2009 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS

R 261352Z AUG 10

ALCOAST 432/10
COMDTNOTE 16100
SUBJ: 2009 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 021913Z APRIL 10/ALCOAST 169/10
1. PER REF (A), THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2009
AFRAS GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS. THE GOLD MEDAL IS AWARDED ANNUALLY TO A
COAST GUARD ENLISTED MEMBER WHO HAS UNIQUELY DEMONSTRATED SELFLESS
COURAGE AND HEROISM DURING A RESCUE AT SEA. THE SILVER MEDAL IS
AWARDED ANNUALLY TO A COAST GUARD AUXILIARIST FOR EXTRAORDINARY
BRAVERY DURING A RESCUE AT SEA.
2. GOLD MEDAL. THE 2009 GOLD MEDAL IS AWARDED TO AST1 SALVADOR
CARIRE, COAST GUARD AIR STATION ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY. AST1
CARIRE IS RECOGNIZED FOR CONSPICUOUS COURAGE AND HEROIC LIFE-SAVING
ACTION AT SEA WHILE RESCUING THE LONE SURVIVOR OF THE FISHING VESSEL
ALISHA MARIE. ON 23-24 DECEMBER 2009, JUST PRIOR TO MIDNIGHT, THE
COAST GUARD RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACON
(EPIRB) ALERT FROM THE 38-FT FISHING VESSEL LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 36
NM SOUTHEAST OF BARNEGAT LIGHT, NEW JERSEY. AFTER AN EXTENDED SEARCH
IN LOW VISIBILITY, DRIVING RAIN, AND NEAR THE FUEL ENDURANCE OF THE
HELICOPTER, PETTY OFFICER CARIRE SPOTTED THE FAINT, SUBMERGED STROBE
LIGHT ON AN OVERTURNED RAFT APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES AWAY. AFTER
DEPLOYING INTO 12-FT SEAS, PETTY OFFICER CARIRE SWAM OVER 50 YARDS TO
THE INVERTED RAFT AND REALIZED SOMEONE WAS UNDERNEATH. PETTY OFFICER
CARIRE RIGHTED THE OVERTURNED RAFT AND FOUND A SEVERELY HYPOTHERMIC
SURVIVOR UNDERNEATH. BATTLING FATIGUE, PETTY OFFICER CARIRE READIED
THE INCAPACITATED VICTIM FOR A HOIST INTO THE FUEL CRITICAL
HELICOPTER. AFTER REJOINING THE CREW IN THE AIRCRAFT, PETTY OFFICER
CARIRE BEGAN TREATMENT FOR SHOCK AND HYPOTHERMIA. PETTY OFFICER
CARIRE DOMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING COURAGE. HIS PERFORMANCE
DISTINGUISHED HIMSELF AS A COURAGEOUS AND HEROIC PROFESSIONAL, AND
BROUGHT GREAT CREDIT UPON HIMSELF AND THE COAST GUARD.
3. SILVER MEDAL: THE SILVER MEDAL IS AWARDED TO DISTRICT ONE
AUXILIARISTS PAUL SADECK, LEO LAKE, ROBERT M. JOSEPH AND RODNEY
THOMAS, FOR THE PERILOUS RESCUE OF THREE PERSONS ON 26 AUGUST 2009,
WHILE SERVING AS COXSWAIN AND CREW OF THE AUXILIARY VESSEL AMYJULIE.
THE AMYJULIE WAS ON ROUTINE PATROL IN BUZZARDS BAY, MASSACHUSETTS,
WHEN THE CREW CAME UPON A SWAMPED FISHING VESSEL WITH TWO PEOPLE
ONBOARD AND ONE OF THE VICTIMS UNACCOUNTED FOR. DESPITE OPERATING IN
5-FT SEAS AND 25 KNOT WINDS AND, THE CREW QUICKLY ASSESSED THE RISKS
AND DEVISED A PLAN TO RESCUE THE TWO PERSONS AND SEARCH FOR THE STILL
MISSING VICTIM. AFTER SEVERAL FAILED ATTEMPTS TO COME ALONG SIDE THE
SWAMPED VESSEL IN THE ROLLING SEAS, THE AMYJULIE CREW THREW LIFE
RINGS TO THE TWO MEN AND SWIFTLY PULLED THEM TO THE BOAT. AFTER
LISTENING TO THE RESCUED PERSONS ACCOUNTS OF THE INCIDENT, THE CREW
IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE POTENTIAL LOCATION OF THE THIRD PERSON AND
HEADED SOUTHWEST TOWARDS BENTS LEDGE BUOY. DISPLAYING EXCEPTIONAL
SKILL AND DETERMINATION IN THE FACE OF CHALLENGING WEATHER AND SEA
CONDITIONS, THE CREW OF THE AMYJULIE SIGHTED THE THIRD PERSON THROUGH
VICIOUS SEA SPRAY AND HOWLING WINDS, AND BROUGHT HIM SAFELY ONBOARD.
THE CREW QUICKLY RETURNED TO PORT, WHERE FAIRHAVEN EMERGENCY RESPONSE
OFFICIALS WERE WAITING TO RENDER MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. THE COXSWAIN AND
CREW OF THE AUXILIARY VESSEL AMYJULIE DEMONSTRATED OUTSTANDING
COURAGE, PROFESSIONALISM AND DEDICATION AS THEY SAVED THE LIVES OF
THREE PERSONS IN PERILOUS SEAS, BRINGING GREAT CREDIT ON THEMSELVES,
THE AUXILIARY AND THE COAST GUARD.
4. THE OTHER AFRAS AWARD NOMINEES, ALL OF WHOM DEMONSTRATED
EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE, HAVE FURTHER ENHANCED THE COAST GUARD REPUTATION
AS THE LIFE SAVERS AND GUARDIANS OF THE SEA. THESE OUTSTANDING
INDIVIDUALS INCLUDE:
   A. AST3 ROBERT D. EMLEY - COAST GUARD GROUP ASTORIA, OREGON.
   B. BM2 BENJAMIN M. FOSTER - COAST GUARD CUTTER DORADO, CRESCENT
CITY, CALIFORNIA.
5. AWARD RECIPIENTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT A RECEPTION ON CAPITOL
HILL, AT THE RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING, WASHINGTON DC, 30
SEPTEMBER 2010 (TONOS WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF SEARCH AND
RESCUE).
6. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AFRAS AWARD RECIPIENTS AND NOMINEES ON A
JOB WELL DONE.
7. RELEASED BY RDML C. B. THOMAS, DIRECTOR OF RESPONSE POLICY.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.