ALCOAST 294/18 - AUG 2018 2018 CAPTAIN FRANK ERICKSON AND COMMANDER ELMER STONE AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 200950 AUG 18
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-7//
TO ALCOAST
UNCLAS //N01650//
ALCOAST 294/18
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2018 CAPTAIN FRANK ERICKSON AND COMMANDER ELMER STONE AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. Recognition Programs Manual, COMDTINST M1650.26 (series)
1. COMDT (CG-7) is honored to announce the recipients of the Captain Frank A. Erickson
and Commander Elmer F. Stone Aviation Awards for 2018. The Coast Guard Aviation
Association sponsors these annual aviation awards to recognize Coast Guard rotary-wing
and fixed-wing aircrews who have demonstrated exceptional performance while engaged in
Search and Rescue operations.
2. The Captain Frank A. Erickson Award is presented to the Air Station Kodiak crew of
CGNR 6593, LCDR Daniel Schrader, LCDR Adam Mullins, AMT2 Jentzen Green, AET1 Gregory Mayes,
and AET2 Jacqueline Gutierrez, in recognition of their heroic efforts from 04 MAY 2018 to
07 MAY 2018, responding to a critically ill crewmember aboard Naval Vessel SBX-1, 1000
nautical miles southwest of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Deployed aboard USCGC JOHN MIDGETT, the
crew of 6593 was tasked with executing a long-range MEDEVAC over 400 nautical miles from
land. The crew was immediately met with difficulties as they were forced to fly two
sorties over a combined 120 nautical miles to embark all the necessary gear and crew onto
CGC JOHN MIDGETT from Dutch Harbor, Alaska. The steadfast crew, already fatigued from a
previously executed MEDEVAC early that morning, was forced to navigate through snow
squalls and ¼ statute mile visibility to complete the re-embarkation aboard the cutter.
As the 977 millibar low pressure system rapidly approached, along with the threat of
higher winds and seas, the aircrew conducted extensive mission planning in preparation
for the MEDEVAC. The crew made use of all available weather resources, gathered info on
the patient’s condition, and stripped the aircraft of all non-essential equipment to allow
for increased endurance. Taking advantage of a short lull between two weather systems, the
crew of 6593 launched into 22 knot winds and 10 foot seas to fly 80 nautical miles to
rendezvous with SBX-1. While enroute, the cutter suffered a turbine casualty forcing a
reduced transit speed and increasing the distance for the aircrew’s return flight. To
make matters worse, the aircrew began experiencing 70+ knots of wind with 3 statute miles
of visibility and the decision was made to land on the Navy vessel to wait out the weather.
After landing on SBX-1, and while being accosted by high winds while embarking the patient,
the crew was informed that the Navy vessel did not have the necessary tie down gear to
secure the helicopter until the weather passed. Unable to wait out the storm and with
rapidly decreasing fuel, 6593 made the decision to fly back to CGC JOHN MIDGETT and
attempt a landing. Flying at over 200 knots ground speed back to the cutter, the crew was
soon met with 16 to 18 foot waves breaking over the bow of the ship. The cutter reported
that they were at maximum pitch and roll limits with occasional pitching and rolling
exceeding the slope landing limits of the airframe. Concerned about a roll-over on deck,
the crew made the difficult decision to keep all tie down members off the flight deck for
their safety. The aircrew astutely observed the movement of the ship and began their
landing attempts. Thwarted twice, the crew remained firm in their resolve and their final
attempt was met with success. After delivering the patient to the awaiting corpsmen and
as seas grew to 26 feet, the crew began a lengthy 3-hour blade folding and heavy weather
traversing evolution to shelter the helicopter in the hangar. After the helicopter was
secured, the cutter transited 360 nautical miles towards Adak for the final leg of the
mission. 6593 launched one last time at the edge of the cutter’s wind limitations and
successfully transferred the patient to awaiting Emergency Medical Services.
