[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 31 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E453-E454]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE USCG AIR STATION, SAVANNAH, GA FOR A JOB WELL 
                                  DONE

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. JACK KINGSTON

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 12, 1997

  Mr. KINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, when no one else was able to help, U.S. 
Coast Guard helicopter 6573, based at the USCG Air Station in Savannah, 
GA, swung into action to carry a 3-year-old burn victim from 
Statesboro, GA to much-needed treatment in Savannah, GA. The air 
station staff's heroic actions are detailed in the following letter 
from Bulloch Co. EMS/Rescue Director Lee Eckles:

                                    Bulloch County EMS/Rescue,

                               Statesboro, GA, September 27, 1996.
     Adm. Robert E. Kramek,
     Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Admiral Kramek: I realize how busy you must be, but 
     when it comes to expressing ones thanks for saving the life 
     of a child, I felt like you just might have a few minutes to 
     read this letter.
       On September 25, 1996, our department was dispatched to 
     respond to a ``burn patient'' some ten (10) miles away from 
     our station. With no other information available, we 
     responded. Arriving at the scene, our staff found a three 
     year old female with second and third degree burns covering 
     over seventy percent of her body. Within twenty-five minutes 
     of our dispatch time, the child was receiving primary care 
     treatment at our local hospital.
       It was clear from first observations that this three year 
     old would need the specialized care of the ``Burn Center'' 
     ninety miles to our west, in order to have any chance of 
     survival. Due to the extent and severity of the burns, and 
     the fact that she had suffered extensive airway burns, 
     transport time to the burn center would have a significant 
     impact on her survival. Air transport was the only option. 
     The regional Trauma Center in Savannah, fifty miles to our 
     east has the only civilian medivac helicopter available in 
     all of South Georgia. Upon making the request, I was notified 
     that their helicopter was out of service for maintenance. 
     They did however, quickly refer us to the military M.A.S.T. 
     helicopter unit at Fort Stewart. As I dialed the phone, I 
     remembered from my military tour of duty with the Coast 
     Guard, (1978-1981), the bureaucratic process that

[[Page E454]]

     would have to be overcome in order for a military aircraft to 
     be approved for use on a civilian medivac mission. The desk 
     sergeant quickly transferred my call to the duty officer. My 
     first comment to the Major was to apologize for my sense of 
     urgency, but a child's life was on the line. Simply stated, I 
     ask if his M.A.S.T. Helicopter could be airborne in five 
     minutes or less for a medivac flight. His response was brief 
     and very direct. ``It will take me at least thirty minutes to 
     find someone who is capable of giving authorization.'' I 
     thanked him for his time, and hung up the phone.
       I realized at that point we were out of options. One of my 
     staff members, feeling helpless said ``why don't you call the 
     Coast Guard, I know they have a helicopter.'' With nothing 
     but the cost of a phone call to lose, I called the Coast 
     Guard Air Station in Savannah Georgia. Once again, I 
     explained the urgency of my request. This time, however, the 
     response was different. Within five minutes, USCG 6573 was 
     airborne and enroute to the Statesboro Municipal Airport. To 
     make a long story short, the Coast Guard answered the call 
     for help when no one else was available. The medivac mission 
     was carried out without a hitch. Our every request was 
     quickly accommodated.
       Everyone involved, from the pilots and air crew to the 
     individuals operating the telephone played an extremely 
     crucial role in the critical care transport of Stacie Martin. 
     At this point in time, I am not certain about Stacie's 
     outcome because of the extent and severity of her injuries. 
     One thing that I certainly know, is the role played by All 
     Coast Guard Personnel involved will be credited with every 
     positive milestone that Stacie overcomes on her long road to 
     recovery.
       For four years, stationed at USCG GROUP CHARLESTON, being a 
     SAR small boat coxswain, the Coast Guard Motto, Semper 
     Paratus, seldom took on a very significant meaning. However, 
     on Wednesday, September 25, 1996, being ``Always ready'' had 
     a much greater meaning than each and every day of my brief 
     Coast Guard career. On that Wednesday, it seemed that the 
     bureaucracy worked against Stacie, until Coast Guard 
     assistance was requested. No bureaucracy, no delay, no 
     excuses, simply immediate response, few questions, and 
     extraordinary execution of duty and responsibility by all 
     USCG personnel involved. I have always been proud of the many 
     roles that I was involved in while a member of the Coast 
     Guard, but never as impressed as I was on Wednesday the 25th.
       I realize how truly insignificant our language and my own 
     vocabulary really is when trying to express my sincere 
     Gratitude and Thanks to everybody at the Coast Guard Air 
     Station in Savannah, and to the personnel at the District 
     Office in Miami. This is truly a case of one of the most 
     outstanding humanitarian missions ever undertaken by my 
     former branch of service.
       There were probably many people who were involved whose 
     names I did not have a chance to document, but those names I 
     do have are as follows: Captain Clark, OSR Miami; Captain 
     Thomas W. Sechler, OIC, Coast Guard Air Station Savannah; 
     Lieutenant Richard Craig, Pilot; Lieutenant Thomas Gaffney, 
     Pilot; Glenn Boggs, ADI; William (Bill) DeCamp, ASM2; 
     Lieutenant Pat Ryan; Rob Jerger, AM3; and Mike Forchette, 
     AE1.
       I know these people and all others involved in this mission 
     were only doing their job, but, speaking in behalf of the 
     family of Stacie Martin, the Bulloch County Department of 
     Public Safety, Bulloch County EMS/RESCUE, and our entire 
     community, I wish again to express a very heartfelt thanks. 
     The entire United States Coast Guard came through in our time 
     of need. It was truly an answered prayer.
       I know we at EMS/RESCUE in Bulloch County will never be 
     able to repay all those involved, but, if you ever have any 
     need here in our community, please don't hesitate to call.
           Very sincerely,
                                                       Lee Eckles,
     Director.

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