The U.S. Coast has awarded the navy’s highest aviation honor to a rescue swimmer who helped save six individuals in a extreme storm off the West Coast two years in the past. 

On the afternoon of June 19, 2021, Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay acquired a VHF misery name from the crew of the yacht Barlovento, a traditional 80-foot schooner with a storied pedigree. In a extreme storm off the Oregon-California border, the wood vessel was disabled and taking over water. One of the six crewmembers had sustained accidents to her head and arm. The scenario was pressing, because the circumstances on scene had been tough, with winds of 60 miles an hour and seas of 20 toes. 

Watchstanders launched a fixed-wing plane out of Air Station Sacramento to supply overwatch and a Sector Humboldt Bay Dolphin helicopter crew. The Dolphin crew arrived on scene and deployed their rescue swimmer, Petty Officer third Class Spencer Manson. The yacht’s movement and the working seas had been too extreme to land Manson on deck, so the crew picked an uncommon plan of action: they dropped him within the water downwind of the Barlovento, understanding that the yacht would blow previous him at velocity. It did, making 9 knots, and Manson grabbed maintain of a trailing line within the water. In a scene ready-made for Hollywood, he pulled himself hand over hand in opposition to the present and climbed aboard the yacht from the strict. The movement slammed him into the water a number of occasions. 

Once aboard, Manson acquired the injured crewmember ready for hoisting. It was nonetheless not attainable to hoist somebody off the deck of the pitching yacht, so each the rescue swimmer and the sufferer needed to bounce into the water. Once away from the Barlovento, Manson helped the sufferer right into a rescue basket, and the aircrew hoisted her up and flew her to shore. 

Manson returned to the Barlovento and helped safely hoist three extra individuals, utilizing a “sliding-deployment technique” of his personal devising that allow him hold off the boat to assist the survivors into the water for retrieval. Another aircrew and rescue swimmer flew out to get the final two survivors. The Barlovento was left to float within the storm. 

For his actions that day, the Coast Guard has awarded Manson the Distinguished Flying Cross Award. This recognition is the best honor in aviation and is awarded to Navy, Marine Corps, or Coast Guard personnel who distinguish themselves for heroism or achievement in flight.