Coast Guard Crew Recognized for Heroism

Coast Guardsmen from Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., are scheduled to be recognized in a ceremony Feb. 22 at 11 a.m. at the air station. The recognition is for the crewmembers' heroism during the Coast Guard’s response to a chemical tanker explosion off the coast of Virginia nearly a year ago.

North Carolina Senator Richard Burr and Coast Guard Fifth District Commander, Rear Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara, are both scheduled to take part in the ceremony.

Among the awardees is Petty Officer William (Dave) Foreman, a rescue swimmer who is being awarded the distinguished Coast Guard Medal.

The Coast Guard Medal is one of the highest awards in the service. According to the Coast Guard's Medals and Award Manuel, it is "awarded to any person serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard who shall distinguish himself by heroism not involving actual conflict with the enemy. The individual must have performed a voluntary act of courage surpassing normal expectation and in the face of great danger. For an act of lifesaving, the individual must have displayed heroism at the risk of his life."

On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004, the 570-foot chemical tanker Bow Mariner with 27 crewmembers onboard exploded and sank more than 50 miles off Chincoteague, Va. Only six men survived after being rescued by air crewmembers from Air Station Elizabeth City.

Rescue aircraft and boats also responded from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, N.J., Coast Guard cutters Shearwater and Albacore from Hampton Roads, Va., and Coast Guard Station Chincoteague.

Individuals from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City to be recognized:

· Petty Officer William (Dave) Foreman of Cary, N.C. (awarded the Coast Guard Medal)

· Lt. Cmdr. Eric Bader of Medina, Ohio (awarded the Coast Guard Air Medal)

· Petty Officer Samuel Pulliam of Nashville, Tenn. (awarded the Coast Guard Air Medal)

· Petty Officer James Geramita of Canton, Ohio (awarded the Coast Guard Air Medal)

· Petty Officer Joel Sayers of Dublin, Va. (awarded the Coast Guard Air Medal)

· Lt. Steve Cerveny of Lincoln, Neb. (awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal)

· Petty Officer James Jackson of Fairwell, Mich. (awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal)

· Petty Officer James Swartwood of Gaithersburg, Md. (awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal)

· Petty Officer Leonard Hoppe of Goose Creek, S.C. (awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal)

· Lt. Cmdr. Steve Jutras of Wakefield, R.I. (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)

· Petty Officer Shawn Callis of San Bernardino, Calif. (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)

· Petty Officer Beau Stough of Fayetteville, N.C. (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)

· Petty Officer Joshua Stoddard of Weaksville, N.C. (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)

· Petty Officer Brady Post, from Pensacola, Fla. (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)

· Chief William Bradley of Sacramento, Calif. (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)

· Petty Officer Arthur Thompson (awarded the Coast Guard Letter of Commendation)