THE BRAVEST OF THE BRAVE             All firefighters are very brave, running into burning buildings and putting their lives on the line to save someone's life. They all deserve to receive a medal, but it is part of the job. Six members of Engine 69 have gone beyond the call of duty and have earned medals. Fireman Charles A. Holmes received the William F. Conran Medal on March 21, 1936. Lieutenant Joseph A. Lawler earned the M. J. Delehanty Medal for making a rescue on December 30, 1950. The Mayor LaGuardia Medal was awarded to Lieutenant Lawrence E. Centrilla for a rescue he made on March 9, 1959. Lieutenant John E. Kelly received the Henry D. Brookman Medal on May 17, 1963. On February 4, 1975, Fireman James A. McGinnis received the William F. Conran Medal and Fireman Arthur R. Banks earned the Thomas F. Dougherty Medal on July 3, 1979. Fireman Charles A. Holmes William F. Conran Medal on March 21, 1936 The William F. Conran Medal for Valor and a Department Medal was awarded to Fireman 1st grade Charles A. Holmes for rescuing Dolores and Myrtle Brown, ages 5 and 4 years, from the third floor of 279 West 127th Street, on March 21, 1936. Arriving at 3:17 in the morning, Fireman Holmes was informed that two children were left behind in an apartment on the third floor of the fire building. He climbed up the fire escape and entered the apartment and quickly found Dolores Brown on the floor, he took her to the window and handed her to waiting firemen on the fire escape. Fireman Holmes went back in the apartment to continue his search through the living room and into a bedroom. After searching the room he found Myrtle Brown under the bed which was on fire. He removed the girl to the window where he collapsed and was assisted to the second floor along with the little girl. Lieutenant Joseph A. Lawler M. J. Delehanty Medal on December 30, 1950 Lieutenant Joseph A. Lawler of Engine 69 received the M. J. Delehanty Medal for rescuing Mrs. Elsie Phillips from a fire at 2745 8th Avenue on December 30, 1950. After ordering his company to stretch a hose line to the top floor, Lawler ran up the stairs and learned from tenants that Mrs. Phillips was trapped in the burning apartment. Forcing the door, Lawler dropped to his hands and knees as the thick blinding smoke and intense heat struck him. He crawled into the bedroom, where he found Mrs. Phillips lying unconscious on the floor. He carried her to an adjacent apartment where artificial respiration was administered until a doctor arrived from Harlem Hospital. Mrs. Phillips was taken to the hospital suffering from smoke inhalation and first degree burns. Lieutenant Lawrence E. Centrilla Mayor LaGuardia Medal on March 9, 1959 On March 9, 1959, Engine 69 responded to a fire in an old-law, non-fireproof tenement at 264 W. 144th Street. The fire originated on the third floor and had vented itself through both rear windows. On arrival Lieutenant Lawrence E. Centrilla gave orders to stretch a line and then raised upstairs to the 3rd floor, where an occupant informed him that children were still in the fire apartment. He entered the apartment and made search of the kitchen but found no one. Then, turning his helmet around to protect his face, he moved toward the next room. He heard a moan from this room and reaching in he found a playpen, which was burning and pulled it toward the door. Reaching down, he picked up Carlton Burch, ages 2 and brought him out to the safety of the street. The child had 2nd degree burns over forty percent of his body and was removed to Harlem Hospital. Lieutenant Centrilla received first and second degree burns of the face, nose and ears and was placed on sick leave. For this heroic deed, Lieutenant Lawrence E. Centrilla was awarded the Mayor La Guardia Medal. Lieutenant John E. Kelly Henry D. Brookman Medal on May 17, 1963 The Henry D. Brookman Medal was awarded to Lieutenant John E. Kelly for rescuing a child from 207 W. 144th Street on May 17, 1963. As Engine 69 arrived, two civilians were spotted on the fire escape trying to enter a window. Before a ladder could be raised, Lieutenant Kelly entered the building and went to the fire floor. As he was climbing up the stairs, the people coming down stated that children were trapped in the fire apartment. When Lieutenant Kelly reached the apartment that was on fire, he entered the inferno to search for the missing children. Crouching low, he passed the room on fire and entered the front bed- room to find 4 year old Vanessa Washington unconscious on a bed. He removed the child through the front window through the fire escape. He reentered the apartment to make a search of the whole apartment. Thankfully, Lieutenant Kelly found no one else in the burning building. Fireman James A. McGinnis                                                                                                                          William F. Conran on February 4, 1975 On February 4, 1975, Fireman James A. McGinnis was returning to quarters from a detail on Department business. At W. 152nd Street, he found a six-story old law tenement on fire in the middle of the block. After turning the alarm, he entered the building, fire had taken control of the front two floors. The tenants had left the doors open and the fire was spreading fast through out the first floor. McGinnis closed as many doors as he could and lead several tenants out to safety. Unable to go any further due to the heat, he went next door and climbed to the roof and crossed over the open the bulkhead door. He went down the smoke filled stairs without a mask or fire clothing to search the sixth floor. He found the body of Mrs. M. McKissick, dragging her to the stairs, he carried her to the roof. He reentered the building and went to the fifth floor for a search. He located the unconscious form of Lucille Davis in the hallway. He slid her across the floor as his strength was almost gone and somehow he brought her up the two flights of stairs to the roof where he collapsed. The members of Ladder 28 found him with Lucille Davis. Fireman McGinnis was taken to the hospital with severe smoke inhalation. Both, Mrs. McKissick and Lucille Davis recovered from their injuries. For his heroic act, Fireman James A. McGinnis received the William F. Conran Medal. Fireman Arthur R. Banks Thomas F. Dougherty on July 3, 1979 Fireman Arthur R. Banks of Engine 69 was working in Ladder 28 on the night of July 3, 1979. Around 10:30 that night, Ladder 28 responded to a report of a fire at 200 Bradhurst Avenue. Two other members of Ladder 28 along with Banks found the fire apartment and forced the door. Crawling on his hands and knees with the "can" he went some 55 feet to the fire. Using the "can" to its utmost, he knocked the flames back into the fire room. The two members started their search of the back bedrooms while Banks continued using the "can" until it was empty. As the fire intensified Banks realized the conditions were deteriorating, he entered one of the bedrooms to help in the search. Fireman Banks earned the Dougherty Medal.