The Kansas City District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recognized a citizen yesterday for heroism. At Long Shoal Marina near Warsaw, Mo., Truman Lake Operations Project Manager Jim Sandberg presented an 'Act of Heroism' award to Lonnie Murrell, of Warsaw, Mo., for saving the lives of a group of men involved in a boating accident.
The citation, signed by Col. Doug Guttormsen, commander of the Kansas City District, reads:
On May 2, 2018, Lonnie Murrell demonstrated heroic effort while fishing at Truman Lake. Mr. Murrell reacted and assisted in helping three men out of the lake who had sunk their boat after hitting a tree stump. Two of the three men had been hanging onto a log for over 45 minutes while the other individual made it to shore. The unsolicited and benevolent actions displayed saved the lives of these men visiting Truman Lake. Mr. Murrell's actions are in keeping with the spirit of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers safety first and caring for the recreation public.
"Not everyone recognizes when people are in real trouble. Without Mr. Murrell's quick reaction, things could have turned out a lot differently. He felt like he was in the right place for a reason. He went right to them and loaded the two men in the water into his boat," said Sandberg.
Sandberg noted that Mr. Murrell's son, Tim Murrell, is with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Water Patrol Division, assisted the survivors as his father got them to the marina. He commended the owner and workers at Long Shoal Marina for helping the survivors dry off, warm up and begin to recover.
"We appreciate the partnerships with all the Truman Lake marinas, Missouri State Highway Patrol, local law enforcement and emergency response personnel and the visiting public. With hunting season coming up, we recommend that everyone wear their personal flotation device -- lifejacket -- because often there is no one else on the lake to see you in trouble," said Sandberg.
The Corps of Engineers is one of the leading water-based outdoor recreation providers in the nation.
The Kansas City District is a team of dedicated professionals with a strong heritage and proven results who, in collaboration with our partners, proudly serve in the Heartland providing leadership, technical excellence, and innovative solutions to the nation's most complex problems.
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