Bud Marquis was frog hunting in his airboat at the time of the crash and he was the first to respond to the scene. He assisted the survivors and helped guide the first U. S. Coast Guard HH-52A helicopter to the scene by shining his flashlight at the helicopter. A ceremony was held in early December to honor Bud for his heroic actions that night and the airboat association presented him with his airboat, completely rebuilt.