Football’s Matthew Corinna Presented with Admiral’s Award
BUZZARDS BAY, Mass – The Massachusetts Maritime Academy Admiral's Award is an award presented to a Cadet who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and sheds good light on The Academy and the Regiment of Cadets. It is the highest honor given to a cadet and on Friday, November 6th, Cadet 3rd Class Matthew Corinna (Milford, Mass), a Marine Engineering major, member of the Buccaneer football team, and graduate of St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Mass was presented the Admiral's Award by Captain Edward Rozak during morning formation.
The high honor was presented to the sophomore defensive back for his brave and heroic actions on July 3rd, 2020 at East Sandwich Beach in Sandwich, Mass. On that day there was an incident involving two children who were dragged by the current too far from the shore. Their parents and other beachgoers formed a long chain to get the children back to shore safely. During this time two adults assisting in the rescue were swept out in a rip current and could not be reached. Corinna, who was already in the water as part of the chain realized what was happening and, without regard for his own safety, raced to shore, wrapped a small raft around his foot and ventured back in to the water. He swan 100 feet in to the water where the two individuals were and pulled them to safety.
"They were minutes away from drowning as they struggled to keep their heads above water. Without Matthew's actions that day they would be gone." A bystander at the beach that day said in an email to head football coach Jeremy Cameron. "Often times it is easy to criticize and even easier to not take a few minutes to celebrate success. You have a fine young man on your football roster and I wanted to simply call your attention to his selfless act that saved the lives of two individuals." The emailer added.
Pictured in the photo with Matthew is Director of Athletics Michael Kelley, both of whom are from Milford, Massachusetts. Below is the letter that Matthew received from Captain Rozak Friday morning, signed by the President of Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Admiral Francis X. McDonald:
