AFRAS Silver Medal

Established in February of 2000, the Association for Rescue at Sea's Silver Medal is to be presented annually to a deserving United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist. The medal is awarded at the AFRAS Gold Medal award ceremony held each fall on Capitol Hill. This ceremony is attended by members of Congress, AFRAS members, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, and other senior Coast Guard personnel. In the event that there is no Auxiliarist selected to receive the award in a particular year, the last Auxiliarist to receive the award is invited to attend the ceremony.

Criteria for the AFRAS Silver Medal award is the same as for the AFRAS Gold Medal award. The active Auxiliarist must have performed a rescue involving the saving of a life or lives from either inland or coastal waters where the heroic action of the nominee was uniquely distinguished. However, consideration will be given to all rescues involving life-threatening situations.

In November of 2002, AFRAS awarded its first Silver Medal to a United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist. A Silver Medal was not awarded in 2003.

Henry 'Cleve' Chandler
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

2002

AFRAS was pleased to award the first ever AFRAS Silver Medal to Henry 'Cleve' Chandler , United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Auxiliarist Chandler was cited for a uniquely heroic rescue on 13 July 2000 at risk to his own life.

While with a group of children on a boating trip at Lake Tangipahoa , Mississippi , Auxiliarist Chandler saw a Plymouth van slide down an embankment next to the dam and into the lake. While racing his boat to the scene, Chandler briefed the other adult on the boat on what to do.

Diving into the water, Auxiliarist Chandler quickly arrived at the passenger window and observed an elderly couple, frozen in terror, sitting in the van. Based on Chandler 's direction, the other adult from the boat put a life jacket on the male driver and assisted him from the van, which was now taking on water at an increasing rate. The female passenger, besides being terrified to the point of hysteria, was overweight and had had a knee replacement, which immobilized her leg. As the driver was pulled out, the van suddenly sank with a gulping sound, taking down with it both the female passenger and Auxiliarist Chandler.

The water depth by the dam ranges from 20 to 30 feet, and the van disappeared from sight. After resurfacing for a moment, Chandler dove back down again and finally came up with the rescued victim. Park Rangers and Police provided emergency medical assistance to the semi-conscious woman. She recovered fully.

Auxiliarist Chandler 's rapid response, skillful direction, and unselfish actions are most heartily commended. They demonstrate the very best of the readiness of the volunteer United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to meet a wide variety of needs and service.

Henry 'Cleve' Chandler and his wife Valerie with the AFRAS Silver Medal award.

The Honorable Norman Minetta, Secretary of Transportation, congratulates Mr. Chandler.