Posted on Jul 27, 2022
Written in Blood: The Catastrophic Shipwreck that Prompted the Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmer...
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The crew of the 65-foot fishing vessel Theodora was disoriented, and the ship was taking on water fast. It was Feb. 11, 1983, and a record-breaking nor’easter was battering the East Coast, shutting down airports and tossing ships around like toys in a tub — except this tub had 50-foot waves and 55-mph winds.
The Coast Guard asked the Marine Electric — a 605-foot World War II-era bulk carrier — to assist the Theodora as the Coast Guard rescue unit attempted to make headway in the worsening storm. The Marine Electric, which at the time was transporting 28,000 pounds of coal north from Virginia to Massachusetts, agreed to the Coast Guard’s request and diverted course, making its way to the Theodora’s last reported position.
The Coast Guard asked the Marine Electric — a 605-foot World War II-era bulk carrier — to assist the Theodora as the Coast Guard rescue unit attempted to make headway in the worsening storm. The Marine Electric, which at the time was transporting 28,000 pounds of coal north from Virginia to Massachusetts, agreed to the Coast Guard’s request and diverted course, making its way to the Theodora’s last reported position.
Written in Blood: The Catastrophic Shipwreck that Prompted the Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmer...
Posted from military.com
Coast Guard
Search & Rescue
Death
Military History
American History
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 4
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Unfortunately, it often takes disaster and catastrophe to make processes and systems safer
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I have a friend who retired a Commander in the US Coast Guard. Guess the value of the Coast Guard will force me to stop ribbing him........................NAH
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Coastie Rescue Swimmers are their own brand of a special force, focuse on at sea rescues and their training is equally brutal though not focused on combat like the Rangers, SEALS, SF etc.
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LTC David Brown
I watched an Echo Race involving military teams. Teams participate in a grueling multi phase race over several days involving challenging terrain. One team was Coast Guard rescue swimmers. The Coasties really analyzed every members strengths and weaknesses and devised strategies to enhance the performance of the weakest member. There was a bike course , the weakest bike rider was the female member. The strongest riders hooked a tether to her bike to assist. For every obstacle they had a strategy to aid the weakest member. Other teams were Army, Air Force and Marines. Guess who won? I have always had a lot of respect Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers.
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PO1 Don Mac Intyre
The USCG Helicopter Rescue Swimmer Program started with Coasties starting their training at Pensacola Florida US Navy RS school. (Actually, for me, it started one year prior to going there, no grandfather clause for "old" ASM's) The Navy School was brutal. But we were trained the Navy way, to get pilots and crew out. The CG mission is getting, for the most part, civilians out of the water. Then came EMT school, and advanced RS school, cliff rescue, etc. At the beginning of the program we weren't treated very well by "the old guard", which in my mind only helped instill the " special forces" moniker we embraced.
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