3. The following nominees were also recommended for this award and deserve honorable
mention for their heroic actions:
    Aviation Training Center Mobile, CGNR 6046 – HURRICANE HARVEY
    Air Station Barbers Point, CGNR 6529 – S/V HELEN MARGARET
    Air Station Houston, CGNR 6511 – HURRICANE HARVEY
    Air Station Miami, CGNR 6543 – HURRICANE HARVEY
    Sector North Bend, CGNR 6512 – SAILING VESSEL MEDEVAC
    Sector Humboldt Bay, CGNR 6606 – COASTAL TRAIL CLIFF RESCUE
4. The Commander Elmer F. Stone Award is presented to the Air Station Barbers Point crew
of CGNR 1703, LCDR Sean Bartonicek, LTJG Evan Swinghamer, AET2 Beau Fisch, AMT2 Ryan
Cabrera, AET2 Andrew Davis, AET2 Jeremiah Strombeck, and AET3 Shawn Feleppa in recognition
of their heroic efforts on 25 MAR 2018, responding to a 406 Electronic Position Indicating
Radio Beacon (EPIRB) activated 550 nautical miles northeast of Oahu. The EPRIB was
registered to the PRINCESS HAWAII, a 63 foot longline commercial fishing vessel that was
unresponsive to satellite callout attempts from the District 14 Joint Rescue Coordination
Center. The crew of 1703 launched from Air Station Barbers Point and flew to the initial
EPIRB location where they located the PRINCESS HAWAII. The PRINCESS HAWAII was partially
submerged with only the bow of the vessel riding above the ocean surface. After finding no
signs of life in the vicinity of the vessel, the crew of 1703 performed an impromptu search
of the area and found a small 10 person life raft five nautical miles south of the sunken
vessel. Unable to establish communications with the life raft, the crew of 1703 configured
for the aerial delivery of a radio and survival kit. Despite the harsh environmental
conditions including 10 foot seas, 30 knot gusting winds, and inflight turbulence, the
rescue kit was successfully deployed to the life raft. Once communications were established,
1703 ensured all survivors were accounted for and safe. 1703 instructed the survivors to
secure themselves to the life raft which was being breached by the 10 foot breaking surf.
After confirming the status and short-term safety of the survivors, 1703 searched the
surrounding area for a vessel to render assistance. 1703 found a commercial fishing vessel
35 miles away and diverted the vessel to the survivors' position. After diverting the
rescue vessel, 1703 conducted a cruise engine shutdown in an effort to conserve fuel and
provide vectors to the rescue vessel that was making way at 5.5 knots. During the shutdown,
1703 experienced a malfunction that required the crew to conduct a risky emergency air start.
Following the emergency air start, the aircrew conducted a detailed risk analysis balancing
the risks associated with the dangerous malfunction versus gains of staying on scene to
coordinate the rendezvous efforts. Acknowledging great risks, the crew of 1703 elected to
stay on scene to coordinate the rescue efforts. Unable to maintain visual contact with the
life raft due to environmental conditions and darkness, the crew of 1703 contacted the life
raft and asked the survivors to rig the strobe light from the rescue kit atop the life
raft canopy. With the strobe light affixed, the aircrew was able to maintain intermittent
visual contact with the life raft using night vision goggles. 1703 stayed on scene and
provided critical vectors to the rescue vessel saving eight lives.
5. The following nominees were also recommended for this award and deserve honorable
mention for their heroic actions:
    Aviation Training Center Mobile, CGNR 2305 – HURRICANE HARVEY
    Air Station Miami, CGNR 2302 – HURRICANE HARVEY
6. I extend my personal congratulations to the award winners, and to each of the
nominated aircrews. Through your actions, you demonstrated the highest levels of courage
and professionalism. Your efforts are in keeping with the highest traditions of our service.
7. COMDT (CG-711) will contact the commands of the winning crews for funding travel and
accommodations for attendance at the awards ceremony at the 2018 Ptero Roost, occurring
on 08 SEP 2018 in Traverse City.
8. RDML Michael P. Ryan, Assistant Commandant for Capability, sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.