Rescues.

On 7 March members of HSL-37 embarked aboard Crommelin (FFG 37) rescued several fishermen from the fishing vessel Don Teo in the eastern Pacific, 250 nautical miles from land. The boat was noticed by aircrew members while on patrol. Crommelin headed for the site to provide assistance and upon arrival learned the vessel had been adrift for three days without a radio. The Don Teo crewmen were in a general state of dehydration and sun exposure, and one had suffered a deep cut that needed medical attention. A Crommelin engineer determined the boat's fuel pump had gone bad. Since there was no spare, the frigate rigged the vessel for towing and "delivered" Don Teo and crew to Manta, Ecuador.

Search and rescue teams from HS-3 on board Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and I-IS-7 aboard Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) rescued two civilian helo pilots from USNS Spica (T-AFS 9). The pilots went down at night in the eastern Mediterranean during a replenishment at sea with Truman. The HS-3 crew was first on the scene and located the survivors. One pilot was wearing a strobe light so the HS-3 crew hoisted the one who was not, for fear of losing him in the darkness. The HS-7 crew then pulled up the other pilot. Both victims were returned to Spica and were found to be in good condition.

A CGAS Cape Cod, Mass., aircrew rescued the crew from the tug Seawind after its barge collided with it in heavy seas as the tug headed for the entrance to a river. Despite severe weather conditions and the close proximity of the barge's crane, the aircrew hoisted the crew members aboard their HH-60J Jayhawk seconds before the barge was dashed onto the beach. For their efforts, the aircrew members received the Red Cross Sea Rescue Award.

An HH-65 Dolphin from CGAS Humboldt Bay, Calif., rescued an injured surfer caught on the rocks just south of Trinidad, Calif., on 11 April. The helo was performing an environmental survey when the call came in. Since a flight surgeon was on board as an observer, the helo immediately headed toward the scene. Once there, the flight mechanic deployed a rescue basket down to the victim, who was being tended by rescue workers. The victim was hoisted aboard and flown to a local hospital for treatment.