2003 AFRAS Gold Medal / AMVER Award Ceremony

M/T STOLT CAPABILITY	Laurence Nettles Aviation Survival Technician Third Class, US Coast Guard AFRAS Gold Medal Award Winner	Vice Admiral Roger Rufe, AFRAS Chairman, left, along with Rick Kenney of AMVER, right, presents the AMVER plaque to Christopher Zukowski, general manager Shipowning Americas VP, center, on behalf of M/T STOLT CAPABILITY
VADM Rufe introduces the group to AFRAS Gold Medal Winner Laurence Nettles, center, and his flight mechanic, AMT3 Kevin Lajeunesse, far right	VADM Rufe, AFRAS Chairman, presents petty officer Laurence Nettles with the AFRAS Gold Medal and a check for an outstanding rescue.	Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Left, alongside AFRAS Chairman, VADM Roger Rufe and Laurence Nettles
Petty Officer Laurence Nettles tells his audience that Without his crew, including flight mechanic Lajeunesse, The Rescue would not have been possible.	Rescue Swimmer Laurence Nettles, AFRAS Gold Medal Awardee, left, and Christopher Zukowski, general manager Shipowning Americas VP, representative of M/T STOLT CAPABILITY, AMVER plaque awardee	Admiral Thomas Collins, Commandant, US Coast Guard, Center, congratulates AFRAS award winners M/T STOLT CAPABILITY, represented by Christopher Zukowski, left, And Laurence Nettles, US Coast Guard, right.

AFRAS Award Ceremony 2003

AVIATION SURVIVAL TECHNICIAN THIRD CLASS LAURENCE NETTLES OF CG AIRSTA NEW ORLEANS HAS EARNED THE GOLD MEDAL FOR HEROIC EFFORTS AS THE RESCUE SWIMMER IN THE RESCUE OF FOUR FISHERMEN FROM A RAPIDLY SINKING VESSEL. ON JUNE 30, 2003 A TROPICAL STORM THREATENED THE LOUISIANA COAST AND A HH-65 HELICOPTER RESPONDED TO A MAYDAY CALL FROM A VESSEL IN DISTRESS WITH FOUR PERSONS ABOARD. THE VESSEL WAS DIW WITH ITS REAR DECK AWASH AND WAS ROLLING VIOLENTLY. THE HELO CREW QUICKLY EVALUATED THE SITUATION AND DEEMED HOISTING OPERATIONS TOO DANGEROUS. INSTEAD, PETTY OFFICER NETTLES, THE RESCUE SWIMMER, WAS DEPLOYED INTO TWENTY FOOT SEAS ALONGSIDE THE SINKING VESSEL TO ASSIST THE VESSELS CREW AS THEY ABANDONED THEIR BOAT. AS EACH PERSON ENTERED THE WATER, HE FOUGHT BREAKING WAVES AND WINDBLOWN SPRAY TO GAIN PHYSICAL CONTROL OF EACH PERSON BEFORE PLACING THEM INTO THE HH-65S RESCUE BASKET. WHILE RECOVERING THE THIRD PERSON, A TWENTY-FIVE FOOT BREAKING WAVE SUBMERGED BOTH PETTY OFFICER NETTLES AND THE SURVIVOR FOR FIFTEEN SECONDS, SWEEPING THEM FIFTY FEET DOWN SWELL. EXHIBITING TREMENDOUS STRENGTH AND ENDURANCE, PETTY OFFICER NETTLES MAINTAINED PHYSICAL CONTROL OVER THE SURVIVOR AND MANAGED TO PLACE HIM INTO THE RESCUE BASKET. HE THEN REPEATED THE PROCEDURE TO SUCCESSFULLY RECOVER THE FOURTH AND FINAL CREW MEMBER.