Black Ribbon Halloween

Please take a moment to pause this weekend among the many parties and celebrations of Halloween to remember the crew of CG-1705.  Every member of our service, military and civilian had barely come to terms with knowing the meaning of CG-6505.  Today we have another number embedded  in our lexicons for life … 1705.

Across our nation and around the world there are friends, family and shipmates who will for ever link Halloween to the ill-fated flight of CG-1705.  Please keep the men and women of 1705 in your thoughts and prayers.  Please remember the friends, family and shipmates of the crew of 1705 as well.

Coast Guard Report will maintain radio silence in honor of these Guardians on Sunday, 1 November from 0600 to 1800.  We encourage our readers to take a break from the internet, from blogs, and blogging to spend the first day of November with your own friends, family and shipmates.

On monday we encourage you to shake a shipmates hand, hug a shipmate, and remember that you all have a dangerous and challenging mission as Americas Guardians.

Semper Paratus, Semper Paratus…

Our Special Report on the U.S. Coast Guard Office of Civil Rights – Sunday, 1 November 2009

Check back on Sunday morning with your favorite cup of joe for our exclusive update on the Commandant of the Coast Guards Civil Rights programs.

Rescuers find debris but no survivors in area of midair military collision [Updated]

Rescuers find debris but no survivors in area of midair military collision [Updated]

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Admiral Thad Allen Updates Employees on Loss of CG-1705

Update: Loss of Coast Guard C-130 and Marine Corps Helicopter.

I sent the following e-mail update to all Coast Guard personnel:

To the Men and Women of the United States Coast Guard:

We are still in the midst of a massive search effort to locate the seven missing Guardians from CG-1705 and the two Marines from the AH-1 Cobra helicopter. Coast Guard and Navy assets, along with a Customs and Border Protection helicopter, are searching a 644 nautical mile area and have recovered debris from both aircraft but we have not located any survivors at this time. I remain hopeful and we will continue to search until all of our options are exhausted.

After completing the next of kin notifications and consulting closely with our Marine Corps and Navy partners, we are releasing the names of the AIRSTA Sacramento based crew of the CG-1705:

Lieutenant Commander Che J. Barnes; age 35
Lieutenant Adam W. Bryant; age 28
Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman; age 43
Petty Officer Second Class Carl P. Grigonis; age 35
Petty Officer Second Class Monica L. Beacham; age 29
Petty Officer Second Class Jason S. Moletzsky; age 26
Petty Officer Third Class Danny R. Kreder II; age 22.

The names of the missing Marines are Major Samuel Leigh, age 35, and First Lieutenant Thomas Claiborne, age 26.

I am extremely proud of all the people involved in the search efforts – their dedication to finding their fellow shipmates is inspiring. We will continue to support AIRSTA Sacramento, the families of the missing crewmembers, and all the participating units with everything they need to continue the search.

This event, like the CG-6505 helicopter accident last year, highlights the risks we accept every day to ensure the Nation’s safety and security. As Guardians, we acknowledge the risk but that doesn?t ease the emotional burden we feel after a tragedy. I know many people have been working extremely hard over the last several days so please watch each other’s back.

I will provide further updates as they become available. Keep these missing Guardians and Marines, along with their families, in your thoughts during this difficult time.

Admiral Thad Allen
Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard Releases Names of CG-1705 Crew

The missing crew members from the Coast Guard C-130 are:

Lt. Cmdr. Che J. Barnes, age 35, Capay, Calif., Aircraft Commander.

Lt. Adam W. Bryant, age 28, Crewe, Va., Co-Pilot.

Chief Petty Officer John F. Seidman, age 43, Stockton, Calif., Flight Engineer.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Carl P. Grigonis, age 35, Mayfield Heights, Ohio, Navigator.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Monica L. Beacham, age 29, Decaturville, Tenn., Radio Operator.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason S. Moletzsky, age 26, Norristown, Pa., Air Crew.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Danny R. Kreder II, age 22, Elm Mott, Texas, Drop Master.

All are stationed at Coast Guard Air Station Sacramento, Calif., where their aircraft was based.

The missing crew members from the Marine Corps helicopter are:

Maj. Samuel Leigh, age 35, Kennebec, Maine.

1st Lt. Thomas Claiborne, age 26, Douglas, Colo.

Coast Guard air crew based in Sacramento area missing in crash – Sacramento News – Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

Coast Guard air crew based in Sacramento area missing in crash – Sacramento News – Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee

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Survivors Unlikely in CG-1705 Midair Crash, Pentagon Official Says

By John J. Kruzel, American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON (NNS) — Search efforts continue after two military aircraft collided off the California coast Oct. 29, but a Defense Department official said it is unlikely there are survivors among the nine people aboard.

The crash occurred about 7 p.m. local time last night some 15 miles east of San Clemente Island, Calif., when a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft with seven people aboard collided with an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter containing two pilots, according to the U.S. Coast Guard Web site.

“The search is still on, but it’s likely taken the lives of nine individuals,” said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, calling the collision a “tragic event.”

The Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps are involved in the search, with Coast Guard assets including two MH-60J Jayhawk helicopters, the Cutters Edisto and Petrel, from San Diego, and the Cutter Black fin from Santa Barbara, Calif.

The Coast Guard aircraft from Air Station Sacramento was engaged in a search and rescue mission and the Marine helicopter from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton was conducting a routine training mission at the time of the crash. The Navy reported to the Coast Guard that they observed what appeared to be a midair collision, according to the Coast Guard. Coast Guard and Navy crews searched through the night amid conditions offering unlimited visibility and “ideal search conditions,” the Coast Guard reported.

Efforts are focused on the search for survivors, and the Coast Guard is investigating to determine the cause of the accident.

Commandant of the Marine Corps Veterans Day Message

R 301653Z OCT 09
UNCLASSIFIED//
ALMAR 036/09
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/VETERANS DAY//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS ARMISTICE DAY, THE VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY WAS CREATED TO COMMEMORATE THE END OF WORLD WAR I.  IN 1954, PRESIDENT DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER SIGNED A BILL SPECIFYING THAT 11 NOVEMBER WOULD THERAFTER BE KNOWN AS VETERANS DAY TO HONOR THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN AMERICA’S ARMED FORCES.
2.  THE PROCLAMATION THAT ACCOMPANIED THE BILL INCLUDED THE 34TH PRESIDENT’S DESIRE THAT AMERICANS “WOULD SOLEMNLY REMEMBER THE SACRIFICES OF ALL THOSE WHO FOUGHT SO VALIANTLY, ON THE SEAS, IN THE AIR, AND ON FOREIGN SHORES TO PRESERVE OUR HERITAGE OF FREEDOM.”  IT ALSO CALLED UPON THE CITIZENS OF OUR REPUBLIC TO “RECONSECRATE OURSELVES TO THE TASK OF PROMOTING AN ENDURING PEACE SO THAT THEIR EFFORTS SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN IN VAIN.”
3.  MORE THAN HALF A CENTURY HAS PASSED SINCE THE HOLIDAY’S NAME WAS FORMALLY CHANGED TO ITS PRESENT “VETERANS DAY.”  OVER THAT TIME, AMERICANS HAVE CONTINUED TO SET ASIDE 11 NOVEMBER AS A SPECIAL DAY OF SOLEMN OBSERVANCE AND REFLECTION TO HONOR THE SERVICE AND SACRIFICE OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE PROUDLY WORN THE UNIFORMS OF THE ARMY, NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR FORCE, AND COAST GUARD.  OUR WARRIORS’ UNWAVERING DEDICATION TO THE IDEALS UPON WHICH OUR REPUBLIC WAS FOUNDED HAS BROUGHT PEACE AND PROSPERITY NOT ONLY TO OUR OWN NATION, BUT TO COUNTLESS OPPRESSED PEOPLES AROUND THE GLOBE.
4.  TODAY, THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ARMED FORCES ONCE AGAIN SERVE ON THE FRONT LINES OF THE BATTLE AGAINST VIOLENT EXTREMISM.  THEIR SACRIFICES IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM HAVE BROUGHT HOPE TO THOSE WHO SHARE OUR NATION’S DESIRE FOR PEACE AND LIBERTY.  I TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF OUR MARINES, PAST AND PRESENT, AS PART OF THIS EXTRAORDINARY TRADITION IN DEFENSE OF FREEDOM.  IT IS MY GREAT HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR DEVOTION TO OUR MARINE CORPS AND TO OUR GREAT NATION.
5.  SEMPER FIDELIS, MARINES.  JAMES T. CONWAY, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS.//

Downed Flight of CG-1705 – Search for Answers Continues

There is very little new information this morning, but the FreePress has one new update.

9 Feared Dead in Midair Accident

The collision occurred minutes after civilian air traffic controllers told the Coast Guard C130 pilot to begin communicating with military controllers, said Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor.

Coast Guard, Navy continue search for downed aircraft

Coast Guard, Navy continue search for downed aircraft.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Coast Guard, Navy, and Marine Corps continue the searching for survivors from two military aircraft that collided 15 miles east of San Clemente Island, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009.

A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules aircraft, from Air Station Sacramento, was engaged in a search and rescue mission when it collided with an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter, from the 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing stationed at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, conducting a training mission.

The Navy reported to the Coast Guard that they observed what appeared to be a mid-air collision.

Coast Guard crews, as well as the Navy, have been searching through the night. Visibility in the vicinity of the search area is unlimited allowing for ideal search conditions.

The Coast Guard assets involved in the search are: an MH-60 “Jayhawk” helicopter and an MH-65 “Dolphin” helicopter, and the Cutters Edisto and Petrel, homeported in San Diego, Blackfin which is homeported in Santa Barbara, Calif., and Jarvis, homeported in Honolulu. The Cutters George Cobb, homeported in Long Beach, Calif. and Narwhal, homeported in Corona Del Mar, Calif. are currently en route to the area.

The Coast Guard is conducting an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Efforts are focused on the search for survivors but servicemembers are also collecting debris to support the investigation.