Posted on 03/26/2004 10:19:59 AM PST by BykrBayb
Story Number: NNS040326-05 Release Date: 3/26/2004 10:32:00 AM
By Coleen R. San Nicolas-Perez, U.S. Naval Forces Marianas Public Affairs
SANTA RITA, Guam (NNS) -- Members of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 5 were awarded Air Medals and Navy and Marine Corps Medals March 11, for demonstrating bravery and heroism during a rescue at sea in June 2003.
Lt. Harrison Schramm, Lt. j.g. Isaiah Blake, Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic (AW/SW/NAC) Mikel Carr, Aircrew Survival Equipmentman 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Joseph McCollum and Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class (AW/NAC) Rusty Jack were presented the medals in front of shipmates at the command’s hangar on Guam.
“These guys are awesome,” said Cmdr. Robert Laubengayer, commanding officer of HC-5. “They’re heroes.”
While deployed with HC-5 Det. 5 aboard USS Concord (T-AFS 5), the five officers and Sailors rescued 27 people from a sinking Egyptian ship, Green Glory, off the coast of Oman.
“This is not only an individual award, it’s an accomplishment of HC-5,” said Carr, who is the team’s crew chief.
According to Carr, the detachment’s maintenance crew worked an entire night repairing a MH-60S Knighthawk aircraft and ensuring all equipment was ready for the mission.
When the rescue team arrived at the ship, they were faced with 30-knot winds and 30-foot seas. The vessel was rocking back and forth up to 45 degrees.
“The ship looked like a computer-generated image,” Blake said. “It didn’t look real.”
Although the situation posed extreme danger, Carr said they remained composed and determined to complete the assignment.
“Training definitely kicked in, and we squared ourselves away and rescued 27 people,” he said.
In order to save the people, McCollum and Jack were hoisted from the helicopter into the ocean. “It was the nastiest [situation] I’ve ever launched in,” Jack said.
While Jack secured the life rafts, McCollum climbed onto the ship and located the personnel. “I was just thinking about the job and those people,” he said.
Both McCollum and Jack helped bring the crew members from the sinking ship to the rafts, and then up and onto the helicopter.
“The survivors were happy to see us,” Carr said. “They were ecstatic to be in the helo.”
The personnel were brought to a British ship, where they were hoisted down to the vessel. The entire rescue mission took almost seven hours to complete.
According to Laubengayer, the medals are a reflection of the squadron as a whole. He said without each and every one of the Sailors assigned to the command, the five awardees would not have been able to save lives.
“Everyone here is important to the mission,” he said. “They are a fine group of Sailors.”
For related news, visit the U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/guam.
030624-D-0000X-003 Arabian Sea (Jun. 24, 2003) -- A Crewmember from the Egyptian cargo ship MV Green Glory is lowered to the flight deck of the British Royal Navy’s landing ship logistic RFA Sir Tristram (L 3505), after being rescued by a U.S. Navy MH-60S Nighthawk from the “Providers” of Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five (HC-5), currently operating a detachment aboard the Military Sealift Command (MSC) combat stores ship USNS Concord (T-AFS 5). DOD photo. (RELEASED)
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030624-D-0000X-002 Arabian Sea (Jun. 24, 2003) – A rescued crewmember from the Egyptian cargo ship MV Green Glory is escorted across the ship’s flight deck aboard the British Royal Navy’s landing ship logistic RFA Sir Tristram (L 3505) for medical treatment, and a hot meal. DOD photo. (RELEASED)
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030624-D-0000X-001 Arabian Sea (Jun. 24, 2003) -- The Commanding Officer of the British Royal Navy’s landing ship logistic RFA Sir Tristram (L 3505) shakes hands with one of the rescued crewmembers of the ill fated Egyptian cargo ship MV Green Glory. DOD photo. (RELEASED)
What a story. Thanks for the ping.
While deployed with HC-5 Det. 5 aboard USS Concord (T-AFS 5), the five officers and Sailors rescued 27 people from a sinking Egyptian ship, Green Glory, off the coast of Oman.
When the rescue team arrived at the ship, they were faced with 30-knot winds and 30-foot seas.
“Training definitely kicked in, and we squared ourselves away and rescued 27 people..”
“...The survivors were happy to see us..”
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Helicopter Combat Support Squadron Five
We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!
"Look, LOOK, the AMERICANS are here! We are SAVED!"
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