Coast Guard Aviation Association

Stone Award

2015 CGAA Awards

Commander Elmer Stone Fixed Wing Rescue Award

HC-144 CGNR 2309 crew, CGAS Cape Cod
LT Jamison R. Ferriell
LT Erik J. Price
AMT3 Eric C. Woods
AMT3 Christopher S. Lelyo

Nomination Summary

The Commander Elmer F. Stone Award is presented to the Air Station Cape Cod crew CGNR 2309 in recognition of their heroic efforts on 08 February 2015. The actions of LT Ferriell,LT Price, AMT3 Woods , and AMT3 Lelyo resulted in the saving of a premature baby via medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). Demonstrating superior airmanship and judgment the crew of CGNR 2309 launched for the transport of a neonatal medical team and an emergency MEDEVAC of an infant on Nantucket Island. Time was of the essence for the crew of CGNR 2309 as doctors indicated that the infant had less than four hours to live. A daunting winter storm grounded civilian Life Flight services, leaving the infant struggling to breathe and without critical medical assistance. Immediately upon notification, the aircrew began to configure the aircraft for the demanding mission and the pilots coordinated complex aircraft weight and balance to ensure the aircraft’s limited cargo capacity was adequate for the delivery of a three man specialized medical team and a 455 pound neonatal self-contained incubator. Taking off at the extreme limits of the aircraft performance envelope and into white out, blizzard conditions, the crew battled snow, ice, and turbulence enroute to Nantucket. Upon arriving on scene, the crew found the short, narrow, uncontrolled field to be near approach minimums. Once on deck, the crew’s expert direction of airport ground and ambulance crews facilitated a speedy and life saving medical transfer. Returning to Air Station Cape Cod was even more difficult than the departure with ceilings and visibility at precision approach minimums and crosswinds at limits. The crew safely executed an approach to the ice and snow covered runway, saving one life.