Wilbur E. Willeford saved Ruth A. and Edward W. Chrzanowski, Jr., and Dale E. McKissick from drowning, Treasure Island, Florida, March 22, 1975. While swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, Mrs. Chrzanowski, 24, her husband, 28, and McKissick, also 28, got into difficulty in an area of swells about 300 feet from shore. Alerted to the situation, Willeford, 38, cartographic technician, swam to where Mrs. Chrzanowski and McKissick were treading water together. With McKissick holding to Mrs. Chrzanowski, Willeford towed them in tandem to wadable water, where he then learned that Chrzanowski also was in need of help. Swimming back out, Willeford reached Chrzanowski about 480 feet from shore, towed him to wadable water, and then dragged him to the beach.
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