Guardians of 2010: March

Written by: Christopher Lagan

Each week Coast Guard Compass honors members of the Coast Guard family as “Guardian of the Week” for their leadership, devotion to duty, and contributions to our service. As we close out 2010, we’re looking back over the year to celebrate the contributions of the Guardians of 2010. Today, we revisit those recognized in March 2010.

BM2s Summers, Ray and SN Edwards – March 5, 2010

Small boat crews are trained to make rescues from the confines of their rescue craft, but the daring and quick thinking of one crew from Station Wilmetter Harbor led to a dramatic ice rescue along the banks of Lake Michigan.

Edwards’ keen awareness and Summers and Ray’s brave decision to attempt a rescue from the seawall saved the victim’s life. By being prepared for the unexpected these three didn’t just uphold the Coast Guard’s core values, they surpassed them.

Click here to read more on this amazing display of teammwork.

SK1 Brooke Hall – March 12, 2010

Go behind the scenes to find out what it takes to keep Air Station Kodiak “Always Ready” as we follow Storekeeper 1st Class Brooke Hall, winner of the Coast Guard’s 2009 Chief Financial Officer Excellence Award.

So much of the Coast Guard revolves around protecting people and saving lives … But many of those rescues are only possible because of the support staff who labor behind the scenes to make sure that when the SAR alarm goes off the boats, cutters, helicopters and airplanes are ready for the mission.

CWO Randy Litka – March 19, 2010

Everytime a Coast Guardsman puts on the uniform, he knows he may be called upon to save a life. But, Chief Warrant Officer Randy Litka demonstrated that being a Guardian is more than wearing blue when he saved a life while traveling off-duty through Philadelphia Airport.

“When you’re on a ship they train,” Litka said, describing drills where people would drop just as the victim in the airport did. Because of this, he was ready to perform CPR and use the defibrillator even though this was the first time he had ever treated a real victim.

St. Baldrick’s team from MSST Alameda – March 26, 2010

Five Coast Guardsmen gave of their time – and their hair, to support childhood cancer research back in March, earning them a spot as Guardians of the Week.

“Just being able to do something for these kids was great,” said Martin. “Seeing the community rally around them and see how much people care was cool. You could see how much it meant to them, but you know it meant a lot to us to.”

Congratulations to all of the Guardians of 2010! Come back tomorrow as we pay tribute to the Guardians of the Week for April 2010.