August 25, 2016 โ The word โheroโ is sometimes thrown around too lightly, but no one can argue it doesnโt apply to Nicholas Guillory, a sergeant with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheriesโ Enforcement Division. As many as eight people are alive today because of Guilloryโs actions last September, and his courage earned him a commendation from the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council last week in New Orleans.
During a severe thunderstorm almost a year ago, Guillory received a distress call from a boat taking on water in the Gulf of Mexico near Pecan Island. Conditions were horrendous, but Guillory decided to launch his 19-foot patrol boat and attempt the rescue anyway.
โAs I traveled toward the Gulf of Mexico, I couldnโt even see the bow of my own vessel because the rainfall was so heavy,โ he said.