Local Man Receiving Award for Extraordinary Heroism

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – One local man is hailed a hero and was recently chosen for the Distinguished Service Cross.

It is the second-highest award the U.S. Army can grant. Owner of Sports Barber Shops Mike Debolt said he is being flown down to Fort Riley Kansas to receive the award on Thursday, March 28th.

“The Department of Defense and the Pentagon did a big review on all the valor awards since 2001 I believe and mine come up out of I was told 2000 entries they looked at and then 80 or less got picked for the board and mine made it through,” Debolt said.

He was serving in Afghanistan in 2008 when the truck he was driving with four other men hit an improvised explosive device. He helped the other soldiers escape from the fire while they continued to be attacked by the enemy.

“I helped a couple guys get out. They were getting burned, I was getting burned as well. Taking fire and we got away,” Debolt said.

Debolt said being picked for the award still feels so surreal and he’s just happy he got to help save the lives of his friends.