Airmen nearly sweep DOD fire awards Published Sept. 29, 2003 By Master Sgt. Michael. A. Ward Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) -- The Air Force nearly swept the Department of Defense Fire and Emergency Services awards program, winning five out of six award categories for the second year in a row. Air Force firefighters won the top awards for military firefighter, military fire officer, civilian fire officer and fire department of the year. An airman also won the heroism award. The winners are:-- DOD Military Firefighter of the Year: Airman 1st Class Gregory White from the 86th Civil Engineer Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany -- DOD Military Fire Officer of the Year: Master Sgt. Michael Rosser from the 96th CEG at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. He is now assigned to Kunsan AB, South Korea.-- DOD Civilian Fire Officer of the Year: Cindy Litteral from the 21st Civil Engineer Squadron at Peterson AFB, Colo. -- DOD Fire Department of the Year: The 18th CEG Fire Department at Kadena AB, Japan-- DOD Firefighter Heroism Award: Robert Young from Tinker AFB, Okla. Young received the heroism award for saving an 8-year-old boy who had fallen into a farm pond. On April 29, Young and another off-duty firefighter received a phone call from a neighbor who said the boy was missing and feared he may have fallen in the pond. Despite the estimated 45-degree water temperature, they dove in and searched the pond. After a few minutes, Young found the boy, pulled him out of the water and administered CPR until emergency medical services arrived. As EMS members loaded the boy in an air ambulance, they were able to detect a faint pulse -- amazing since rescuers estimated the boy had been underwater for about 20 minutes. The child recovered fully and is home with his parents. Young was also awarded the Oklahoma State Medal of Valor by the House of Representatives.Rosser is the first firefighter to win two DOD-level awards. In 1997, he received an award while assigned to Rhein-Main AB, Germany.