Best wishes on a well-earned retirement

Have you ever punched through a windshield?

Most people would probably answer "no." But Harry Schumer is not most people.

The master firefighter recently retired after 28 years of service with the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

Schumer says he's not sure why he enjoyed fighting fires so much, but thinks it may have to do with the adrenaline.

"You're always on the edge when you go into a fire," Schumer told TBY. "To say that we're adrenaline junkies, that's pretty well true. If you don't like that, you're not going to be a firefighter in the first place."

He enjoyed many aspects of his work, having had a lifelong fascination with the way fire behaves. But he excelled at extrications.

One St. Louis minister got the benefit of Schumer's expertise in April 2008, when he lost control of his vehicle when a tire blew out and became trapped inside the flipped vehicle. Two firefighters-in-training stopped to help, but had been unable to free him.

When an off-duty Schumer came upon the wreck, fuel was leaking, and eventually the vehicle ignited.

Schumer got down between the ground and the hood of the upside-down truck and began punching the windshield with his fist in an effort to free the man. He managed to punch a hole, then widened it so the man could escape. Less than 90 seconds later, the vehicle exploded.

Schumer received a number of awards for heroism during his 28 years with the department, including from the Missouri State House of Representatives, the Missouri State Highway Patrol, VFW, city of Cape Girardeau and others.

Since his retirement, Schumer says he is spending time in the woods near his home and plans to travel with his wife Belenda.

Enjoy your retirement, Mr. Schumer. And thank you for your service to the community.