Even though Jeff Zeller and Brian Bollinger — both members of the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union (SEATU), an affiliate of the SIU — weren’t expecting anything in return for saving a person’s life two years ago, when the recognition came recently in the form of a Coast Guard Public Service Commendation Award, it was a nice surprise.Zeller, 47, a senior deckhand aboard the Alton Belle, and Bollinger, 35, a deckhand on the same vessel, were at their regular duties Sept. 21, 2000 when a phone call from the police — who had been notified by passersby — informed them that someone had jumped from a nearby bridge and needed assistance.
The two quickly jumped into the Alton Belle’s rescue boat and arrived at the scene three or four minutes later. It was a cold and windy day, and they weren’t really able to see the woman, who apparently had tried to commit suicide, until they were about 25 feet from her. Once they pulled her from the river and got her into the boat, they sped to emergency crews waiting on shore. (A spokesman from the hospital where she was taken later said she had not been injured in the fall.)
This was another good example of how training and practice pays off. Zeller has been aboard the Alton Belle since 1991 (even before SEATU became the bargaining unit for the vessel’s crew members) and has taken a number of training courses conducted on-site by instructors from the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Bollinger also has rescue training; prior to becoming a SEATU member nine years ago, he was a fireman and EMT.
Additionally, weekly drills are held aboard ship, and the rescue boat is often put in place when someone has threatened to jump from the bridge, “but this was the first time I actually rescued someone,” noted Zeller, “and it felt great.”
Since the city of Alton does not have a regular Coast Guard presence or a dedicated water patrol for the many pleasure boats in the area and the occasional bridge jumper, the marine crew of the Alton Belle is often asked to render assistance.
John Mosele, senior captain of the Alton Belle, nominated Zeller and Bollinger for the prestigious award, which represents the highest traditions of humanitarian service. U.S. Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer Jeff Carie came aboard the Alton Belle April 16 to present both men with the Public Service Commendation Award in recognition of their “swift action” in saving the life of the 46-year-old woman who jumped from the Clark Bridge into the Mississippi River.
It may have taken the Coast Guard a little longer than usual to recognize the contributions of these two men due to manpower shortages following 9/11 as well as homeland security issues, but Zeller and Bollinger were both surprised and proud of being recognized for their work. Both, however, noted modestly, “We were just doing our job.”
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