Dateline: August 24, 2006

President sends letters to local firemen

By Roger Estlack, Clarendon Enterprise

Three hometown heroes of the March 12 I-40 Wildfire received letters of commendation from President George W. Bush this week, and the wife of one of those heroes got an even bigger surprise.

Lee Ann Cook wrote the president about a month ago in anticipation of last Friday’s “Firefighters’ Night” at the Howardwick Friendship Club. There her husband, Jeff Cook; Joey Garcia; and the late James McMorries were going to be honored with the Medal of Valor for their heroic efforts during the I-40 fire.

In her letter, Cook described how the men were injured when their fire truck rolled over, how they had been visited in the hospital by Texas Governor Rick Perry, and how one of them – McMorries – had ultimately succumbed to his injuries. She also mentioned the August 18 “Firefighters’ Night” and asked the president to come to Howardwick and present the medals himself.

“If you don’t ask, you won’t receive,” Cook said of her attitude when mailing the letter.

She went on about her business and hoped for some kind of response. It came August 11 while she was going about the daily chores of life and in a frazzled mood. She was not particularly happy when her cell phone rang and considered not answering it, but she did and said, “Hello.”

“Lee Ann, this is George,” the voice on the other end said.

“Yeah?” she responded.

“George Bush,” the voice said.

“Yes, sir!” Cook exclaimed as the realization hit her.

“My whole disposition changed, and I set up straight while talking on the phone,” Cook said this week.

The president explained that he had received her letter but, because of the situation in the Middle East, he wouldn’t be able to attend on August 18. He would, however, send the men something, which he hoped would arrive in time.

Cook kept the news to herself and waited. Nothing arrived by last Friday, but on Monday she received three personal letters – one for her husband, one for Garcia, and one for McMorries’ widow, Tanis.

“The thing that struck me is that they are all personal letters,” Cook said. “It’s not like someone set a form in front of him. I think his concern was sincere.”

Jeff Cook was surprised by his letter and surprised by what his wife had accomplished, but she says she’s glad to do it.

“They’re heroes,” she said, “and they need to be recognized as such.”

Friday’s Friendship Club meeting recognized all the firemen of Donley County as heroes. In addition to the three Medal of Valor presentations, two other Howardwick firemen were given the Medal of Honor for their lifesaving efforts on behalf of Garcia and McMorries. Kenny Bridges started unprotected CPR on McMorries to revive him and keep him alive, and Stan Couch held traction on Garcia’s leg for 20 to 30 minutes to keep him from bleeding to death.

Now, more than five months after the I-40 fire, Garcia is reportedly expected to get to return to work this week. Cook faces one more surgery and should get to return to work in six months.