Pictured: Byerly (L) and Allen (R) received their awards during Thursday’s ceremony
Two local first responders were recognized this (Thursday) morning in the Iowa Capitol Rotunda during the 2020 and 2021 Sullivan Brothers’ Award for Valor and Governor’s Life Saving Awards ceremony. Recipients are chosen from law enforcement officers, firefighters and other emergency response units based on a heroic act that put their safety and lives at risk while serving in an official capacity. Greene County Sheriff’s Office Deputy, Shane Allen, and Churdan Firefighter, Nathan Byerly, were recognized for their actions on Oct. 10, 2019. Allen and Byerly jumped into the West Buttrick Creek to pull a driver from a vehicle that had crashed into the water. In total, 35 Iowans were recognized during the ceremony. Gov. Kim Reynolds, says, “When circumstances thrust them onto testing grounds, today’s award winners responded. They sprang into action, showed unparalleled courage, and placed the safety of others ahead of their own.” A full list of recipients and photos and video from the ceremony can be found included below.
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Click HERE for video of the ceremony
The Governor’s Lifesaving Awards (22 civilians):
- Ashley Goering – Outstanding Service Award, Grimes
- Jean Hessburg – Outstanding Service Award, Des Moines
- Larry Hoefer – Outstanding Service Award, Peosta
- Courtney Nobiling – Outstanding Service Award, Cambridge
- Alex Schwenke – Outstanding Service Award, Sigourney
- Archie Jorgenson – Meritorious Service Award, Harmony
- Daniel Liddiard – Meritorious Service Award, Waukon
- Barry Nobles – Meritorious Service Award, Waukon
- David Andringa – Lifesaving, Sheldon
- Chadwick Gillespie – Lifesaving, Winterset
- Calvin Grosvenor – Lifesaving, Milford
- Daniel Gutschenritter – Lifesaving, Creston
- Miriam Ludeke – Lifesaving, Archer
- Richard Ludeke – Lifesaving, Archer
- Daniel Mathis – Lifesaving, Waukon
- Devyn Brady – Lifesaving with Valor, Altoona
- David Duncan – Lifesaving with Valor, Mason City
- Christopher Fink – Lifesaving with Valor, Clear Lake
- Stephen Fettkether – Lifesaving with Valor, Mason City
- Cameron Goodell – Lifesaving with Valor, Missouri Valley
- Jason Hahn – Lifesaving with Valor, Mason City
- Adam Woodle – Lifesaving with Valor, Jewell
Sullivan Brothers’ Award of Valor honors the memory of George, Frank, Joe, Matt and Albert Sullivan – all in their 20’s – who served together on the USS Juneau in the Guadalcanal naval battle in the fall of 1942. (13 first responders)
- Deputy Shane Allen – Green County Sheriff’s Office
- Firefighter Nathanial Byerly – Churdan Fire and Rescue
- Deputy Matthew Smith – Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Zachary Scott – Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Christopher Flatness – Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s Office
- Assistant Chief Brian Eiteman – Perry Fire and Rescue
- Captain Andrew Modlin – Perry Fire and Rescue
- Lieutenant Joel Eiteman – Perry Fire and Rescue
- Firefighter Doug Harlan – Perry Fire and Rescue
- Firefighter Izzy Baltazar – Perry Fire and Rescue
- Deputy Corey Van Kooten – Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
- Deputy Brad Sheeder – Jasper County Sheriff’s Office
- Lieutenant David Sprague – Jewell Fire and Rescue