Rescues. (People Planes Places).

JO3 Dan Ball

On 4 March a CGAS San Diego, Calif., HH-60 Seahawk rescued a downed hang glider pilot in the mountains outside of Temecula, Calif. Flying with night-vision goggles, the pilots located the victim approximately 400 feet below the crest of a hill on the side of a canyon. The helicopter had to perform the hoist from 150 feet above the victim, much higher than usual. The crew's rescue swimmer was lowered to the ground, followed by the litter. The swimmer carried the litter 25 yards uphill to the victim, and piled dirt under the litter to level it. Once the victim was secured in the litter, the helicopter descended as far as possible and hoisted them up. High winds caused the litter to revolve rapidly in midair. As it neared the helicopter the flight mechanic attached himself via the gunner's belt to the aircraft, leaned out as far as he could and steadied the litter. The victim was flown to a nearby hospital.

A VP-9 aircrew aboard a P-3C Orion located a man who had been adrift for two days and braved 10 to 15 foot seas on a kayak 188 miles southeast of Honolulu, Hawaii. After locating the kayaker, the aircrew of the P-3 orbited the site and called in a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules and HH-65 Dolphin (below). The P-3 crew then switched to scene-of-action commander to direct the efforts of the rescue. The Dolphin hoisted the survivor to safety and transported him to the hospital.

The NAS Patuxent River, Md., search and rescue (SAR) team rescued a man who had run his personal watercraft aground in a nearby wetland that became inaccessible when the tide went out. The man tried to walk out of the area but nearly drowned in the deep mud. Rescue crews from the local fire department were able to reach the man but could not retrieve him. The SAR team's UH-3H Sea King located the victim, deployed the rescue swimmer using the new Tri-SAR harness (see Airscoop, p. 7) and hoisted the pair aboard, then flew to a nearby landing zone and transferred the man to an ambulance. After warming and rehydration, he was released without hospitalization.

Three Sailors from PCU Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) put out a large fire at the base of a federal building in Newport News, Va. ABH2 Cameron Fisher, ABH3 Demetrius Jackson and ABHAA Eliseo Granada, Jr., were on their way home from work when they observed the fire and stopped to help. Despite heavy smoke and flames outside the front entranceway, they ran inside and evacuated 25 people and used fire extinguishers to put out the blaze. Afterwards, they stood by in case the fire reflashed and waited until the local fire department arrived. As they were leaving the scene, a district judge who worked in the building stopped them to get their names and commend them. He later said, "They took care of business and didn't think it was a big deal. I wanted to recognize that." The Sailors received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for their examples of honor, courage and commitment.