ATLANTIC CITY - Coast Guardsmen from U.S.
Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and Group Atlantic
City are being recognized for their heroism in the Coast
Guard’s response to a chemical tanker explosion off the
coast of Virginia in a ceremony that will be held tomorrow
at 1 p.m. at Air Station Atlantic City at the Atlantic City
International Airport.
Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-2),
Chairman of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Subcommittee, and Coast Guard Fifth District Commander, Adm.
Sally Brice-O’Hara, are both scheduled to take part in the
ceremony.
Among the awardees is Petty Officer Zee Lee,
a rescue swimmer who is being awarded the distinguished
Coast Guard Medal.
* The Coast Guard Medal 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 the coast
of Virginia. Of the 27 men onboard, six were rescued by the
men of women of several Coast Guard rescue assets.
Rescue aircraft and boats also responded
from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and Coast
Guard Stations Chincoteague, Md., Portsmouth, Va., and Cape
May, N.J.
“These brave members of the Coast Guard have
dedicated themselves to service, and represent the best our
nation has to offer," said Chairman LoBiondo. “We honor
them for their courageous action to rescue mariners in need
at great risk to themselves. Our boaters are lucky to know
that when they are on the water, help is just a short call
away.”
Individuals from Coast Guard Air Station
Atlantic City to be recognized:
· Petty Officer Zee Lee of Ocean City, N.J. (awarded the
Coast Guard Medal)
· Petty Officer Ben Bradley of Fresno, Calif. (awarded the
Coast Guard Air Medal)
· Lt. Jeff Graham of Portsmouth, R.I. (awarded the Coast
Guard Air Medal)
· Lt. Russell Torgerson of Niwot, Colo. (awarded the Coast
Guard Air Medal)
· Petty Officer Lee Gorlin of Brick, N.J. (awarded the Coast
Guard Commendation Medal)
· Petty Officer Marcus Bynum of Hartford, Conn. (awarded the
Coast Guard Commendation Medal)
· Lt. j.g. Rodney Rios of Buena, N.J. (awarded the Coast
Guard Commendation Medal)
· Cmdr. Daniel Taylor of Elyria, Ohio (awarded the Coast
Guard Commendation Medal)
· Petty Officer Marc Luistro of Inglewood, Calif. (awarded
the Coast Guard Commendation Medal)
· Petty Officer Bryan Morris of Bronxville, N.Y. (awarded
the Coast Guard Achievement Medal)