For an Army Ranger, a typical drive to work this month transformed into a courageous rescue as he saved a man trapped in a vehicle ablaze.

On August 9, while driving on Interstate 5 in Tacoma, Washington, Master Sgt. Joe Thach noticed thick smoke in front of him and soon encountered a car that had crashed into a barrier, consumed by flames.

“I saw that no one else had stopped to assist, and I thought, if not me, then who?” Thach shared with KOMO news. He added, “That could be someone’s son, brother, or father, and I immediately felt it was something I’d want someone to do for a loved one.”

‘I really need a brother right now’

Taking swift action, Thach, who has dedicated 18 years to the Army, utilized his skills and training to extract the man from the wreckage while the fire grew.

As he pulled the man away from the fiery wreck, Thach learned that the individual was also a military veteran.

“I recall him reaching for my hand, saying, ‘I really need a brother right now,’” Thach recounted to KOMO news. “I held his hand and assured him he would be alright, fully aware that it was a tough day for him, letting him know I was there for him.”