Ocean City Beach Patrol is the story of the elite group of men and women who serve as guards along the sandy beaches and gently rolling surf of Ocean City, an eight-mile-long barrier island off the coast of southern New Jersey. Although the coastline slopes gradually into the sea and the water is generally calm, deadly rip currents and strong undertows can occur at any time. Thus, the lifeguards often risk their lives to protect the thousands of bathers enjoying these waters each summer.
Fred Miller, a retired teacher, was a member of the Ocean City Beach Patrol for thirty-three years, retiring as a lieutenant in 1997. A member of the United States Lifesaving Association and former president of the Ocean City Beach Patrol Administrative Association, he is the official lifeguard historian and a director of the Ocean City Rowing and Athletic Association, which awarded him the first Stowe award for outstanding service and contributions to the profession of ocean lifesaving.