Battling icy seas, brutal storms and rocky cliffs, Coast Guard rescuers risk their lives to bring home victims of accidents and mishaps. Who are these heroes and what drives them to go to such lengths for people whom they have never met?

Ruckel Middle School students recently had the opportunity to meet some of the members of the Coast Guard rescue team, who came to the school with author and Coast Guard reservist Martha Laguardia-Kotite. The students had recently read part of Laguardia-Kotite’s book, So Others May Live, which chronicles the stories of nine of these rescuers. The book served as a reference for Kevin Costner in the movie, The Guardian, in which he plays an experienced rescuer who bonds with a younger recruit, Ashton Kutcher.

Laguardia-Kotite showed the students video clips of some of the most daring rescues, and spoke to the students about the writing process. She stressed the importance of continuous rewrites and edits, explaining that it took four years to complete the research and writing of the book, her first.

The author grew up in Destin and graduated from the US Coast Guard Academy. While working as a public affairs officer in Seattle, WA, she learned about Tristan Heaton, a rescue swimmer who risked his life to save a young man who was stuck in a cave in Oregon. His story inspired her to write the book and ensure that it was published.

"He entrusted me with his story, and I couldn't let him down," she told the students.

She and the other guests answered a wide range of questions about the Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmers program, which began in 1983. Up until then, there was no specific training program for rescuing flood and accident victims. Today, the rescue missions employ airplane and helicopter pilots and crew members, as well as top-notch rescue swimmers who brave an intense training program in extreme conditions to become part of the elite rescue corps. The rescue teams gained international notoriety during Hurricane Katrina, performing daring rescues of thousands of victims of the hurricane and the subsequent flooding.

Ruckel literacy coach Liz Bears and the school's literacy team organized the event, as part of their plan to engage students in the writing process and inspire them by giving them the opportunity to meet published authors. Last year, the students met author Neil Shustermann, a fiction writer.

This year, Bears received permission from the Laguardia-Kotite to distribute a chapter of her book to all of the students and teachers. Two weeks before the author’s visit, the entire student body participated in a read-aloud during their second period class. A week later, the students watched video clips of the DVD, “When Weather Changed History,” which chronicles some of the heroic acts of the rescue workers.

Bears is pleased with the reaction to the event. “I've had several teachers email me and say they were thrilled with her visit,” she said.

Some of the seventh-grade students wrote thank-you letters to the author.

"I'm on the swim team," wrote Matthew. "I thought it was cool to learn about the different missions."

"You've made me think of joining the Coast Guard," wrote Taylor.

Bears is particularly glad that Laguardia-Kotite has agreed to return to the school to work with some of the students at close range.

“Ruckel students have great writing skills, but in order for them to keep writing well, they need to stay motivated,” she said.

One seventh-grader seemed particularly motivated by listening to the author. "I learned that I should be persistent in everything I do, because if I am, I can accomplish anything I want to," wrote Emily.