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2005-09-07 Home Front: Economy

Navy Pilots Who Rescued Victims Are Reprimanded

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Posted by Steve 2005-09-07 09:10|| || Front Page|| [1 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 But as the two helicopters were heading back home, the crews picked up a radio transmission from the Coast Guard saying helicopters were needed near the University of New Orleans to help with rescue efforts, the two pilots said. Out of range for direct radio communication with Pensacola, more than 100 miles to the east, the pilots said, they decided to respond and turned their helicopters around, diverting from their mission without getting permission from their home base.

I'm curious, what are the rules regarding intra-service assistance? If the Coast Guard (yes, part of the Armed Forces) radios for help, who should respond, and when?

Posted by Bomb-a-rama 2005-09-07 10:38|| 2005-09-07 10:38|| Front Page Top

#2 I know it's going to sound cold, but I agree with the reprimand. Yes, there's room for initiative, but if everyone did what they want, all those supplies would be rotting in Florida while people are starving in NO.

Posted by Jackal">Jackal 2005-09-07 10:51|| home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]">[home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html] 2005-09-07 10:51|| Front Page Top

#3 He's in deep doo doo anyway, now, for bitching to the press. Have a nice career, LT.

Posted by Chuck Simmins">Chuck Simmins 2005-09-07 10:57|| http://blog.simmins.org]">[http://blog.simmins.org] 2005-09-07 10:57|| Front Page Top

#4 Sounded like they had already delivered the supplies, and were heading back before the impromptu rescues.

" . . . privately some members of the Pensacola unit say the base's two available transport helicopters should have been allowed to do more to help civilian victims in the days after the storm hit, when large numbers of military helicopters had not reached the affected areas. In protest, some members of the unit have stopped wearing a search and rescue patch on their sleeves that reads, "So Others May Live." "

That's pretty telling. The miliary is about chain of command, which has to be obeyed, but it's also about people who have to make choices in difficult situations. I don't think their choice was a bad one.

Wouldn't it be unlikely that "people would be starving without the supplies" in this case? They didn't really endanger anything having to do with supply delivery, unless they were supposed to make several more runs (that was unclear). And wasn'tit arguably were more dangerous to the survivors to leave them on their roofs?

My other question is that they were responding to the Coast Guard request for help, and aren't they required to do that?

Anyway, you probably have more pro-military people (especially the blind guys) in pro-Democrat Louisiana right now because of their efforts.

I say spank 'em and send 'em to their rooms for a little while for breaking the rules, then take 'em out for a drink.

Posted by ex-lib 2005-09-07 11:11|| 2005-09-07 11:11|| Front Page Top

#5 mundane logistical needs

For want of a mundane nail...

Amateurs study tactics, professionals study logistics.

Posted by Mrs. Davis 2005-09-07 11:13|| 2005-09-07 11:13|| Front Page Top

#6 Someone mentioned BJ and Trapper in another thread. I think we found 'em at Pensacola.

Posted by GK 2005-09-07 11:32|| 2005-09-07 11:32|| Front Page Top

#7 I seem to recall that Pres Bush (Commander In Chief) said "Red tape later, do whatever it takes"

Doesn't that make it a direct order from a (Very) Superior Officer?

Posted by Redneck Jim 2005-09-07 14:56|| 2005-09-07 14:56|| Front Page Top

#8 After thinking about it a bit more, this Commander Holdner deserves a stiff reprimand for refusing to follow HIS (CNC's) orders.

Sounds exactly like one of those "Rules above common sense" Officers that screw up everything.

Posted by Redneck Jim 2005-09-07 15:04|| 2005-09-07 15:04|| Front Page Top

#9 If the couple of hours spent in rescuing those folks caused starvation at the primary site, I would have to say the primary site should have been evacuated, because it would have been in pretty bad shape. Since they weren't, it wasn't and while disregarding orders is not a good career-enhancing move, the Boss must be right up there with FEMA in the cluelessness department.
The SAR and Helo guys I have been stationed with over 26 years of active duty put a very high premium on saving lives and some have paid for that with their own lives. To ground somebody for putting his life and that of his crew at risk to save people that should have left while hovering in tight spots is really stupid.

Posted by USN, ret. 2005-09-07 16:15|| 2005-09-07 16:15|| Front Page Top

23:53 Jan
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