Special Award Honors Extraordinary Acts of Courage by American Firefighters

PennWell Corporation honored Lieutenant Howard Carpluk with the 2007 Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award at FDIC, held April 21 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.

(L-R) Fire Engineering Editor in Chief Bobby Halton, PennWell CEO and Chairman Robert Biolchini, Paige Carpluk (daughter), Debra Carpluk (widow of recipient), Bradley Carpluk (son), and Battalion Chief Joe Downey with the 2007 Courage and Valor Medal.

The Courage & Valor Foundation, created by PennWell Corporation to ensure that the world forever remembers the sacrifices made by heroic FDNY members on September 11, 2001 annually presents the Ray Downey Courage & Valor Award at FDIC a show and conference owned and managed by PennWell. In the spirit of the heroism displayed on September 11, this award recognizes extraordinarily courageous American firefighters each year and commemorates the life and career achievements of Deputy Chief Ray Downey head of FEMA, who helped Governor Frank Keating after the Murrah Building explosion in Oklahoma City in 1995, and was chief of rescue operations and 39-year veteran of the Fire Department of New York, who elected to remain in the World Trade Center to save others on September 11. He was the most highly decorated firefighter in the history of New York.

Lieutenant Howard Carpluk, FDNY

The 2007 recipient of this award was Lieutenant Howard Carpluk in recognition of his heroic act of attempting to save a fellow firefighter Michael Reilly who had been out of the Fire Academy for only six months. Lt. Carpluk and the probationary firefighter had fallen through the floor at a store fire. Despite being seriously injured and trapped up to his chest in debris, Lt. Carpluk struggled to direct all his efforts and those of his rescuers to locating and removing the firefighter Michael Reilly before removing him from the debris. After rescuers finally freed his arms from the debris, Lt. Carpluk began to dig beneath his body with his hands in an attempt to help locate and save Reilly. His tireless efforts jeopardized his own chances of survival, with debris compressing his chest and diaphragm. Ultimately, he became exhausted and fell unconscious. Only after his removal did rescuers find the lifeless body of Firefighter Michael Reilly, whose body was directly under Lt. Carpluk's body. Lt. Carpluk died of his injuries.

(Above-Below) PennWell Chairman and CEO Robert Biolchini presents the 2007 Ray Downey Courage and Valor Award to Mrs. Debra Carpluk for her late husband FDNY Lieutenant Howard Carpluk, who died in the line of duty while displaying courage and valor operating at a building fire in New York City in 2006.

"PennWell is honored to present this award to Lt. Carpluk's family in recognition and remembrance of his heroic act of courage. Lt. Carpluk exemplifies the true spirit of a firefighter, sacrificing his own life in his attempt to save a fellow firefighter. His selfless act of brotherhood reminds us of the responsibility we all share to protect and serve others," said Mr. Robert F. Biolchini, President and CEO of PennWell.

(L-R) PennWell Chairman and CEO Robert F. Biolchini and Battalion Chief Joe Downey, son of Deputy Chief Ray Downey, for whom the award is named, present the 2007 Courage and Valor Award.

This award is annually presented by PennWell at its FDIC show and conference, the world's largest fire training event for firefighters around the world. Record attendance of more than 27,500 firefighters from every state paid to attend this six days of hands-on training, classroom instruction and exhibition showcasing 900 companies and 350,000 square feet displaying the latest in products, apparatus and firefighting equipment and engines.

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