ALCOAST 427/22 - OCT 2022 2022 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 281806Z OCT 22 MID200080401610U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 427/22
SSIC 16100
SUBJ: 2022 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 021320Z MAY 22/ALCOAST 156/22
1. Per REF (A), this ALCOAST announces the recipients of the 2022
AFRAS Gold and Silver Medals. The Gold and Silver Medals are awarded
to Coast Guard enlisted members and Auxiliarists, respectively, to
recognize acts of extraordinary bravery during rescues at sea.
2. Gold Medal.
a. The 2022 Gold Medal is awarded to Aviation Survival Technician
First Class (AST1) Adam J. Via. AST1 Via served as Rescue Swimmer on
Coast Guard Helicopter CGNR 6034 during the rescue of five
crewmembers from the burning 100-foot F/V NOBSKA, 100 miles east of
Air Station Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
b. CGNR 6034 departed from Air Station Cape Cod in response to an
active Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon from the 100-foot
trawler F/V NOBSKA, which had suffered a hydraulic casualty and
later caught on fire. Once on scene, Petty Officer Via deployed via
a sling through turbulent 50 knot gusts into the North Atlantic
waves cresting at 15 feet. After swimming 50 yards towards the
burning vessel, he muscled through the first of five basket hoists
that became increasingly difficult due to the 45-degree water and
the bulky, inflexible survival suits each survivor wore. One at a
time, Petty Officer Via raced to load each survivor into the rescue
basket with each evolution requiring him to swim alongside a
drifting vessel and exert extraordinary physical effort to battle
against the demanding seas. While towing the fourth survivor
towards the basket, he creatively utilized his own body as leverage
to prevent the survivor from slipping beneath the waves, delivering
him safely into the basket. Approaching mental and physical
exhaustion, Petty Officer Via conducted the rescue of the final
survivor, whose resistance required every last ounce of strength to
effect a recovery. Despite extreme fatigue once back on board the
helicopter, he provided immediate medical care for the survivors
during the transit back to Air Station Cape Cod.
c. The outstanding courage, dedication, and skill of AST1 Via
was instrumental in the saving of five lives.
3. Silver Medal.
a. The 2022 Silver Medal is awarded to Auxiliarists Robert E.
Bohm, William F. Jacobs Jr. and Harvey M. Miller of D1-Southern
Region Auxiliary Flotilla 014-01-01 who served as the boat crew
during the rescue of five crewmembers from a barge on fire, carrying
commercial fireworks.
b. While conducting an ordered patrol on their Auxiliary
facility, Auxiliarists Robert E. Bohm, William F. Jacobs Jr. and
Harvey M. Miller assisted in establishing a Sector Long Island Sound
directed security zone around the Point of Woods fireworks barge
staged in Great South Bay on the south side of Long Island,
New York. Soon after the on-scene arrival of the Auxiliary facility,
large commercial fireworks began to ignite without warning and
caused explosions in multiple directions. The three Auxiliarists
quickly decided it was unsafe for the fireworks barge crew to remain
aboard. With fire and explosions occurring all around them, the
Auxiliary facility and crew approached the barge from upwind to
conduct an evacuation, taking five barge crewmembers aboard, one of
whom was injured by a direct firework strike. The Auxiliarists then
transported the barge crewmembers to the Ocean Bay Park ferry dock,
where emergency medical services personnel were waiting to render
aid.
c. As a result of their outstanding actions and at risk to their
own lives, Auxiliarists Robert E. Bohm, William F. Jacobs Jr. and
Harvey M. Miller saved five barge crewmembers.
4. In addition to the Gold and Silver Medal recipients, all 2022
AFRAS award nominees demonstrated exceptional courage and have
further enhanced the Coast Guard's reputation as Lifesavers and
Guardians of the Sea. These other outstanding nominees include:
a. AST1 Nesward K. Marfil, Air Station Barbers Point.
b. MK2 Michael L. Sparks, Coast Guard Station Wrightsville Beach.
5. The 2022 Gold and Silver Medal recipients will be honored at a
ceremony hosted by AFRAS on November 16, 2022, at the Capitol
Visitors Center, Washington, D.C.
6. Congratulations to the AFRAS 2022 Gold and Silver Medal
recipients and all nominees on a job well done.
7. COMDT (CG-SAR) AFRAS awards POC: Mr. Michael Clarke
(202) 372-2090, Michael.E.Clarke@uscg.mil.
8. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director, Emergency Management (CG-5RI),
sends.
9. Internet release is authorized.