[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 136 (Thursday, October 26, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S11125]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       TRIBUTE TO VAUGHAN TAYLOR

 Mr. SMITH of New Hampshire. Mr. President, I rise today to pay 
tribute to Mr. Vaughan Taylor, a Jacksonville, North Carolina, attorney 
and his wife Linda for their heroic efforts to help save the lives of 
three of the crew members aboard the Frisco, a Virginia Beach fishing 
vessel.
  Avid sailors, Vaughan and Linda are no strangers to the perils of the 
sea. As Vaughan navigated their 40 foot sailboat, Legacy, off the 
shores of North Carolina, he encountered a pile of floating wreckage. 
What he did not expect to find were three members of the Lynnhaven 
based scalloper, Frisco. It had been more than eight hours since a 
freighter had emerged from the fog, crushing the Frisco and leaving its 
crew of four clinging to debris in the dead of night.
  Knowing that their boat was not only low on fuel in bad weather, but 
also dangerously testing the limit to his radio's frequency, Vaughan 
and Linda pushed ahead, determined to rescue these men. After radioing 
for help from anyone who could hear his plea, Vaughan sprang to action 
aboard the sailboat and began to haul the first member of the crew out 
of the water. Time was of the essence as he struggled to pull the other 
crew member from the water. Unable to fight against the weight of his 
water logged survival suit, Vaughan secured the survivor to the boat 
with a life preserver and tight line.
  Using their years of experience at sea, Vaughan and his wife risked 
their own safety to save the lives of these men. By treating them for 
hypothermia, they were able to avoid a fatal tragedy for these men. 
Concentrating on getting the men the five miles back to shore safely, 
Vaughan hoisted the sails, kept in touch with the U.S. Coast Guard and 
began cruising at top speeds towards the Chesapeake Bay. Ending the 
heroic crusade with the credit of saving these lives, and only a mere 
.8 gallons of gas to spare, Vaughan Taylor serves as a positive role 
model for all those who venture into the high seas.
  In all that Vaughan Taylor approaches, he gives unbridled efforts, 
and stops at nothing short of success. As has been the case in his work 
for U.S. personnel missing in action and their families, Vaughan 
continuously fights for the rights of others. He is also one of the 
most well-respected attorneys representing military personnel who need 
help, and his knowledge of the uniform code of military justice is 
second to none. It comes as no surprise that he would risk his own life 
with his wife by his side, to save his fellow man. I am proud to call 
Vaughan Taylor a close friend of mine, and I applaud his devotion to 
humanitarian causes.
  Mr. President, also let me express my sympathy to the family of 
Captain Charlie Peel, the owner of the Frisco, who, unfortunately was 
never found. He was very much respected by all of the waterman in 
Lynnhaven Inlet, and was like a father to the others aboard the Frisco. 
I am sure he will be missed, and is in our thoughts and 
prayers.




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