On the 16th of August, 1918, the British tanker Mirlo was sunk by a German U-boat five miles offshore. Oil and gas poured into the sea and caught fire, creating a floating inferno. In a legendary rescue, the surfmen of nearby Chicamacomico Lifesaving Station entered dangerous rough seas and pulled six men from a capsized lifeboat in the middle of the flames. In total, forty-two men were rescued. For their bravery, six surfmen were awarded the Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor.