Retired Cop Has Reunion With Woman He Saved As Child In Fire 43 Years Ago
SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) — A hero police officer who rescued some children from a Santa Ana house fire that killed their mother 43 years ago, had a happy and emotional reunion Saturday.
The fire took place in the early morning of May 26, 1970.
From that day forward, officer Harlen "Lamb" Lambert wondered what happened to the three Clune kids.
Angela Clune, now Angela Basore of San Diego, was wondering what ever happened to the police officer.
This past June, she tracked him down using Facebook. She wrote, "I just want you to know what a beautiful thing you did."
They decided to meet in person. The two met Saturday at a picnic in Santa Ana and it was difficult for both of them to hold back the tears.
"When I saw her today, I cried like a baby," said Lambert, "I now have the opportunity to feel and touch someone whose life I saved 43 years ago and she was just 4 years old."
Lambert attended the picnic with his former police partner, Jake Jakobsen, who, during that same fire, saved Lambert's life and assisted in the rescue of the youngest Clune child, then 6-weeks-old.
Lambert, honored for heroism in 1972, is retired from the police force. A company he owns now trains service dogs and K-9 officers that can sniff out cell phone in prisons.
