2LT James Lamoreaux; saving the world
jerry920 sends us a link to WTVM which tells the story of 2LT James Lamoreaux who was walking with his wife along the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, GA, when they saw a commotion;
“The crowd was pointing at this little boy drifting down the river. He was yelling help. At that time, it gained my attention,” said Lamoreaux, “I made my way down the rocks and plunged in. Thankfully the current was strong enough where it was keeping me going straight towards him.”
If Lamoreaux didn’t jump in when he did, fire officials said the fast current combined with the cold temperature of the water would have probably been too much for the 9-year-old and his 15-year-old friend to overcome.
“Once we got past a certain rock, there was nothing else beyond that, other than the steps that were about 200 meters away,” he said. “I swam towards him, and thankfully, by the grace of God, I was able to get him and hold onto the rock.”
WTVM.com-Columbus, GA News Weather
Category: Real Soldiers
It really is good news week.
Well done, second.
Lt…..I’m shocked you were able to swim like that. I’m sure it was more like walking along the river bottom with your GIANT BALLS dragging behind.
GOOD ON YOU!
Could not be a better comment, I spit my coffee out reading your post. Good on YOU. lol..
We see so many posers and fakes. The real heroes just do it because it’s the right thing to do.
I am not surprized, yet I am very pleased at the outcome!
BRAVO ZULU (Well Done)!
The 9 and 15 year old boys no doubt have a PERFECT role model!
Should we chip in and buy the LT a new cell phone, or was it insured?
Well done Lt.
CCO: and they do it quietly. Without expectation of reward. And, I like to think, just because it needs to be done and there is no reason to wait for someone else to do it. If the news guys hadn’t come along, the 2LT would have talked to the cops and rescue guys then gone back to his car and gone home and not said anything.
A few years ago there was an incident where a car had gone into a pond and at least some of the people inside drowned (I think it was a child, but I’m really not sure), the kicker is that there were emergency services there who did nothing because of safety regulations. I think it was at Tim Blair’s website where someone asked: “were there no men present?”
That’s perfect IMHO. There was certainly a man present here. If you watch the news report they make the tedious point that usually such an act results in “two victims and not one”. Well, so what? If I were to stand by and do nothing and allow someone to die in such a circumstance while it was in my power to act, I would consider myself a failure as a man and it would haunt me for as long as I lived.
Duty, as the old gray bearded General so beautifully said, is a subtle concept-you cannot do more and you should not expect to do less. 2LT Lamoreaux did his duty perfectly here, his wife has every reason to be very proud.
2LT James Lamoreaux is the kind of man I want our youngsters looking up to. Great job LT. You saved lives at the risk of your own. Well done!
I love these kinds of stories. They show the best of our military, doing their best.
Pointing??? A CROWD of people had already seen them and were just standing there pointing???
Thank God Lt. Lamoreaux is a human being.
Actually, the “bystander effect” is very much an odd quirk of our brains. People tend to wait to see what other people are going to do which leads to a deadly loop of inaction.
Fortunately, the good Lt. was on hand to get the job done
It was mentioned in the video all to often when someone tries to do a water rescue they often become a fatality along with the victim. If you are not a strong swimmer it’s not a good idea to jump in and try to rescue someone. I’m just glad he was able to save them.
2 comments… He’s a hero. Period. He did what we all hope we would do… He had the training, he had the ability and he had the will and fortitude. He should awarded the Soldier’s Medal. If he isn’t it is a miscarriage.
And now for the Snark… Somewhere on Benning some smarmy staff officer has pointed out to the post commander that this LT violated the commander’s policy on no swimming in the Columbus River and he should be punished for his insolence in his willful violation of this policy. Said staff officer will ensure the LT’s Soldier’s Medal is lost in a sea of bureaucracy until he leaves…and two years from now the medal will be awarded under a new chain of command. Snark complete.
He’s still a hero in my book.