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| HEROES - U.S. Coast Guard Commander Captain Patrick Brennan, right, stands with, from left, Officer George Wilkins of the Oscoda Township Police Department, William Wright of Oscoda and Andrea Aites of Loveland, Colo., after presenting them with the Silver Life Saving Medal. - Photo by Jason Ogden
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Van Etten heroes awarded Coast Guard medal
by Jason Ogden EAST TAWAS - Three heroes were honored on April 9 with one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s highest tributes - the Silver Life Saving Medal.
Honored were Andrea Aites of Loveland, Colo., William Wright of Oscoda and Officer George Wilkins of the Oscoda Township Police Department.
According to Captain Patrick Brennan of the USCG Sector Detroit commander, the Silver Life Saving Medal is the second highest award which can be given to a civilian by the agency.
“This is a very big deal,” he said.
The medals recognize the trio’s actions of Jan. 10, 2007, after three Oscoda boys fell through the ice into Van Etten Lake in Oscoda.
Aites and Wright saved Joshua Cooper, then 6, and Johnny Andrick, 9.
Wilkins, who was on duty at the time, was dispatched to the scene, where they dove into the water in an attempt to find Joseph Wyatt Shugart, age 6, but was unsuccessful. Shugart’s body was recovered the next day.
The award, which was presented by Brennan, is given to non-military individuals who endeavor to rescue any person from drowning, shipwreck or similar peril in water.
The rescue attempt must be made at the risk of the individual’s own life.
According to Brennan, the award was issued by Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, who is the highest ranking member of that organization.
He said, the trio was originally nominated for the award by the Coast Guard District Commander John Crowley in Cleveland, Ohio.
The three were the true definition of heroes, said Brennan, cited an actual definition of “hero” from the dictionary, that used saving a drowning person as an example.
“In our society, the word ‘hero’ is often overused,” he said.
Before pinning the medals on Aites, Wright and Wilkins, Brennan explained how great an honor it was for a military organization to give medals to civilians.
“Just like true heroes, this award is exceedingly rare,” said Brennan.
Wright and Aites have received several rewards for the action, including an award from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission and from the Iosco County Sheriff Department. They, along with Wilkins and others, were also recognized by the Oscoda Township Police Department.
Wright said, he was dumbfounded when he heard he was getting the award.
“This is too much hoopla for a small-town guy like me,” he said.
Since the accident, he has had time to reflect on what he did.
“You know, it just makes you appreciate life more,” he said, “as well as the people you love.”
Aites, who struggled emotionally in the aftermath, is slowly healing.
“It is these experiences that make us who we are,” she said. “I just did what I needed to do. I don’t feel that I need any award.”
Wilkins said he was overwhelmed by getting the award, but believes the attention should be focused on Aites and Wright, as he is paid to do what he did and they were not.
“They are the ones who need to be recognized,” he said.
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