Air Station Traverse City crewmember, recipient of lifesaving medal to be available for media interviews

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Media is invited to speak with and interview a Coast Guardsman who received a prestigious lifesaving award last month, at a media availability scheduled for Tuesday afternoon at Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City.

Petty Officer 3^rd Class Thomas McArthur, an aviation survival technician at the air station, and recipient of the Silver Lifesaving Medal, will be available for interviews from noon to 3 p.m.

McArthur, a native of Dunwoody, Ga., and a 2007 graduate of the Greater Atlanta Christian School, is credited with saving 12 lives from violent riptides at Frankfort Beach in Frankfort, Mich., on Aug. 15, 2010. At the time, McArthur was assigned to Coast Guard Station Frankfort and rescued the dozen swimmers while off-duty.

McArthur was awarded the Coast Guard’s Silver Lifesaving Medal at the Coast Guard Foundation Dinner in New York on Oct. 13. He was awarded the medal for his actions on August 15, 2010 when he rescued 12 people, including a family of four, who were in danger of drowning in dangerous rip tides off of Frankfort.

He was also recognized by the National Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts of America at their annual Scouting Salutes the Military event in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 27. A lifelong member of the scouting community, McArthur earned the rank of Eagle Scout in 2006. Click here to read about the Boy Scout event.

For his heroism, as well as his many accomplishments, McArthur was named the Coast Guard's Shipmate of the Week.

According to Title 14 of US Code, which establishes Coast Guard lifesaving authorities, the Gold and Silver Lifesaving Medals may be awarded by the commandant of the Coast Guard to any person who "rescues or endeavors to rescue any other person from drowning, shipwreck, or other peril of the water."

Media interested in attending the media availability are asked to RSVP to Lt. j.g. Jim Okorn at 231-922-8273 no later than 4 p.m. Monday.

Air Station Traverse City is located at 1175 Airport Access Road, Traverse City, MI 49686-3586.

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