In my lifetime, I've heard of people saving people. Firemen, Polcemen and Soldiers do it all the time. I've not heard of one man, a Disabled Veteran, saving over 500 lives in their lifetime. My cousin Jim Thornton of Petal, MS is such a man. He has run in to burning homes and saved lives and the property. He has placed himself in front of a gun taken from a Montgomery, AL Police Officer and at the age of 15, took the gun back and saved that officer. He is 100% Disabled from injuries received during active service in the U.S.A.F. and the U.S. Navy. He still serves as a Major in the Mississippi State Guard. During Hurricane Katrina, he was credited with saving over 27 lives in the South Mississippi / New Orleans areas. He protected the Red Cross Workers in their office in Meridian, MS the night after the hurricane during a drive by and risked his life, getting them on the floor and the lights off. There were 5 round fired. ( Mr. Gordon Stewart 601-485-5151)  By the end of the week, he had contacted Dr. Terry Allgood (601-364-1207) of the V.A. Hospital in Jackson, MS on a hot wired communications system and procured medications for hundreds of Veterans, displaced by Katrina, when they had access to none. He's saved more since then. In August of 1999, Gov. Kirk Fordice nominated Jim for the Presidential Medal of Freedom for what he'd done up until that time. Now the best treatment he can get is being called a LIAR by his commanding general, BG Norman Higgins, for every rescue he's ever done and had the Inspector General say in his service record that he's full of BS..., In Print! His largest rescue was on 1 Sept. 1978 at the Royal Inn Hotel in San Diego, CA. As a Petty Officer, Jim happened upon the Royal Inn and noticed that it was burning on the 5th floor, early that morning. He ended up putting the fire out, saving the entire hotel, 234 Rooms at 100% Occupancy, and the story was even in his ship's paper. The Navy totally ignored Jim just like the Guard is doing now. I don't know how these Hero Awards are supposed to work but I do know that a good man, who's given his all and then some and been hurt many times saving others, is being forgotten and called a LIAR. That's the worst hurt of all. I ask for recognition for him as the rest of his Family & Friends do. Can you make a difference in his Life? He deserves it and is a True Hero!                               Thanks, Bruce Ferguson