R 272028Z JUL 09 

ALCOAST 436/09
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: 2009 INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION (IMO)
AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AT SEA RECIPIENT
1. THIS MESSAGE ANNOUNCES THE RECIPIENT OF THE 2009
IMO AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AT SEA. THE IMO
AWARD PROVIDES INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION TO THOSE
INDIVIDUALS OR GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS THAT PERFORMED
ACTS OF EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AND DISPLAYED OUTSTANDING
COURAGE AT SEA.
2. THE 2009 IMO AWARD FOR EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY HAS
BEEN AWARDED TO AST2 ABRAM HELLER, CG AIRSTA BARBERS
POINT, FOR EXCEPTIONAL BRAVERY AT SEA, WHILE SERVING
AS A RESCUE SWIMMER ABOARD CGNR 6566.
3. ON 23 MARCH 2008, THE ALASKA RANGER, A 192-FOOT
FISHING TRAWLER, EXPERIENCED LOSS OF RUDDER AND
UNCONTROLLED FLOODING WHILE OPERATING IN THE BERING
SEA, 120 NM WEST OF DUTCH HARBOR, AK, WITH 47
CREWMEMBERS ONBOARD. THE FLOODING RESULTED IN THE
TRAWLER SINKING, FORCING THE CREW TO ABANDON SHIP.
THE ON-SCENE WEATHER CONDITIONS INCLUDED 12 FT SEAS,
30 KT WINDS, SNOW SQUALLS AND NEAR FREEZING WATER
TEMPERATURE. THE NEAREST COAST GUARD ASSET TO THE
ALASKA RANGER WAS THE CGC MUNRO WITH EMBARKED CGNR
6566.
4. AS CGNR 6566 AIRCREW PREPARED FOR THE RESCUE
OPERATION, AST2 HELLER PREPARED FOR POSSIBLE ENTRY
INTO THE NEAR FREEZING SEA WATER AND BEING LEFT ON-
SCENE. PETTY OFFICER HELLER WANTED TO ENSURE CGNR
6566 COULD CARRY AS MANY SURVIVORS AS POSSIBLE.
5. DESPITE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS, PETTY OFFICER HELLER
SINGLE-HANDEDLY RESCUED EIGHT OF THE 47 ALASKA RANGER
CREWMEMBERS. HIS OUTSTANDING EFFORTS INCLUDED:
  A. WORKING BENEATH DARK AND ICY WATERS TO
DISENTANGLE A MARINER FROM THE SUNKEN TRAWLER'S
FISHING GEAR.
  B. PULLING THREE HYPOTHERMIC FISHERMEN INTO THE
LIFERAFT AND KEEPING THEM CONSCIOUS WHILE AWAITING
THE HELO'S RETURN.
  C. DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING THE HOIST CABLE,
WHICH BECAME ENGANGLED AROUND THE BASKET DURING THE
HOIST OF THE LAST SURVIVOR.
6. WITH OUTSTANDING COURAGE, DESPITE SUFFERING SEVERE
SEASICKNESS AND HYPOTHERMIA HIMSELF, AST2 HELLER
DEMONSTRATED A TRULY HEROIC EFFORT TO SAVE THE LIVES
OF EIGHT MARINERS. PETTY OFFICER HELLER'S DEDICATION,
PERSISTENCE, AND BRAVERY ARE MOST WORTHY OF THIS
PRESTIGIOUS AWARD, AND IN KEEPING WITH THE HIGHEST
TRADITIONS OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.
7. RADM J. T. RIKER, DIRECTOR FOR RESPONSE POLICY,
SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.