Hero Dave Karnes

One of those stalwart, quiet heroes who achieve temporary, and not very widespread celebrity is ex-Marine Dave Karnes. On September 11, 2004, when TV footage of the two planes flying into the World Trade Center towers was first being shown, most of us merely recolied in stunned disbelief and horror.

Karnes, an accountant in Wilton, CT, decided he had to do something to help. He immediately left his office, drove home and put on his old Marine fatigues, grabbed a flashlight, knife, canteen and some rope, and drove at high speed with the top down in his new Porsche to the scene of the tragedy.

The top was down so that police would see his uniform and allow him past the yellow tape. Arriving on the scene, he spotted another man in Marine garb, a Sgt. Thomas, and together they began trying to find a way to get at any survivors amongst the rubble.

Working in the most dangerous possible conditions, they finally heard a voice coming from somewhere beneath them. With the help of others, the two men helped save the lives of two Port Authority police, John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno, who had been trapped for hours.

Karnes, of course, was just one of many heroic figures that day. And in the manner of most true heroes, he shrugged off public recognitions, saying that he was just being a Marine. There's a lot to that.