Three Crewmembers Fatally Injured, One Survives

ANN Update 1730 07.08.10  The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the one survivor and three crew members who lost their lives Wednesday when their MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter went down in the waters off of James Island, near La Push, Wash.

Coast Guard Photo

Lt. Lance D. Leone, 29, of Ventura, CA, survived the crash and is being treated at a Seattle hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He is married.

Deceased are:

Lt. Sean D. Krueger, 33, of Seymour, CT. The Aircraft Commander is married with three children. His awards/accolades include: Air Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, four Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Service Medal, Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, Commandant's Letter of Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War Terror Service Medal, Coast Guard "E" Ribbon, two National Defense Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medal, Coast Guard Overseas Service Medal, Coast Guard Pistol Expert Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Transportation 9-11 Medal, DOT Outstanding Unit Award.

AMT1 Adam C. Hoke, 40, of Great Falls, MT. The Air Crewman is single with one child. His awards/accolades include:  Aircrew Insignia, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, Global War Terror Service Medal, two Commandant's Letter of Commendations, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, two Coast Guard "E" Ribbons, two National Defense Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, five Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, DOT Outstanding Unit Award, Coast Guard Rifle Marksman Ribbon, Coast Guard Rifle Expert Ribbon, Coast Guard Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon.

AMT2 Brett M. Banks, 33, Rock Spring, NY. The Air Crewman is married with two children. His awards/accolades include:  three Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award, three Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations, Commandant's Letter of Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, three Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, Transportation 9-11 Ribbon, Global War Terror Service Medal, Coast Guard Rifle Marksman Ribbon, Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon.

Original Story: A Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk went down Wednesday near James Island in LaPush, Washington, fatally injuring three of the crew. The fourth crewmember survived the accident with non-life-threatening injuries.

MH-60 Helicopters Coast Guard Photo

The helicopter had departed from the Coast Guard Air Station in Astoria, OR and was flying to Sitka, AK, according to the USCG website.  The search began at about 0945 PDT when the crew did not perform a routine check-in. A good Samaritan retrieved two crew members and turned them over to emergency medical services while search and rescue crews were deployed by the Coast Guard. The U.S. Navy, National Park Service, Quileute Nation and Canadian Air Force all participated in the response.

“We are currently still in the recovery phase of operations," said Coast Guard Rear Admiral Gary Blore. "Once completed, the aircraft will be salvaged from the water.”

At this time, the names of the air crew and condition of the injured crewman are being withheld pending next of kin notifications. An investigation will follow the salvaging of the aircraft. The Coast Guard says the investigation can include survivor interviews, witness interviews, and review of information from the flight data recorder.

FMI: www.uscg.mil