When Lafitte native Billy Zar spotted a diesel fuel tank bobbing in the extraordinarily high water of the Industrial Canal on Monday, there was no question in his seagoing mind that it couldn't be allowed to float free and hit the canal floodwall.
Zar, captain of the Corps' "little spud" tug, the Kent, who was patrolling the area, went into the water south of the Claiborne Avenue Bridge after the 500-gallon tank around lunchtime.
"I've been around the water all my life. Ain't nothing to it," Zar said Monday, surrounded by the jovial crew members who helped rig him up to a safety net.
Later on in the day at the other end of the canal, Zar back went back in after more debris. Crew member Dana Perkins said it was only right: "He's the best swimmer. But if the weather wasn't so bad, we would have used him for fish bait."
The Corps chief of engineers, Brigadier General Robert Van Antwerp, and New Orleans Corp commander Co. Al Lee made a special trip to the lock to meet Zar and his crew and thank them for their service.