Damian Garcia helped to save Herschell A. Mayes and attempted to save William H. Clark from drowning, Kansas City, Missouri, February 23, 1941. William, 10, broke through thin ice on Penn Valley Lake into water eight feet deep 50 feet from the bank. Herschell, 9, broke through five feet nearer the bank, enlarging the hole to seven feet, and held to the ice. William sank. Damian, 15, schoolboy, from the bank waded 25 feet toward Herschell, breaking the ice with his feet, fists, and elbows. He and another boy then held to the ice with one hand and with their free arms broke ice through unwadable water in a path four feet wide for 25 feet farther to Herschell. Taking hold of Herschell, he pulled him to the other boy, who then swam towing Herschell to wadable water. Damian swam five feet farther, dived, got hold of William, who lay on the bottom, and swam to the surface. Towing William, who was unconscious, Damian swam 30 feet to wadable water and went to the bank. William could not be revived. 38876-3212
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