Marine Corps combat veteran Steven M. Lipscomb spent his life protecting others — and in the end, he gave everything to do it one last time.
The 42-year-old foreman, husband, and father from Elkview, West Virginia, lost his life on Nov. 8 while making sure every member of his crew escaped a sudden flood at the Rolling Thunder Mine.
“All of West Virginia mourns the loss of this courageous man,” West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey said, adding that Lipscomb “spent his final moments ensuring his men could escape to safety.”
According to officials, a routine shift turned catastrophic when an old mine wall was compromised, unleashing a massive surge of water. Lipscomb was last seen making sure his crew got out and every single one survived. He did not.