Raymond F. Tschiedel saved Wallace W. Taylor from drowning, Cocoa Beach, Florida, May 9, 1964. In rough surf in the Atlantic Ocean, Taylor, 41, Air Force staff sergeant, was caught by a strong under- current and carried away from shore. Unable to make any progress toward the beach, he called for help. Tschiedel, 16, schoolboy, and another sixteen-year-old youth waded and swam 215 feet to Taylor, who was struggling to stay afloat in water seven feet deep between waves three feet high. From opposite sides of Taylor, Tschiedel and the other youth took hold of him and attempted to tow him toward shore. After five minutes they had moved him only 25 feet. The other youth then decided they needed help in taking Taylor to the beach. Releasing Taylor, he swam to shore and ran to get assistance from two other swimmers a quarter of a mile farther along the beach. Tschiedel told Taylor, who was weak and nauseated, to hold to his shoulders. Taylor did so. With effort Tschiedel swam shoreward on his back, raising himself and Taylor with the crest of each wave and swimming in the troughs. Slowly he towed Taylor 190 feet to wadable water, from where he was aided to the beach. Taylor then lost consciousness but was revived.
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