Benjamin E. Jacober

Operations Specialist Third Class, Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, U.S. Coast Guard

Duty Station: Portsmouth, Va.
Hometown: Vandalia, OH

On July 6, 2015, Operations Specialist Third Class Benjamin Jacober was off-duty with his shipmates from Cutter Harriet Lane near Bocas del Toro, Panama. As the group was walking, Petty Officer Jacober saw two women in the water frantically waving for help. Petty Officer Jacober sprinted down the beach and entered the water. Using his training as a Cutter Rescue Swimmer, he reached one of the fatigued women and kept her head above water. Petty Officer Jacober towed her back through rough waves to shore, and his fellow crewmembers assisted them onto the beach. A lifeguard was able to rescue the second victim.