Coast Guard Cited Rescue Swimmer for Heroism

The following is the official United States Coast Guard cititation for one of the crew members of the Coast Guard boat from St. Inigoes, who certainly deserved the medal.  It was the boat commander who made the silly decision to leave the people in the water until he could get there to rescue them instead of letting helicopters pluck them from the water.

ROSE, Christopher S.

Date of Action:  05 December 1993
Date of Award:  01 April 1994

Seaman Apprentice ROSE is cited for heroism on 5 December 1993 while assigned as crewmember aboard utility boat CG-41311, U.S. Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes, Maryland.  The crew responded to a distress call from the fishing vessel EL TORO II, a charter vessel with 23 persons on board, that was sinking approximately four nautical miles off Point Lookout, Maryland.   Braving frigid temperatures, seven-to-nine foot seas, gale force winds, and limited visibility, Seaman Apprentice ROSE, without hesitation or regard for his own well-being and wearing only an exposure suit, entered the water from the utility boat and assisted in the rescue of nine people from the freezing waters.  Upon noticing a person in a different raft whose face was being covered with water, Seaman Apprentice ROSE jumped from his raft to assist the victim by holding his head out of the water until he could be safely brought aboard the utility boat.  He then returned to the raft where the last survivor was clinging with fear, and began to pry his fingers loose from the lines.   Once all victims were safely on board the utility boat, Seaman Apprentice ROSE helped in the hoisting and evacuation of three critically hypothermic survivors.   During the return transit to Point Lookout, he turned his attention to the morale of his crew mates, using his enthusiasm to lift their spirits.  Seaman Apprentice ROSE demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude, and daring in spite of imminent personal danger in this rescue.  His courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

(Related Coast Guard Medal citations: Beach, Eugene W., Machovec, Kirk A., and Montgomery, Tyrone M.  In addition, AE3 Thomas H. Parker, USCG, received the Air Medal and BM2 Michael D. Warner, USCG, received the Meritorious Service Medal with “O” device for their roles in this rescue)