[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 27728]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 A TRIBUTE TO THE GUARDSMEN OF COAST AIR STATION ELIZABETH CITY SEARCH 
                               AND RESCUE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. G. K. BUTTERFIELD

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 18, 2007

  Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, it is with tremendous pride that I 
rise today to pay a sincere tribute to the Search and Rescue Team of 
Lieutenant Marc Tunstall, Ensign Jason Evans, Petty Officer 2nd Class 
Mike Ackermann and Petty Officer 3rd Class Steven Acuna. These men of 
Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City rescued a downed Navy fighter 
pilot from the Atlantic Ocean this past Thursday.
  At 6 p.m. on October 11, 2007, Lt. Marc Tunstall and Ensign Jason 
Evans, pilot and co-pilot of a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter 
found the downed F/A-18 Hornet nearly 80 miles off Cape Henry, 
Virginia. Rescue swimmer Petty Officer 2nd Class Mike Ackermann was 
dispatched to retrieve the pilot from the ocean, whereupon the rescued 
pilot was hoisted in the helicopter by flight mechanic Petty Officer 
3rd Class Steven Acuna. The rescued pilot was transported to Sentara 
Norfolk General Hospital where he is in stable condition, with only 
minor injuries from the crash.
  Madam Speaker, this successful rescue is one of nearly 360 search and 
rescue missions executed every year by the men and women of Coast Guard 
Air Station Elizabeth City. In the last 60 years, the Air Station has 
rescued or assisted over 10,000 people. I am proud that Coast Guard Air 
Station Elizabeth City is located in my district, and more proud of the 
exemplary work and bravery exhibited by the men and women who save 
hundreds of lives each year. I ask my colleagues to join me in paying 
tribute to the commendable work of Lt. Tunstall, Ensign Evans, Petty 
Officer 2nd Class Ackermann and Petty Officer 3rd Class Acuna.

                          ____________________