Hero ? it’s a word that gets thrown around a lot these days, but it accurately describes Oxford residents Brendon and John Krug.
In recognition of their lifesaving efforts in July 2003, the young brothers were presented Monday with the prestigious Medal of Merit during Boy Scout Troop 108’s Court of Honor ceremony held at American Legion Post 108, the troop’s proud sponsor.
The Medal of Merit is a national honor and the second highest award for lifesaving and heroism given out by the Boy Scouts of America, according to Jack Chaney, district advancement chairman for Pontiac Manitou District, who attended Monday’s ceremony.
‘They are very rare,? Chaney said of the Medal of Merit.
Brendon, a Star Scout, and John, who recently advanced to the rank of First Class Scout, were honored for helping save the life of friend David Crump on July 22, 2003.
On that day, the Krugs were swimming in Clear Lake with Crump and their friends Ryan and Tony Markowitz, when they noticed Crump was unconscious, bobbing up and down in the water.
Crump has a medical condition known as Mitral Valve Prolapse, which throws off the heart’s rhythm and requires special medicine to regulate it.
The Krugs and Markowitz brothers worked together to retrieve Crump from the water and bring him safely to shore, where they checked his vital signs.
The boys flagged down a passing motorist who drove them all to Crump’s house, where he received his medicine and his condition stabilized.
Richard Morton, scoutmaster for Troop 108, said the Krugs? heroic efforts demonstrated the ‘ideals? and ‘skills? of scouting at their best.
The brothers employed the buddy-system, leadership and first aid skills, and the willingness to help someone in need of assistance, Morton said.
Morton said it’s a ‘great feeling? for a scoutmaster when his scouts use what they’ve learned to help someone in a situation such as this.
‘Rather than panic, they did what they were supposed to and saved a life.?