(Des Moines) A Harlan man was honored Tuesday morning at the 2019 Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards Ceremony. Governor Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg and Department of Public Safety Commissioner Stephan Bayens honored the heroic citizens and First Responders.
Matthew Van Baale, of Harlan, was one of 13 individuals honored with the Governor’s Lifesaving Award.
Sgt. Alex Dinkla, with the Iowa State Patrol, said on the morning of March 29, 2017, it was a rainy 43 degrees in rural Iowa. A farmer set out on a four-wheeler to check on his cows. While attempting to corral his cattle, his four-wheeler overturned near a creek bed. It rolled over top of him, causing him to sustain serious debilitating injuries. The man attempted to crawl to get help but ultimately passed out due to his injuries. Minutes turned to hours when Matthew Van Baale drove past the creek.
“Matthew Van Baale realized something was wrong, something didn’t seem right. He tried to search for this gentleman for quite some time. Eventually, he did find the four-wheeler after several hours of this gentleman farmer laying unresponsive in 43 degree weather. Matthew Van Baale was able to find the gentleman, call 911 and get personnel to the scene and render aid,” explained Sgt. Dinkla. “Thanks to his efforts and his determination that day, that gentleman is still with us today. Matthew was awarded the Governor’s Lifesaving Award for Outstanding Service.”
The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards Program recognizes recipients in four different categories including:
Lifesaving with Valor, which is awarded to those individuals who at the risk of their own life, attempted to save that of another.
Lifesaving, which is awarded to those individuals who have attempted to save the life of another individual, but did not put their own life in jeopardy.
Meritorious, which is awarded to those individuals in recognition of courageous and unselfish service rendered during a time of distress.
Outstanding Service, which is presented to persons who have performed a courageous act in an attempt to save an individual who was in danger of losing his or her life or to individuals who unselfishly rendered service in a time of emergency.
The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards honored 13 civilians:
- Kenyon Murray – Outstanding Service Award, Cedar Rapids
• Matthew Van Baale – Outstanding Award, Harlan
• Sarah “Sally” Dunshee – Lifesaving Award, Ankeny
• Lee Gard – Lifesaving Award, Grimes
• MariClare Thinnes-Culver – Lifesaving Award, West Des Moines
• Sarah Thomas – Outstanding Service Award, Des Moines
• Nicholas Jaschen – Lifesaving Award, Sumner
• Luke Preussner – Lifesaving Award, Manchester
• Daniel Roby – Lifesaving Award, Des Moines
• Nathan Thayer – Lifesaving Award, Prole
• Mehl Wright – Lifesaving Award, Keokuk
• Ryan Cripe – Lifesaving with Valor, Fort Dodge
• Gregory “Gus” Loehr – Lifesaving with Valor, Callendar
The Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor recognized seven First Responders from two fire departments:
- Firefighter –Joshua Myers, Sigourney Fire and Rescue
• Firefighter – Joseph White, Sigourney Fire and Rescue
• Firefighter – Zachery Steinhart, Sigourney Fire and Rescue - Captain Rich Damm, Ottumwa Fire Department
• Firefighter Gary Doud, Ottumwa Fire Department
• Firefighter Andrew Ewing, Ottumwa Fire Department
• Firefighter Will Munley, Ottumwa Fire Department
To make future nominations, or for general information on the Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor and Governor’s Lifesaving Awards, visit the DPS website: www.dps.iowa.gov.
