Marine Corps combat veteran Steven M. Lipscomb spent his life protecting others — and, in his final moments, he gave everything to do it once more.
A routine shift that turned catastrophic
The 42-year-old foreman, husband, and father from Elkview, West Virginia, was killed on Nov. 8 while ensuring his crew escaped a sudden and devastating flood inside the Rolling Thunder Mine.
“All of West Virginia mourns the loss of this courageous man,” Gov. Patrick Morrisey said, noting that Lipscomb “spent his final moments ensuring his men could escape to safety.”
What began as an ordinary shift quickly spiraled into disaster when an old mine wall gave way, releasing a violent rush of water through the shaft. Witnesses say Lipscomb was last seen ushering his crew out of danger — and every one of them made it out alive. He did not.
“Lipscomb, the foreman, stood his ground until every member of his crew was evacuated. The water filled the shaft, making escape impossible,” Gov. Morrisey added.
