Guardsman’s Bravery Earns High Honor

A Pocatello National Guardsman has been awarded one of the state’s highest honors for his bravery in rescuing a woman from her burning home.

“You personify the high sense of duty the Guard has in this state,” Gov. Phil Batt said on Thursday as he awarded the Idaho Cross to Sgt. Daniel Arzola.

Arzola was headed back home after a guard drill last October when he saw a house on fire and two young girls standing outside. When he asked, they told him that their mother was still inside.

Sally Cuthberth was on the telephone trying to call 911 when Arzola found her. He convinced her someone else had already called the fire department and then led her out of the burning building and stayed with her and her daughters until firemen arrived.