Elizabeth City Coast Guard members receive awards for tall ship Bounty rescue

Photo By Chief Warrant Officer Brandyn Hill | Rear Adm. Steven Ratti, the Coast Guard's 5th District commander, presents a Distinguished Flying Cross medal to Petty Officer 2nd Class Randy Haba, an aviation survival technician at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., at the air station Wednesday, June 26, 2013. Haba is a Stratton, Colo., native and received the award for his efforts in rescuing crew members of the HMS Bounty, which sank during Hurricane Sandy off the coast of North Carolina. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill)  

ELIZABETH CITY, NC, UNITED STATES

06.26.2013

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Brandyn Hill 

U.S. Coast Guard District 5   

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard honored 26 crew members Wednesday at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., for their efforts during the tall ship Bounty rescue.

Rear Adm. Steven Ratti presented the Distinguished Flying Cross to Petty Officer 2nd Class Randy Haba and Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Todd, both rescue swimmers at the air station who rescued 14 of the 16 Bounty crew members.

The Distinguished Flying Cross is awarded to members who distinguish themselves by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight. The act must have been in the face of great danger and well above normal expectations.

The remainder of the HC-130 Hercules and MH-60 Jayhawk personnel received awards ranging from commendation medals to air medals.

• Date Taken: 06.26.2013
• Date Posted: 06.26.2013 15:13
• Story ID: 109300
• Location: ELIZABETH CITY, NC, US
• Hometown: STRATTON, CO, US
• Hometown: TUCSON, AZ, US