Family reunion caps boating rescue for rescuers

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Floating alone in the open water of the Atlantic Ocean for more than 24 hours with nothing more than an orange life vest left Clinton Daughtry nothing but time to think about his life, a life which the 27-year-old now credits to the 920th Rescue Wing.

Crews from the Air Force Reserve Command rescue wing were dispatched Oct. 1 to help find him and four other boaters more than 24 hours after they were reported missing Sept. 30, some 15 miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla.

When two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, known as "Jollys," arrived on the scene, the sound of their blades gave Mr. Daughtry hope, he said. The search would span a vast distance the Coast Guard and other rescue crews had not yet reached in their recovery efforts.

The Jolly crews divided up their search. Almost immediately members of Jolly 236's crew saw signs they were on the right track. A cooler and some boat debris pointed them in the right direction. Minutes later, Capt. John Tatton, co-pilot in the 301st Rescue Squadron, spotted the missing man in the water waving his arms.

Mr. Daughtry recalls the spray of salt water stinging his face when the helicopter hovered above him.

"I just closed my eyes while they pulled me out," he said.

Staff Sgt. Joel Corbett, a pararescueman from the 308th Rescue Squadron, was on his first real life-saving mission.

He plunged into the water and as he approached Mr. Daughtry he saw, "the biggest sign of relief came over him," said Sergeant Corbett.

Other than being sun burnt, dehydrated and exhausted, Sergeant Corbett knew the man would be OK because he responded coherently to questions.

Several weeks after the rescues, crewmembers and pararescuemen from that mission got to meet the families of the men they rescued. The families had requested a meeting with the men they referred to as "angels" so they could personally thank them. A rescue reunion was held at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Oct. 21. 

" It's a great day to be part of the local maritime search and rescue team, said Coast Guard Capt. Paul Thomas, commander Sector Jacksonville. "The outcome could not have been better. It serves to remind us all of the importance of our mission, the value of teamwork and the need to always be vigilant, always ready."

To the rescuers he said, "Your efforts saved lives, reunited families and demonstrated once again the effectiveness of our partnership and the value that we bring to our community.

"I spent much of the night with the families of these men. I saw the fear in their eyes and heard the doubt in their voices as they asked me how you were carrying out your duties to find the men. I had the privilege of telling them that you had found their loved ones," said the captain.

The families presented handwritten thank you cards and a round life saver decorated with family photos and thank yous to the men.

Details of the rescue efforts surfaced in conversations as everyone involved reflected on his thoughts and actions that day.

Sergeant Corbett and Mr. Daughtry joked about the situation, but both agreed being around for their own children gives them even more reasons to be thankful for the successful weekend rescue.  (Courtesy of AFRC News Service)