Veteran and Firefighter saves man from burning vehicle
Story by Senior Investigative Reporter Shannon Taylor
John Kristopher Adams (Kris), from Greenfield is a father of five children and three grandchildren. He is married to Stacy Adams and they now reside in South Fulton. Adams graduated from Greenfield high school and served on the Greenfield Fire Department for four years and is currently serving in his 11th year on the Martin Fire Department as an EMT. He is also going to paramedic school. Adams has served in the Army National Guard for the past 25 years and has earned the rank of Sergeant.
Adams doesn’t stop working and helping people even when he’s off the clock. On Oct. 20 when Adams was driving home from work toward Union City, he witnessed a car wreck. He said that he was about 50 yards behind the vehicle when he saw the driver swerve and go off into a ditch. The car that was directly behind the vehicle kept on driving, but Adams did not.
Adams stopped and said he saw smoke coming from the car and went down the hill to the ditch he could see flames coming out from under the hood of the vehicle but couldn’t hear anyone. That’s when he started yelling and then an older man inside the vehicle said, “Somebody please help me!”
Adams said the car rolled over on the passenger side and he tried to get the door open, but it was jammed and stuck. “Luckily there was a crease at the bottom of the door panel and I had enough room to get my fingers in and I pried it open as far as I could and I got it bent up and I ripped the airbag out of the way so I could see in there and he was still hanging with his seat belt on and I asked him if he was hurt and he said “no, I don’t think so,” and I told him that we needed to hurry up because his car was on fire and he said, “Please don’t let me burn” and I told him I wasn’t going to and that I was going to do everything I can.”
Adams told him to undo his seatbelt and then he dropped, and Adams reached in and grabbed his shoulders. It was at that time that he noticed that the fire had reached the cab. Adams started pulling the man and the fire had reached the dash, but he was able to get him out and on the ground. He then asked the man if he was hurt anywhere, and he told him he was not.
Adams said he knew that he needed to get them both away from the engulfed car. He pulled him and helped him get up the hill and that’s when Adams said the first explosion happened. He knew they needed to get farther away so they went across the road and Adams was able to flag two vehicles down and had them call 9-1-1. He said once they got across the road that’s when the second explosion happened, and the car was completely engulfed in flames.
Adams said, “Luckily neither of us was hurt,” and Stacey said, “Not only is he the most selfless man I know, but also my favorite human. Not only does he work diligently to provide for our family, but he also has the heart of a servant and would help anyone in need.”
Adams went to Iraq in 2003, he helped in Hurricane Katrina as well as Hurricane Ian. Adams said that he lost a friend in Iraq and that his was the first National Guard unit to lose a soldier in war. His friend was a passenger riding from underneath a bridge was hit by a sniper in the neck and killed. The driver was able to get in the floorboard and did not get hit, but Adams said the truck looked like Swiss cheese when they were done shooting and the driver got lucky.
Adams receives disability due to suffering from sleep apnea caused by being around burn pits while serving in Iraqi Freedom 2003, thus he gets no pay from the Guard. That doesn’t deter him from continuing to serve his country.
“I feel it is my duty to serve my country and the citizens of TN when in need. I also enjoy the brotherhood of the National Guard and serving alongside like-minded people.”
Adams trains a month in the summer, and he gets to travel a lot. One of his most exciting experiences traveling was when he got to go to Romania. “It was awesome-it spoiled me. We got to see all kinds of castles. I got to see Dracula’s castle.”
Stacy said that she’s just so very proud of him and who he is as a person. “It’s all just second nature to him-helping people-and I know a lot of it has to do with his training, but it’s also just who he is. I’m very proud of him for what he does for his country and our family.”
The Weakley County Press Special Sections – Tribute to Veterans (newstogo.us)
