[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 61 (Wednesday, April 6, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E361]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING LEE SYKES, OWNER OF TOW BOAT US BEAUFORT, AND CREW MEMBERS 
 JOHNATHON EVANS, JAY BOONE, CROCKETT HENDERSON, LUIS HERRON AND JOHN 
                                 WILSON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GREGORY F. MURPHY

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 6, 2022

  Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay a 
tribute to the heroic crew members of Tow Boat US Beaufort (TBUS). On 
February 13, 2022, TBUS was alerted to a possible downed aircraft east 
of Cape Lookout shoals near Drum Inlet. This aircraft was comprised of 
eight individuals, including four high school students. The honorable 
crew quickly departed towards the vicinity of the last known position 
of the aircraft. At this time, weather conditions were deteriorating, 
and seas were a rough 3 to 5 feet.
  The wreckage of the aircraft was found before dark, and it was clear 
that there were likely no possible survivors. The next morning, 
emergency services called TBUS seeking their assistance in locating the 
aircraft on the sea floor. While local first responders focused on 
chasing floating debris offshore, the TBUS crew investigated where the 
plane struck the water using sonar to locate the wreckage. By 4:00 PM 
on February 14, 2022, TBUS confirmed they had found the crash site and 
had remotely operated vehicle footage of the debris on the bottom. That 
night, TBUS crews would be tasked with running the dive operations, 
while providing divers and surface support for body recovery.
  The next day, February 15, 2022, TBUS had put together a dive plan 
and divers to try and access the aircraft. Water temperatures were 
around 52 degrees on the surface, the current was running approximately 
3.9 knots on the bottom in 60 feet of water, and seas were rough at 3 
to 5 feet, making this an extraordinarily difficult dive to achieve 
with limited bottom time. TBUS crews worked until the next day, when 
all the remains had been recovered for the families. While this was a 
strenuous job, the selfless heroes at TBUS thought it was a necessary 
mission to help the grieving families of the victims. Putting divers in 
during small craft conditions, 50-degree water, and heavy currents 
makes for very dangerous conditions that highlight the heroic actions 
of the TBUS crew.
  TBUS crew members involved were Lee Sykes, Johnathon Evans, Jay 
Boone, Crockett Henderson, Luis Herron and John Wilson. None of this 
would have been possible were it not for the selflessness and servant 
attitude of the aforementioned members. Madam Speaker, please join me 
in honoring these incredible and wonderful heroes.

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