ALCOAST 258/18 - JUL 2018 ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2018 ARMED SERVICES YMCA ANGELS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AWARD RECIPIENT

R 171315 JUL 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-11//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N06010//
ALCOAST 258/18
COMDTNOTE 6010
SUBJ: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2018 ARMED SERVICES YMCA ANGELS OF THE BATTLEFIELD AWARD RECIPIENT
1. I am pleased to announce that Aviation Survival Technician Third Class Richard C. Hoefle,
assigned to Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, has been selected as the Coast Guard
recipient for the 12th annual Armed Services YMCA Angels of the Battlefield (AOTB) Award.
AOTB is an annual award that recognizes one enlisted medical professional from each branch of
the Armed Forces. The 2018 AOTB Awards Dinner will take place on 2 October 2018 in Arlington, VA.
   a. AST3 Hoefle is being recognized for saving the life of a critically injured mariner while
serving as the duty rescue swimmer onboard CG-6557. A catastrophic equipment failure resulted in
a collapsed fishing mast that instantly killed one crewmember and severely injured another aboard
fishing vessel PAMELA ROSE. AST3 Hoefle identified several safety hazards caused by the collapsed
fishing mast. He ultimately recommended deployment into the water as the safest course of action
for rescue efforts.  AST3 Hoefle swam through extreme darkness and heavy seas and used a single
line to pull himself up 8-feet over the vessel’s freeboard. Once on deck, he began his on-scene
assessment and triage of the crewmembers.  After identifying the first crewmember was deceased,
AST3 Hoefle immediately performed an on-scene trauma assessment of the second crewmember, managed
his airway, and stabilized his C-spine with an instrument he fabricated from items onboard the
fishing vessel. Once the critically-injured crewmember was stabilized, AST3 Hoefle completed a
successful extraction by litter recovery, skillfully navigating potential snag hazards on deck.
Following the successful hoist, AST3 Hoefle continued to reassess the crewmember's vitals,
treating him for hypothermia and administering high-flow oxygen, all while maintaining
communication with the local advanced-life-support EMS unit and facilitating a meticulous patient
transfer and a full medical-care pass down. 
   b. The following enlisted medical professionals were also nominated by their commands
for this award and can take pride in their significant accomplishments during 2018:

        HS2 Jessica Hulon                   AIRSTA Sitka
        AST2 Benjamin Dent               AIRSTA Sitka
        HS3 Molly McGill                     TRACEN Cape May
        AST3 Tyler Stacey                   CG Sector North Bend
        HS2 Rebecca Smith-Heshley    CGC TAHOMA
        AST1 Christopher Dominguez   CG Sector North Bend

2. All nominees are worthy of the recognition of, and will automatically be nominated for,
the DHS Lifesaving award sponsored by the DHS Chief Medical Officer. I applaud all the nominees
for their accomplishments and their commanding officers and supervisors for taking the time
to submit these well-deserved nominations. I encourage all leaders to recognize their high performing
enlisted medical professionals by nominating them next year for the 2019 AOTB Awards.
This year’s awardees demonstrated outstanding professionalism in carrying out their duties.
Bravo Zulu for a job very well done.
3. POC: HSCM Michael Aviles, COMDT (DCMS-81), 202-475-5174, Email: Michael.A.Aviles@uscg.mil
or CWO2 Luis Muniz, COMDT (CG-1121), 202-475-5173, Email: Luis.A.Muniz@uscg.mil.
4. RADM Erica G. Schwartz, Director, Health, Safety, and Work-Life, sends.
5. Internet release authorized