Donald D. Biwer saved two men from drowning, Cresco, Iowa, July 12, 1969. At night two men were at a picnic area on a bank of the Turkey River and started to swim to the other side. Beyond 60 feet from the bank they no longer could be seen due to the limited illumination; but cries for help were heard. Donald, 17, high school student, who also was at the picnic area, entered the water and, picking up an inflated inner tube along the way, swam to the first man, who was 70 feet from the bank in water nine feet deep. The second man was flailing 20 feet away. With the first man holding to the opposite side of the tube, Donald swam to the second man, who had been submerged briefly. The latter grasped the tube and then tried to climb onto Donald who managed to avoid being submerged. The second man calmed after Donald aided him to a position on the tube. Towing one man on the tube with the other man clinging to it, Donald began swimming back toward the picnic area. He was very tired by the time he reached wadable water with the two men.
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