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Show Deputy Green Honored For Rappeling By GARY R. BLODGETT FARMINGTON - Nearly 214 years ago, on May 17, 1976, Davis County Deputy Sheriff Larry "Snake" Green plunged 280 feet to near death while rappeling down Far-mington Far-mington Canyon to investigate inves-tigate an abandoned vehicle. FIVE MONTHS later-with the near-fatal plunge still vividly in his mind-Deputy Green was again called on to perform a dangerous mountain moun-tain climb. But this time, it was to save a teenager who had fallen down a canyon crevice while throwing snow balls near Francis Peak. IT WAS the first time Deputy Green had rappeled a cliff since the accident and the vivid memory of him crashing against the rocks as he plunged down the mountainside moun-tainside five months before was flashing through his mind as he drove up Far-mington Far-mington Canyon toward Francis Peak. 'They can't do this to me," he thought, but as he reached the peak he realized that a teenaged boy was waiting for his help. "IT BOTHERED me some on the way up the mountain but after I reached the peak and saw what had to be done, I did it without thinking." It was for this act rappeling rap-peling about 50 feet to a ledge where the injured boy had fallen-that earned Deputy Green the Medal of Valor for heroism. THE BOY had fallen to an overhang and was wedged between two large rocks. Below him was another 300-foot 300-foot drop which would mean almost certain death. Deputy Green administered first aid, wrapped the youth in his (deputy's) coat and held the boy in his arms until additional help arrived. FOLLOWING THE rescue, Deputy Green collapsed and it was not until after the rescue that it was discovered that he still suffered a broken ankle as a result of the fall several months before. "Snake" had been in "critical "cri-tical condition" following the near-fatal fall, suffering from his back being broken in three places and a severely fractured right ankle. HE HAD been on limited duty for only a few weeks when he got the rescue call of the teenaged boy. The point from which Deputy Green fell has been officially (in Forest Service Records) named "Snake Point." "I REMEMBER very well the fall," he said. "I passed out on the way down but I can remember hitting the bottom and bouncing from rock to rock. After I stopped rolling, I remember thinking: 'My God, I'm still alive'." The heroic rescue occurred on October 9, 1976, and it has taken much of the interim time to have the medal prepared and get clearance for the presentation, it was explained. SHERIFF William (Dub) Lawrence said this is the first time a deputy sheriff has been presented this medal by the sheriff's office. |