The Heroes of Joplin, Missouri

Grace Aquino and her 12 year old son, Malachi, were in Harmony Heights Baptist Church near the corner of 20th and Indiana. As the tornado drew near, Grace shielded her son and the building began falling down around them. First responders came to the scene and heard Malachi yelling for help, they found him in his mother's arms. Grace Aquino saved her son by bearing the load of the building that had fallen on top of them.

Christopher Lucas was the manager of Pizza Hut near the corner of 20th and Rangeline. As the storm worsened, he sent his 4 employees and 15 patrons into the walk-in cooler for safety. However, the door to the cooler would not latch. Christopher tied a bungee cord to the door to try to keep it closed and wrapped the other end around his arm. As the tornado passed over, it ripped off the door and sucked Christopher out of the cooler. Christopher Lucas' bravery saved everyone else in that cooler.

Tommy Carpenter and many others were at Wal-Mart on 15th and Rangeline in Joplin at the time of the disaster. The grandmother of a 3-month-old asked Tommy to hold on her grandson because she was unsure she'd be able to. Tommy Carpenter protected the child through the tornado as the store was torn apart.

Dean Wells was an employee at the Home Depot near 20th and Rangeline. Just minutes before the tornado struck, Dean was on the phone with his wife the day before their 42nd wedding anniversary, he told her "I'll call you when everyone is safe." As people drove to the building seeking shelter, Dean stayed and directed them where to go. Dean Well died as the tornado destroyed the building.

Don Lansaw was at home with his wife on May 22nd. Both took refuge in a bathtub and Don protected his wife from debris and the house falling down around them. Don suffered a punctured lung and began to turn blue. His wife of 6 years, Bethany, tried to flag down a pick-up truck but it was too late. Don Lansaw gave his life so that his wife could live.

Reprinted from Will Lynch's Life as a Law Student.

There are many more stories of heroism throughout Joplin the night of May 22, 2011. By the way, let's not forget all the people who pulled themselves up by their bootstraps and began returning life to normal in Joplin, Missouri.