By Bill Carey
FireRescue1
IRMO, S.C. — Family, friends and IAFF members were present for the funeral of Irmo Firefighter James Muller who died in the line of duty on May 26, but one important item was missing: the IAFF Medal of Honor.
12th District Vice President Walt Dix, Irmo Local 5271 President Nick Powell, and other IAFF members had determined that the service would have to go on with the traditional presentation of the medal to Muller’s family, the IAFF stated.
Powell then received a phone call from a man saying he had something they needed. “I explained that I was focused on the final details of Brother Muller’s service and that’s when he told me he saw a package fall off a UPS truck. Before he could alert the driver, the truck was gone,” said Powell. “He found my name and number on the package and said he was willing to get the package to me no matter what.”
The man who found the package was just 30 minutes away so the two arranged to meet.
“This good Samaritan finding the medal the way he did and making sure it was returned before the services was a true act of divine intervention. There is just no other way to explain it,” Dix said. “Jay was an exemplary firefighter who never stopped striving to be better at what he loved. It was a privilege to be able to present his family with the IAFF Medal of Honor.”