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Former Coast Guardsman pays it forward:
Story and photos by Lt. j.g. Christopher Yane, Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City, Mich.
HARBOR SPRINGS, Mich. -- James Sutherland, a retired Coast Guard commander, was captaining a restaurant's hospitality boat on August 7, 2008, when he spotted a young kayaker who seemed to be in trouble. It turned out the nine year-old girl was in trouble as strong winds were blowing her out into Lake Michigan.
"The wind was out of the north so it was blowing her out to sea," said Captain Jim, as he is commonly referred. "Picture a nine year-old girl that's been in the water and its getting dark," he said.
He said it looked like the girl became separated from her kayak and was in distress.
He immediately sprang into action and drove the boat to the girl's location. He and the boat patrons, a group about to practice a wedding rehearsal dinner, were able to pull the girl into the boat. She was about a quarter mile from the shoreline and was wearing a lifejacket.
The father of the little girl, grateful for Captain Jim's actions, gave him a $100 check as a thank you for saving his daughter's life. Captain Jim refused to cash the check, but instead kept it to remember the significance of that day.
Captain Jim heard about the fallen heroes of Air Station Barbers Point, CG6505, who were lost when their helicopter crashed during a training mission on September 4, 2008. Several Coast Guard air stations were conducting fund drives to support the Coast Guard Foundation, an organization which had helped many of the families of the lost crew. On November 20, 2008, he made a special trip to Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City to make a donation of $100, the same $100 that had been passed on to him for his rescue, in the honor of the crew of CG6505.
He said that he wanted to "pay it forward" and honor who he considered real heroes with his donation. Captain Jim spoke to all hands and presented the $100 to Captain Stuart Merrill, Commanding Officer. In total and with the help of Captain Jim's generous action, Air Station Traverse City raised over $415 for the Coast Guard Foundation.
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