Hero saves drowning man in Kuwait on 09-22-2009 01:42
By SANDY McGEE
CUMBERLAND — Ron Bettencourt struggles to hold back tears as he talks about his son currently stationed in Kuwait.
The longtime Ashton Elementary School custodian is very proud of his military son. And, what father wouldn't be proud when the son was among a crew of Coast Guardsmen who saved an Army soldier from drowning just last month.
“It brought tears to my eyes,” said Bettencourt, a Cumberland resident, about his reaction to his son's heroic act.
Bettencourt's 20-year-old son, Daniel Bettencourt of Pawtucket, has been stationed in Kuwait with the Coast Guard Port Security Unit (PSU) 301 since July. Bettencourt serves as a third class machinery technician (MK3) with the PSU 301 Boat Division, which is headquartered in Cape Cod.
In August, members of the PSU 301 Boat Division were enjoying a recreation day at an indoor swimming pool in Kuwait, when they noticed an Army soldier in distress.
While sitting on the side of the pool, the soldier experienced a seizure, fell into the water and was unable to stay afloat, according to a Coast Guard publication.
The soldier's swimming partner pulled him to the water's surface and yelled for help. Several Coast Guard personnel, including Bettencourt, heard the shouts, jumped into the pool and helped pull the victim out of the water
.
“I'm so proud of my son,” said Ron Bettencourt. “I'm also proud of the three other gentlemen from the Coast Guard. Thank God they were there. He's with a great bunch of guys. They all take care of each other.”
The victim fully recovered after receiving emergency medical assistance.
The incident was recorded in a Coast Guard newsletter. For the last line of the article, the author, who does not include a byline, writes, “Thank you guardsmen for your vigilance and heroic acts.”
Bettencourt, a custodian for Ashton Elementary School for the past 21 years, was told about his son's heroics by a school bus driver, whose child is also in the military. The bus driver saw the Coast Guard newsletter online, recognized Daniel Bettencourt's name and passed the good news onto her co-worker.
“I don't have a computer,” said the elder Bettencourt. “I want to thank her for letting me know. This is news that no one hears about anymore.”
Ron Bettencourt held back tears as he discussed his son's accomplishments.
A Pawtucket native and Eagle Scout, Daniel Bettencourt graduated in 2007 from William M. Davies Career and Technical High School in Lincoln. He went on to attend the Community College of Rhode Island, Lincoln campus, for three months before being deployed overseas.
According to his father, Bettencourt decided to enlist due to the unemployment rate in Rhode Island.
“This was an opportunity to have a steady paycheck and do something for his country,” said Bettencourt. “He enlisted due to the lack of jobs in the state.”
Prior to his deployment, Daniel Bettencourt visited Ashton Elementary School and spoke with children there about what it's like to be a member of the U.S. Coast Guard.
“He's become part of our family here at Ashton,” his father said. “The children from Ashton, myself and the staff would like to salute the men and women serving overseas and the public servants, such as the police and fire, for their courageous duties.”
While proud of his own son, the elder Bettencourt hopes this incident serves as reminder of the duties performed by all servicemen and women.
“I'm very proud of all of our men and women overseas,” he said.
Daniel is also the son of Kristine Bettencourt of Pawtucket.
The PSU 301 Boat Division works to support and conduct deployment capable port security, humanitarian and readiness training assignments for U.S. Coast Guard domestic and expeditionary operations.
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