Briscoe (DD 977) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 78 text:

CNA- -1---,- , .., .. -.N - r-.'?'2'!1:?'. - f'?'2??9f 2 'f1'4 f:F.: -:-'Sit- . f.-CJ' -5-.5 .W L - i'A,' , Y .M 'fwwfy f N,,,.f ,I FE ,,.. TA? I -.NN V ' A-Z I 1 ,,, , RAAUZYUH DDDH1-lPDl-U'UU'U-- ZNR UUUUU R DDHHMHZ MAY 94 FH USS BRISCOE TO COMUSNAVCENTIIOIZII INFO FHTNC NORFOLK VAIXOOII COHNAVSURFLANT NORFOLK VAIIOZPII CTG ONE FIVE TWO PT ONE COMDESRON TWO COHDESRON THREE TWO HSL FOUR FOUR MAYPORT FL NAVSTA NORFOLK VAIIPAOII NAVSTA MAYFORT FLIIPAOII BT UNCLAS OPERIDESERT 3TORHlf HSGIDIGENADHINIBRISCOEII SURJISPECIAL PUBLIC AFFAIRS RELEASEII REFIAIDOCICOHUSNAVCENTII5JAN94ll ,REFIBIHSGICOHUSNAVCENTIO70547ZMAY94ll NARRIREF A IS PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANNEX TO COHUSNAVCENT OPORD 1000-94, REI B IS RHO HIGHLIGHTING PA EFFORT IN NAVCENT AOR.ll POCIJOHNSONIENSIBRISCOEINRS OPAREAIINMARSAT: 151-7426 CIS WHETSTONZII RHKSII. THE FOLLOWING PRESS RELEASE IS SUBMITTED FOR GENERAL DISTRIBUTION TO ALL MEDIA. PARAGRAPH 4 BEGINS A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE BRAVE AND HEROIC ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CREW OF U.S. NAVY DESTROYER USS BRISCOB ,IDD 9771 AND ITS EHBARKED HELICOPTER DETACRHTENT FROM HELICOPTER SOUADRON 44 DETACHHENT S DURING A DISASTER AT SEA WHILE ON DEFLOYHENT IN THB RED SEA. BRISCOE RESPONDED AS ON SCENE COORDINATOR AND PROVIDED DIRECT RESCUE AND LIFESAVING ASSISTANCE TO THE PASSENGER FERRY AL-QANAR AL-SAUDI AL-HISRI WHICH SANK IN THE SOUTHERN GULF OP SUEZ AFTER AN ENGINE ROOM FIRE. OTHER USN UNITS WHICH LATER PARTICIPATED IN THE SEARCH AND PATIENT TRANSFER EFFORT WERE USNS HENRY J. KAISER fTAO 1871, USS STEPHEN U. GROVES QFFG 291, USS TAYLOR IFFG 501, AND PATROL SOUADRON Z3 SEAHAWKS . COMMANDER COAST GUARD SOUADRON 42, EMBARKED IN BRISCOE AS COMMANDER TASK GROUP 152.1, WAS THE OVERALL SAR MISSION COMMANDER. INCLUDED IN THE FOLLOWING STORY ARE INTERVIEWS WITH KEY RESCUE PERSONNEL. 2. FOR CONUSNAVC-ENT - PLEASE RETRANSHIT APPROVED RELEASE TO ALL ADDEES FOR PUBLICATION. 3. FOR FHTNC - HSL 44 DET FIVE PERSONNEL HAVE HOLD FILE ESTABLISHED UNDER UIC 55147. 4. ON 18 MAY 1994, THE U.S. NAVY DESTROYER USS BRISCOE IDD 9771 WITH ITS EMBARKED HELICOPTER DETACRMENT FROM THE 'SWAMP FOXES' OF HELICOPTER SQUADRON 44 DETACHMENT S UAS ON STATION IN THE NORTH RED SEA AFTER A DAY SPENT INSPECTING SHIPS IN SUPPORT OE U.N. SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ. LT JOHN HEISS CAGE: JI, HOHETOWN: ELLICOTT CITY, MD1, THE TACTICAL ACTION OFFICER ON WATCH IN THE COMBAT INFORNATION CENTER, RECEIVED A 'MAY-DAY' CALL ABOUT 2340 LOCAL TIME. IT 'HAS SOON LZARNED THAT THERE WAS AN ENGINE ROOM FIRE IN THE EGYPTIAN PASSENGER FERRY AL-QAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-HISRI AND THAT LIFE BOATS WERE BEING OEPLOYED. 