Kit Bond: “I rise today to pay tribute to the heroic actions of four teenagers from rural Missouri. James Eddleman, Joshua Brandt…”

“I rise today to pay tribute to the heroic actions of four teenagers from rural Missouri. James Eddleman, Joshua Brandt, David Karlstromer, and Joshua Dunaway, all students at the Newburg, MO, high school, rescued a 9-year-old girl from a flooded creek near where they were camping. On April 10, 1994, the four boys, who were camping near Mill Creek, awoke to a flood and the faint sound of a child crying. Upon reaching the edge of the water, the boys saw a child on the opposite side of the flooded river and a car almost completely submerged in the river. James Eddleman and Joshua Dunaway went into the river; the other two boys went for help. The rampaging waters were almost too much--but James Eddleman managed to reach the child, who had spent the entire night stranded by the river. Her mother's car had stalled crossing a low-river bridge and had been swept away in the flood. Tragically, rescue personnel later found the bodies of the child's mother and brother in the river. These four boys deserve to be recognized for their quick thinking and heroic actions. Missouri is proud to honor these boys, and I commend James, Joshua, David, and Joshua for their actions.”