Squadron honored for saving lives

When the Coast Guard has called, Cherry Point's Marine Transport Squadron 1 has answered - answered by helping save lives.

The Coast Guard honored the Marine unit that operates the rescue helicopters known as Pedro with its Meritorious Unit Commendation at a ceremony Wednesday morning at the air station.

Cmdr. Jeff Dixon, of the U.S. Coast Guard command at Fort Macon, presented the award to Lt. Col. Wayne Bunker, commanding officer of VMR-1, as the 110-member unit stood at attention.

The citation lauded the unit helping the Coast Guard by assisting more than 50 mariners in distress and saving 14 lives from January of 2005 to July of 2008.

"The devotion to duty and outstanding performance demonstrated by VMR-1 are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard" the commendation stated.

Two particular incidents were mentioned in the citation. In one, Pedro crews responded 32 miles offshore to transport a heart attack victim to the hospital in 2005, saving the patient's life, according to the citation.

In the other, Pedro crews helped in the recovery of an abandoned barge containing 5.5 million gallons of fuel oil about 40 miles southeast of Cape Fear in 2006.

The tug boat hauling the barge began sinking and cut the barge loose. While the Coast Guard rescued the crew of the sunken tug, Pedro crews flew to the scene, and in heavy seas and gale force winds, safely lowered members of the Coast Guard to the barge so it could be rigged for another tug boat.

"Pedro's decisive response prevented the out-of-control barge from running aground on Frying Pan Shoals, averting a certain environmental catastrophe," according to the commendation.

It is not the first time that awards have been presented to VMR-1. The squadron was awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation with Operational Distinguishing Device in 1992, 1998 and 2001, and received recognition in 1994 with the award of the Marine Corps Commandant's Aviation Efficiency Trophy.

The squadron was the recipient of the Chief of Naval Operations Aviation Safety Award 13 years in a row from 1993 to 2006.

VMR-1 was also the recipient of a CMC Certificate of Commendation in 2000 with an association Meritorious Unit Commendation. The squadron was recognized by the Joint Operational Support Airlift Center as the Unit of the Year in the Large Jet Category in 2000 and 2002.

The squadron's HH-46 helicopters and crew were cited for having conducted 400 mishap-free hoist and swimmer evolutions with the Coast Guard.

The unit, known as the Roadrunners, have maintained more than 30,500 hours of uninterrupted readiness "providing an unusual safety net to the maritime public of eastern North Carolina," according to the commendation.