Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: February 11, 1998
• Invested on: September 18, 1998

Theodore William Basque, M.B.
Roger Daniel Googoo, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On December 29, 1996, Theodore Basque and Roger Googoo rescued a neighbour from her burning house on the Waycobah Reserve in Nova Scotia. Messrs. Basque and Googoo witnessed smoke coming out of the woman's house in the middle of the night. Knowing that she was trapped inside, they rushed up the stairs to the hallway outside her bedroom. Mr. Basque then covered his head with his leather jacket to shield himself from the thick smoke and spreading flames and entered the room. He tripped, fell into the fire and tripped again as he attempted to retreat. When he finally managed to get to the hallway, Mr. Googoo helped him smother the flames from his body. Realizing that it was the unconscious victim over which Mr. Basque had tripped, Mr. Googoo covered his eyes and nose with his wet wool hat, reached inside the doorway and dragged her out of the room where Mr. Basque helped bring her to safety. Both the victim and Mr. Basque received severe burns as a result of the rescue efforts.