Staff Writer
At just 20 years old, former Enloe High School star Larry Pickett Jr., now U.S. Military Academy cadet and Army football player, is being celebrated for an act of real-life heroism that reflects the core values of West Point Military Academy.
On the heels of Army’s narrow 30–27 double-overtime loss to Tarleton State on Friday night, Pickett—still just a college sophomore—found himself in a life-or-death situation off the field. In the early hours of Saturday morning, while returning to campus from a family dinner in New York City, Pickett Jr. and his father, Larry Pickett Sr., came upon a burning vehicle that had crashed into a utility pole in Highland Falls, New York, just a few miles from West Point.
Without hesitation, the pair leapt into action.
"It wasn't a lot of thinking, a lot of talking. Just reacting," Pickett Jr. told ABC11.
A video captured by Pickett Jr.'s sister, Lauren, shows the dramatic rescue: the white sedan surrounded by sparking wires and the Pickett men risking their safety to pull the disoriented driver from the wreckage.
“We knew that car was about to catch on fire and whoever was in there was going to burn up, and we couldn’t just watch and let that happen,” Pickett Jr. told The Athletic. “We got out, ran over, jumped over the power line, and opened the door. He still had his seatbelt on.”
According to authorities, the vehicle had smashed into a utility pole around 3.8 miles from West Point, in Fort Montgomery, and was perilously close to bursting into flames. Thanks to the Picketts’ quick thinking and bravery, the driver was pulled to safety before the worst could occur. First responders arrived soon after and took over care of the injured man, whose condition has not been released.
Pickett Jr., a safety on the Army football team, credited his military training and West Point education for preparing him to act decisively.
“Especially being here at West Point and part of the Army — that being a part of our ethos and who we are,” he said. “I don't take it lightly.”
The rescue has garnered national attention and high praise from military and athletic leaders alike. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll called Pickett Jr. a model of Army values. The U.S. Military Academy also released a statement saying it was “proud of the heroic actions” taken by both Pickett Jr. and his father.
Already recognized for his athletic ability—Pickett was recently featured in EA Sports College Football 26 and named Army Football’s "Skill Worker of the Week"—this moment revealed a deeper testament to his character.
As his team prepares for the rest of the season, and as Pickett Jr. continues to grow both as a cadet and a young leader, one thing is clear: the Army has a true hero in its ranks—one who doesn't just talk about courage, but lives it.
