Coast Guard Rescues Two Men from Dangerous Surf

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. – The U.S. Coast Guard conducted a helicopter rescue of two men approximately one mile north of the Shelter Cove Airport. The men were on Black Sands Beach when they were swept out into the harrowing 20-25 foot surf. A friend accompanying the men immediately called 911.

The two men were quickly pulled out to sea by a trecherous rip current, where they were forced to remove their clothes to help remain afloat in the frigid 50 degree water. Neither man was wearing a flotation device.

Coast Guard Group Humboldt Bay was notified of the incident by the Humboldt County Sherriff’s Office at 2 PM, and immediately launched an HH65-C helicopter. The helicopter was piloted by LTJG Russ Merrick and LT David Johnson.

After a brief search the two men were promptly located approximately 1/2 mile off the beach. Petty Officer Eric Sydnes lowered the helicopter’s rescue swimmer, Petty Officer James Force, into the towering swells while LTJG Merrick faught to keep the aircraft in position over the men.

Both men were hoisted into the aircraft, transported to an awaiting ambulance at Shelter Cove Airport where they were turned over to local paramedics for further care.

Humboldt Bay to Hold Change of Command Ceremony

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. — The U.S. Coast Guard Group/Air Station Humboldt Bay will hold a change of command ceremony Friday, June 13, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. in the hangar.

Captain Christopher A. Martino will be relieving Captain Mark E. Butt as the Group Commander. Martino comes to Group Humboldt Bay after serving a two-year tour as the Executive Officer of Aviation Training Center Mobile.

Upon his relief, Butt will be reporting as Project Officer, Asset Project Office, Engineering Logistics Center, and Logistics Transformation Program Integration Office, located in Baltimore, Maryland. As Project Officer, Butt will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Coast Guard’s new asset tracking system which covers all Coast Guard vessels and aircraft.

The change of command ceremony is a formal ceremony conducted before the assembled personnel of the command, and it confirms to the men and women of the unit that total responsibility, authority and accountability is transferred from one individual to another.