Association for Rescue At Sea Award to Division 1 Auxiliarists
The 2022 Rescue at Sea Silver Medal was awarded to Auxiliarists William F. Jacobs, Jr., Robert E. Bohm( shown), and Harvey M. Miller of D1-Southern Region Auxiliary Flotilla 014-01-01 who served as the boat crew during the rescue of five crewmembers from a barge on fire, carrying commercial fireworks.
While conducting an ordered patrol on their Auxiliary facility, Auxiliarists William F. Jacobs Jr., Robert E. Bohm( shown), and Harvey M. Miller assisted in establishing a Sector Long Island Sound directed security zone around the Point of Woods fireworks barge staged in Great South Bay on the south side of Long Island, New York.
Soon after the on-scene arrival of the Auxiliary facility, large commercial fireworks began to ignite without warning and caused explosions in multiple directions. The three Auxiliarists quickly decided it was unsafe for the fireworks barge crew to remain aboard.
With fire and explosions occurring all around them, the Auxiliary facility and crew approached the barge from upwind to conduct an evacuation, taking five barge crewmembers aboard, one of whom was injured by a direct firework strike. The Auxiliarists then transported the barge crewmembers to the Ocean Bay Park ferry dock, where emergency medical services personnel were waiting to render aid.
As a result of their outstanding actions and at risk to their own lives, Auxiliarists Robert E. Bohm, William F. Jacobs Jr. and Harvey M. Miller saved five barge crewmembers.
Source: Alcoast 427 / 22 FM COMDT COGUARD WASHINGTON DC
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