They really walk on water.

Recently, U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City (TCAS) underwent its annual Standardization Team (STAN Team) evaluations with the assistance of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel and facilities from Flotillas 16-3, 16-5, and 16-10, all from District 9-CR of Northern, Michigan.

The testing took place for 10 days in the waters of Northern Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay, where evaluation of the professional skills and competency of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City’s aviation personnel took place. A team of five instructors from Mobile, Alabama, which visit each air station annually, conducted the testing.

Twin Bay Flotilla 16-5 of Traverse City, Michigan transported the TCAS Rescue Swimmers and STAN Evaluators to and from a remote offshore drop site. They were also assigned to provide a search and rescue (SAR) patrol vessel and crew, ready for a rescue should any of the helicopters be forced to ditch in the less than 50 degree waters of the bay -- or the less likelihood that a rescue swimmer would need assistance.

Flotilla 16-10 of Elk Rapids, Michigan performed the transport and SAR patrol missions during the final three days of evaluations, and Flotilla 16-3 of Charlevoix, Michigan provided personnel augmentation for Flotilla 16-5.

The first task for the Auxiliarists was basic: deliver an evaluator and the rescue swimmers to a site in the bay where water depths reached 120 - 150 feet.

According to Dave Gummere, FSO-PB/PS 16-5, “During week one of the evaluations inclement weather helped add to the realism. Almost as if programmed into the events, low cloud cover, freezing rain, snow and gusting wind conditions were constant companions.”

Veteran TCAS Rescue Swimmer PO Doug Lathrop, discussing sea state and weather conditions commented, “It does make it interesting; but it never quite matches the 40-foot waves and frigid waters of the Bering Sea. Regardless, we go in any weather.”

Doug was one of the Traverse City Air Station “All Weather Warriors” selected for evaluation. During one of his earlier tours, he served in the unpredictable and tenuous “Williwaw” conditions of the Arctic. While there, he participated in a number of perilous rescues. The bay’s conditions were no comparison to those of the Arctic.

Events began with radio communications from the SAR patrol vessel to the Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City. “This is Auxiliary Vessel 482, taking out rescue swimmers at this time.” John Waddell, FC 16-5, D9-CR, who is a semi-retired medical professional and the owner of the operational facility being used, operated the radio. His message kicked off the day’s activities. Dan Daciuk, FSO-VE 16-5, D9-CR served as the coxswain. Battling strong winds and waves, he set a northerly course for the morning’s drop site. (Dan is a retired pediatrician and was recently featured in a local publication that covered his 30-plus years of service in the Coast Guard Auxiliary). Alan Werdehoff, VFC 16-5, D9-CR and Dave Gummere FSO-PB/PS 16-5, D9-CR served as crew and lookouts. Alan is a retired member of the Merchant Marine with worldwide service as a Chief Engineer, while the later is a retired U. S. Marine Corps officer.

Meanwhile, John Weih, DCP 16, D9CR (warmly referred to as “Ole Gimlet Eye” for his attention to detail) carefully monitored each of the Auxiliarist’s performance. John is a pharmacist and avid sailor. Together they formed the eclectic SAR team supporting active Coast Guard elements that day.

Upon reaching the designated drop site, the swimmers entered the water, and the SAR boat began circling at a safe distance. Additional radio contact was established between the vessel, rescue swimmers, and the Coast Guard helicopter dispatched from the Traverse City Air Station.

The swimmers took control from that point. First, the aircraft made contact with the personnel in the water and was quickly vectored to the “rescue” site. After visually identifying the swimmers in the water, the helicopter crew and rescue swimmers began a series of coordinated actions.

They performed tasks involving the rescue basket, rescue strop, cable and swimmer’s harness. They also exercised hand signals to direct the aircraft, conducted exits from the aircraft, executed “victim” and swimmer retrieval, and discharged other actions associated with water rescues.

PO John Williams served as initial STAN Team evaluator. His job was to act as the “victim” for the local rescue swimmers. After being “rescued” several times by one swimmer, the next swimmer took his turn as life saver, only to give Petty Officer Williams the unusual distinction of becoming the most-rescued person in Grand Traverse Bay.

Following time in the water, PO Blain Elkins, another of the TCAS swimmers, was asked how long he had been in the Coast Guard. “Fourteen years service!” was the reply. According to Dave Gummere, “It was obvious to me that the Coast Guard did not have a fast track for rescue swimmer billet promotions, but it was equally obvious that Blain was one of the many requisite professionals who were interested in extremely demanding duty even if it did not come with quick promotions. His career was strangely reminiscent of that in the Marine Corps, which traditionally ‘... has no ambition beyond the performance of its duty to its country. Its sole honor stems from that recognition which cannot be denied to a Corps of men who have sought for themselves little more than a life of hardship and the most hazardous assignments in battle.’ Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers proudly operate under the same premise. Blain is proof.”

PO Bob Lapolt was tested during the first week of October. Bob, a newer member of the rescue swimmer community, was identified as “one of the strongest swimmers I have ever seen!” by another Coast Guardsman.

Gummere stated, “After watching him in action in the Northern Michigan waters it was obvious why he was a natural. Bob, while being a younger Coast Guardsman, was an old hand with the Auxiliary. Earlier in the year he provided a tour of an HH-65B Dolphin Helicopter for graduates of a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary public education course where he exhibited a hidden talent for public speaking.”

Another rescue swimmer evaluated was PO Shawn Legas. The Detroit native had already served a tour in the Marines and elected to continue his service in the Coast Guard. Tired of the long and constant Marine Corps deployments, but still looking for adventure with purpose, his logical choice was to become a Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer.

When asked about service in comparison to the Marines he grinningly commented: “Well, the Coast Guard definitely has its advantages! Besides, I love it!” Shawn is also expecting transfer orders, and when asked where he would like to go, he stated, “Hopefully to Kodiak, Alaska.”

A routine emerged for the participants once the daily evaluations were finished. First, the helicopters would secure their fuselage doors and do a final radio check with the Auxiliary SAR patrol vessel then head back to base. As the noisy orange birds flew into the horizon the rescue swimmers and STAN evaluators would swim clear of the helicopter rotor wash and signal to the SAR vessel for pickup.

According to Dave Gummere, “One constant was always present, the look on each rescue swimmer’s face as they climbed aboard the Auxiliary vessel. It reflected the knowledge that they were ready and capable of serving as one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s ‘All Weather Warriors,’ and ready to risk their own lives to save others from ‘perils on the sea!’”

Finally, after nearly two weeks of testing, it was over. U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City had passed their Standardization Evaluations with excellence. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotillas 16-5, 16-10 and 16-3 had all succeeded in passing the critical eye of their Division Captain, John Weih; and most importantly, no real-world search and rescue operations were necessary.

According to TCAS Operations Officer, Cmdr. Steve Truhlar, “The Auxiliary was instrumental to the success of the visit. The helicopters cannot take off with the swimmers onboard and enough fuel to conduct the exhaustive SAR procedures. These procedures include a check flight, covering emergencies, search patterns, instrument approaches to the water, boat hoists and of course, rescue swimmer deployments.”

In a complimentary but differing view of the operation by one anonymous Auxiliarist, “The men and women of U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City are the real success story, from Commander Paul Ratte who leads the organization, down to the newest member of the Air Station. They prove it on a daily basis; and we are proud of them.”

In the end, professionalism and devotion to duty continued to stand as hallmarks of service for both active and Auxiliary components of the Coast Guard Forces in Northern Michigan!