Hero Honored By The Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard honored an airman and a civilian on Tuesday stemming from a water rescue in Tulsa in 2004.

During a ceremony at Tinker Air Force Base in Midwest City, the Coast Guard presented a Gold Lifesaving Medal to Airman 1st Class Joshua Johnson, who is stationed at Tinker Air Force Base and a Silver Lifesaving Medal to Robert Ewens.

The pair was honored for actions on the morning of December 23, 2004 when a woman and her 2-year-old son were trapped in their automobile in the near-freezing waters of the Arkansas River in Tulsa.

The level of the award depends on the level of risk involved. The Gold Lifesaving Medal is the highest level awarded and the Silver Lifesaving Medal is the next highest award.