Seaman Stacy Sasser wore a bright smile as she received a very special honor Friday morning.
"Overwhelmed, very grateful but like I said I didn't do it by myself," Sasser said.
Even the Commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District, Admiral Steve Ratti, made the trip to Little Creek to personally pin her with a gold medal. And to recognize seven other shipmates who helped her rescue a fellow coast guardsman.
“In this outfit no one person does a job by themselves everybody is a part of the team," said Admiral Ratti.
Earlier this month, Petty Officer Second Class David Blonn slipped while climbing onto a vessel and fell facedown into the Chesapeake Bay unconscious.
Sasser took action pulling the 34-year-old father of four from 48 degree waters.
"It's sort of like a de facto best friend for life ya know. I mean somebody you'll always hold in your heart," said Blonn.
Blonn calls this his pay it forward.
He was in Sasser's spot a couple of months ago receiving an award of his own for saving a citizen.
"I was saying I hope I have one on the books as well and that's just how it is. You got to look after each other," explained Sasser.
"It's a great story because oftentimes what brings our people together is some type of tragedy," said Admiral Ratti.
