Bio: Vanderwyst, Harold J. – Lt. (Saves Another's Life – 1973)

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Vanderwyst

----Source: Tribune/Record/Gleaner (Loyal, Wis.) 12 Sep 1974

Second Lieutenant Harold J. Vanderwyst, CAP, distinguished himself by conspicuous heroic action by risking his own live to save another on February 23, 1973. Lieutenant Vanderwyst was snowmobiling behind his wife when her machine broke through the ice on Thunder Bay River. He surveyed the situation and quickly went into action, by parking his own machine and grabbing a tow rope. To pull the victim to safety. During the rescue attempt, Lieutenant Vanderwyst's foot broke through the ice and the danger of his own safety was imminent. After the rescue, Lieutenant Vanderwyst had to calm the victim, who was in a state of hysteria. He also replace the victim's wet clothes with his own before driving five miles to shelter. The temperature was between 10 and 15 degrees at the time, and without immediate attention, the victim would have perished. Lieutenant Vanderwyst's quick thinking and heroic action without regard for his own personal safety brought great credit upon himself and the Civil Air Patrol.

Second Lieutenant Harold J. Vanderwyst is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lavern Vanderwyst of Granton (Clark Co., Wis.). He is commander of the Alpena Michigan Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol.