A Kentucky firefighter died in the line of duty while responding to a recent tornado just shy of his 39th anniversary with the department. 

On Monday, May 19, the Laurel County Fire Department shared a post in honor of Major Roger Leslie Leatherman after confirming that he died just before midnight Friday, May 16, “following a series of severe weather alerts and emergency dispatches in the region.”

In an interview with Fox Weather, Laurel County Deputy fire Chief Terry Wattenbarger remembered Leatherman as a “total public servant.”

“His career, as some may or may not know, the Laurel County Fire Department is a totally volunteer department. He joined the department in 1986, so he was coming up on his 39-year anniversary of being in the fire service,” the fire chief said.

Leatherman “chose a career in public service,” and was also a trained EMT, Wattenbarger added.

Flags were lowered for Leatherman, who was one of the 17 victims killed during the deadly London, Ky., tornado.

At approximately 11:47 p.m Friday, a fire alarm went off near Leatherman’s home. He responded to the scene, letting his department know that he was en route via a private radio channel. 

“At 11:48 PM, a call for a trapped person at 291 Hart Church Road was received. Just one minute later, at 11:49 PM, a structural collapse was reported at 382 Sunshine Hills Road, indicating widespread damage in the Sunshine Hills community,” the department said in their Facebook statement. 

By 12:30 a.m., Leatherman could not be accounted for.

First responders later learned that a different search party that found an “unidentified conscious female [who] was calling for help” in a field “and a male [who] was found lying on top of her, unresponsive,” had found Leatherman, but did not know his identity at the time. 

“The male was confirmed deceased and his location was recorded for later identification and coroner response,” the department said. 

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According to the post, “It appears that Major Leatherman was responding to the initial fire alarm when the tornado struck. Upon encountering the injured female, he used his body to shield her from further harm. He was fatally injured in the process. The female was later identified as his wife, Michelle Leatherman who was critically injured. It is unknown if Major Leatherman was aware of her identity at the time due to the extreme darkness, noise, and traumatic events.”

He was praised by his peers for his “selfless actions,” which exemplified “the highest ideals of public service and sacrifice.”