[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 20 (Tuesday, February 13, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S1266]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO COAST GUARD HELICOPTER AIRCREW

  Ms. LANDRIEU. Mr. President, I stand here today to pay tribute to 
four great Americans--Lieutenant Commander Brian Moore, Lieutenant Troy 
Beshears, Petty Officer First Class Mike Bouch and Petty Officer First 
Class John Green, all serving in the United States Coast Guard.
  Last July, these four extraordinary Guardsmen were conducting a night 
flight over the Gulf of Mexico when they heard a distress call from the 
oil rig ``Ocean Crusader.'' Immediately flying to the rig, they arrived 
to find it engulfed in flames from a natural gas fire. Placing 
themselves in imminent danger, they landed on the rig to rescue the 
crew of 51. To expedite the rescue, Petty Officer Green left the 
helicopter to coordinate rescue efforts while his crew mates began the 
difficult task of ferrying the rig workers to another platform in 
groups of four. As the helicopter began its first evacuation flight, 
Petty Officer Green began lowering rig workers to a rig supply boat in 
groups of four using a crane and gondola.
  After rescuing 12 workers, in three dangerous trips, the helicopter 
crew was forced to leave the scene to refuel while Petty Officer Green 
remained behind to keep lowering people to the supply boat and safety. 
He lowered 36 workers that way before another Coast Guard rescue 
helicopter arrived on the scene and landed to pick up the four men who 
remained on the platform. When told the helicopter could only take 
three safely, Petty Officer Green courageously volunteered to stay 
behind. Alone on that platform as the helicopter took the workers to 
safely, in the distance he could see his own aircraft returning when 
the rig erupted with fire raging from the waterline hundreds of feet in 
the air.
  Committed to rescuing their crew mate, Lieutenant Commander Moore 
decided to try and rescue Petty Officer Green. With Petty Officer 
Bouchard hanging out of their aircraft trying to spot the landing 
platform in the smoke, he flew the helicopter into the middle of the 
inferno the Ocean Crusader had become, setting down amidst the flames 
to pick up Petty Officer Green.
  Today people say we live in a world without heroes, one in which 
cynicism and selfishness rule the day. I am proud to say this is not 
the case in our United States Coast Guard. Guardsmen and Guardswomen 
like Lieutenant Commander Moore, Lieutenant Beshears, Petty Officer 
Bouch and Petty Officer Green put their lives on the line every day so 
that others may live. In this case, 51 men owe their lives to these 
four heroes who lived up to the Coast Guard's motto of ``Semper 
Paratus--Always Prepared.'' On behalf of those 51 men, their families, 
the state of Louisiana and Americans everywhere, I am proud to stand 
here today and say ``Thank you--job well done!'' to these extraordinary 
heroes.

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