Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards
in Swiftwater Rescue

2006 HIGGINS & LANGLEY MEMORIAL AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE FIELD OF SWIFTWATER RESCUE

• United States Coast Guard Integrated Support Command New Orleans,
  Louisiana Hurricane Duty Section

  • LCDR Daryl P. Schaffer
  • CWO3 Carter W. Owens III
  • MKCS Gary W. Churchman
  • EM1 Dino A. Federico
  • IT1 Jeffery D. Antwiler
  • DC2 John C. Gohier
  • MK2 Dave A. Wruble
  • MK2 Anthony G. Parrott
  • FS2 Anthony J. Ciurlino
  • HS3 Jamison C. King
  • ET3 Daniel M. McTeague
  • FN Glen D. Willard
  • SN Kimberly N. Foster
  • SN Chris L. Riley

  For performance of duty while serving on the USCG ISC New Orleans Hurricane Duty Section inside New Orleans, including the first surface rescue by a Coast Guard asset and for other lifesaving rescues during the first 24-hours in response to Hurricane Katrina.

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• United States Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans

  • CAPT Bruce Jones, Commanding Officer Air Station New Orleans (pilot)
  • CDR Scott Kitchen, Executive Officer Air Station New Orleans (pilot)
  • LCDR Tim Tobiasz, Operations Officer Air Station New Orleans (pilot)
  • LCDR Tom Cooper (pilot)
  • LCDR Russ Burnside (pilot)
  • LT Olav Saboe (pilot)
  • LT Roberto Torres (pilot)
  • LT Aaron Green (pilot)
  • LTJG Shay Williams (pilot)
  • LT Dave Johnston (pilot)
  • LT Craig Murray (pilot)
  • LTJG Bill Dunbar (pilot)
  • AET2 Roberto Lopez (Flight Mechanic)
  • AMT2 Brett Oquist (Flight Mechanic)
  • AST2 John Rice (Rescue Swimmer)
  • ASTC Jeff Damotta (Rescue Swimmer)
  • AMT2 Mike Colbath (Flight Mechanic)
  • AST2 Chris Monville (Rescue Swimmer)
  • AET3 Warren Labeth (Flight Mechanic)
  • AST3 Lawrence Nettles (Rescue Swimmer)
  • AMT3 John Jamison (Flight Mechanic)
  • AST3 Dave Foreman (Rescue Swimmer)
  • EM2 Rodney Gordon (Ground Support)

  For performance of duty inside New Orleans, conducting air rescue operations during the first 24-hours in response to Hurricane Katrina.

2006 HIGGINS & LANGLEY PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AWARD IN SWIFTWATER RESCUE

• London Fire Brigade
  London, England
  • Divisional Officer Mike W. Fleckney, Project Manager
  • Assistant Divisional Officer David M. O'Neill, Lead Officer
  • Station Officer David K. Hill
  • Mr. Kean Boenke, Training Manager

  In honor of developing a pioneering swiftwater and flood rescue program, which will serve as a worthy model for fire and rescue agencies throughout the United Kingdom.

2006 HIGGINS & LANGLEY INTERNATIONAL AWARD IN SWIFTWATER RESCUE

• Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
  South East Region, Gold Cost South
  Australia
  • Steven J. McKitterick
  • Steven J. Lohmann
  • Robert M. Smyth
  • Michael Mills

  In recognition of the outstanding preparedness and swiftwater rescue teamwork that resulted in the successful rescue of two occupants of a vehicle that was washed away in raging floodwaters on 5 March 2004. This nighttime rescue was performed under extreme conditions during a torrential downpour.

2006 HIGGINS & LANGLEY SWIFTWATER RESCUE TEAM AWARD

• Los Angeles County Fire Department

  • USAR-5103:
    • Captain Lawrence R. Collins, Team Leader
    • Firefighter/Specialist Leopoldo M. Ibarra
    • Firefighter Anthony T. Huynh
    • Firefighter Richard A. Atwood
  • Swiftwater 87:
    • Captain Christopher S. Rash, Team Leader
    • Firefighter David R. Joseph
  • Truck 86:
    • Captain Kenneth E. Whiteing . Team Leader
    • Firefighter/Specialist Martin A. Harper
    • Firefighter Corey A. Magdalik
    • Firefighter Matthew H. Briones
  • Engine 86:
    • Captain Phillip Szabo
    • Firefighter Specialist Donald Tryon
    • Firefighter Tony Haberman

• Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department
  San Dimas Mountain Rescue Team

  • Deputy David Smail, Assistant Reserve Coordinator
  • Reserve Deputy Wayne Tolosa
  • Reserve Deputy Steve Figueroa
  • Reserve Deputy Raymond Hebert
  • Volunteer Specialist Dana Dethloff

• Angeles National Forest Fire Department

  • Everardo Gonzales, Battalion Chief
  • Sam Maldonado, Captain
  • John Flores, Captain
  • Alberto Ortega, Fire Patrol
  • Arnold Ramirez, Engineer
  • Scott Hague, Engineer
  • Allen Khary, Firefighter
  • Jeff Graham, Firefighter
  • Edgar Portillo, Firefighter

In honor of a dangerous and complex multi-agency flash flood and debris flow rescue in San Dimas Canyon of a family of four, including an infant and young child, on January 10, 2005.

2006 HIGGINS & LANGLEY SWIFTWATER RESCUE INCIDENT AWARD

• United States Coast Guard, Air Station San Francisco

  • LCDR Michael Platt
  • LCDR Albert Antaran
  • AMT1 Timothy Johnson
  • AST2 Dennis Moyer
  In honor of the 31 December 2005 rescue by the crew of Coast Guard Helicopter 6517 of a woman who was entrapped in her submerged vehicle in neck-deep water in a torrential current during severe flooding.

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• Ukiah Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue Team & Laytonville Vol. Fire Department

  Ukiah Fire Department Swiftwater Rescue Team Captain Charlie Miller, Team Leader Firefighter/Paramedic Nathan Vagt Vol. Firefighter/EMT Tyler Bushby Vol. Firefighter/EMT Ron Roysum

  Laytonville Vol. Fire Department Captain Terry Guerrero Vol. Firefighter Daniel Zumkeller Vol. Firefighter Ryan Smith

  In honor of the successful rescue of more than 50 residents from the flooded Oak Manor subdivision on December 30, 2005. These rescues were performed under conditions that were extreme.

2006 HIGGINS & LANGLEY SPECIAL COMMENDATION AWARD

• Randy and Mary Cooksey
  Friendly Yamaha Honda
  Baton Rouge, LA

  In honor of the tremendous service that was provided in support of the eight California Office of Emergency Services Swiftwater Rescue Task Force Teams that served in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, 2005, in New Orleans.

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• Shawn Alladio
  K38 Water Safety
  K38 Maritime Security Training

  In honor of Shawn's unselfish dedication and initiative in supporting the California Office of Emergency Services Swiftwater Rescue Task Force Teams serving in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, as well as for her tremendous service above and beyond to the people of New Orleans, including Mr. Lionel Petrie and his beloved dog, Kita.