Honors Pilots And Crew Who Assisted During Hurricane Harvey
The Coast Guard has presented the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal to members involved in rescues during hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Rear Adm. John Nadeau, commander, Eighth Coast Guard District, presented the medals as follows to:
- Cmdr. Scott Sanborn – Distinguished Flying Cross
- Lt. John Briggs – Distinguished Flying Cross
- Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Gantt – Distinguished Flying Cross
- Petty Officer 1st Class James Yockey – Air Medal
According to USCG, Commander Sanborn launched single-pilot into IMC conditions with winds up to 50 knots. He rescued three aircrew who were surrounded by floodwaters as well as another rescue swimmer. In the following days, Commander Sanborn flew 14 hours in ceilings a low as 100 feet and one quarter mile of visibility, navigating between towers and over high-voltage power lines to rescue citizens in distress. In all, he was instrumental in the rescue of 24 people during the hurricane.
Lt. Briggs led the Coast Guard's first rescue in Huston, responding to critically ill pregnant woman trapped by rising waters in her attic. Timing the 150-foot hoists between bands of life-threatening weather, the crew placed the swimmer between high-voltage power lines and 100-foot trees to reach the roof. The crew encountered multiple aircraft emergencies during the rescue, including the loss of critical avionics, communications failures, loss of aircraft stabilization systems, and winds in excess of 80 knots. The crew returned to the site in a different aircraft to complete the rescue. The crew successfully rescued an infant who had been swept from the home into the rising water using a physical grip from 20 feet. The crew executed the historic on-load of 14 individuals and 4 crew at once. In all, Lt. Briggs was instrumental in the rescue of 120 people during the storm.
Petty Officer Gantt was the first rescue swimmer to be deployed during the storm. He was involved in the rescue of the pregnant woman trapped in her attic, as well as the rescue of the infant who had been swept into the water. He tore through the roof without the use of a chainsaw to effect the rescue of seven people before flood waters overtook the home. Overall, Petty Officer Gannt was instrumental in the rescue of 57 people.
Petty Officer Yockey sas a Flight Mechanic aboard MH-65 helicopters during the storm. He helped guide his aircraft within a few feet of buildings, power lines and trees while conducting multiple rescues. His skills were instrumental in the rescue of 27 people during hurricane Harvey.
The Distinguished Flying Cross is America’s oldest military aviation award. It is awarded for heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight, in a manner that is distinctive and not routine. The Air Medal is awarded for heroism or exceptional meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight to a lesser degree than that of the Distinguished Flying Cross.
(Image provided the U.S. Coast Guard)
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