Tarr among 6 Wright-Patt firefighters decorated for lifesaving efforts
From left, Capt. Richard Tarr, Lt. Chad Engman, Capt. Greg Arnold, District Chief David Warner, Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth and Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, assigned to the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron, pose for a photograph after an awards ceremony at the fire station, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, May 10. During the ceremony, Tarr, Engman, Spaeth and Hoffman received the Command Civilian Award for Valor and Warner the Civilian Achievement Award for their roles in rescuing an unconscious victim during a house fire. Arnold was awarded the Command Civilian Award for Valor for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim. (U.S. Air Force photo by Matthew Fink)
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio — Six firefighters assigned to the 788th Civil Engineer Squadron on Wright-Patterson Air Force Base received medals for their life-saving efforts in the line of duty during a ceremony at the base’s fire station, May 10.
Capt. Richard Tarr, from Hillsboro; Lt. Chad Engman, from Addyston; Firefighter Jeffrey Hoffman, from Delhi Township; and Firefighter/Paramedic Jared Spaeth, from Tipp City, received the Command Civilian Award for Valor, the second-highest civilian decoration for heroism, for their roles in rescuing an unconscious victim during a March 2022 house fire in Fairborn.
“They made entry under high heat and zero visibility due to smoke conditions,” said Maj. Nathan Thomsen, the commanding officer of 788 CES, who hosted the ceremony. “Without hesitation, even as they started to experience low air alarms, they quickly packaged the patient and began the heroic task of removing him from the residence. In doing so, they demonstrated outstanding courage and competence.”
District Chief David Warner received the Civilian Achievement Award for his role in coordinating the emergency response to that event.
For a separate incident, Capt. Greg Arnold, from Medway, also received the Command Civilian Award for Valor for performing a 15-foot free dive to rescue a drowning victim from a pond in May 2022.
“While the dive team was still assembling and donning gear, Arnold removed his personal floatation device and made the decision to free dive, saving precious minutes,” Thomsen said. “He willingly placed himself in harm’s way to bring the victim to safety.”
As dozens of friends, family and fellow firefighters looked on, Thomsen pinned a medal on each honoree and presented them with their certificate. Capt. Steven McKee, a lead firefighter with 788 CES, concluded the ceremony by praising both the recipients and the work of the entire squadron.
“The men and women of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the U.S. Air Force are proud of all of our first responders and the heroic events that took place to bring us all here today,” McKee said.
Comprised of over 130 personnel, the mission of 788 CES is to provide a safe operating environment for air and space systems on Wright-Patt. Within 788 CES, the firefighting department’s primary mission is to prevent or minimize injury, loss of life and damage to property.
To learn more about 788 CES as well as the missions of the 88th Air Base Wing, visit https://www.wpafb.af.mil.