Coast Guard awards Air Station Clearwater crewmembers for 2017 hurricane season

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 07/03/2018 01:53 PM EDT

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News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment Tampa Bay
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Coast Guard awards Air Station Clearwater crewmembers for 2017 hurricane season

Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Florida, crewmembers Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew W. Silvious, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jean A. Medina, an aviation maintenance technician hold up their Air Medal citations after an awards ceremony at the air station July, 3, 2018. Silvious and Medina were honored for rescuing two people from a sailboat during Hurricane Irma in 2017. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) Capt. Ward Sandlin, commanding officer of Air Station Clearwater, Florida, presents an Air Medal to Petty Officer 2nd Class Jean A. Medina, an aviation maintenance technician, during an awards ceremony at Air Station Clearwater, July, 3, 2018. Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew W. Silvious, an aviation survival technician, and Medina, were honored for rescuing two people from a sailboat during Hurricane Irma. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)
Two Air Medals, the Coast Guard's second highest award for aerial valor, are laid out prior to presentation at an awards ceremony at Air Station Clearwater, Florida, July, 3, 2018. Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew W. Silvious, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jean A. Medina, an aviation maintenance technician, were honored for rescuing two people from a sailboat during Hurricane Irma in September 2017. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) Capt. Ward Sandlin, commanding officer of Air Station Clearwater, Florida, speaks to members of the air station during an awards ceremony in Clearwater, July, 3, 2018. More than 100 awards were presented to Air Station Clearwater crewmembers for their efforts during the 2017 hurricane season. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) Capt. Ward Sandlin, commanding officer of Air Station Clearwater, Florida, pins on awards to members of the air station during an awards ceremony in Clearwater, July, 3, 2018. More than 100 awards were presented to Air Station Clearwater crewmembers for their efforts during the 2017 hurricane season. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)

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CLEARWATER, Fla. – The Coast Guard presented more than 100 awards Tuesday to Air Station Clearwater crewmembers in Clearwater for their efforts during the 2017 hurricane season.

Air Station Clearwater crewmembers were awarded for saving lives and providing humanitarian aid through hurricanes Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate.

Among the awards presented were two Air Medals, the Coast Guard’s second highest award for aerial valor. Petty Officer 1st Class Matthew W. Silvious, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jean A. Medina, an aviation maintenance technician, were honored for rescuing two people from a sailboat during Hurricane Irma.

On September 9, 2017, Silvious and Medina flew 420 miles aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter into 60-70 mph winds, rain, and near zero visibility at night. Due to the hurricane, there were no emergency landing or refueling options.

Medina operated the hoist and delivered Silvious to the water while fighting to keep the cable from entangling the sailboat or the people in the water. Silvious fought off winds, waves, and the pull of the helicopter to reach the boaters in distress. Despite all obstacles, the crew rescued the two boaters.

The rescue was only one of countless missions Air Station Clearwater crewmembers performed during the historic hurricane season. The air station’s commanding officer, Capt. Ward Sandlin, praised the crew’s accomplishments and said, “From the bottom of my heart, I could not be prouder.”

Air Station Clearwater crewmembers maintain and operate HC-130 Hercules airplanes and MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters for a multitude of missions under the direction of the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area. The air station’s area of operations includes the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean basin and the Bahamas.

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