Marshall E. Field saved Lawrence A. Lumbert and Danny S. McDaniel from drowning, Ocean City, Washington, July 18, 1964. Lawrence, 12, who wore a life jacket, Danny, 13, and the latter’s father paddled an inflated rubber raft into rough surf in the Pacific Ocean and 1,000 feet from shore were thrown into the water when the raft overturned. Danny’s father gave him his life belt and then began swimming after the raft but was drowned. The two boys attempted without success to swim toward shore. The raft was washed onto the beach, and Field, 36, schoolteacher, was attracted. He saw the heads of Danny and Lawrence in the water as they were carried farther from shore. Dragging the raft, which was five feet long and three feet wide, by a short line at one end, Field waded to 600 feet from shore, where he lay prone on the raft and by paddling with his hands continued seaward. He moved over the breakers with much effort and reached Lawrence 1,350 feet from shore in water eight feet deep between waves five to six feet high. Lawrence, nearly exhausted, grasped the rope and retained his hold as the raft again was overturned by a breaker, dumping Field into the water. Field was extremely tired but after a brief rest was able to right the raft. He aided Lawrence onto it and moved it toward Danny, who swam to them. Field aided Danny onto the raft before also climbing aboard, and both began paddling it shoreward. With great effort and aided by the wind and the waves, they moved the raft 835 feet toward the beach despite its shipping two inches of water. A breaker dumped all three occupants into water chest-deep for Field, who took hold of both Danny and Lawrence and supported them. Others waded to them and aided all to the beach.
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