ALAUX 015/21 2019 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS

21 MAY 2021

FM:  CHDIRAUX

TO:  ALAUX

ALAUX 015/21

 

Subj:  2019 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS

 

1. Please read the following ALCOAST announcement of 2019 AFRAS award recipients. Congratulations to Seventh District Auxiliarists Stephen Wyatt and Gloria Wyatt on their award of the Silver Medal for their response to a 40-foot motor vessel on fire near Matanzas Inlet, St. Augustine, Florida in July 2019. Their heroic actions brought great credit to the United States Coast Guard and United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Honorable mention is provided to boat crews from D5-Northern Region (Auxiliarists Andy Crowley, John Yowell, and Tim Youngern) and D9-Western Region (Auxiliarists Joshua Zajac, Sally Stelnicki, Les Piskopos, and Ruth Aurigemma). Bravo Zulu!

 

Respectfully,

Captain Scott L. Johnson

Chief Director of Auxiliary (CG-BSX)

 

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R 131705Z MAY 21

FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC

TO ALCOAST

BT

UNCLAS

ALCOAST 182/21

SSIC 16100

 

SUBJ: 2019 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS

A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 241019 MAR 20/ALCOAST 102/20

1. Per REF (A), this ALCOAST announces the recipients of the 2019 AFRAS Gold and Silver Medals. The Gold Medal is awarded annually to a Coast Guard enlisted member who exhibited exceptional courage and heroism during a rescue at sea. The Silver Medal is awarded annually to a deserving Coast Guard Auxiliarist for a heroic rescue for lives saved in either inland or coastal waters.

2. Due to COVID, AFRAS delayed the selection and presentation of the 2019 awards for one year. Presentation will be as per paragraph 6 below.

3. GOLD MEDAL.

a. The 2020 Gold Medal is awarded to AST1 Eric Young and AST1 Nathan Newberg, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Georgia. Both are recognized for their superior performance of duty while serving as Rescue Swimmers on Coast Guard helicopters 6531 (CGNR 6531) and CG44 (CGNR 6544) during the 08 September 19 rescue of survivors from the M/V GOLDEN RAY. M/V GOLDEN RAY, a 656-foot cargo vessel containing over 4,200 vehicles, equipment and 24 crewmembers, suffered a shipboard fire and capsized in St. Simons Sound, Georgia.

b. Upon arriving on scene, CGNR 6531 lowered AST1 Young over 100 feet onto the GOLDEN RAY, who found a group of survivors using their chem-lights to show their location. While connected to the hoist cable, AST1 Young then traversed the near-vertical deck and recovered a survivor using a rescue sling. CGNR 6531 again repositioned and lowered AST1 Young 130 feet to recover three additional trapped crewmembers, including one severely injured.

c. As CGNR 6531 departed the stricken ship to transport the survivors to medical services, CGNR 6544 arrived on scene and deployed AST1 Newberg to the starboard bridge wing. AST1 Newberg secured a section of fire hose to the ship railing and rappelled into the bridge, where he located the trapped master and pilot. The Captain initially refused to leave the vessel without knowing the status of the crewmembers trapped below. Displaying exceptional physical stamina, AST1 Newberg was able to lower the pilot to the port bridge wing and then an additional 40 feet to a rescue boat. With CGNR 6544 low on fuel, AST1 Newberg returned to the Captain, communicated to him the status of his engine room crewmembers, extracted him from the bridge, and safely hoisted him onto CGNR 6544. ASTI Newberg then conducted a survivor interview that shaped the next 36 hours of rescue operations focused on recovering the additional GOLDEN RAY crewmembers trapped below.

d. AST1 Young and AST1 Newberg demonstrated outstanding courage, quick thinking, and the ability to adapt to an extremely demanding situation, resulting in the rescue of six lives and locating four additional crewmembers trapped below deck.

4. SILVER MEDAL.

a. The Silver Medal is awarded to Auxiliarists Stephen Wyatt and Gloria Wyatt, who are recognized for their superior performance of duty during the 03 July 2019 rescue of four persons from a burning boat on the Intercoastal Waterway, near Matanzas Inlet, St. Augustine, Florida.

b. While participating in a recreational boating outing on their private vessel, PUMPDOG II, Auxiliarists Stephen and Gloria Wyatt observed the 40-foot motor cruiser DAYDREAMER on fire. Auxiliarist Stephen Wyatt headed for the burning motor cruiser and then radioed a distress call to Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville advising them of the situation and the presence of four persons in the water.

c. Auxiliarist Stephen Wyatt maneuvered the PUMPDOG II, and directed a second vessel operated by another family member, to approach the four victims who were within twenty-five feet of the burning vessel. Braving the intense heat and danger presented by the unstable burning vessel, Auxiliarists Stephen and Gloria Wyatt were able to bring the victims aboard the rescuing vessels. As the victims were pulled from the water, a propane tank on the burning vessel exploded. Both rescuing vessels immediately retreated to a safe distance to tend to the victims.

d. Auxiliarist Stephen Wyatt directed the transfer of victims aboard the second vessel to the PUMPDOG II where his son, a U.S. Air Force medical doctor, evaluated their physical condition. Auxiliarists Stephen and Gloria Wyatt remained on scene assisting the rescued family and helping to ensure there were no significant injuries that required additional treatment. The motor cruiser DAYDREAMER was a total loss, but the family onboard the cruiser escaped serious injury due to the heroic efforts of Auxiliarists Stephen and Gloria Wyatt.

5. In addition to the Gold and Silver Medal recipients, the other AFRAS award nominees demonstrated exceptional courage and have further enhanced the Coast Guard reputation as the Lifesavers and Guardians of the Sea. These outstanding nominees include:

a. Auxiliarists Andy Crowley, John Yowell, and Tim Youngern – USCG Auxiliary District 5 – Northern Region.

b. Auxiliarists Joshua Zajac, Sally Stelnicki, Les Piskopos, and Ruth Aurigemma – USCG Auxiliary District 9 – Western Region.

6. The Gold and Silver Award recipients will be recognized at a ceremony hosted by AFRAS in the House Rayburn Congressional Office Building, Washington, DC in the Fall, 2021.

7. Congratulations to the AFRAS Gold and Silver Medal recipients and all the nominees on a job well done.

8. COMDT (CG-SAR) AFRAS awards POC: Mr. Michael Clarke (202) 372-2090, Michael.E.Clarke@uscg.mil.

9. Ms. Dana S. Tulis, Director, Emergency Management (CG-5RI), sends.

10. Internet released is authorized.

 

 

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If you have a question regarding this ALAUX, please seek resolution within your Chain of Leadership and Management (COLM) including up to your servicing District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX). If your question still cannot be resolved after that, then please email CGAUX@uscg.mil.

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