
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 18, 1995                   TAG: 9505180040
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: MATT CHITTUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A SEARCH FOR HEROES LOCATES 2 OUT OF 3

When Danny Crouse, area manager for the Woodmen of the World Life Insurance Society, read about how three young Roanoke men kicked open the door of an apartment building roiling with smoke and flames to warn the people who lived there, he decided right away that the men deserved recognition. His organization often presents awards to people who save the lives of others.

Problem was, he didn't know how to find them.

Not to be deterred, Crouse set out to see that their good deeds were rewarded.

Crouse knew from a newspaper article that the three were in their early 20s, and he had their names - Jermaine Witcher, Carlton Walker and Jeremiah McNair. The article told of how they saw flames shooting from a window at 4141/2 13th St. S.W. The three men ran into the building and banged on doors to warn people. Witcher was nearly overcome by smoke. A man and a woman died in the Jan. 13 fire.

Crouse ordered three bronze-and-mahogany plaques bearing the men's names with the hope that he would be able to track them down by 7 p.m. last Saturday. That's when he planned to present the plaques at the annual banquet for his society, which is an international fraternal order that provides insurance to its members.

Saturday morning, he still hadn't found them.

``I just made up my mind I was going to find some way to recognize these boys,'' Crouse said.

He hopped in his car about 10 a.m. and headed to the area where the fire occurred with the hope that if he asked enough people, someone would know the three men.

He struck out at a beauty salon, a barbershop and a neighborhood store. But at a second store, just as the attendant was saying that Witcher came to the store all the time, Walker came in. They located Witcher right away, but McNair had moved out of state.

Later that day, Crouse packed Walker, Witcher, Witcher's girlfriend and his father into his car and took them to the banquet. Witcher and Walker each received a Lifesaver Commendation for ``courageous action without regard for personal safety which saved a human life.''

McNair's plaque, however, still is sitting on Crouse's desk. Crouse still hopes to contact McNair and get it to him.

by CNB