Photo Release: Coast Guard honors Kotzebue, Alaska, man with Silver Lifesaving Medal

 

Photo Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 428-4140 17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard honors Kotzebue, Alaska, man with Silver Lifesaving Medal

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard presented the Silver Lifesaving Medal Saturday in Anchorage to a Kotzebue man for heroic actions he took as a young boy to save a girl from drowning in Kotzebue.

Then 10-year-old George "Radar" Lambert saved 12-year-old Pamela Smith from drowning in Kotzebue, June 22, 1998. This was the first documented save using a lifejacket from the Kids Don't Float program which has been attributed to saving a total of 31 lives.

Smith, now Magistrate & Standing Master at Alaska Court System in Nome, gave an emotional speech where she thanked her long-time friend for the heroic actions he took as a young boy to save her life.

"I can't think of a better way to kick off National Safe Boating Week, than to honor a hero who used a lifejacket to save his friend's life," said Rear Adm. Matthew T. Bell, Commander, 17th Coast Guard District.

The event coincided with the first day of National Safe Boating Week.

Coast Guard representatives, Alaska State Parks representatives and Gov. Mike Dunleavy attended the ceremony to honor Lambert, and to show support for National Safe Boating Week and the Kids Don't Float program. 

Media interested in interviewing a Coast Guard spokesperson about boating safety during National Safe Boating Week this week should contact Petty Officer 1st Class Nate Littlejohn at 907-428-4140.

 

-USCG-