Richard Drew Haber helped to save J. T. Baker from drowning, Pensacola, Florida, November 23, 1970. When his gasoline tank truck was involved in an accident on a bridge and, afire, plunged into Pensacola Bay, Baker, 39, truckdriver, surfaced amid gasoline burning on the water. He swam to the nearest bridge piling and then called for help. Haber, 18, high school student, entered the water fully clothed and swam to Baker, who was within 15 feet of the flames. With difficulty because he had to swim against the current and because Baker could not help himself, Haber towed him to a piling farther from the flames. By then fatigued, Haber called for assistance. A highway patrol sergeant entered the water and, with the aid of an inner tube, assisted Haber in moving Baker to below the outer edge of the bridge. A chain lowered to them struck Haber and broke his nose. By means of ropes, all three persons were raised onto the bridge.
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