5. AFTER CONFERRING WITH COMMANDING OFFICER CDR ANDY PITTS IAGE2 42, HOHETOWN! FRANKLIN LAKES, NJ1, LT HEISS ORDERED FULL SPEED TO REACH THE VESSEL WHICH VAS LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SOUTHERN ENTRANCE OI' 'nm cur.: or suuz, ArPnoxmA1-sw 25 rm.:-:s wssf or aAzscos's Posr-non. wo snA1.1. son rams, 'mx Asscuz AND ASSISTANCE ns'rAu., Arm snxscos's xn:g.rcpr1-sn, ummm 446, wsu HANNED. wrnmc -nr.: noun, aruscos mn qnoszn 'nm POSITION or AL'OAHAR Ax.-sAunx AL-HISRI Arm mn mmcazn HAGNUH 446, urmzn 'nm commm or 'DETACHIENT s orrxcsn IN cmncx Lcnn asnfnv garrcnzzn. uae: as, norm-:cram ovznnum PARK, Asn, 'ro ASSESSTH! sx'ruA'r1ou. 'mens wr-:ns szvsnm. rmncrmrr sans Arm A smu. SAILBOAT ru 'nm AREA cormucrxnc nzscus srronrs. xr ouzcxu' Beams osvxous 'nurr 'ra-15 wAs A Muon DISASTER AT su. 6. AS, aruscos CAUTICUSLY ArPnoAcxmn 'ma scan, crm Prrrs, AIDED IN H15 Decisions sv coAs'r sumo CAPTAIN Aonmx EDWARDS ues: 41, normrowu: AHAGANSETT, my, 'nm smmmuzn TASK cnouv conmxnsn, ourcxmr slam 'ro coonnuwn: 'rn u.s. NAVY srronr. 'nm 'Fanny' WAS nous un: A sum. cnuxsz LINER, CAPABLE or uowxnc 1-nnmnxns or PASSENGERS. om: or 'nu-I FIRST Ln-1BoArs 'ro REACH 'ro ms SAFETY or A xsmav nxncumrr sau uxnn 'nm szcorm OFFICER or AL-QAHAA AL-:SAUDI Ar.-nrsnx. HE REPORTED TH! rn-:Any wAs unnvxno rmxnzzs Hmnxnc Hoax ron 'nm nn sr. ADM, AN xsunzc HOLIDAY wnxcn wuucs 'nfs CLINAX or 'rms HAJJ, on vxnanrmcx T0 nscca. EARLIER uc 'mx on sax HAD oxsmauuusn ABOUT npr HBR nsszncsns IN SAFAGA, ssvrf, wr s'm.x. mn ABOUT soo PASSENGERS omaoauw. us sun THAT 'ms nnz rum STARTED in ous or 'mx SBIP'S BOILERS AND HAD SPREAD om' or 'nam moms noon. 3 1. ARRIVAL AT 'mx scam: nxvmnxn -nm srrrxns vassal. xucunnn IN Y!-N43 Ann -rl-ucx snoxz. ovna 'rwo mmnnz-:D nous wsu nunnnzn AT nm s-rsnu 07 'ms FERRY. AS HANY AS szvzn MERCHANT vssszns AND on swam. SAILBOATp HN men sus or New Yonx, mans cnownsn xx 'rnz ssmcn AREA :ncAcm IN 'run nnscus. AS runes AND ar.Acx snoxx vounsn mon THE rsnmr, WRX nsssucsns FRANTICALLY curmso Down Aon-:s TOWARD wo on. Purronx Y sons Pnssssn uv AGAINST 'n-nz summer: VESSEL'S sins. snrscos ornam- Hmsuvsruzn na-ro cnoss Pnoxnurv or -nm amzruc snxr, AVOIDING rwgvn LARGE CONTAINER suns LYING ro, mmm on. RIG womc.soA-rs, AND 'nm was PRESHU' THICK, BLACK suorcs xn onnsn ro zrrscfzvsw nscsxvs SURVI AND maunsn PASSENGRRS mon me snAz.z. sons. GB, a. anxscorws SMALL BOATS, mmsn 'nm crumcs or 1.-:as mm nucxrn ll 3 25' HGMETGWS WEL!-S. HN1 AND 1.1-Jo cfrucx sr-:u.r:ns CAGE! 25, H0H.ET0gUNi MRTINSVH-I-E, VM Movz-:n ALONGSIDE 'rnz sumunc vssssz. 'ro new Rgfmy Sunvrvons AND rnmsrsn xnaumzn. 