Charles Anthony Clark, 17, schoolboy,, saved Dolores M. Mehan, 9, and helped to save Matthew A. Mehan, 8, from drowning, Los Angeles, California, July 9, 1967. Dolores and Matthew fell into a wash and were swept along in water four and a half feet deep by the swift current. Clark descended the steep concrete side of the wash, which had stones embedded in it, and waded 15 feet into the water. He lost his footing, but he obtained a hold on Dolores, who was some distance ahead of Matthew. As they were swept along, Clark moved Dolores to the side of the wash. He grasped one protruding stone and although he had lost his shoes in the swift current, positioned one foot against another stone, thereby halting their drifting. Clark threw Dolores onto the slope and crawled out of the water. Seeing Matthew then nearly opposite him, Clark reentered the water. He swam 15 feet and intercepted Matthew. Clark was tiring, and he was unable to move Matthew to the side of the wash; but he supported him as they were carried along by the current. Gilbert H. Caban noted the situation and descended the steep side of the wash. He entered the water, swam 15 feet, and took hold of Clark, who continued to support Matthew. With the aid of Caban, they moved to the side of the wash. Caban then succeeded in securing footing and halting the drifting of all three persons. Each grasped a protruding stone and crawled from the water.
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