Ervin D. Shephard, 36, welder, died after helping to save Robert 0. Snider, 15, schoolboy, from drowning, Tillamook, Oregon, August 15, 1964. While swimming in the Pacific Ocean in an area posted as dangerous, Snider was caught in an undertow and carried away from shore. Shephard, who was deaf, removed his shirt and shoes, entered the cold water, and swam through breakers four to five feet high. He reached Snider 2000 feet from shore in water 12 feet deep between swells generally three feet high, but they were unable to move shoreward. Snider’s mother and Shephard’s wife were on the beach and began screaming for help. A young man swam to Snider and Shephard, who then were 50 feet apart. The man encouraged Snider to swim toward shore. Snider swam a 1000 feet and was met by another young man, who accompanied him the rest of the way to the beach. The first young man tried to tow Shephard but was unable to make much progress. They rested. Shephard and the man then began swimming toward the beach. Each was submerged briefly by a breaker. Shephard disappeared from sight as the man continued to wadable water, from where he was aided to shore. The Coast Guard searched the area but could not locate Shephard’s body
47715 – 5007
47715-5007