John Allen Midgett, Jr.

Biography

John Allen Midgett Jr. spent much of his life on the Outer Banks, serving as a surfman and later as a Coast Guard keeper at the Chicamacomico Station. His calm courage during numerous storms became legendary, and in 1918 he led the daring rescue of the British tanker Mirlo's crew, saving thirty-two sailors from certain doom.

His fellow surfmen admired him for steady leadership and an unshakeable commitment to placing others first; he would go on to receive national recognition for his heroism while continuing to teach new generations of lifesavers. The legacy of his service endures in the Coast Guard’s ethos of readiness and sacrifice.