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U.S. Navy Warship Conducts Rescue At Sea

From Constellation Strike Group Public Affairs

May 12, 2003, aboard USS CONSTELLATION, At Sea (NNS) - While transiting home on their 21st and final deployment in the Arabian Gulf and after participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom, USS Constellation (CV 64) received a distress call from an Indonesian inter-island ferry boat carrying civilian passengers in the Banda Sea.

USS Milius (DDG 69), also transiting home with the Constellation Strike Group, was in a position to assist, and was tasked by Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7, embarked on Constellation, to investigate and render assistance to the vessel.

Once Milius received the call from the DESRON, they responded immediately and quickly launched a Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) into the water to assess the situation. The vessel, which had 27 civilians aboard, including children, suffered an electrical generator and diesel propulsion engine failure, which had been inoperable for three days. The vessel had attempted to hail several passing ships for two days before Milius responded.

Once on the scene, several crew members from Milius embarked the vessel to make repairs. They were able to restore electrical power but found the diesel engine was not repairable. Adding further complications to the initial situation was the fact that no one on the vessel spoke English. Constellation, however, had two linguists aboard and was able to dispatch a helicopter carrying Cryptologic Technician Interpretive 3rd Class Russell Crandall, an Indonesian interpreter, to assist the Milius crew in communicating with the vessel.

"I could immediately tell that they were so thankful that we had stopped to help them," said Crandall.

Crandall offered continuous communication between the Indonesian members and the crew of Milius which facilitated a friendly and calming environment for the stressed passengers.

After a full assessment of the situation and discussion with the vessel's captain, it was determined that the best option for ensuring the vessel's safety would be to tow it to the nearby Indonesian island of Pulau-Sanana, the closest island to the vessel. As they rigged the vessel for towing, Milius provided the vessel's thankful crew and passengers with food and water.

"It was a good feeling to be able to use our training to help these people," said Boatswain Mate 3rd Class (SW) Alvaro Membreno.

As Milius began slowly towing the disabled vessel towards the port of Sanaa, the civilians aboard the vessel showed their gratitude to the Milius crew by chanting, "USA, USA!"

"The mayor and villagers of Sanana were very welcoming and were grateful to us for helping their countrymen," said Lt. j.g. Mike Harmon, a boat officer during the rescue.

To show their support and good will, Milius Sailors gave the children aboard the vessel ballcaps and candy, and the villagers returned the favor by providing the crew with fruit from the island.

"The U.S. Navy has a long history of rendering assistance at sea. It is nice to be a part of that distinguished history and help out fellow mariners in need," said Ensign Greg Waterson, Milius' first lieutenant.


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