Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

mahatmakanejeeves

(60,971 posts)
Tue Jan 7, 2020, 11:30 AM Jan 2020

Rescue swimmer awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for swimming through hell to rescue 59 others

David Fahrenthold Retweeted

A Coast Guard rescue swimmer received the Distinguished Flying Cross for absolute heroics during Hurricane Harvey -- including night swimming and ripping through a roof without a saw -- and save *59* people. Bravo.



News

Rescue swimmer awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for swimming through hell to rescue 59 others

Shawn Snow
December 26, 2019

He swam at night through 80 knot winds, ripped through a roof without the aid of a chainsaw and was repeatedly hoisted more than 100 feet into the air while battling turbulence and dangerous power lines around him as he aided in the rescue of 59 others in Houston, Texas, as Hurricane Harvey battered the area in August 2017.

For his heroic feats during Harvey, Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Gantt, a Coast Guard aviation survival technician, or rescue swimmer, was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross — the U.S. military’s oldest aviation award for heroism in flight — during a ceremony in December at the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama.

His exploits in the rescue of 59 were detailed in award citation the Coast Guard posted in a news release. Two others, Coast Guard Cmdr. Scott Sanborn and Lt. John Briggs, also were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their heroism in response to Hurricane Harvey, a news release detailed.

Operating aboard a MH-65D Coast Guard helicopter, Gantt was deployed to Houston for rescue operations following flooding as a result of Hurricane Harvey.

Gantt was launched “into an unfamiliar operating area at night with winds gusting over 80 knots, visibility below 50 feet and torrential rain to respond to a critically-ill pregnant woman trapped by rising waters in her attic,” the award citation reads.

While dealing with “severe turbulence," Gantt was hoisted multiple times “through a small opening between active power lines to search for and triage the ill woman,” the citation detailed.
....
3 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Rescue swimmer awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for swimming through hell to rescue 59 others (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Jan 2020 OP
US Coast Guard: Sempre Paratus sarge43 Jan 2020 #1
Bravo! gademocrat7 Jan 2020 #2
Semper Paratus IronLionZion Jan 2020 #3

sarge43

(29,155 posts)
1. US Coast Guard: Sempre Paratus
Tue Jan 7, 2020, 11:37 AM
Jan 2020

Their unofficial motto: You have to go out; you don't have to come back.

Dedication and courage.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»National Security & Defense»Rescue swimmer awarded Di...