September 17, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release #158-09

Porter Renders Aide to Egyptian Mariner

By Ens. Aubrey Wies, USS Porter Public Affairs

USS PORTER, At Sea. – In response to distress calls sent out by a Russian tug on September 14, the medical team aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Porter (DDG 78) responded quickly and capably in order to aid a fellow mariner.

Porter’s bridge team picked up the call on the bridge-to-bridge radio coming from a Russian state-owned tug towing a small Egyptian barge. The ship requested medical assistance for a passenger that was in extreme pain due to a potentially bleeding ulcer. Following an assessment made by Porter’s Independent Duty Corpsman (IDC), Hospital Corpsman Chief Petty Officer Craig McLain, the decision was made by the Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Mike Feyedelem, to visit the tug and provide medical assistance. Further complicating the decision to assist was the fact Porter was already racing to reach the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) to medevac one of Porter’s Boarding Officers who injured his leg in a boarding event the previous day. If too much time was spent on the tug, Porter might not reach the carrier before sundown.

A small security team was formed using members from the ship’s Visit, Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) team and hospital corpsmen. Heading over to the Russian tug in one of the ship’s small boats, the team had to be brought through barbed wire and other defenses the tug had in place to prevent pirates from boarding their vessel. Having made the trip over with the VBSS team and the IDC, Hospital Corpsman Third Class Alicia Turner described her reactions, “This was my first boarding. My first distress call. It gives me a great sense of pride to be able to help out. It helped me to understand why all of our training was so critical.”

Following a physical assessment of the patient, the medical team administered an IV to replenish the fluids the merchant sailor had lost, while also providing medication to ease the pain and to dull the acidity of the ulcer. After about fifteen minutes, the man reported that he was no longer in pain.

With the man at ease, the medical team trained the crew of the tug how to administer IVs and left extra supplies to sustain the patient until the tug could coordinate a medevac. The actions of Porter’s security team and medical staff eased the pain of a distressed sailor and gave the knowledge and tools for his shipmates to ensure he would reach medical care in a healthier and more stable state.

As the Officer of the Deck during the time of the distress call, Lt. j.g. Thomas Brown said, “There’s a tradition among mariners that regardless of flag or nationality, they help out one another when they are in need of aid. This was a great opportunity to show how the United States Navy upholds that tradition.”