The Bent Wheel

Crew of the Hart Island Boat in the 1950s

(Courtesy of Gerald H. Porteus (back row, center))

Gerald H. Porteus passed to heaven on January 24, 2012 at the age of 91 years old. He served in the US Navy on a Sub-Chaser during World War II. After the war, he became a member of the NYPD, serving most of his 28 years in the elite Emergency Service and Harbor Units. During his service in the NYPD, he was involved in hundreds of on-water rescues (including several airline crashes) in the waters of NYC. He was also assigned to the security detail for President John F. Kennedy's visit, and the 1st visit of the Beatles to NYC. He was also featured in the centerfold of Life Magazine in 1965 for the arrest of a bank robber who attempted to flee by boat.

Gerald's son, Greg, recovered Harbor Launch No 5 from the bottom of the Passaic River and restored her to service as a working vessel. That project was a large part of the inspiration for this website.

Click photo above for photos from the dedication of
Launch 35 : "23 Heroes"