Coast Guard rescues Savannah fisherman
JACKSONVILLE, Fl. -- The crew of an Air Station Savannah HH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescued a Savannah fisherman about 8:50 p.m. tonight after he fell overboard from the 85-foot fishing vessel Drag On about 55 miles south of Savannah, Ga. in Ossabaw Sound.
Capt. Chuck Clayton, 48, of Savannah was working on deck of the fishing vessel Drag On tonight when he fell overboard. It is unknown why or how Mr. Clayton fell off the vessel.
The crewman on board the Drag On, who was working below decks came up and discovered Mr. Clayton was missing. The crewmember notified the Coast Guard about 8:30 p.m. and then stopped the fishing vessel that had been traveling at 10 knots. The Air Station Savannah helicopter, which was already airborne on a training mission, was diverted to the area, located Mr. Clayton eight miles away from the Drag On and safely hoisted him about 8:50 p.m. tonight.
Mr. Clayton was reported to be in good condition despite being tired from swimming. He was transferred to a Coast Guard Station Tybee Island rescue boat for further transferred back to the fishing vessel Drag On about 9 p.m. tonight
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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dan Hartley, 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron military working dog handler, and military working dog, Cody, check for explosives on a vehicle at a Baghdad International Airport checkpoint. They are one of several military working dog teams here supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Hartley and Cody are both deployed from the 66th Security Forces Squadron at Hanscom Air Force Base, Mass. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brian Ferguson
Canine Defenders Keep Warfighters Safe
By U.S. Air Force Capt. Miki Kristina Gilloon
447th Air Expeditionary Group
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Sept. 9, 2003 (AFPN) — A 12-inch-long mortar round lay partly hidden in the overgrowth near a checkpoint at Baghdad International Airport. It was found and safely destroyed thanks to the keen senses of a four-legged member of the 447th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron.
Rudy, one of several military working dogs deployed supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom, alerted his handler, Staff Sgt. Albert Branch, of his find. Branch, deployed from the 60th Security Forces Squadron at Travis Air Force Base, Calif., recognized the instant change in his dog’s behavior.
“He moved side to side trying to locate the scent -- something he’s been trained to do,” Branch said. “He knew something was there, but he was trying to pinpoint exactly where it was.”
The mortar round, along with other dangerous items -- improvised explosive devices, rocket propelled grenades, and shell casings from small arms fire -- are routinely found by 447th ESFS military working dog teams. The dogs also support the U.S. Army’s 1st Armored Division by patrolling at and near the airport checkpoints.
“We’re helping them out by conducting explosives detection and making a physical presence at the gate,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Renner, 447th ESFS kennel master and handler. He is deployed from the 21st SFS at Peterson AFB, Colo.
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