Rescue-Studs

I just finished watching an episode of a documentary series on the Discovery Channel entitled "SOS: Coast Guard Rescue," which featured lots of POV video of the activities of a particular helicopter crew in the 9th Ward area of New Orleans in the week following Hurricane Katrina. The photo crew mounted cameras everywhere, even placing a helmet-cam on the guy who dangled from the end of the cable and hoisted people off their rooftops and out of their windows (!).

These crews endured hours and hours of dangerous flying, weird situations involving their good judgement and experience, and foul conditions. My hat is off, big time, to the guys who hung it out in Louisiana and Mississippi, and who continue to serve our country in this way. As a fixed-wing guy, I sometimes forget how perilous rotary-wing rescue missions can be, and this show re-educated me.

My suggestion for the rest of us? No Coast Guard helicopter crew should have to buy their own beer in any bar in this country.