[MilCom] CG IDs crashed helo as CG-6505

[Allan.Stern at gmail.com]

UNCLAS //N01000//
SUBJ:  ACCIDENT INVOLVING CG-6505
1. IT IS WITH GREAT REGRET THAT I INFORM YOU OF A TRAGIC LOSS OF
THREE OF OUR SHIPMATES.  LIEUTENANT COMMANDER (LCDR) ANDREW
WISCHMEIER, AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN FIRST CLASS (AST1) DAVID
SKIMIN AND AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN SECOND CLASS (AMT2)
JOSHUA NICHOLS LOST THEIR LIVES WHEN THEIR HH-65 HELICOPTER CRASHED
FIVE NAUTICAL MILES SOUTH OF HONOLULU, HAWAII.  A FOURTH MEMBER OF
THE CREW WAS ALSO IN THE AIRCRAFT BUT IS STILL MISSING.  COAST
GUARD, NAVY, AIR FORCE, HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD AND LOCAL FIRE
AND POLICE ASSETS WILL CONTINUE SEARCHING AND WE WILL MAKE EVERY
EFFORT TO LOCATE OUR SHIPMATE AND WINGMAN.
2. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE THE AIRCREW OF CG-6505 WAS
PERFORMING SMALL BOAT HOIST OPERATIONS WITH A STATION HONOLULU 47
FOOT MOTOR LIFE BOAT DURING THE EARLY EVENING HOURS OF 04
SEPTEMBER.  IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH, A HONOLULU FIRE DEPARTMENT
RESPONSE BOAT RECOVERED LCDR WISCHMEIER, AST1 SKIMIN AND AMT2
NICHOLS WITHOUT ANY VITAL SIGNS. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BOAT CREW
PERFORMED CPR AND THE THREE COAST GUARDSMEN WERE MEDICALLY
EVACUATED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL BUT THEY DID NOT SURVIVE.
3. OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY NOW IS THE FAMILIES, FRIENDS AND SHIPMATES
OF THE FALLEN AIRCREW.  EACH ONE WAS MARRIED WITH CHILDREN.  OUR
HEARTS GO OUT TO THEIR LOVED ONES DURING THIS DIFFICULT TIME.  ALL
OF THE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.  THE ENTIRE COAST GUARD WILL
PROVIDE WHATEVER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE NECESSARY FOR THE FAMILIES
AND CREW OF AIR STATION BARBERS POINT.  WE WILL CONDUCT AN
INVESTIGATION INTO THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE ACCIDENT TO
DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND HELP PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS.
4. THIS TERRIBLE ACCIDENT IS A REMINDER THAT WE OPERATE IN AN
EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENT.  COAST GUARD MEN AND WOMEN GO INTO HARM'S
WAY TO TRAIN AND CONDUCT OPERATIONS EACH DAY.  IN DIFFICULT
TIMES, WE MUST RE-DEDICATE OURSELVES TO PERFORMING OPERATIONS
SAFELY AND EFFECTIVELY.  THE AIRCREW OF CG-6505 EPITOMIZED THE
GUARDIAN ETHOS AND THE NATION IS GRATEFUL FOR THEIR SERVICE.
5. PLEASE JOIN SECRETARY CHERTOFF, ME AND ALL WHO SERVE IN TAKING A
MOMENT TO REFLECT ON THE LOSS OF THESE GUARDIANS.  PLEASE KEEP
THEIR FAMILIES AND FELLOW CREW MEMBERS IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND
PRAYERS.  FIND TIME TO ALSO RECOGNIZE THE VALUE OF YOUR OWN LOVED
ONES, FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES.  DETAILS OF THE MEMORIAL SERVICES AND
HOW YOU CAN EXPRESS YOUR CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES WILL BE
PROVIDED WHEN AVAILABLE.  I WILL ALSO NOTIFY YOU OF THE SEARCH
RESULTS FOR THE MISSING MEMBER OF THE AIRCREW.  THANK YOU FOR YOUR
DEDICATION TO THE COAST GUARD AND TO EACH OTHER.
6. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN,COMMANDANT, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
BT
NNNN


AL STERN Satellite Beach FL
AllanStern at aol.com
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