Photo By Cpl. Unique B. Roberts | Lance Cpl. Anthony J. DiCola, a crew chief with Marine Transport Squadron 1, hoists...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS AIR STATION CHERRY POINT, N.C. - Saying members of Marine Transport Squadron 1 are willing to lend a hand would be a gross understatement.
During the month of July alone, the squadron completed six rescues of military and civilian personnel in the area.
The squadron’s primary mission is to provide search and rescue support to Cherry Point-based aircraft. VMR-1 also provides short and medium-range rapid response, high-speed multipurpose light transport of key personnel and critical logistics to support the Department of Defense.
Some highlights of the squadron’s eventful month follow:
On July 4, the squadron helped save the life of a 7-day-old baby in Jacksonville, N.C.
The squadron received a call from Naval Hospital Camp Lejeune at about 3 p.m.
“We took the call, and it was a 7-day-old baby, the dependent of a gunnery sergeant in Camp Lejeune at the naval hospital who needed to be transported to Vidant Medical Center as soon as possible,” said Cpl. Paul Petrella, who served as the crew chief during the rescue.
At Camp Lejeune, Petty Officer 1st Class Michael Harris, a hospital corpsman with VMR-1, and Lance Cpl. Stephen Benjamin D. Bargar, a search and rescue swimmer, boarded an ambulance and rushed to the hospital where medical staff was still caring for the patient. The care given at Lejeune ensured a successful transfer from the hospital to the helicopter.
The crew faced adverse weather conditions during the flight, but adapted to ensure both safety and success.
“Through skillful navigation of the pilots, we were able to divert and maintain a safe direction of flight,” said Petrella.
On approach, Petrella notified the hospital of their pending arrival.
“We have a 7-day-old baby, incubated, in transit to the rooftop helipad,” he said. “Requesting personnel to meet us on deck.”
When the crew landed and was preparing to turn the infant’s care over to medical specialists, they heard a welcome sound.
“When they got the baby off of the helicopter, he started to cry, and there was a big sigh of relief,” said Petrella. “They got the baby inside the hospital where the infant received the care that he needed.”
After overcoming that challenge, the squadron proved itself again on July 14.
The transport squadron rescued a woman who suffered cardiac arrest aboard the Norwegian Gem, a cruise ship floating in the inlet just north of Morehead city about one mile west of the mouth of Oyster Creek.
Within 10 minutes, the crew was cleared to accept the mission and was on its way to the cruise ship.
The helicopter circled while the ship’s crew cleared the portside of the boat. Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Rivera, a hospital corpsman with the squadron, was the first lowered to the deck. He was soon joined by Cpl. Kyle A. Allessandro, a rescue swimmer with VMR-1, who helped secure the patient to a litter and raise her to the waiting helicopter.
The crew then retrieved the patient’s husband from the deck of the cruise ship and quickly flew both to Carolina East Medical Center, where the patient received treatment.
Days later, VMR-1 rescued a 20-year-old woman in labor at sea just north of Morehead City.
“We received a grid location and started up the helicopter and headed out,” said Capt. Gregory D. Weber, the flight line officer in charge for VMR-1.
The site was less than 10 minutes away.
“We spotted them pretty quickly because they moved her over to a fire and rescue boat which had flashing lights and they motioned to us indicating which boat she was on,” said Weber.
Staff Sgt. Guy Landis, a rescue swimmer with VMR-1, was lowered into the water near the boat; from there he boarded the vessel.
Landis, along with the rescue boat’s emergency medical technicians, loaded the patient onto the litter, connected it to the helicopter’s hoist system and watched as she rose to safety. The crew also brought an EMT aboard the helicopter who administered medicine to the patient just moments before to ensure continuity of care for the patient.
VMR-1’s speed and efficiency ensured the patient was receiving care at Carteret General Hospital within minutes.
Teamwork throughout the entire squadron is the cornerstone of VMR-1 Marines’ and Sailors’ continued success, said Petrella.
“A lot of people contribute to make the rescues go smoothly,” said Petrella. “It’s not just a five-man crew.”
That crew does have to be on point at all times though.
“The crew acts as one entity,” he said. “They are all talking to one another, everyone provides their input and they are all on the same page. It gives us a good feeling to know that people need our help and we are able to help them.”
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 08.01.2013 10:45 |
| Story ID: | 111183 |
| Location: | CHERRY POINT, NC, US |
| Web Views: | 123 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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