'msxn 1-Asx WAS conrucm-:D A5 AVOIDED 1-na nm vssssns cnoxrnc 'rms AA:-LA, 1-as rmcx 'roxrc snort! ECM DOWNVIND or 'ms nunmnc numc, AND FALLING nsarus. AS one som' nxkms nzscusu mssswcsns cnmsnus Down noses, Juurmc, on FALLING :mo WATER, 'ms ornsn som' AND rucmm us roman A 'ram ro smmcu TREATS sf-'RR0UNDlNG AREA ron smwxvons. HAD rr No-r assu 1-'on THE smu. sovzsgsb MANY Mom: PASSENGERS wouw HAVE nosr 'rmzm :.xvss sxucx-: NO UFHEHHL IN 'nfs AREA rum swu.z. BOATS xx 'nm wnsn. snrscoxrs cum' uosn HM C0F'PyHAN, unc nAvxn r:As'rHAn nos: 39, nonmow: ron-rsnourn. OK! osx.: n-:Asn 'ro 'nm womcaom-s ALONGSIDE 'ms mm: 'ro nam' rnovxns Hz Egsnozwcv smnxcu. CARE. AS 'ms oumr 'rAA1Nsn msurc AT 'mt SCENE' S UND ,NUMEROUS norm: na NEED or mmncsxcv 'nu:A'rm:u'r. Arran my SEABILIZING -rm: nuunsn, na coonnxnm-so -rm-: -rnmsrsn or-' 'nm nuevos ouuous vxcrrns -ro anxscor-: ron com-znusn ATTENTION urmsn -nm UGS: F H15 ASSXSTA-WT. HOSPITAL conrsmn 'mmm cuss Arcxmn LOWERY 23' HUMETOWN! ATHENS, Pm. S wmv gizrrrs nzxr raw nouns PRACTICALLY osx-'nan nsscnxrrxon. THB Highs IR WAY :mo -nu: nun.-unc uuuz, sv now ru1.x.Y sxcunrsn IN F -

Page 77 text:

x xx

Page 79 text:

X if A ' ' Q f . A 1 1 Z v . PYROTBCHNICS EKPLODED AS THEIR LOCKERS WERE INCI RA NE TED, AND SMOKE AND, CINDERS WERE BILLOWING INTO THE WIND. THE SEAS WERE ROUGH AND THE WIND WAS A STEADY I7 IOIOTS FROM THE NORTH, YET TRB BOAT CREWS CONTINUED TO PULL SURVIVORS OUT AS THEY -IUMPED TIE 30-40 FEET FROM TRE SHIP TO THE WATER. ONE COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS GENERAL HYSTERIA ONBOARD AND IT IS DOUBTFUL MANY PASSENGERS KNEW HOW TO SWIM. THE BOAT CRBWS HAD TO COAX MANY OP THEM TO JUMP FOR THEIR LIVES. IO. ONE OF 'BRISCOE'S SEARCH AND RESCUE KSARD SWIMMERS, FIRE CONTROL TECHNICIAN AARON DENSLEY KAGE: 23, HOMBTOWN: OAK CITY, UT! RECALLS, 'THE WIND WAS REALLY STRONG. WE SAW A GUY THROUGH THE THICK SMOKE HANGING OFF OF A CHAIN THAT HELD A LIFEBOAT STILL ATTACHED BENEATH THE WATER. WHILE WE WERE ALONG SIDE, CHUNKS OF BURNING MATERIAL WERE FALLING ALL AROUND US. THE SHIP WAS LISTING HEAVILY TO STARBOARD AND GMYD CAPTAIN WAS AFRAID TIE VESSEL WAS GOING TO CAPSIZE. WE KNEW HE HAD TO BE RESCUED QUICRLY. WE NOSED UP TOWARD HIM AND I QUICKLY SNAGGED RIM INTO THE BOAT. . ' II. SIGNALMAN FIRST CLASS TIDERA GRIFFIN IAGE: 30, HOMETOWN: BIRMINGHAM, ALI, A SMALL BOAT CREWMAN, ALSO RECALLS THE MOST ASTOUNDING EXPERIENCE, 'WE CAME UP ON THE STERN OF TR! BURNING BOAT AND WE SAW THIS LADY YELLING DOWN AT US. SHE GAVE RER BABY OVER TO THIS GUY AND WE DIDN'T KNOW IF HE WAS GOING T0 JUMP WITH IT, OR WHAT. RE STEPPED OUT TO THE EDGE AND WE TOLD RIM TO DROP THE BABY. I CAUGHT THE BABY AND COULDN'T BELIEVE IT WAS NOT INJURED. I TOOK THE BABY WITH A FEW OTHERS TO THE TUG THE! HEADED OUT TO GET SOME MORE PEOPLE. 