Robert C. Little saved Nancy W. Clendenin, Carolina Beach, North Carolina, August 11, 1939. While wading in the Atlantic Ocean, Nancy, 13, lost her footing and drifted to water six feet deep 120 feet from shore. There was a strong undercurrent toward the sea. From shallow water, Robert, 13, schoolboy, waded and then swam 25 feet to Nancy. He submerged and pushed her upward and shoreward several times. He then took hold of her hand, and for two or three minutes with great effort he tried to tow her toward shore but made no headway. His father waded from shore and swam 50 feet to Nancy. Taking hold of her, he and Robert swam and drifted 35 feet at an angle toward shore. The father, who was fatigued, then released Nancy and gave her a hard shove, which moved Nancy and Robert toward shore but forced him farther from shore. Robert with great effort swam five feet farther, and then he waded and helped Nancy to shore. Meanwhile the father had drifted farther from shore, dipping under the surface once or twice. Robert, pushing a tire tube, waded and swam 300 feet to him and then swam towing him to wadable water. Others then aided him. Robert waded to shore and was gasping and trembling. 38194-3158
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