Hi my name is Adam , my father is James David and this is his memorial fundraiser to help cover the funeral , he’s a hero to me always has been always will be ….. this is the story of how my father gave his life , to save his son and grandson

My father and I went out with the children on July 16, and the weather turned for the worse … the wind switched directions really hard from a south to a north , my father and I were just talking about packing things in , when a bigger much larger boat cut behind us , with very large wake … send the wake into the back of the boat and rocking the boat side to side and front to back my son age (4) fell into the water , and me not thinking I jumped into the water after him , grabbed him and tried to get back

To the boat , this decision I quickly regretted as the north winds , and boaters wake was making it impossible as the boat floated further and further away , my father who had never been on that boat seen my struggles with my son and seen him trying to climb on top of me , leaving me helpless

As I could not touch bottom , and the waves were making it hard to stay afloat …. My father threw a floatable but I could not get to it , he then made the decision that took his life , he stripped and jumped into the water grabbing my child and swimming away from me so I could gain headway back to the boat , as the waves came over top of me several time I lost the will to swim , 27 minutes I struggled for ( my 9 year old son) called 911 and gave them the gps numbers , a random savior drove to my son (9) and he told them I was in the water , they got to me and got me in the boat but I was in and out of consciousness, the gentleman that saved me said I laid and threw up water for 10-15 minutes before I came to and said my father and son are still out there, my 4 year old was rescued safely and is still alive , but my father James David was not so lucky as he gave his own life holding on to my 4 year olds hand until he longer could anymore , he gave his own life to save his sons and grandsons life …. Decisions could have been made differently, but until your put into that position as a father and Grand father do not cast judgment, please be patient with us as a family as we are taking this carefully and patient , tears are defiantly aplenty during these tough times so if you could give us some space and please be careful as to what is said and posted online as we the living still are healing and have feelings too…. Thank you all involved and thank you very much for the DNR , coastguard , and sheriff boats that came to aid

Also I cannot thank Ryan Gregg enough for saving not only my life , but my sons life and performing cpr on my father until the aid arrived , I am forever grateful for your presence at that moment ….

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends or family ..

so please any help that we receive is good help