EVERETT — It was supposed to be a routine ride across Puget Sound for Everett Boy Scout Joey Eichinger last August.
The 16-year-old and his younger brother Luke planned to jump aboard their friend’s 18-foot Campion boat and ride to Whidbey Island from their summer home in Spee-Bi-Dah on the Tulalip Reservation.
Their plan changed when Eichinger’s friend said his boat was running rough and he was concerned about the engine. Eichinger decided he and his brother would ride in another boat.
Between Camano Island and Hat Island, Eichinger could see trouble over the choppy water. Black smoke was coming from his friend’s boat. He saw his friend wave for help.
“He said his fire extinguisher wasn’t working,” Eichinger said. “So I pulled up next to him, got the fire extinguisher on my boat and helped extinguish the fire.”
Eichinger then tied the disabled boat to his and towed it back to the shore.
He said he didn’t have time to worry during the rescue.
“At the moment I saw the burning boat I instinctively went over there and helped put the flames out,” he said. “I had to. I had friends on that boat.”
In April, Eichinger, 17, received the Boy Scout Medal of Merit for his actions. The award is given to Boy Scouts who perform an act of service of rare character that reflects an uncommon degree of concern for the well-being of others.
The award consists of a medal to wear on the Scout uniform during special occasions, a badge and a certificate.
Eichinger started as a Cub Scout in the second grade. Earning an award that less than 1 percent of Boy Scouts receive is an honor, he said. Still, he admits that he may have been even more excited to earn his Eagle Scout ranking earlier this month.
“I was happy to receive my Eagle Scout because it was cumulative of second grade to high school,” Eichinger said. “It was nice finally reaching it.”
To earn an Eagle Scout rank a Scout must plan, organize and lead a project to benefit their community. For his project, Eichinger drew upon his love for rowing and created an informational kiosk about the Everett Rowing Association near the organization’s boathouse in Langus Park in Everett.
“(Everett Rowing Association) didn’t have any way to get information out about classes so I decided to put up the kiosk,” he said.
Eichinger started rowing in 2006 after a neighbor suggested he might like the sport.
After his first day, he didn’t.
But he decided to stick it out and today he’s glad he did.
Now Eichinger rows three hours a day, six days a week, is the captain of his rowing team and hopes to compete at the U.S. Rowing National Championships in Ohio for a second time in June.
Eichinger said he also looks forward to beginning his senior year at Archbishop Murphy High School and visiting different colleges on the East Coast. He plans to help his brother complete his own Eagle Scout project.
“My brother is just starting his project,” he said. “He’s on his way. He helped me with my project so I’ll help him out.”
Eichinger’s mother, Mary, expects he’ll stay involved in Troop 19.
“He’ll try as much as he can with his busy schedule,” she said. “We’re extremely proud of him and excited for his future.”
Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491, adaybert@heraldnet.com.
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