Gerald N. Fort, 28, tire shop operator, saved Donald E. Cassity, 12, Dale P. Hopkins, 9, and Ralph D. Hopkins, 38, truck dispatcher, from drowning, Saint Albans, West Virginia, July 18, 1944. From wadable water above a 30-inch fall in the Coal River, Donald and Dale got onto a rock that rose three feet above the water at the foot of the fall, jumped into water 18 feet deep 60 feet from the bank, and called for help. From the bank Ralph waded and swarn to his son Dale, who grasped him around the neck. Fort ran 320 feet, waded and ran across sandbars to within 40 feet of Donald, and then dived from a bar and swam to him. Supporting Donald, he swam 20 feet to the rock, and treading water, repeatedly swung him upward; but he slipped off. Persons, who had reached the rock, then pulled Donald onto it. Fort strained his side in swinging Donald. Although suffering pain in his side, he at once swam 24 feet to Dale, pulled him from Ralph, and swam to the rock. Dale was pulled upon the rock. Fort then swam to Ralph and towed him to the rock. Thinking he could not climb onto the rock because of the pain, he swam 45 feet to the sandbar. He was almost exhausted. His side was sore for a week. 40238-3463
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