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Matthews, Kelso residents recognized for heroic efforts
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Gov. Mike Parson on Thursday, Sept. 12 awarded Missouri Public Safety Medals to 28 first responders for heroic and life-saving actions during 2023.
Among those recognized were a Matthews, Missouri, citizen; an off-duty firefighter from Kelso, Missouri; and three officers from Sikeston Department of Public Safety.
The awards – the Medal of Valor, the Governor’s Award and the Red, White and Blue Heart Award – are Missouri’s highest recognitions for first responders acting during critical incidents. Two of the Red, White and Blue Heart awards were bestowed posthumously.
The governor also presented Public Safety Civilian Partnership Awards to three civilians for courageous assistance to first responders during emergency situations in 2023. Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe was a special guest at the ceremony.
“This ceremony is yet another important reminder of the tremendously courageous and committed first responders who selflessly protect Missourians year-round,” Parson said. “Today’s honorees ended violent threats to our communities, prevented drownings and suicides, and rescued victims threatened by fire, electrocution, and medical emergencies. We honor and thank them and their families for their heroic service to our communities and are proud of the exceptional work they do for our state. We can never fully repay the debt we owe our brave men and women in blue, but they have our never-ending gratitude.”
“All Missourians must understand the dedication and selfless sacrifice our first responders make each day to protect our state and communities,” Kehoe said. “Today we honored two officers who lost their lives in the line of duty, and it is our responsibility to ensure they are remembered and their sacrifice is not forgotten. We also recognized and honored three civilians, one just 11 years old, whose actions remind us of the bravery required to face danger head-on. It is a rare and noble commitment to step up when others might hesitate, and these individuals embody the spirit of true heroism.”
“Being a first responder requires dedication, bravery and selflessness,” Department of Public Safety Director Sandy Karsten said. “The responders we honored today represent the highest ideal of a first responder – individuals who thought clearly and acted decisively during life-threatening emergencies. The civilians honored today also acted courageously when confronted with situations that required immediate action to save lives.”
Family members and colleagues were on hand for the awards presentation during the Jefferson City ceremony.
Destiny Brant of Matthews received the Public Safety Civilian Partnership Award, which is awarded to a civilian who has provided valuable or courageous assistance to members of a Missouri public safety agency in an emergency situation.
On the afternoon of Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, a vehicle with five people inside rolled over on rain-soaked Highway H, one-half mile west of Matthews. The overturned vehicle landed in a flooded ditch. Brant, who had just graduated from college a few weeks earlier, and her mother were driving to their home in Canalou, Missouri, when they spotted the overturned vehicle in the floodwater. Without regard for her own safety, Brant entered the ditch, swam through four-foot-deep water and pulled two children from the vehicle. Upon arrival, Matthews’ firefighters quickly went to work and extricated the three others still entrapped in the vehicle. All five victims recovered from minor injuries. Brant, who had just left Sunday church services, courageously acted as a true Good Samaritan. She was nominated by Matthews Volunteer Fire Department.
Receiving the Medal of Valor were Sgt. Jacob Kubelka-Peck, Officer Shaun Goodwin and Officer Dakota Harrington with Sikeston DPS and Drew Goodale of Kelso, Missoui.
The Medal of Valor is Missouri’s highest award recognizing public safety officers who exhibit exceptional courage, extraordinary decisiveness and presence of mind and unusual swiftness of action, regardless of his or her personal safety, in the attempt to save or protect human life.
On the evening of Dec. 13, 2023, Goodale, who was a firefighter/paramedic for Cape Girardeau at the time, was having dinner in a restaurant in New Hamburg, Missouri, when a civilian came in and reported a house was on fire down the street. Goodale and the restaurant owner drove the short distance to the house. Flames were showing from a first-floor window and about 25% of the house was involved in fire.
Goodale opened the front door to check if anyone was inside. He heard a person moaning in pain. Entering without any protective gear, he found the severely burned owner of the house about 20 feet from the door.
Goodale pulled the man out of the burning structure and onto the porch. Goodale and the restaurant owner then moved the victim to the yard. The two provided medical aid until fire and EMS personnel arrived.
Goodale assisted in an ambulance as the victim was moved to an air medical landing zone for an air evacuation.The victim was intubated on the scene and flown to a hospital with severe burns.
The victim spent about a week recovering in the hospital.
“Because of Goodale’s swift and brave actions while off-duty outside his own jurisdiction, the victim was rescued from his burning home minutes earlier than the local fire service’s arrival,” Parson said.
Goodale is now a member of the St. Charles Fire Department.