Army Player and Father’s Heroic Rescue: A Moment of Courage in Upstate New York
In a stunning display of courage and quick thinking, Army football player Larry Pickett Jr. and his father Larry Pickett Sr. saved a man’s life in upstate New York last weekend. The dramatic rescue occurred as the pair was returning to West Point following Friday night’s game against Tarleton State. What began as a routine drive back to campus turned into a life-changing moment when they spotted a car crashed into a utility pole with downed power lines nearby. Without hesitation, both men rushed toward the dangerous scene, putting their own safety at risk to help a stranger in desperate need.
The rescue itself was captured in a heart-stopping video shared by the elder Pickett on social media. The footage shows father and son charging toward the disabled vehicle as electricity from downed power lines snaps dangerously in the background – a sound that would make most people retreat to safety. Instead, the Picketts pulled the trapped driver from the vehicle and carried him away from danger. The video then cuts to the white sedan completely engulfed in flames, making it abundantly clear that their swift action saved the man from what would have been a horrific fate. “Thank you Jesus that this man will live to see another day!” Larry Sr. wrote in his Facebook post, expressing gratitude for his son’s courage. “I am so grateful for my son LJ for saving his life!”
During an appearance on “Fox & Friends,” Larry Jr. recounted the experience with remarkable humility. “My father and I both got out of the car, ran toward that car, and saw that there was a gentleman who needed help,” he explained simply, downplaying what was clearly an extraordinary act of bravery. The Fort Montgomery Fire Department later confirmed the incident, stating that a vehicle had struck a utility pole on Route 9W and “became fully engulfed in flames.” The timing of the Picketts’ intervention couldn’t have been more crucial – mere moments after they pulled the driver to safety, the car was consumed by fire.
The United States Military Academy at West Point proudly acknowledged Larry Jr.’s heroism on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), stating: “We’re proud of the heroic actions taken Saturday night by Cadet Larry Pickett Jr, a second-year cadet & @ArmyWP_Football player, & his father who are seen pulling a driver to safety in a video online taken by the family. Their actions are the embodiment of the @USArmy Values.” This statement underscores how the young cadet’s actions exemplify the core values instilled at the prestigious military academy – loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage.
This dramatic rescue comes at the beginning of Larry Jr.’s second season with the Army Black Knights. While he didn’t see any action as a freshman, he had just registered his first college tackle in Army’s game against Tarleton State the day before the rescue. Prior to joining West Point, Larry Jr. had established himself as a standout player at Enloe High School in North Carolina, where he earned two-time All-State honors and three-time All-Conference recognition. Now, beyond his athletic achievements, he’s demonstrated the character and courage that exemplify what it means to be a West Point cadet.
The Picketts’ story resonates far beyond the world of college football or military training. In a moment of crisis, they exemplified the best of human instinct – to put others before self, to run toward danger rather than away from it when someone needs help. Larry Pickett Sr.’s pride in his son was evident in his social media post: “Not only is he making an impact in the classroom and on the football field at the United States Military Academy at West Point, but he’s also making a difference in his community.” In an era when negative news often dominates headlines, this father-son rescue stands as a powerful reminder of everyday heroism and the profound difference that courage and selflessness can make in a single moment of decision.
