Richard Dixon was the coxswain of a 44-foot Motor Lifeboat, on the July 4th weekend of 1980, when his skill and daring enabled him to rescue stricken pleasure boat crew off Tillamook Bay, Oregon.

[1][2][3] During the first incident a 58-foot yacht was in distress in the aftermath of hurricane Celia,[4] and needed to seek sheltered waters, but wave conditions seemed likely to batter it apart if it tried to use the narrow entrance between two stone jetties to enter Tillamook Bay's harbor.

With the crew of FANTASY ISLE completely exhausted and seasick, the owner/operator believed he was in a "do-or-die" situation and informed Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay that he was going to cross the bar.

Arriving on scene two miles off-shore, Petty Officer Dixon placed his MLB behind FANTASY ISLE and took the first breaking wave broadside thereby taking the full force of the breaker before it could reach the yacht.

The slightest mistake in the 12 to 15 foot breakers would have caused the MLB to be tossed unmercifully upon the treacherous rocks with the resultant death to his crew and the victims of the capsized boat.

Petty Officer Dixon demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude and daring in spite of imminent personal danger during this rescue mission.