Coast Guardsman to be Awarded for Rescue

[Woodmonkey]

Coast Guardsman to be Awarded for Rescue

Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Allen Cantrell, a Trenton, S.C. native, will be presented with a Coast Guard Commendation Medal in a ceremony to be held May 19 at Atlantic Beach, N.C.

On Apr. 18 at 10:17 a.m. a call came into the Atlantic Beach Police/Fire Dispatcher stating that there was a female subject in the water. Rescue and police units responded and upon arrival found Gloria Mosely, 66, in the canal. Unable to swim Wilbur Mosely tried rescue his wife Gloria Mosely by throwing her a rope and a life jacket for extra support and went to get help.

"I was shopping around in the surf shop when Mr. Mosely came in and asked for help. I hopped in his truck where he took me to where his wife was in the water right behind their house," said Cantrell.

Cantrell, 19, a boatswain's mate stationed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Staten Island, was in the water supporting Mosely who had sustained a head injury when she fell off the dock and struck her head.

"I saw her under the boat slip, decided to jump in and I stayed with her until the rescue units arrived," said Cantrell.

Cantrell's decisive actions directly led to Gloria Mosely's life being saved.

"I was just glad to that I was in the right place at the right time. I would like to think that anybody else placed in that situation would have done the same thing," Cantrell added. "She called me a couple of days ago to tell me she was alright. It felt real good to hear that."

Media is invited to attend the award ceremony in the Council Meeting Hall, 125 West Fort Macon Road, Atlantic Beach, NC 28512 on 19 May 2008 at 6:00 PM.

The Source