Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Lifesavers

Rescue Men: The Story of the Pea Island Lifesavers is an engaging and powerful 2010 documentary that provides an inside look at the history and heroics of an African American Life-Saving crew during a time of racial segregation in the United States. Directed by Allan R. Smith and produced by Los Angeles-based Distant View Entertainment, Rescue Men stars John Johnson and Admiral Steven Rochon in key roles and paints a fascinating and important chapter of American history through riveting storytelling and captivating visuals.

The story primarily focuses on the Pea Island Life-Saving Station, the first life-saving station in the country manned by an all African American crew. Based on the desolate, wind-swept Pea Island in North Carolina's Outer Banks area, the crew was responsible for a 100-mile stretch of rugged coastline notorious for treacherous seas and a graveyard for many ships.

The film does an excellent job in bringing alive the enormous challenges and unbearable racial bigotry faced by the station's keeper, Richard Etheridge, who became a beacon of courage and an example of utmost dedication to duty. Played by John Johnson, Etheridge emerges as a character resonating strength, leadership, and tenacity.

Following the Lincoln administration's decision that black men were capable of handling life-saving operations, Etheridge, a former Union Army Regiment slave was given charge of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station, making him the first African American to command a life-saving station. The series of events that unfolded after this decision forms the crux of this deeply inspiring film.

Adding inputs on the military perspective and the importance of Etheridge’s contribution to the United States Coast Guard's history is Admiral Steven Rochon. As the first black Admiral in the US Coast Guard, he brings to the film an indirect link to the path-breaking changes initiated by Etheridge, emphasizing the importance of the Pea Island lifesavers in the American history narrative.

The crew led by Etheridge carried out numerous heroic rescues, including the rescue of the crew from the schooner E.S. Newman during a hurricane in 1896. The film presents a gripping and detail-oriented account of this rescue — how Etheridge and his team fought against all odds to save the schooner crew stranded amidst hurricane-force winds and roaring waves, using nothing more than courage and the basic lifesaving equipment of the time. Despite their bravery and courage, they were not immediately recognized for their heroism, presumably as a consequence of the racial prejudice prevalent at that time.

Rescue Men is infused with intrigue, courage, pain, triumph, and emotional depth. It is a testament to human spirit and determination, exploring the struggles and commendable achievements of these black lifesavers who fought against tides of both the sea and society. Through a vivid narrative that blends drama and historical significance, the film highlights the inspiring stories of these men, their unprecedented bravery and their refusal to be obstructed by prejudice and discrimination.

Visually, the documentary is stunning, capturing the raw beauty and inherent risks of the Pea Island and the sea it guards. Interwoven with reenactments, archival photographs, interviews, narration, and expert commentary, the film successfully communicates both the daunting circumstances faced by these African American heroes and the eventual recognition and belated appreciation their contributions received.

The performances are uniformly solid, headed by a remarkably compelling performance by John Johnson. His portrayal of Richard Etheridge shows an incredible range of emotions, effortlessly transitioning from intense to vulnerable, making it easy for the audience to connect with the character. Johnson succeeds in not just portraying Etheridge but embodying his spirit and resilience, thus establishing a fierce character narrative.

Rescue Men is not just a film about the forgotten heroes of the U.S. Coast Guard; it's a national treasure that narrates an overlooked part of American history. With courage, conviction, and quiet leadership, it restores the heroes of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station to their rightful place in history, a place they were denied too long because of their color. A true testament to resilience and bravery, this film is a 'must-watch' for anyone interested in U.S. history or heroic human tales.