Texas teen who rescued lives during Harvey to receive major award



See 50 most iconic photos from Hurricane Harvey. A Dickinson, Texas teenager is receiving the Citizen Honors Award for rescuing 17 neighbors with an air mattress.

See 50 most iconic photos from Hurricane Harvey. A Dickinson, Texas teenager is receiving the Citizen Honors Award for rescuing 17 neighbors with an air mattress. Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 75 Caption Close Texas teen who rescued lives during Harvey to receive major award 1 / 75 Back to Gallery

A Texas teenager is getting some serious recognition for rescuing 17 people from Harvey's floodwaters.

Virgil Smith of Dickinson is among the five citizens chosen this year to receive the Citizen Honors Award by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.

Last year, a 13-year-old Smith used his air mattress to rescue 17 neighbors trapped due to high water.

In an interview with ABC 13, the young hero said he received a call from one of his neighbors asking for help because his family couldn't swim.

EXPERTS: 2018 hurricane season will be just as busy as 2017

Smith didn't hesitate. During his first rescue mission, he saved his entire friend's family by putting them on the air mattress and pushing them to safety with the help of two other neighbors, all while swimming in Harvey's floodwaters.

But Smith didn't stop there and went on to rescue several others, including a woman in a wheelchair.

"I thank God that no snakes or no alligators bit us," Smith told ABC 13.

Above: See 50 of the most iconic photos taken during Hurricane Harvey.