R 251635Z SEP 12

ALCOAST 426/12
COMDTNOTE 16100
SUBJ: 2011 ASSOCIATION FOR RESCUE AT SEA (AFRAS) AWARD RECIPIENTS
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 291424Z MAY 12/ALCOAST 265/12
1. PER REF(A), THIS ALCOAST ANNOUNCES THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2011
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 2011 AFRAS GOLD MEDAL IS AWARDED TO CWO RANDALL J.
RICE, WHILE SERVING AT AIR STATION CAPE COD, MASSACHUSETTS, AS A
CHIEF AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN. CWO RICE IS RECOGNIZED FOR HIS
HEROIC EFFORT ON 10 MAY 2011, AS THE RESCUE SWIMMER ON BOARD COAST
GUARD HELICOPTER CG-6004. CG-6004 WAS LAUNCHED IN RESPONSE TO A
DISTRESS CALL FROM THE 45-FOOT SAILING VESSEL EVA, LOCATED 150 MILES
SOUTHEAST OF CAPE COD. POUNDING SEAS AND GALE FORCE WINDS RIPPED THE
MAST OFF EVA AND SHATTERED THE WINDOWS, ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE
TWO CREWMEMBERS. UPON ARRIVING ON SCENE, CG-6004 WAS INITIALLY UNABLE
TO LOCATE EVA DUE TO THE TUMULTUOUS SEAS AND LOW CEILING. CWO RICE
SPOTTED EVA AND VECTORED CG-6004 TO ITS LOCATION. DUE TO THE
HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS ON SCENE, CWO RICE DEPLOYED AND MANEUVERED HIS
WAY THROUGH THE HEAVY SEAS TO THE STRICKEN SAILING VESSEL, BRAVING
TOWERING 30-FOOT SWELLS AND DEBRIS. HE QUICKLY CLEARED THE VESSEL OF
DEBRIS AND OTHER HAZARDS WHILE PREPARING FOR TWO BASKET HOISTS OF THE
INJURED CREW. CWO RICE METICULOUSLY EXECUTED EACH LIFESAVING HOIST
FROM THE DECK OF THE EVA AS THE POUNDING WAVES AND RAGING WINDS
BATTERED THE VESSEL. HIS SWIFT ACTIONS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN THE
SAVING OF TWO LIVES.
3. SILVER MEDAL. THE AFRAS SILVER MEDAL IS AWARDED TO DISTRICT FIVE
AUXILIARISTS RONALD JOHNSON, DENNIS SZEBA, JIM MAUK, BILL GERDSEN AND
FRED JELINEK, FOR OUTSTANDING SKILL DEMONSTRATED ON 30 JUNE 2011,
WHILE SERVING ABOARD COAST GUARD AUXILIARY VESSEL 25371.  WHILE
UNDERWAY CONDUCTING TRAINING, THE AUXILLIARY CREW NOTED A SMALL BOAT
WITH TWO PEOPLE ON BOARD CIRCLING. THE WOMAN ON BOARD WAS ATTEMPTING
TO SUMMON THEM FOR ASSISTANCE. THE BOAT OPERATOR WAS SLUMPED OVER THE
HELM IN OBVIOUS MEDICAL DISTRESS. AUXILIARIST JOHNSON, SERVING AS
COXSWAIN, EXPERTLY MANEUVERED THE VESSEL ALONGSIDE THE BOAT TO GET IT
UNDER CONTROL AND FURTHER ASSESS THE SITUATION. ONCE ALONGSIDE,
AUXILIARISTS JELINEK AND GERDSEN BOARDED THE BOAT AND IMMEDIATELY
DETERMINED THE OPERATOR WAS IN CARDIAC ARREST. THEY QUICKLY BEGAN CPR
WHILE AUXILIARISTS JOHNSON, MAUK AND SZEBA RIGGED THE SMALL BOAT FOR
ALONGSIDE TOW AND COORDINATED ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE WITH COAST GUARD
STATION EMERALD ISLE AND LOCAL EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES. THE
AUXILIARY TEAM CONTINUED CPR AS THEY TOWED THE SMALL BOAT TOWARDS
SHORE WHILE THE STATION DISPATCHED A RESCUE BOAT TO ASSIST. ONCE AT
THE STATION PIER, THE RESCUE TEAM SUCCESSFULLY EMPLOYED AN AUTOMATIC
EMERGENCY DEFIBRILLATOR RESUSCITATING THE STRICKEN BOATER. THE
PRESENCE OF MIND OF THE 25371 CREW IN RESPONSE TO A DANGERIOUS
SITUATION INVOLVING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY ABOARD A VESSEL THAT WAS OUT
OF CONTROL PREVENTED LOSS OF LIFE.
4. OTHER AFRAS NOMINEES. THE OTHER AFRAS NOMINEES, ALL OF WHOM
DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL COURAGE IN THE CONDUCT OF LIFESAVING
OPERATIONS, HAVE FURTHER ENHANCED THE COAST GUARD REPUTATION AS
LIFESAVERS AND GUARDIANS OF THE SEA. THESE OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUALS
INCLUDE:
    A. AST2 RYAN A. WRIGHT (RET) - COAST GUARD AIR STATION KODIAK,
ALASKA.
    B. AST2 CHAD A. SOMOLAR - COAST GUARD AIR STATION, CLEARWATER,
FLORIDA.
    C. AUXILIARISTS DOUGLAS E. KERR AND DEBRA L. KERR - SECTOR SAN
FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
5. THE AFRAS AWARD RECIPIENTS WILL BE RECOGNIZED AT A RECEPTION ON
CAPITOL HILL, AT THE RAYBURN BUILDING, WASHINGTON, DC, 04 OCTOBER
2012 (TONOS WILL BE PROVIDED BY THE OFFICE OF SEARCH AND RESCUE).
6. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL AFRAS AWARD RECIPIENTS AND NOMINEES FOR
YOUR SELFLESS SERVICE AND A JOB WELL DONE.
7. MS. MARY E. LANDRY, DIRECTOR OF INCIDENT MANAGEMENT AND RESPONSE
POLICY, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.