Vicksburg, Miss. - The Sector Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River, Cmdr. Patrick J. Maguire, presented four Public Service Awards to Ergon Marine & Industrial Supply, Inc. employees during his visit to their facility Monday.
Capt. Matt Pepper, Capt. Gene Love, John Dolan, and Randy Brown each received the Coast Guard Certificate of Merit for their heroic rescue of a 69-year-old man, James McDonald, from the Mississippi River.
On Aug. 23, 2005, McDonald's fishing boat sank 10 miles north of Vicksburg. Once ejected into the water, he used the vessel's seat cushion for floatation as he drifted approximately eight miles where Farmers Grain Terminal representatives saw him and later Ergon Marine & Industrial Supply representatives saw him floating past their dock yelling for help. Ergon Marine personnel immediately responded with two of their boats, the ERGON and BIG VALLEY. The ERGON located McDonald from the reflection of his eyeglasses with the vessel's spotlight, crew members hurled a life ring to him and successfully hauled him aboard the boat. The BIG VALLEY transported him to shore where awaiting emergency medical technicians from the Vicksburg Fire Department evaluated him.
"This successful rescue effort can be attributed to the survivor's perseverance, as well as teamwork and preparedness exhibited by personnel from Ergon Marine & Industrial Supply, Farmers Grain Terminal, the Vicksburg Fire Department, Madison Parish (Louisiana) Sheriffs Department, and U.S. Coast Guard Sector Lower Mississippi River," said Cmdr. Patrick J. Maguire. 
From left: Capt. Matt Pepper, John Dolan, Capt. Gene Love, and Randy Brown with the man they helped rescue, James McDonald (center). ###
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