Senior Psychiatric Technician

Department of Mental Hygiene

1/31/1963

Special Act Award (Gold)

On January 31, 1963, a station wagon containing a woman and seven children ranging in age from 7 – 12 was caught up in the swirling cross current of a flooded channel emptying into the Napa river in the city of Napa. The vehicle stalled as the flood water arose around it. An 11 year old boy climbed out and fought his way to get help. A dump truck driver arrived at the scene and tried to lend assistance. Mr. Foster arrived at the scene, unhesitatingly jumped onto the running board of the truck and was carried within reach of the car. He climbed onto the hood of the automobile and extricated all of the remaining children while encouraging and instructing them in a calm manner. As he was assisting the woman to safety, the car lurched and dislodged Mr. Foster, throwing him into the flood waters. He managed to clutch and pull himself back on to the hood and with care and with great difficulty, rescued the woman. At that moment the car was washed away and disappeared into the raging torrents of the flooded river. After all were safe Mr. Foster left the scene without giving out his name. He was located the next day through a radio broadcast. Some days later when the waters ebbed, the vehicle was found buried under four feet of mud and rocks.