Eric Smith, a letter carrier from Spencer, WV, was recently driving to work when he came upon a house fire.
While another passerby called 911, Smith and others braved thick smoke and intense heat to carry two residents to safety.
He remained on the scene until firefighters arrived to battle the blaze.
“Had it not been for Eric’s selfless act, the residents undoubtedly would have perished that morning,” said Spencer Postmaster Larry Huffman.