We got to see what courage looks like this week.

The Friday, March 8, edition of the Eagle reported on a ceremony praising the actions of a Slippery Rock University graduate student and member of the Army National Guard.

On Thursday, David Phillip Duffey was honored with the Carnegie Medal for civil heroism for saving a truck driver’s life in October 2022. Duffey, a sergeant in the Guard, was driving in Irwin when he saw a tractor-trailer driven by Shune Moore crash into a guardrail.

Duffey pulled over and his training kicked in. He tried to flag down others so they could call 911 to get help when he heard Moore’s voice from inside the twisted cab of the truck.

Duffey was able to pull Moore out of the cab with the help of someone else on scene, and he’d gotten Moore just feet away from the truck when it exploded, knocking Duffey to the ground.

Duffey was honored with the Carnegie Hero Medal, which has been awarded for more than 100 years. The medal was inspired by the heroism of two men who died trying to rescue miners during a 1904 disaster near Pittsburgh.

Steel magnate Andrew Carnegie was so moved by their courage that he had two medals created for their families and then instituted the Carnegie Hero Fund to honor others who displayed similar bravery.

More than 10,000 medals have been given out since 1904, and the program has expanded beyond the United States and Canada.

To receive the medal, someone must be acting as a civilian and either have no connection to the person being rescued or be acting beyond the call of duty.

During Thursday’s ceremony, Eric Zahren, president of the Carnegie Hero Fund, said it’s in difficult situations that we see true heroism.

“Courage is hard to come by,” Zahren said. “It can only be tested in the reality of the moment of truth. (Courage) often surprises us, sometimes by its absence, and often by its presence in those moments. It’s never to be taken for granted. It’s a gift to the recipient and all who benefit from it as a result.”

Duffey’s actions did more than just save a life. They serve as an inspiration to all and a model for others to follow.

— JK