Chuck: Honor heroic soldier

U.S. SEN. Chuck Schumer is urging the Army to posthumously honor soldier Emmanuel Mensah, who died Dec. 28 while rescuing people from a Bronx fire.

Pvt. 1st Class Mensah, 28, was among the 13 victims of the fastmoving blaze that reduced the building at 2363 Prospect Ave. into a charred wreck. Before his tragic death, the young soldier (photo) saved four lives, officials said. Mensah zipped in and out of the flaming building at least three times — bringing others to safety — before he succumbed on the fourth floor. The Army National Guard soldier, whose family emigrated from Ghana, was a permanent legal resident and enlisted in 2016.

Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote to the Army asking for a posthumous award to recognize Mensah’s bravery.

“Emmanuel Mensah was many things: a soldier, an immigrant, a first-generation American, a New Yorker — but above all else he was a hero,” Schumer said.

Thomas Tracy Holt Francis (main photo) died Thursday after bring taken off life support. His wife, Karen Stewart-Francis, (above with Holt), their daughters Kylie and Kelesha (l.-r. in photo right) and niece Shawntay Young also died from Dec. 28 fire.