#ThrowbackThursday — Act of heroism saves friend
Published 8:56 am Thursday, August 23, 2018
- Contributed Stanly County Boy Scout Jim Ivey saved a friend from drowning when he was 15. For his acts of May 14, 1945, Ivey was awarded the National Boy Scout Life Saving Gold Medal and a certificate of heroism by the National Court of Honor, signed by the president of the United States. He was later honored with the Carnegie Medal for Heroism.
On May 14, 1945, 15-year-old Jim Ivey was riding in a boat on Efird Lake near New London with friends T.K. Culp Jr., Bill Napier and Joe Allen.
The boat capsized, and the boys attempted to swim to shore.
Culp quickly ran into trouble. Ivey swam to him to try to help, but Culp, being much larger, pulled Ivey under the water. After several attempts to save his friend, Ivey was able to break free and immediately swam for shore.
The Boy Scouts of America awarded Jim Ivey a Certificate of Heroism.
Once Ivey reached the shore, he grabbed a rope and swam back to try to help Culp again. Ivey was able to get the rope around Culp and pulled him to safety.
Culp was unconscious when they reached the shore, so Ivey performed CPR to restore his breathing.
The boys were then able to get Culp to a nearby doctor for further help. Culp regained consciousness later that night.
For his act of heroism, Ivey was awarded the National Boy Scout Life Saving Gold Medal and a certificate of heroism by the National Court of Honor, signed by the president of the United States.
Carnegie Medal
He was later honored with the Carnegie Medal for Heroism, a national award, endowed by Andrew Carnegie, that is presented to those who risked their lives to save others.
— Lewis P. Bramlett,
historian,
Stanly County
Historical Society
