James Marion Boykin, 35, telephone engineer, saved Antonio N. Deya, 23, baseball player, and helped to save Paul E. Warren, Jr., 24, telephone engineer, from drowning, South Creek, North Carolina, July 23, 1949. A motorboat in which Deya, Warren, and Boykin were riding on the Pamlico River capsized in water 16 feet deep 1.5 miles from an island in the river. Deya, who was a poor swimmer, and Warren obtained holds on the boat. A cut on Deya’s forehead bled profusely. Boykin recovered a gasoline can that had been in the boat and persuaded Deya to take hold of the can, which was buoyant. Thinking that Deya might drown unless taken to land, Boykin began towing him toward the island through waves one to two feet high. Warren remained at the boat. At intervals Boykin paused to rest. After towing Deya for 45 minutes, Boykin suffered cramp and became weary. Deya saw Boykin’s condition and became alarmed, remaining in an erect position and making it difficult for Boykin to progress. Boykin towed Deya to within 650 feet of the island to water three feet deep and waded to shore with him 1.5 hours after leaving the boat. Although he was extremely tired, Boykin immediately sought aid for Warren by swimming with difficulty 1.5 miles to wadable water an eighth of a mile from the river bank. Several men in boats reached him, and he informed them of the location of Deya and Warren. Both were brought to the bank. Deya was nauseated and nervous but recovered. Boykin was fatigued and suffered from severe sunburn, nervousness, and numerous welts from stinging nettles, but he recovered. 3659-41775
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