"We'll be giving them paramedic funerals, with their coffins in the back of our ambulances, taking them from the churches to the cemeteries. The long final ride, they would say they were just doing their jobs. Nevertheless, in many rescues, it can become dangerous; this one surely did turn out that way, said a friend.<br />
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Michael S. Gilmore, 31, of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma lost his life October 6, 2002. He and his partner were assisting an accident patient into the back of an ambulance when they were hit by a vehicle that skidded out of control after hydroplaning during a driving rainstorm. His partner and the patient were also killed.<br />
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Mr. Gilmore, a critical care paramedic, was employed by the Southern Oklahoma Ambulance Service in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He had been with the SOAS for the past four years. He had previously been employed with the Pauls Valley Ambulance Service for six years as an EMT.<br />
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"This has been real hard for all of us here," Jones a squad member said. "These guys, this group is like a family. We all feel that we have lost two of our brothers," he said.<br />
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Honored 2004 |