Walter R. French

Walter R. French, 13, schoolboy, died attempting to save Terrence W. Brady, 10, from drowning, West De Pere, Wisconsin, July 10, 1951. Terrence fell from a railroad bridge into water six feet deep in the Fox River 210 feet from the bank. Telling another boy to go for help, Walter quickly stepped onto a beam of the bridge that was eight feet above the water and jumped toward Terrence, who was five feet from the bridge and was drifting farther from it in a current of one to two m.p.h. Rising within reach of Terrence, Walter took hold of him and tried to swim toward the bridge. They drifted 145 feet farther from the bridge and became separated. Walter regained his hold, but they again became separated. Terrence was observed briefly at the surface and then was submerged. Walter, who had supported Terrance for several minutes, soon sank and did not reappear. The body of Walter was recovered three hours later.