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Independence Day Hero
Ricochet.com ^ | July 24, 2016 | Melissa Dawdy

Posted on 07/28/2016 11:46:28 AM PDT by 6ft2inhighheelshoes

The fiery crash on a warm Florida evening on July 4, 2012 left an unconscious man trapped in his burning car. Seemingly out of nowhere, a figure plunged out of the darkness through a sheet of flames to rip open the door and carry the driver to safety just moments before the car exploded. Like a scene from a movie, the Independence Day hero retreated to the shadows of obscurity, but it wouldn’t be the last time he would help someone in danger.

A modest man, Sabin Barto, 39, doesn’t talk much about his 10+ years in the U.S. Navy. He spends his post-military career selling real estate in Florida, writing children’s books, developing a website devoted to saving Everglades’ habitat and getting kids engaged in environmentalism. He seems like a pretty nice, normal guy, but his neighbors and friends claim he is a real-life Captain America with superhero strength and courage.

On July 3, 2016, in Naples, Florida, Barto witnessed a car crash while driving home with his daughter from a fireworks show. A lone female police officer arrived shortly afterward, and shouted for the driver to get out of the car. Surmising that this was a criminal suspect, Barto sprang into action and held the man on the ground so the officer could properly handcuff him. As reported in the Rocket Miner, Barto said, “When you see a car crash and no one is there, you stay and help out. I saw that the officer was alone; after she yelled, I just stayed until backup came.”

Like a superhero, Sabin Barto seems to have a knack for being in the right place at the right time. That exploding car incident in 2012 took place right in front of his house.

This all brings to mind the nature of extraordinary heroism, which often expresses itself in emergencies and difficult circumstances. While most of us flinch and flee from danger, a few, like the men and women who make up local police departments across the country, dash headlong into the jaws of of possible death to save a stranger. At a time when we are compelled to remind people that Blue Lives Matter, it’s bracing to know that American Exceptionalism also finds a home in the muscle, hearts and minds of Americans like Sabin Barto.


TOPICS: Local News; Military/Veterans; Society
KEYWORDS: america; heroism; police; veteran
Here are the relevant hyperlinks. Ricochet is behind a subscription paywall. http://rocketminer.com/stories/7-14-Barto-story-aj1,146275?content_source&category_id&search_filter=sabin%20barto&event_mode&event_ts_from&list_type&order_by&order_sort&content_class&sub_type=stories&town_id

http://trib.com/lifestyles/announcements/community/rock-springs-man-to-receive-florida-award/article_94b29730-7ea9-5758-bb33-d5d719a5a476.html

1 posted on 07/28/2016 11:46:28 AM PDT by 6ft2inhighheelshoes
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To: 6ft2inhighheelshoes

What are the odds anyone passes two separate car wrecks on consecutive days much less manages to help out at both?


2 posted on 07/28/2016 11:53:07 AM PDT by GrootheWanderer
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To: GrootheWanderer
He's Batman! d:^D

(Seinfeld ping!)

3 posted on 07/28/2016 12:04:58 PM PDT by CopperTop
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To: 6ft2inhighheelshoes


4 posted on 07/28/2016 12:08:48 PM PDT by JoeProBono (SOME IMAGES MAY BE DISTURBING VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED;-{)
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To: GrootheWanderer

Actually, they were 4 years apart. And one was in front of his home. Still, nice to read a story like this now and then!


5 posted on 07/28/2016 12:17:04 PM PDT by knittnmom (Save the earth! It's the only planet with chocolate!)
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To: GrootheWanderer

Although the incidents were separated by 4 years, it is amazing that both happened while the nation celebrated July 4th. No wonder his friends call him “Captain America”!


6 posted on 07/28/2016 12:18:28 PM PDT by 6ft2inhighheelshoes (Thank you for comments)
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To: 6ft2inhighheelshoes

A couple years ago, I blew a tire (cheap Chinese tires!) and spun out in a rainstorm on a highway entrance ramp. Car turned 360 degrees and crumpled a steel guard rail. Must have looked like a Hollywood movie stunt

I was lucky - I wasn’t hurt and didn’t hit any other cars. I was merely shocked.

So many good, ordinary people stopped their cars to check on me - one after the other. I thought I was at a cocktail party.


7 posted on 07/28/2016 12:38:43 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: GrootheWanderer

I think they are 4 years apart?


8 posted on 07/28/2016 12:58:35 PM PDT by NEMDF
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To: 6ft2inhighheelshoes

He’s lucky the cop did not shoot him.


9 posted on 07/28/2016 6:57:33 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
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