Coast Guard Foundation to recognize heroism and mission excellence

by Coast Guard Foundation on 24 May 2017 The Coast Guard Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to the education and welfare of all Coast Guard members and their families, announced today that its annual Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Houston will be held at the Hilton Americas-HoustonHotel in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, May 24, 2017.

At the event, the Foundation will recognize Coast Guard Air Station Houston aircrew CGNR 6581. In addition, the2017 Guardian Award will be presented to ConocoPhillips, a Houston-based oil and natural gas producing company. Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant of the Coast Guard, will deliver keynote remarks.

In the early morning of April 27, 2016, the Houston-based crew of CGNR 6581 - LT Gross, LT Josh Scritchfield, AMT2 Nikki Moore, and AST2 Jesse Weaver - launched in their MH-65D helicopter to search for two fishermen whose boat was capsized by a large wave.

During the first aerial search on April 25, the Air Station Houston crew spotted the overturned and partially submerged boat. The rescue swimmer deployed to the water but there was no sign of the fishermen and no information to help assist in search planning. Fortunately, the warm water in Galveston Bay provided optimism for the collective rescue effort.

Meanwhile, Sector Houston-Galveston watchstanders continued pursuing leads to refine the next morning’s first light search. They contacted two cellular companies to acquire GPS information from the fisherman’s phones and used the data to develop a specific timeline and location where the vessel may have capsized. With this new information, the watch standers adjusted their next pattern based on the notion that the fishermen could be clinging to nearby oil rigs.
With the probability of survival quickly diminishing, LT Gross and the crew of CGNR 6581 remained steadily engaged throughout their search. While conducting the final leg of their assigned pattern and low on fuel, LT Scritchfield spotted the first survivor clinging to a small oil wellhead protruding from the water.

On the final approach hovering near the first survivor, AST2 Weaver spotted the second survivor about 500 yards away hanging onto another oil wellhead protruding from the bay. In a fuel-critical state after more than two hours of searching, LT Gross quickly evaluated the risk and elected to deploy the rescue swimmer.

With time of the essence and minimal fuel remaining, AMT2 Moore and AST2 Weaver expeditiously prepared the aircraft and hoisted both men to safety. Together, their skillful actions rescued both men from peril and sped both to emergency medical services waiting at Sector Houston-Galveston headquarters.

“We are very proud to be able to recognize the bravery of this aircrew from Air Station Houston,” said Susan Ludwig, president, Coast Guard Foundation. “The men and women of the Coast Guard volunteer to put themselves in harm’s way to protect the lives of those that go to sea. Selflessness is a virtue many may possess, but is a hallmark of these professional individuals and we are humbled to honor them.”

The Coast Guard Foundation’s Tribute to the United States Coast Guard in Houston will be held on Wednesday, May24, 2017 at the Hilton Americas-Houston Hotel, 1600 Lamar Street,Houston, Texas. A cocktail reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. with dinner and the program following at 7:30 p.m.