Taking the plunge into heroism

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  One Sunday morning in mid May, a coin was flipped. No one could have guessed the significance of that simple act.

Staff Sgt. Tony Park, 4th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron cannibalization dock crew chief, his wife Jennie and their two children had a decision to make. The rain had let up, and the sun was warming the air. Should they go to the beach or the zoo? The coin flipped, the decision made, the family piled into their car and headed out for the sandy shores just north of Surf City, N.C.

"It was the perfect day for the beach," Tony said. "The weather was just right, it was in the high 70s, and there were only about seven other people at the beach. The water wasn't quite right though. It was brown for 200 yards before it became blue. Jelly fish had washed up on the shore. I knew from diving experience there was an obvious rip current, and I warned my wife to keep an extra sharp eye on the kids."

They spent the next couple of hours playing in the surf, building sand castles and enjoying the beach. When he took his children wading, he said it felt like the ocean was trying to pull his feet out from under him in only knee-deep water.

After a while, Tony went for a run along the shore. Due to the hazardous current, he was concerned for the safety of two girls, about nine, who were playing in the water without supervision or a lifeguard on duty.

A mile and a half later, he returned to his wife and children. Still cooling down from the run, he saw one of the other girls pointing at the water, yelling for help. He turned his attention to the water and saw the second little girl floating on her back about 50 yards from shore yelling for help.

"My husband just ran right in," Jennie said. "He told me to watch the kids and swam right for her. He's a strong swimmer, but for a while he couldn't get to her because he had to fight the waves. I was scared for him"

Fear was a mutual feeling for the married couple.

"I started to get nervous when I was almost to her," Tony said. "I just got done running in the sand, and I was tired. I was worried we wouldn't make it back. I thought, 'What if I cramp? What if I can't save her?'"

About half way to her, the girl went through a wave. Tony said he was scared she went under, and he was certain he wouldn't be able to find her in the muddy water. When the wave passed though, she was still floating on her back yelling for help.

Tony got to her, and grabbed her from behind so she wouldn't try to use him as a float. With his arm around her, he began the long swim back to shore.

Fighting the waves and fatigue, Tony submerged once, but kept swimming toward the shoreline.

"At that point I didn't care if I made it," Tony said. "I was only concerned about the little girl, but when I was under, I felt my feet touch the ground so I knew I didn't have that much farther to go."

After about a ten minute struggle, he finally reached the shore.

"Tony was shaking from adrenaline, and he wasn't feeling well because he swallowed some water during the rescue," Jennie said. "I was so proud of him when he carried that little girl to her mother."

According to Tony, the girl held him like nobody ever had before, and had to be pried away. The mother came up, took her daughter, and thanked him, saying she didn't know how to swim, otherwise she would have gone after her.

"The way she clung to me when I brought her back, it was like she never wanted to let go," Tony said. "I'm glad I could safely return her to her mother."

When the Park family left the beach, the girl ran up to Tony and hugged him, thanking him for saving her.

Later that night, when they returned home Tony said he was still pretty worked up and felt a need to talk to his parents.

"My parents paid for my diving and lifeguard courses and supported me through school," Tony said. "I called them to thank them for that, and I finally realized how responsible they were as parents. My father took classes to make sure he would be able to keep me safe, and I understand that better now. He also set me up to be able to take care of my kids and ultimately this little girl."