Myron L. Werda, 21, seaman, saved Dominic Oliver, 41, seaman, from drowning and concussion, Toledo, Ohio, July 11, 1958. Oliver, who was standing on a dock alongside a ship being loaded with coal, fell into water 26 feet deep between the dock and the ship and began to flounder wildly as he clung to his sea bag, which temporarily remained afloat. Werda witnessed the accident from the deck of the ship and feared that Oliver would drown or be crushed against the side of the dock if he was not removed from the water before the next discharge of coal caused the stern of the ship to swing against the dock. At that time there was a space of six feet between the ship and the dock opposite Werda. Without removing any of his clothing, Werda jumped into the water 12 feet below, landing alongside Oliver, who still held to the sea bag. As the deck boss shouted to the coal loader not to release any more coal, Werda took hold of Oliver, who pulled away from him. Wooden blocks 30 inches thick were suspended over the side of the ship to keep it from touching the dock, and a life preserver with a line attached was thrown to Werda. Werda broke Oliver’s hold on the bag and on his third attempt secured Oliver inside the preserver. Aided by a man pulling the line attached to the preserver, Werda pushed Oliver 20 feet to a ladder, which they ascended to the deck of the ship.
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