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District 11 Public Affairs |
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Press Release |
Date: May 7, 2008
Contact: Public Affairs |
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Soldotna, Alaska Native Receives Coast Guard Foundation Award For Heroism SAN FRANCISCO - U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Willard Milam, an aviation survival technician from Soldotna, Alaska, was awarded the Admiral Chester R. Bender Award on May 2, 2008 for his participation in the rescue of four fishermen on Feb. 9, 2007. Stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, Milam was a key part of the HH-65 Dolphin crew that responded to the call from fishing vessel Illusion off Unalaska Island, Alaska at 1:00 a.m. Despite a low cloud ceiling, near zero illumination and winds up to 35 knots, the flight crew was able to navigate the helicopter to the scene of the distressed vessel. Despite surpassing weight limitations on the helicopter's engines, the crew managed to retrieve all four fishermen from the arctic waters and navigate safely back to Dutch Harbor where an ambulance was waiting to treat the survivors. The entire mission was flown at the performance limits of the crew and helicopter without the assistance of a cover aircraft. The aviators demonstrated selflessness during the rescue as they forfeited their own survival suits to protect the exposed mariners, and risked damage to their aircraft by pushing the limits of the HH-65 Dolphin engines. Milam worked tirelessly to rescue the panicked fishermen, even as his dry suit began to fill with icy water. During the flight back to Dutch Harbor, Milam faded in and out of consciousness, and was taken to a waiting ambulance upon arrival. Milam graduated from Valley High School in 1984. His wife, Deborah Milam, resides in Soldotna, Alaska. The Admiral Chester R. Bender Award, named after the fourteenth Commandant of the Coast Guard, recognizes Coast Guard members for heroic efforts. Video of the Admiral Chester R. Bender Award can be viewed at http://nl.youtube.com/watch?v=0RKYmVumLYk ### |
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U.S. Coast Guard- More than one million lives saved since 1790. |
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