Posted on 05/09/2007 4:28:34 PM PDT by Garvin
Master Sergeant Michael Wert and his family were visiting Fort Macon State Park last Saturday when he saw the boys in trouble.
Atlantic Beach, NC -- A memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday for a Cherry Point Marine who drowned at Atlantic Beach but who managed to save the lives of two boys he swam into the ocean to help.
Authorities say Master Sergeant Michael Wert and his family were visiting Fort Macon State Park last Saturday when he saw the boys in trouble.
(Excerpt) Read more at wfmynews2.com ...
Semper Fi, Marine!
A true hero.
God bless this man who gave his life to save children.
God bless him!!
Very sad. We lived at Cherry Point/Havlock in the early 60’s when dad was a MSGT stationed there. Visited Ft. Macon many times. A Marine could pick a worse way to go. Semper Fidelis and God bless you Marine!
God Bless our American hero and his family. He is in the arms of Jesus now.
Wert's daughter took a boogie board out to help her father. She was able to get the boys onto the board and safely to shore but didn't see her father with them.
Snyder said it took the team of swimmers nearly 20 minutes to get back to shore because of the long distance, and they tried to revive Wert with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation while bringing him in.
Wert is survived by his wife, Debbie, and three children.
I'm glad he saved those kids but prayers up for his wife and children.
John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
When I read stories like this I can’t help but hope there’s special dispensation for selfless people like this Marine.
Semper Fi, Master sgt.
Our prayers and hopes go to the family. The children saved will be the temple this Marine lives in forever.
Where do they get these men?
A lifeguard at Myrtle Beach once told me that very, very few people ever enter the surf to help somebody in trouble. We lose a fine man. God bless him and those he leaves behind, especially his daughter who went with him to get the boys.
Bless his family and his soul.
There are many great Americans, but a few are great enough to be a Marine.
Prayers for Master Sergeant Michael Wert & his family. He is a true hero. ~P~
Rest In Peace, Master Sergeant Wert, a real American hero.
Semper Fidelis.
“Atlantic Beach Fire Chief Adam Snyder says Wert was able to get to the boys to assist them but apparently got caught in a rip current that carried him about 200 yards out from shore.”
Rip tides always concern me. I’ve heard that if you get caught in one, don’t fight it, just let it carry you out because they always come back in. People drown because they try to swim against it and become exhausted. I wonder if that’s true—can anyone verify that?
They don't necessarily come back in.
It is true that you shouldn't fight it unless it's threatening to pull you under. You can't swim against a rip tide and make any headway.
Always swim parrallel to the Beach, not toward it.
I agree with Garvin and Just another Joe....trying to swim against a rip tide is the worst thing you can do. Swimming parallel to the shore or even just treading water to conserve energy until you are out of the rip tide are the best options.
The problem is that when you are caught in one, your instinct is to swim in, especially if panic sets in, which consumes even more energy. Even the very best swimmers most often can’t overcome the pull of the rip tide.
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