Grand Haven Tribune  May 23, 1976

C. G. Honors Trio

   Three Tri-Cities young men who rescued a Walker youth from the pounding surf of Lake Mich. here on November 10, 1975, were honored by the Coast Guard Saturday.  Rear Admiral James S. Gracey presented the medals and citations at the C. G. Station during open house in celebration of Armed Forces Day.  The three young men, who were surfing at the time of the rescue, are from left to right:  Bearle Eastling, Robert Beaton and Steve White.  At right is Douglas Middleton, of Walker, who was rescued.  Middleton’s brother, Duane, 22 and a friend, Dan Brown, 16, drowned in the incident after being washed off the pier.  Friends and families of the rescuers and Middleton attended the ceremony.  The Coast Guard presents only a few of these citations annually in the U. S.