[Wingrider]

I was in the Coast Guard and flew SAR missions. Yes, our lives were on the line every day and for someone to pull this stunt is beyond belief. While stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida we lost a plane and six good men. One day later and it would have been me.

The boat that was supposedly sinking made it home unharmed own it's own. I often said that we flew when no one else would. The weather was so bad that we believed the pilot dipped a tip tank in the water trying to keep the boat in sight once it was located. This was our fixed wing HU 16E Grumman Albatross with a crew of six. May they rest in peace.

[Denver Ditdat]

When I was in the Navy we used to make a lot of jokes about Coasties having wheels on the bottom of their boats and wading ashore if they sank. The worst part of my joining in on those jokes is that I knew better, having grown up on the shores of Lake Huron and seeing the USCG in action. You guys are AWESOME!