12. ANOTHER BRISCOE SAR SWIMMER, SEAMAN CHAD NORRIS IAGES 191 HOMETOWN2 SYRACUSE, NYI REMIEMBERED, 'THEY SENT OUR BOAT TO THE STERN OF THE BURNING SHIP WHERE PEOPLE WERE JUMPING INTO THE WATER. THEY WOULD SEND TWO OF USETO BRING EACH PERSON TO THE BOAT, BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE COULDN'T SWIM...I SAVED ABOUT SIX PEOPLE THIS WAY. ' IJ. ONE OF THE VICTIMS WHICH MOST CLOSELY TOUCHED THE HEARTS OF THE MANY CREWMEN PROVIDING SURVIVOR COMFORT AND TRIAG3 BELOW DECKS IN BRISCOE WAS A FOUR YEAR OLD BOY WHO HAD SUSTAINED MASSIVE HEAD INJURIES. HE RAD BEEN CAREFULLY EVACUATED FROM CNE OP THE WORKBOATS BY CHIEF HOSPITAL CORPSMAN EASTHAH AND WAS RECEIVING CARE WITH HIS FATHER IN BRISCOE'S MESSDECKS WHILE AWAITING TRANSFER TO A MORE EXTENSIVE MEDICAL FACILITY. LATER, HE WAS MOVED TO, USNS HENRY J. RAISER BY USS STEPHEN W. GROVES' SMALL BOAT TO BE FLOWN T0 HURGIUJJA FOR FURTHER TREATMENT. DESPITE THE LOVE AND CARE OF MANY U.S. NAVY AND CIVILIAN SAILOR5. IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE YOUNG BOY DID NOT SURVIVE THE ORDEAL. THROUGH ALL THE DEATH AND SUPFERING WITNESSED THAI' NIGHT, THE LOSS OF THAT LITTLE BOY WAS THE MOST SORROWFUL. H. BY DAWN, AL'OAMAR AL-SAUDI AL-MISRI HAD GROUNDED ON A REEF AND ONLY ,ONE PASSENGER REMAINED. THE SMALL BOATS AND MAGNUM 446 HAD COAXED AND CAJOLED HIM FOR HOURS TO JUMP TO SAFETY, BUT HE PEFUSED. MEANWHILE. SURVIVORS FROM BRISCOE AND THE MERCHANT, SHIPS WERE BEING TRANSFERRED TO USNS HENRY J. KAISER BY BRISCOE, STEPHEN W. GROVES, AND HENRY J. KAISER SMALL BOATS. THE DOCTOR AND MEDICAL STAFF IN HENRY J. KAISER. ALONG WITH TWO MEDICAL PERSONNEL FROM STEPHEN W. GROVES AND DOCTORS AND NURSES FROM A PASSING SHIP, MIV DOULOS, PROVIDED MEDICAL RELIEF ON HENRY J. KAISER DURING THE TRIP TO HURGHAIJA, EG, WHERE PASSENGERS WERE OFFLOADED. AT ABOUT 0940, THE HULK BROKE FREE FROM THE BOTTOM AND A FEW MINUTES LATER QUICKLY SANK. AS THE LAST LIFERAIL OF THE SHIP SLIPPED UNDER THE WAVES, THAT LAST PASSENGER CLUNG TO A PIECE or nom-:nc nsanxs um was azscuzn av 'ma vmrrxws 'ram on mcmm 445, Pmczn Your or 'nm sumzn av suncn mm nzscun swzm-mn, nvxrrxon mu- suawumm ummm: orzmron sscorm cuss nnvxn ussrxmnmn umm za, aourrowm nous-ron, -nn. 15. oucn nu. mmm sunvxvons rum ann -rnumsfsnnxn -ro usus uxmw J. nrsrn, TASK cnouv 152.1 mm-s seam: mx TEDIOUS szruzcu ron uw nnuurmsc srmvxvons mmza 'mx oxnsc-non or anxscos. -mx su uns nmmzn nn-o roun 14 mv.: scum: ssnncn soxss, rum snxscoz, STEPHEN w. GROVBS. mm mmm -:wo Hsncorrsns nom wx-rn usa TAYLOR'S HELICOPTER. noun wuuzxon 424 svzrrr 'nm ENTIRE wax: ww SEARCHING ron SURVIVORS. Ovanmun sr-:neu uns cormucx-sn sv -nm 'SEARAWK8' or rm-non. soumnos 23. cum' on summon wus rouwn, mr srsvasn w. :moves 1-1111.0 ummm 441. muscox nzcovxnsn 'rruuzs nouns mm nsnzvsnm 'mms TO savnxm Alrrnonxrxss. 16. 'fax form. coum- or nsssucrms snvzn -mn nxcn-r uns nv, can r1'ns.sA1n. 'nun 'ro 'nm ucv mr A usssxczn muuns-r sms won' WHIMI-B. HI now: mow nm rnuu. nzxra '1'c1.1.. 'mr-: on THING 1 D0 NNW. nxoucn, xs nun' vm-non-r 'nm asnoxc nc-1-:ons or svsmr snacu-: Cnxwxzn no muscoz mm 'nm TEAMWORK or oun szs-rxn suns mm sun zu 'rnsx cnour 152.I, funn: wouw nom' as ns rsonx mvnaa 1-o nu. or :EAT nuclnrux. 1cxG1r1'.'f1 I NNNN , I ,fir R