Responders rescue 2 pilots from downed small plane off Kona, Hawaii

Coast Guard crews safely deliver David McMahon and Sidney Uemoto to emergency medical personnel in Kona, Hawaii, July 15, 2016, following their rescue nine miles off Kona. They were both rescued by a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew following an expansive joint search by Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews. They reportedly sustained only minor injures in the crash. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Cooper/Released)

HONOLULU , HI, UNITED STATES
07.15.2016
Story by Chief Petty Officer Sara Mooers
U.S. Coast Guard District 14 Hawaii

HONOLULU — Survivors of a downed small plane were rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard off Kona, Thursday, following a joint search involving the U.S. Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews.

An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew hoisted the survivors at 11:35 a.m. about nine miles north of the Kona airport, a mile and half offshore. They were flown to the airport where they were met by awaiting emergency medical crews and treated for minor injuries.

A commercial helicopter flying along the Kona coast sighted a debris field and reported it to the Coast Guard. One of the Dolphin crews was diverted to investigate and sighted the survivors. They vectored in a second Dolphin crew with a rescue swimmer aboard to conduct the hoist. The survivors were both wearing lifejackets and were swimming toward shore at the time.

Involved in the search were:
- HC-130 Hercules airplane crews and MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crews from Air Station Barbers Point
- A Navy MH-60R helicopter crew from the USS Chung Hoon (DDG-93) and the crew of the ship
- The USCGC Galveston Island (WPB-1349)
- A Royal New Zealand air force P3K2 Orion airplane crew
- HC-130 Hercules airplane crew from the 353rd Special Operations Group from Kadena Air Base, Japan

At 3:15 p.m. watchstanders at the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Honolulu received notification from Honolulu control facility personnel that the pilot of a dual engine aircraft with two people aboard radioed them reporting and in air emergency. The tower confirmed they then lost contact with the pilot and the plane no longer appeared on radar.

The plane was reportedly traveling to Kona from Oahu, not Maui as previously reported, with the last known position approximately 25 miles northwest of Kona. A Navy P3 Orion airplane was on approach to Kona and overheard the pilot’s call to the tower. The Orion crew initially diverted to investigate the report, but is not involved in the search.

Watchstanders immediately issued an urgent marine information broadcast advising mariners in the area to keep a sharp lookout and report any sightings to JRCC. They also directed the launch of assets to respond.

The Chung Hoon is homeported in Pearl Harbor. The Galveston Island is homeported in Honolulu. The Chung Hoon, Royal New Zealand air force and U.S. Air Force HC-130 are participating in RIMPAC 2016.

For more information, please contact the public affairs office at 808-535-3230.

Coast Guard and Hawaii Fire Department personnel stand with the mother of Sidney Uemoto following her daughter's rescue nine miles off Kona, Hawaii, July 15, 2016. Uemoto and David McMahon were both rescued by a Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew following an expansive joint search by Navy, Royal New Zealand air force, U.S. Air Force and Coast Guard crews. (U.S. Coast Guard photo/Released)

JTF-Bravo medic saves a life.

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Holman, a combat medic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, poses for a photo in front of two UH-60 Black Hawks at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, July 12, 2016. While on leave in Roatán, Honduras, Holman save the life of a Honduran teen who was unresponsive on the beach. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Siuta B. Ika)

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, HONDURAS
07.13.2016
Story by Staff Sgt. Siuta Ika
Joint Task Force Bravo

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras -- What started as a quiet afternoon spent enjoying off-duty time and celebrating the Fourth of July weekend in Roatán, Honduras took a sudden turn for one member of Joint Task Force-Bravo on July 2.

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Holman, a combat medic assigned to the 1st Battalion, 228th Aviation Regiment, was at a local scuba shop packing up his equipment after returning from a dive when he heard yells for help.

“I didn't know what was going on, but the individual was yelling for a doctor or anybody who knew CPR,” Holman said. “So I took off and about 50 to 60 meters down the beach four or five people were gathered around a young Honduran lady laying on the ground. She was probably around 13 years old. I kind of put two and two together when I saw her soaked, unresponsive, and looking like she was just pulled out of the water.”

