By Jean Jadhon and Joe Dashiell WDBJ.com | Posted: Wed 9:36 PM, Apr 19, 2017

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ7) It was a fall day in Pulaski County last year when a pickup truck crashed into a tree and caught fire. At the same time, Frank Neice was on his way to work. He saw the smoke coming from the vehicle and jumped into action to help. Neice did not just call 911 for help, he ran to the burning wreckage and worked to get the two people out.

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"We're in awe of the action that you took," U.S. Marshal Brad Sellers said as he talked about Neice's actions that September day. "He didn't do it for anything other than compassion. He saw somebody in need and he leaped forward and filled that void."

Neice removed a severely injured passenger from the passenger's side of the burning vehicle. He moved that person to a safe location and even directed a passerby to assist to watch over the victim. Neice then broke a window out- the only way to reach the driver and assisted that person away from the truck cab which was fully engulfed in fire and smoke. Neice was covered in blood from the victims and had lacerations on his hands.

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Neice was not just any random passerby. He's a retired Blacksburg police officer who has also worked for the Pulaski Police Department. He's also a 26-year military veteran who now works with the U.S. Marshals Service. On Wednesday, Neice was honored by Walden Security as Court Security Officer of the Year for the 4th Circuit.

"Honest. Trustworthy. Loyal. He treats everyone with respect and he's an all around good guy," said U.S Magistrate Judge Robert Ballou at the ceremony at the Poff Federal Building in Roanoke. "Can you ask for anything more?"

It's that character Judge Ballou said that prepared Neice for the encounter last fall.

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"To be able to act, to be ready to act and to be willing to act. That's the definition of a hero," Ballou said.

Neice has lived a life of heroism. He earned a Bronze Star for his work as a Master Sergeant in the U.S. Military where his unit worked 180 combat patrols with a flawless safety record.

As is the case with many heroes -- Neice doesn't love the limelight. He took the podium Wednesday for just a brief comment or two. He thanked his wife and then had this to say,

"I want to thank everybody else for coming and it's an honor," Neice said. "That's all I'm going to say about that. I'm sure you're all hungry so let's go have some lunch."

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