Blessed Good Friday and Passover to all who celebrate. This week’s Feel-Good Friday is about salvation and heroism, so on the completion of this Holy Week commemorating redemption, rescue, and resurrection, this story more than fits.
Hat tip to our VIP member Jolie LaChance for bringing it to my attention.
Rungphet Bodnar has been a letter carrier for 28 years, with a route in and around Flint, MI. With the uncertainty surrounding the future of the U.S. Postal Service, she told the Detroit Free Press that she might choose to retire soon. But despite this, Bodnar loves what she does and loves the community she serves. “I love my job,” she said.
In 2024, it was a regular day for Bodnar on her route, when she saw an eight-year-old girl being attacked by a pit bull, and a neighbor’s unsuccessful attempts to get the little girl away from the aggressive dog. Bodnar did not hesitate about what she should do, but immediately acted to try and save the girl’s life:
As she drove her route through Flint in April, passing a spot where a school bus had just let off children, she saw a dog, a pit bull, she said, with its jaws clamped on a young girl’s leg and dragging her across a lawn, as a woman Bodnar knew vainly tried to help. Children were screaming, the dog wouldn’t let go.
That must have been an incredibly terrifying moment for all involved. Bodnar knew the woman who was trying to help the girl was hearing impaired, but despite this, they were able to work together to get the dog to release the child from its jaws.
As a letter carrier, Bodnar had dealt with territorial dogs before, and had even been bitten by one, so she was equipped with a spray that was formulated to repel and restrain canines on the attack. Bodnar aimed the spray at the dog’s eyes, but it took several attempts because the dog appeared to back off, then circle back again to re-attack, lunging at the frightened and injured little girl, who was being shielded by the neighbor.
Finally, Bodnar sprayed the dog and when it backed off, she continued to move at it keeping between the dog and the child, spraying it more and more, as it retreated into a backyard. The woman got away with the child, who was badly mauled. Bodnar, knowing another school bus was due to drop students off soon, called 911 and moved her mail truck in front of the yard in an attempt to block it, even though there was no gate. It worked. The police arrived, as did animal control.
Not only did Bodnar save one child’s life, but she protected other children from the dangerous animal, which could have gotten loose again. Bodnar’s strategic thinking and quick action changed the trajectory. Sadly, the dog, which had jumped out of an open window before he attacked the little girl, had to be euthanized.
The girl, Bodnar said, needed surgeries but survived. “She had bites all over her. She almost lost her arm, her legs were all messed up,” said Bodnar. “I think she went back to school after about a month and a half.”
For many years, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) has spotlighted their members who perform acts of courage and compassion like Rungphet Bodnar did for that young girl. A panel of independent judges gathers annually to review these stories that are published in The Postal Record. From this review, the judges chooses the recipients for the Heroes of the Year Award.
At the end of March 2025, Bodnar and seven other letter carriers were honored as 2024 Heroes Award recipients. Along with a week’s pay, they were gifted a trip to Washington, D.C., where they participated in a tour of the Capitol, took part in other events, and attended the NALC awards ceremony.
“We are immensely proud of what the heroes being recognized did,” NALC President Brian Renfroe said. “They represent our country’s best in public service. They truly are our heroes.”
While on her route, Mid-Michigan Branch 256 member Rungphet Bodnar witnessed a dog attacking a little girl. Without hesitation, Bodnar used her dog spray to free her.
We are proud to honor her quick, life-saving action as NALC’s Central Region Hero of the Year!#NALCHeroes2025 pic.twitter.com/BXy5i9mRIw
— Letter Carriers (@NALC_National) March 12, 2025
Bodnar’s story, along with those of her fellow Heroes Award recipients, is documented on the NALC website. What a testament to people who love what they do, and care about the communities they serve enough to sacrifice their own safety in the assistance of others.
