Red Cross Honors Heroes, Including Man Who Saved Teens From Suspected Abduction
LODI (CBS13) — The American Red Cross honored several San Joaquin County heroes at its annual breakfast in Lodi.
The Red Cross calls them common folk with uncommon courage. More than a dozen people were recognized for their bravery at the annual heroes breakfast.
"Most of these folks will tell you that they are not heroes," said Kathleen Weis.
Gary Smith is one of them. He was driving along Trinity Highway in north Stockton last November when he noticed two men in a car creeping up on two unsuspecting teenage girls.
"They were kind of looking at them, slowing down. I told my wife, 'Something doesn't seem to be right,'" he said. "As I got up there, I witnessed the male driver jump out of the car, run across the sidewalk and grab one of the young females he put her in a bear hug and he was picking her up."
Smith didn't hesitate. He jumped out of his car and latched on to one of the suspects.
"I grabbed him, threw him down. He got back up. I grabbed him again and went to try and pull him to the ground, but he slipped out of his shirt and was yelling at the driver Let's get out of here,'" he said.
The bad guys got away, but because of Gary, the girls were safe.
Red Cross officials say Gary is one of 13 heroes who was honored on Wednesday.
"They saw something that needed to get done and they did it," Weis said.
Organizers say they wish they could do more for those who performed selfless acts of valor.