[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5123]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 5123]]

                  COAST GUARDSMEN FROM STATION NIAGARA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. FRANK A. LoBIONDO

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 29, 2001

  Mr. LoBIONDO. Mr. Speaker, it is with great sadness and profound 
regret that I rise today. I rise to address the House about two heroes 
who died on Saturday morning.
  While patrolling the waters of Lake Ontario on Friday night, four 
Coast Guardsmen from Station Niagara were hit by a wave that capsized 
their boat. All the men were thrown into the frigid water of the Great 
Lakes where, even in their survival suits, they could not last longer 
than a few hours. Their fellow Coast Guardsmen, joined by members of 
the Lewiston Fire Department, Erie County Sheriffs office, and Canadian 
Coast Guard, searched for these men during the night and all four were 
eventually recovered. However, despite hours of intensive medical care, 
Boatswain's Mate Second Class Scott Chism of Lakeside, California and 
Seaman Chris Ferreby of Morristown New Jersey, both passed away on 
Saturday morning. The remaining two crewmen are recovering from their 
ordeal.
  Petty Officer Chism is survived by his wife Attalissa, his five-year 
old daughter Kelsey and his one-year old son Caleb. Seaman Ferreby is 
survived by his wife Amy and their seven-month-old son Tyler.
  As the chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation, I want to extend our sympathies to these men's 
families, their ``shipmates'' at Station Niagara who sought them so 
valiantly through the dark night and to the entire Coast Guard 
community who shares our grief at their loss. Our thoughts and our 
prayers are with them at this difficult time.
  This tragedy underscores the hazardous nature of even routine 
operations of the Coast Guard and should serve as a stark reminder to 
all of us here in Congress that the watch our brave Coast Guard men and 
women stand each day in service to our nation is a dangerous one.
  Mr. Speaker, two heroes died Saturday morning but their lives 
exemplified the Coast Guard's core values of Honor, Respect and 
Devotion to Duty and their example lives on in the works of their 
fellow Guardsmen who risk their lives each day to protect each of us.

                          ____________________