Stories of courage and service.

Oct. 28, 2026 · Winyah Bay, South Carolina

When the shrimp boat Shayna Michele ran aground on the Winyah Bay jetty and began taking on water, a Coast Guard Air Station Savannah helicopter crew hoisted all five people and the boat's dog to safety. No injuries were reported.

Photo credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo (via DVIDS)

Oct. 9, 2026 · Washington, D.C.

Off duty near Eastern Market in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, Pfc. Andrehw Sanders of Marine Barracks Washington saw a scooter collision and immediately went to give aid. On Oct. 14 he was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his lifesaving actions.

Photo credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Landon Heredia (via DVIDS)

Oct. 5, 2026 · Interstate 5 near DuPont, Washington

Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Hytower of Madigan Army Medical Center pulled over to help after a serious crash. When the scene turned dangerous, he and two other Soldiers stepped in to protect two children until state patrol arrived.

Photo credit: Photo by Sean Hall, Madigan Army Medical Center Public Affairs.

Oct. 1, 2026 · Spring Lake, North Carolina

Pfc. Stephen Bradley of the 3rd Corps Sustainment Command used his own tourniquet, pressure dressing and chest seal to stabilize an injured man and kept him stable until paramedics took over. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal.

Photo credit: U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ange Desinor (via DVIDS)

Honored Sept. 29, 2026 · National City, California

Driving to work after weekend duty, Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Nevaeh Funderburk of USS Essex came upon a motorcycle crash outside Naval Base San Diego. Working alongside another Sailor and a passerby, she used her uniform belt as an improvised tourniquet to stop the bleeding and kept the rider calm until the ambulance arrived. On Sept. 29, 2026, the National City Police Department honored her with its first-ever Citizen Meritorious Service Medal.

Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Aaron J. Rolle (via DVIDS)

July 1, 2026 · Amityville, New York

On July 1, four off-duty Coast Guardsmen from Station Eaton's Neck spotted a man waving for help near Amityville, New York. It was Suffolk County Police Officer Nick Franco, hurt in a boating accident. They turned surfboard leashes into tourniquets, raced him to shore, and kept him talking until EMS took over. Today he's walking again, and he invited the crew home for a reunion to say thank you.

Photo credit: U.S. Coast Guard video still by Petty Officer 3rd Class Rajesh Harrilal (via DVIDS)

May 16, 2026 · Wesley Chapel, Florida

Off duty at his son's team pool party in Wesley Chapel on May 16, Officer Gregory Simmonds of ICE in Tampa saw a child unresponsive in the water. He jumped in with his shoes, phone and keys still on him, carried the child out, and gave CPR with help from a nurse for about two minutes until the child began breathing again. After two days in the hospital the child made a full recovery. The child's mother sent him a thank-you.

Photo credit: U.S. Department of Homeland Security photo

March 25, 2026 · JFK Airport, New York

On duty at John F. Kennedy International Airport on March 25, an ICE officer heard a father calling for help when his 1-year-old went limp in his arms in a security line. The officer sprinted over, took the child, and performed the Heimlich maneuver. Within seconds the child was breathing again. Paramedics checked him and cleared him to fly.

Feb. 20, 2026 · Plymouth, Minnesota

Off duty and having dinner in Plymouth, Minnesota, on Feb. 20, two ICE agents were approached by a panicked woman: a 4-year-old had fallen into a hotel pool and was unresponsive. They responded right away and gave CPR for several minutes until police and paramedics arrived. The child regained consciousness and was alert. Plymouth Police later wrote to ICE to commend the agents.