Immediately, Holman took control of the situation and positioned the girl to administer CPR. Two minutes later, the girl started breathing again and she was moved to a park ranger's truck to be transported to the hospital.

“She and I were in the backseat and she was breathing a little bit, but crashed on the way up there so I did CPR again,” Holman said. “The hospital's on the other side of the island -- usually about a 25 minute drive, but the park rangers made it in 7 minutes. It was pretty difficult trying to keep her breathing and keep myself in the truck.”

The moment the truck arrived at the hospital Holman carried the girl to a stretcher. He then watched as the girl became responsive the moment the stretcher's front wheels hit the ER ramp. After talking to a couple doctors to let them know what happened, he was relieved to learn she would most likely make a full recovery.

“The whole ordeal took probably around 15 minutes, but time really didn't exist because my adrenaline was pumping and I was just focused on keeping her alive,” Holman said.

Because he was so focused on keeping the girl alive, Holman didn’t realize that he didn't have any shoes on, his shirt was partially buttoned, and his wallet was still with his scuba equipment.

Not seeking recognition, Holman only informed his leadership of what transpired because he noticed some of the locals were taking pictures and videos of him and he wanted them to be aware in case he showed up on the local news.

“I'm glad Spc. Holman was in the right place at the right time to take swift action,” said U.S. Army Capt. Michael Haynes, 1-228th AVN Headquarters and Headquarters Company commander. “He's one of our many great 'Phantoms’ who apply instinct and training in times of need. In this situation particularly, he embodied not only the Army values but the vision of what the 1-228th AVN strives for every day. I'm honored to have him on the Phantom team.”

Holman was awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal from U.S. Navy Adm. Kurt Tidd, the commander of U.S. Southern Command, but he insists he only did what comes natural to him as a combat medic.

“I didn’t do this for an award,” Holman said. “As cliché as it sounds, my passion in life is helping people. Any medic in the Army worth their salt would do the exact same thing every time because that's just what we do.”

Although Holman is reaching the end of an Army enlistment that’s taken him to nine different countries in four years, he will be getting out to resume his pre-med studies and work in the emergency medical services field -- a field he worked in prior to joining the Army.

“Medics and soldiers have a lot in common,” Holman said. “Sometimes people get confused about what a hero is. We're not heroes. We just care about people and that's what we want to do -- help.”

Eagle Wrath 2016

COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER CAMP FUJI, SHIZUOKA, JAPAN
07.11.2016
Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni

U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Micah Steven McMackins, an aircraft rescue and firefighting specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, prepares to throw an M69 practice grenade as part of a grenade training range during exercise Eagle Wrath 2016 at Combined Arms Training Center Camp Fuji, July 11, 2016. The annual exercise focus on providing aviation-ground support to an assigned aviation combat element while reinforcing skills that Marines learned throughout their military occupational specialty schooling and Marine Combat Training. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron Henson/Released)

Submarine Rescue Exercise at RIMPAC

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HI, UNITED STATES
07.13.2016
Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeffrey Troutman
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM (July 13, 2016) Chinese navy sailors from submarine rescue ship Changdao (867) retrieve an LR-7 submersible undersea rescue vehicle following a successful mating evolution with a U.S. faux-NATO rescue seat, during Rim of the Pacific 2016. The evolution was the final event and practical portion of a multinational submarine rescue exercise between seven countries. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. (U.S. Navy Photo By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jeff Troutman /RELEASED)

Mass casualty rescue training aboard destroyer helicopter ship JS Hyuga (DDH 181)

PACIFIC OCEAN
07.14.2016
Courtesy Photo
Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet

PACIFIC OCEAN (July14,2016) Japan Maritime Self Defense Force and U.S. Navy Sailors conduct mass casualty rescue training aboard destroyer helicopter ship JS Hyuga (DDH 181) during Rim of the Pacific 2016. Twenty-six nations, more than 40 ships and submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC from June 30 to Aug. 4, in and around the Hawaiian Islands and Southern California. The world's largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity that helps participants foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans. RIMPAC 2016 is the 25th exercise in the series that began in 1971. Japan Maritime Self Defense Photo by Ryo Tanaka/Released)