puckett was recently delivering mail in Corinth, MS, when she came upon an 18-year-old customer being attacked by five dogs. Puckett used repellent spray to safely end the attack, then called 911 after carrying the teenager to the postal vehicle to get out of harm’s way. Emergency responders rushed to the … Read more

Rural Carrier Teresa Griest was recently delivering mail in Sanibel, FL, when she came upon a customer in distress: The man had fallen outside his home and couldn’t get up. Griest immediately called 911 and comforted the customer until paramedics arrived to provide further assistance. The man recovered from the incident.

Rural Carrier Sarah Hogan was recently making deliveries in a Jacksonville, NC, neighborhood adjacent to a golf course when she heard someone yelling for help. Unsure where the voice was coming from, Hogan asked a customer for input. They soon located a 63-year-old neighbor who had fallen off a ladder while cleaning siding on her … Read more

Rural Carrier Associate Brannon Cockrell was on duty one day last spring in Calera, AL, when a routine task — refueling his postal vehicle at a local gas station — took a surprising turn. A family of four pulled up alongside Cockrell, and two children stayed in the car while their mom went inside the … Read more

Rural Carrier Robyn Blanton was on duty in Tuscola, IL, one day last spring when she and the local Postmaster grew concerned about a reliable colleague who had not reported for work as scheduled. Following unsuccessful attempts to make contact by phone, Blanton volunteered to go to her co-worker’s home. There she found that her … Read more

Rural Carrier Associate Crystal Vaca was recently making deliveries in Castaic, CA, when she spotted a customer lying on the front porch of a residence. Vaca rushed to the woman’s side, found her unresponsive and immediately called 911. Emergency responders soon arrived and treated the customer for an epileptic seizure. The woman recovered from the … Read more

Menomonee Falls, WI, Rural Carrier Joshua Kannegiesser was making deliveries one day last spring in a neighboring village, Lannon, when he came upon a customer in distress. The woman, who is 69 and has knee problems, had fallen while gardening, and she was exhausted and aching after trying unsuccessfully to stand up. The customer asked … Read more

Rural Carrier Debbie Penn was making deliveries last winter in Frankfort, KY, when she grew concerned about a customer whose mail was piling up. Penn alerted authorities, who checked on the woman and found that she was in dire need of assistance — struggling to survive in freezing temperatures without electricity or sufficient food and … Read more

Rural Carrier Tiffany Goff was recently delivering mail to a residence in Jasper, FL, when she heard an older customer yelling for help. Goff spotted the woman lying on the ground outside and rushed to check on her. The Postal Service employee found the customer covered in insects after falling several hours earlier near an … Read more

Rural Carrier Elizabeth Fields was recently delivering mail in McCrory, AR, when she spotted an older customer lying on the ground outside a residence. The woman, who uses a walker, had fallen two hours earlier while doing yardwork, sustaining cuts on her forehead. Fields rushed to help her by calling her son and rendering first … Read more

Rural Carrier Melissa Melhorn was recently delivering a parcel at a residence in East Berlin, PA, when she spotted unusual movement in the garage. Concerned, Melhorn knocked on the front door and alerted the older customer who answered. They checked the garage and found the woman’s husband unconscious on the floor. The man soon came … Read more

Rural Carrier Cheryl Sechelski and Rural Carier Associate Mark Husfeld were recently making deliveries in Navasota, TX, when they came upon a customer in crisis. As the duo took a parcel to the man’s residence, they heard him yelling for help. They opened the door and found that the customer, who lives alone and has … Read more

Rural Carrier Associate Troy Boswell was recently delivering mail in Ronceverte, WV, when he spotted a fire in a customer’s backyard. Boswell immediately called 911, honked his horn and rushed to knock on the front door of the residence. The customer — a recovering stroke victim who relies on a wheelchair — answered the door, … Read more

Rural Carrier Jacqueline Tannehill was recently making deliveries in a Springfield, IL, neighborhood when she grew concerned about an older customer whose mail was piling up. Tannehill knocked on the woman’s front door and only heard dogs barking in response. The Postal Service employee alerted a neighbor, knowing he was also a local police officer. … Read more