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Show J ' 1 - l f ' - ' ' ; .' V ' - - - v 1 ri -. -- . ... , : - a. y r - . . . . w. r- , - I . - ' . RESCUED AND rescuers are seen here after a narrow escape in the Green River near Browns Park during a National Guard training session. They are front SFC Kenneth Serre, SP4 Donald Wood, Patrick Marlines, PFC Kent Curtis (face obscured) William Carlin, Greg Packer and Terry Erickson. Vernal men rescued from Green River Two Vernal men were rescued recently from waters of the Green River near Browns Park during a training weekend float trip with the Utah Army National Guard. Kent O. Curtis, PFC Co. 'A stated in a letter to his commander. SFC Ken . Serre and myself were floating in a three man recon-raft. The larger raft carrying Price personnel were floating in front of our raft. SFC Serre and myself entered a stretch of the river called Red Creek Rapids and our raft overturned. SFC Serre was able to reach the shore and I landed on an island in the river. The raft floated down the river, all items in it were lost. The rait containing the Price, Unit became worried about the ability of the smaller raft to navigate the rapids. They stopped their raft and observed our mishap. They were about to capture cap-ture the 3-man raft and gather up some personal items. They immediately docked their raft and SP4 Donald Wood started up the river bank to provide aid. On several occasions the banks were too steep to walk and he entered the river to reach us. Upon reaching us, he determined we were not seriously hurt and discussed the situation of getting myself to the shoreline. After some deliberation it was decided that I would enter the river again and swim for the shore. SP4 Wood positioned himself where the current would float me to shore. I entered the water and started swimming. swim-ming. The current was very fast and when I reached SP4 Wood he reached out and grabbed me. The strength of the current pulled him over and he had to struggle on several occasions before he was able to get me to shore. SP4 Wood risked his own safety on a couple of occasions to provide aid to us. Had he not been able to pull me from the river we would have floated down for approximately one-eighth mile, risking serious injury or possible drowning." Donald Wood has been nominated for a commendation medal by his company commanders for rescuing Mr. Curtis and Mr. Serre. The commendation will be presented to him in the near future. Five other Price men were nominated for letters of commondation as they maneuvered the raft to the end of the rapids and pulled in Curtis, Serre and Wood. Wood sustained minor injuries in-juries during the rescue. The two Army National Guard Units were out on a training weekend and are labeled as Detachment 1, Company A. 1457th Engineers (Combat) of Price and Vernal. |