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Bataan Assists Canadian Navy

Navy Newsstand

Story Number: NNS031124-10

Release Date: 11/24/2003 11:39:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class (SW) Mike Kramer, USS Bataan Public Affairs

USS BATAAN, At Sea (NNS) -- A Search and Rescue (SAR) crew from Helicopter Combat Support Squadron (HC) 6 evacuated two Canadian sailors from HMCS Athabaskan (DDH 282) to the amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5) Nov. 23.

"We were in the area when we got the call from the Commander, 2nd Fleet duty officer, and the SAR [search and rescue] helo was already in the air, so we responded," said Chief Warrant Officer Eric Terrazas, Bataan's training officer and the tactical action officer during the evacuation.

Initially, the SAR crew's mission was to evacuate Naval Electronic Sensor Operator Master Seaman Clyde Long for emergency leave to visit his critically ill father. But Storekeeper 2nd Class Rob Hazel was injured in a training accident and also had to be evacuated.

"We were doing a man overboard exercise, and it was my job to pull the 120-pound dummy out of the water from our Zodiac speedboat," said Hazel. "When I reached out to pick up the dummy, I hyper-extended my arm and ripped the bicep."

"The helo was already en route when we got the call telling us there was a second Sailor to pick up," said Terrazas."

When the SAR crew's MH-60S helicopter reached Athabaskan, they found that the flight deck was not wide enough for a landing. So the crew's swimmer, Aviation Structural Mechanic 3rd Class (AW/NAC) Lee Lyons, was lowered aboard.

"The two Canadian sailors waited in the superstructure. I went inside and briefed them on safety procedures, emergency procedures and how I was going to get them into the aircraft," said Lyons. "Then, I brought them out of the superstructure one at a time and put rescue straps on them so they could be hoisted up to the helo."

"A chance to help someone is something a SAR crewmember hopes for," said Lyons. "We train for it day after day. It's always good to get an opportunity to do the job we spend so much time preparing for."

The Canadian sailors were transported to Bataan and berthed in the ship's medical spaces. Both are impressed with Bataan professionalism and hospitality.

"The teamwork was outstanding," said Hazel. "Within an hour of the call going out, they had the helo over our deck. And the staff here has been extraordinarily friendly."

"Once again, Bataan and her embarked squadrons, whom we consider very much a part of our team, proved they can respond to any situation at any time," said Terrazas. "We've been called on to do all sorts of things in the past, and we've always responded."

Bataan is currently underway in support of MV-22 Osprey sea trials.