The unsung heroes who risk their lives to save others.
Everyday can be the next disaster."
-Amen to that. This photo below, was taken near where I live, on the Columbia River bar, one of the most dangerous bars in the world.
Posted on 12/11/2004 7:11:32 PM PST by Species8472
KODIAK -- Taking a helicopter through a winter gale over the Bering Sea may be the most demanding flying on earth.
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.
Driving sleet combines with Alaska's early nightfall to consume visibility, making conditions as dark as the inside of an orca's mouth. Night vision goggles help, but whipping snow reflects what little light that exists, partly blinding the view.
And then there's the moment when the flight mechanic stands in an open hatch and drops the basket on a hoist down as much as 250 feet to pluck someone from the roiling sea or a bucking ship.
Imagine leaning out from the Hotel Captain Cook roof to snatch someone from the sidewalk below -- during a magnitude 9 earthquake.
"Hoisting under those conditions, it's like riding on top of a soap bubble," said Cmdr. Bob Phillips, operations officer of the Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak and a helicopter pilot who has flown rescues in the Bering Sea. "You're moving around, and it's hard to stay on top."
Phillips spent a few moments Thursday night talking about Bering Sea flying while he waited to greet four crewmen from the HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that crashed during a rescue attempt the night before.
Phillips and other Coast Guard officials released few details about the accident. Officials have confirmed that the helicopter went down with 10 people aboard and turned upside down in the water, but said nothing about what might have caused the crash.
(Excerpt) Read more at adn.com ...
Talk about hazard pay......If anyone deserved it, they do.
BTTT!!!!!!!!
When I flew as a Corpsman. I never had any doubt that these guys would get me home safely. They always did! They are the best.
Amen.
GOD Bless those Coasties....
Had I not enlisted in the Marine Corps the Coasties were my second choice. They do one heck of a great job!
SEMPER FI!
God Bless the US Coast Guard
Good stuff!!
USCG, Semper Paratus bump!
Bump.
Just another day in the U.S. Coast Guard BUMP.
The drop off the backside is often the worst of it!
Amen!
Amen and Amen!
>"The drop off the backside is often the worst of it!"<
no doubt, I've been on the ocean. I can't imagine what a drop-slam that would be, on such a big wave. I mean that wave is easily 30+ft.
Anyway, it sounds like you've been there. Did you work on a lifeboat?
Thats a 52 foot rescue boat and that aint no sluffing breaker! Hang on and prepair to get wet. Dont worry about getting sea sick, there is way to much chaos going on for that to happen.
I stood watch at Station Coos Bay from 84-88. 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub has the watch there now.
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