MULTIMEDIA AVAILABLE: Coast Guard Air Station Houston crew recognized for saving 9 during rig fire

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/19/2022 07:13 PM EDT

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 News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
Contact: 8th District Public Affairs Detachment Texas
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Coast Guard Air Station Houston crew recognized for saving 9 during rig fire

Coast Guard Air Station Houston crew recognized for saving 9 during rig fire

Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, addresses the audience during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. During the ceremony, Timme presented Air Medals to Cmdr. James Conner, Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Collins for rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) Cmdr. Ryan Matson, left, commanding officer of Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Cmdr. James Conner, middle left, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, middle, an aviation survival technician, Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Collins, middle right, an aviation maintenance technician, and Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, right, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, pose for a photo during an award ceremony Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. During the ceremony, Timme presented Air Medals to Conner, Neiman, and Collins for rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) Cmdr. James Conner, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, is congratulated after recived a Coast Guard Air Medalduring an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, presented Conner with the Air Medal for his role in rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) Cmdr. James Conner, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Collins, an aviation maintenance technician, pose for a photo after reciving Air Medals during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. During the ceremony, Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, presented Conner, Neiman and Collins with Air Medals for rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson)

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HOUSTON — Coast Guard Air Station Houston crew members were recognized during a ceremony at the air station Friday for their response during a rig fire in Sabine Pass, Texas.

Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, presented Air Medals to Cmdr. James Conner, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, an aviation survival technician, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Collins, an aviation maintenance technician. 

Lt. Daniel Chase, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot and the copilot for this case, also received an Air Medal at Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska, the unit to which he is now assigned.

On Feb. 24, Conner, Chase, Neiman and Collins were instrumental in rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass. The helicopter crew hoisted and transported all nine crew members to a nearby rig, which was accessible to emergency medical services personnel on land. 

"Saving nine lives is no small feat," said Cmdr. Ryan Matson, commanding officer of Air Station Houston. "The crew's expertise, bravery and heroism forever changed nine families. My mind was put at ease knowing I had an extraordinary crew in that helicopter and I'm so very proud of each of them."

The Air Medal is awarded to individuals serving with the Armed Forces who distinguish themselves by heroic or meritorious achievement in aerial flight.

Read the initial press release about the rescue here.

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Cmdr. James Conner, an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, is presented an Air Medal by Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. Conner was presented the medal for his role in rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) Petty Officer 1st Class Vincent Neiman, an aviation survival technician, is presented an Air Medal by Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. Neiman was presented the medal for his role in rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson) Petty Officer 2nd Class Christopher Collins, an aviation maintenance technician, is presented an Air Medal by Rear Adm. Richard V. Timme, commander, Coast Guard District Eight, during an award ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Texas, Aug. 19, 2022. Collins was presented the medal for his role in rescuing nine trapped crew members from the Pride Wisconsin, a decommissioned mobile offshore drilling unit that caught fire in Sabine Pass, Texas, on Feb. 24, 2022. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson)

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