Before Hurricane Milton made landfall in Tampa, Florida, officials there made an effort to help a man who went by the TikTok handle “Lieutenant Dan.” The man, whose true name is apparently Joseph Malinowski, defied their attempts to disembark from his 20-foot boat and chose instead to weather the storm.
Malinowski was filmed by Terrence Concannon, who uploaded the popular TikTok on October 8 and showed him justifying his choice. Malinowski, who was inspired by the Forrest Gump character, boldly declares his belief in God in the video, saying, “God told me to come out here and acquire a boat. I’m safe with him. We’re going to get through this. He brashly said, “Hell no,” when asked if he would be donning a life jacket, stating that his yacht was the safest place for him to be.
Around 43 million people had viewed the film as of October 9, garnering both local and national interest. Authorities in Tampa were worried about his safety, but Malinowski refused to leave despite multiple attempts to persuade him. The local police said that although they would have helped, they would eventually be unable to get to him due to the storm’s increasing conditions.
Mayor Jane Castor of Tampa first said that Malinowski had been rescued and taken to a shelter during a press conference. Brian Entin, a reporter for NewsNation, swiftly refuted this, posting a picture of Malinowski remaining on his boat as evidence that he had not departed. Later on, the mayor’s office stated that Malinowski had initially decided to depart but ended up staying.
Concannon, the person who first uploaded the popular video, launched a GoFundMe page in support of Malinowski, which raised almost $23,000. The money is meant to assist Malinowski—who has been called a “modern-day pirate”—in buying a new boat because his present one has “seen better days.”
With sustained winds of 120 mph, Hurricane Milton, a Category 3 storm, was predicted to make landfall on Florida’s west-central coast as of October 9. Malinowski made the decision to stay on his boat despite several orders for the locals to leave, putting his faith and the security of his craft at risk.
(VIDEO) Little Boy Hands Silent Marine His Christmas List. Now Pay Attention to That Marine’s Left Hand
The US Marine Corps has been a symbol of pride for our nation for 240 years, sacrificing greatly for their countrymen and always regarded with honor and respect.
While known for their bravery in combat, Marines often don’t receive the recognition they deserve for their charitable efforts outside of military service, particularly when it comes to helping children.
Toys For Tots, founded by Major Bill Hendricks, USMC, in 1947, began as a small initiative to provide toys for less fortunate children but has since grown into a nationwide program with increasing donations each year. As Christmas approaches, Toys For Tots needs our support more than ever.
In the iconic 1997 Christmas commercial titled “Guard Duty,” a heartwarming moment unfolds as an adorable boy approaches a stoic Marine on duty. Despite their disciplined demeanor, the Marine’s reaction to the child is priceless. Watch and consider sharing this piece of American history for a good cause.
Video here:
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