New Yorker risks life.(Wesley Autrey)

Most Americans have probably heard the name Wesley Autrey by now, but the story of this man's selfless heroism deserves repeating, so long as there is one among us who has not heard about it.

Back on January 2, Mr. Autrey was waiting on the southbound platform of New York's 137th Street/City College subway station in Harlem with his two young daughters, when he saw a young man fall backward on the platform and go into convulsions. The youth was later identified as Cameron Hollopeter, 19, of Littleton, Massachusetts, a student at the New York Film Academy.

Autrey bent down and helped clear Hollopeter's breathing passages, and he thought the young man was alright. But as Hollopeter stood up, he lost his balance, falling onto the subway tracks, just as the Number 1 train pulled into the station. Autrey jumped in after Hollopeter, but had difficulty in getting him off the tracks as the train drew closer.

Running out of time, Autrey dragged Hollopeter into a shallow trough between the tracks just before the train reached them. At least two ...