Tybee’s Marine R
Tybee Island may seem like just a little barrier island, but there is a lot
going on here and whether you are a long time Tybee resident or a tourist,
you might be amazed to know that there are a lot of people behind the scenes
that work hard to make Tybee not only a beach vacation destination, but a
safe place to be with your family and friends. One of Tybee’s most important
organizations is the Marine Rescue Squadron (MRS). These volunteer men
and women are on call 24/7 to rescue boaters and swimmers in distress,
assist in search and rescue and when necessary, recovery.
1-A Tybee is our Squadron and this is the story of how it began:
During the Christmas holidays of 1958, six boys set out from the Tybee
Fish Camp in two boats for Doc’s Drop, Little Tybee. Four of the boys were
in one boat with all the camping equipment, food and water, while the other
two boys set out in a skiff with a 2 ½ horse powered motor. The larger boat’s
propeller became entangled in the marsh grass. The little boat passed them
and said that they would meet them at the camp site. When the seaweed
was cleared from the larger boat’s motor, they proceeded to the camp site
and could not find the small boat. The next day they searched all day and
returned to the Tybee Fish Camp to notify their parents. The Coast Guard was
notified, but they refused to search for the missing boat. The Coast Guard
said they could not get into the area with their 40-foot craft.
During a 35-degree drizzling rain on Saturday night, the islands off Little
Tybee were searched by David McCutchen, Jimmy Logan and Perry Solomon.
On Sunday, about near Blue Hole, while gas tanks were being refilled, Jimmy
Logan, Sr. yelled out for Little Jimmy. He got a response and saw a garment
waving. With difficulty the boys were reached, and after being warmed up
with warm drinks and blankets they headed for home.
The fathers of Tybee Island realized that the large boats of the Coast Guard
were often useless in Tybee’s Back River and an organized group of small
boats were badly needed. The 1st “Marine Rescue Squadron of America”
was chartered with Captain Perry Solomon as its Skipper.
Now, 60 years later, Tybee’s MRS are proud that they are now in their third
generation of members whose father’s fathers were there in the beginning,
passing down a tradition that the children look forward to with pride to
become a part of such an organization.
I had an opportunity to sit down with the group’s Secretary, Mark Padgett,
and one of the lifetime members, Joey Solomon, to get more information
on exactly how the MRS works and their involvement in what could turn a
happy vacation into a life or death situation.
The current squadron has over 40 volunteer members that are on call 24/7
for any water emergency that may require their assistance. Most have their
own boats and when the Police Department calls for help, everyone available
36 TYBEE BEACHCOMBER | JUNE 2019
musters out for the call. Now, most of these calls end well, but the ocean and
back waterways are devious and people who are unfamiliar with tides and
the ability for water to rise in moments can be caught off guard, stranding
themselves on a sandbar, Little Tybee, being swept out to sea, or any number
of things that can happen when Mother Nature is in charge.
Tybee’s Squadron covers all the way to Wassau Sound and the Savannah
River, inland to Bull River, as well as the Atlantic Ocean on the east side. Not
to mention all the sneaky bi-ways, cut throughs and paths that make up a
myriad of Tybee’s backside. That is a lot of area to cover and fortunately for
us, these people grew up here. They know every hidey hole, corner and cut
to this land and that information is priceless in a ‘time is of the essence’
situation.
The MRS takes their responsibilities very seriously. Sometimes they are all
that stands between a happy outcome and a sad one. They work side by side
with the Coast Guard, our Police Department and Fire Department, as well as
with the City, all with the sole group goal of a successful rescue.
Keep in mind these people aren’t here for you when you run out of
gas or your boat motor breaks down. They are here to save your life. Many
people do not understand how wicked and dangerous the water can be.
Although there are danger signs posted, many people do not pay attention to
these and get caught up in a force more powerful than themselves. Tybee,
unfortunately, has had her share of people swept away and it is definitely a
concern amongst those that patrol our waterways. During Easter weekend of
this year, a young man went missing in the water on the south end of Tybee.
MRS dispatched 12 boats, with a total of 31 people, and spent 342 man
hours searching for this young man. After 5 days of searching, one of the
rescue teams located his body. Although this story had a sad ending, it just
shows how dedicated the Marine Rescue Squadron was in bringing closure
to this tragic event.
Shawn Gillen, Tybee City Manager, is very pro-actively working on several
different options to prevent any unnecessary deaths - from educating the
public, to researching the latest in drone technology and remote-controlled
jet skis, to mounted solar panel cameras and increased presence of life
guards and volunteers to patrol the riskier areas during the times when the
water is at its most dangerous. With just under five miles of beach to patrol,
not including the Back River, that is a lot of area to cover and protect.
With all of the latest technology and active serious volunteers, it is a relief
to know these people are out there in case of need. However, don’t let it get
that far. Pay attention to where you are when in the water and know when
the tides are low and high. Read the signs. Listen to your lifeguards. They
don’t want to come get you any more than you don’t want to be in that
By Alaina Loughridge