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Iowa firefighter earns Pink Cross hero award


AND GAS GIFT CARDS TO OFFICERS IN RECENT WEEKS. DES MOINES FIREFIGHTER WAS RECENTLY NAMED A HERO OF THE HEARTLAND BY THE IOWA RED CROSS CHAPTER. CAPTAIN JOE VAN HOLLAND WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO ARRIVE ON THE SCENE WHEN A SEVEN YEAR OLD WAS FOUND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DES MOINES RIVER. HE WRAPPED HIS ROPE AROUND HIS FOREARM, LOWERED HIMSELF INTO THE WATER AND SAVED THE BOY. LAST MONTH, KCCI REPORTED THAT HE WAS PRESENTED THE MEDAL OF HONOR. THAT’S AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT HASN’T BEEN GIVEN OUT IN MORE THAN A DECADE, I TOLD MY CREW THAT DAY AS WE WERE HEADED THERE AND WE COULD SEE THE CHILD FLOATING DOWN THE RIVER THAT I WAS GOING IN, THERE WAS NO WAY THAT WE COULD LEAVE HIM IN THIS PREDICAMENT, THAT HE WAS IN A FIREFIGHTERS BEN WAFFLE AND MARCO MATIAS WERE ALSO GIVEN AWARDS FOR HELPING WITH THAT RESCUE. THE DEPARTMENT IS PROUD T

Firefighter honored by American Pink Cross for saving 7-year-old boy from river

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Up to date: 10:09 PM CDT Mar 29, 2026

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An Iowa firefighter was lately named a “Hero of the Heartland” by the Iowa chapter of the American Pink Cross for rescuing a 7-year-old boy from the Des Moines River.Des Moines Fireplace Division Capt. Joe Van Haalen was one of many first to reach on scene when the boy was discovered in the course of the river. He wrapped a rope round his forearm, lowered himself into the water, and saved the boy. Final month, Hearst sister station KCCI reported that he was offered the Medal of Honor, an achievement that hasn’t been given out in additional than a decade.”I informed my crew that day, as we have been headed there and we may see the kid floating down the river that I used to be moving into,” Van Haalen mentioned. “There was no manner that we may depart him on this predicament that he was in.”Firefighters Ben Wafful and Marco Matias have been additionally given awards for serving to with that rescue. The division is proud to focus on this heroic motion and the lifesaving work of its members.

An Iowa firefighter was lately named a “Hero of the Heartland” by the Iowa chapter of the American Pink Cross for rescuing a 7-year-old boy from the Des Moines River.

Des Moines Fireplace Division Capt. Joe Van Haalen was one of many first to reach on scene when the boy was discovered in the course of the river. He wrapped a rope round his forearm, lowered himself into the water, and saved the boy.

Final month, Hearst sister station KCCI reported that he was offered the Medal of Honor, an achievement that hasn’t been given out in additional than a decade.

“I informed my crew that day, as we have been headed there and we may see the kid floating down the river that I used to be moving into,” Van Haalen mentioned. “There was no manner that we may depart him on this predicament that he was in.”

Firefighters Ben Wafful and Marco Matias have been additionally given awards for serving to with that rescue. The division is proud to focus on this heroic motion and the lifesaving work of its members.

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