Howard F. Hammons saved Marjorie E. Gilberds from drowning, Windsor, Ontario, October 25, 1966. Mrs. Gilberds, 29, climbed over a fence atop a sea wall and dropped five feet into the Detroit River, where she floundered wildly and then called for help. She made no effort to reach a life preserver which, attached to a line held by two men at the fence, was thrown to near her. Hammons, 38, labeling machine operator, was attracted, ran to the fence farther downstream, and saw the situation. He removed his shoes and shirt and dived into the cold water. A passing ferry was creating 18-inch swells in the area. Hammons swam 60 feet diagonally across the current and reached Mrs. Gilberds in water 15 feet deep, 30 feet from the wall, where she was floating on her back. When Hammons took hold of her by one arm, Mrs. Gilberds struck him heavily on the nose with her other hand. Hammons was submerged briefly, releasing Mrs. Gilberds. He then regained his hold on her, towed her, eight feet toward the wall, and reached the line of the life preserver. Tired and, nearly numb, Hammons grasped the line and held to it as the two men pulled him and Mrs. Gilberds to steps in the sea wall, where they were aided from the water.
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