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Rescuers performed bravely under horrendous conditions (Bering Sea)
Anchorage Dail;y News ^ | 12-11-04 | DOUG O'HARRA

Posted on 12/11/2004 7:11:32 PM PST by Species8472

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A Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter from Air Station Kodiak hovers over the cutter Alex Haley to transfer crewmen from the Selendang Ayu. (Photo by U.S. Coast Guard )

1 posted on 12/11/2004 7:11:33 PM PST by Species8472
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To: Species8472
Those are really tough conditions, in addition to the snow, hovering over water at night is very challenging due to several optical illusions pilots will encounter. I am not a helicopter pilot, but I know first hand that flying on NVD's through snow sucks.

Pray for these men and women. They go out in the worst of conditions.

2 posted on 12/11/2004 7:16:58 PM PST by USNBandit (Florida military absentee voter number 537.)
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To: USNBandit

Not to mention that there is very little daylight this time of year.


3 posted on 12/11/2004 7:20:15 PM PST by Dog Gone
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To: Species8472

"Hurricane-force gusts can knock the copter side to side, up and down. The sea can rise and fall the height of a three-story building in a minute."

Make that "in a second."
The worst I ever saw on my sailboat was 20 feet, from 3 directions. It was scary enough, but it was in Mexico, daylight and 80 degrees water and air temp.

These guys are amazing!

SM


4 posted on 12/11/2004 7:21:36 PM PST by Senormechanico
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To: Senormechanico

I have lost several friends crab fishing out there. The boats ice up and capsize without the time to get a mayday off.


5 posted on 12/11/2004 7:33:31 PM PST by Species8472
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To: Species8472
"Ya gota go out but ya dont have to come back"
Mari time heros;always have been always will be.....true sea-man and air-man........
Semper Paratus...........
6 posted on 12/11/2004 7:41:53 PM PST by CGASMIA68
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To: Species8472
The broken freighter at the rescue scene


7 posted on 12/11/2004 7:58:54 PM PST by konaice
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To: Species8472

Coastguardsmen are our most unsung heros. Especially in Alaska. How many lives have they saved? and under extreme conditions. They are very professional in every thing they do. From an old Navy man here in Alaska, my hat is off to these guys.


8 posted on 12/11/2004 9:27:17 PM PST by sasportas
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
Ahem. Ping.

(MAN, THAT TOOK ME THREE YEARS! LOL)

9 posted on 12/11/2004 9:31:23 PM PST by patton (Changing culture is like moving a cemetary. You don't get much help from the residents.)
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To: Species8472; OneLoyalAmerican; Delta 21; CWOJackson; CedarDave; armyman; Arrowhead1952; ...
God Bless the US Coast Guard

The unsung heroes who risk their lives to save others.

Everyday can be the next disaster.

Everyday they are ready.

Day after day, Year after year.
10 posted on 12/11/2004 10:16:55 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (SEMPER PARATUS)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

United States Coast Guard:

Unsung solid, skilled professionals.

God bless, watch over and protect them all!

Jack.


11 posted on 12/11/2004 10:25:36 PM PST by Jack Deth (When In Doubt.... Empty The Magazine!)
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To: Species8472

I've seen rescues exactly as what was described - and these guys are a brave lot! Great work - under terrible conditions - God bless them for their service -


12 posted on 12/11/2004 10:28:35 PM PST by Pastnowfuturealpha
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

I agree, I went to Harvard on the hill (aka Clatsop community college in Astoria, OR) with a recently discharged rescue swimmer. He was one of the approximately 15 veterans of one sort or another that was part of the veteran mafia while I was there. We told some pretty tall tales of all our exploits but that swimmer had newspaper clippings and he was carrying around some huge brass balls.


13 posted on 12/11/2004 10:33:58 PM PST by Tailback
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To: Tailback
I know a rescue swimmer in training from Station Coos Bay

He was set to start a few weeks ago.

He had the right attitude, I wish him the best.

It's a very tough course.

I believe drop out is around 50%
14 posted on 12/11/2004 10:42:51 PM PST by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub (SEMPER PARATUS)
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To: Species8472

These are the people that should be making millions of dollars a year - not the idiot celebrities out of Hollywood...


15 posted on 12/11/2004 11:11:07 PM PST by PowerPro (DOUBLE W - He's STILL the one. Now don't that feel GOOD????)
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To: PowerPro
These are the people that should be making millions of dollars a year - not the idiot celebrities out of Hollywood

I agree! However, most of the folks I know in that line of work are not in it for the money.

16 posted on 12/11/2004 11:29:07 PM PST by Species8472
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To: USNBandit

Old unofficial USCG SAR motto:

"You have to go out. You don't have to come back."


17 posted on 12/11/2004 11:33:38 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Squantos

PJ bump.


18 posted on 12/11/2004 11:34:22 PM PST by Travis McGee (----- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com -----)
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To: Travis McGee

USCG calls em Rescue Swimmer or SAR Swimmers vs PJ's I believe......but they do the same SAR mission. Hard troops. Big Brass ones !


19 posted on 12/12/2004 12:06:11 AM PST by Squantos (Be polite. Be professional. But, have a plan to kill everyone you meet. ©)
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To: 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub

Amen!


20 posted on 12/12/2004 12:22:19 AM PST by SirLurkedalot (Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah!!!)
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