Coast Guard Aviation Association

Victor Roulund Award Criteria

Nominations are solicited every 2 years (alternates with Hall of Honor inductions).  This award recognizes quick-thinking individuals within U.S. Coast Guard Aviation, who have taken risks and improvised in extraordinary circumstances, with the intent to save a life or lives.  Nominations may be made by any CGAA member in good standing. 

The Victor Roulund Award is co-sponsored by Mr. Roy Vander Putten, and the Coast Guard Aviation Association (CGAA).  

Criteria:  Crewmembers of Coast Guard aircraft eligible for consideration will have, like PO Roulund, exercised uncommon situational awareness and timely resourcefulness, while courageously operating outside of normal “crew duties,” at the risk of their personal safety; and solved the extraordinary, evolving challenges they encountered on-scene, that were threatening the lives of others and/or their fellow shipmates.

The mission that required such a deed must have taken place at least 10 years before the date of nomination.

Eligible crewmembers include all personnel who flew in Coast Guard aircraft under official orders, to augment a crew with their special skills, addressing the specific needs of a particular mission.

Submissions:  Nominations shall be submitted to the CGAA Executive Secretary ([email protected]) and satisfy all award criteria.  Self-nomination is not acceptable.

The nomination must provide:

  • Complete contact information for the person making the nomination.
  • Short biography of the person being nominated (No more than 1 page)
  • A large photo of nominee, or equivalent high resolution digital image.
  • Detailed documentation supporting the nomination in one or more selection criteria. (No more than 2 pages)
  • A draft citation (no more than 275 words).

Background Information:
This award is named in honor of AD2 Victor Roulund, USCG, who, on 24 December 1955, was part of the augmented crew of an HO4S (a variant of the Sikorsky H-19/S-55) helicopter, deployed to Marysville, in Northern California.  PO2 Roulund’s crew faced daunting weather and rescue challenges in the vicinity of the Yuba River, where countless people were seriously stricken in sudden, extreme flooding conditions.  Within a 12-hour span of operations, PO2 Roulund, and his three fellow crewmembers, rotated in and out of the helo, and in total, hoisted 138 people.

In one situation, in the pre-dawn darkness, Roulund was lowered to the roof of a house trailer, that was floating down the Feather River.  Then, his crew and helicopter departed scene to assist others in peril.

Alone, risking his personal safety, he solved the extraordinary challenges of: determining that a disabled, immobile person was, in fact, inside the sinking structure; finding a way into that trailer; locating that panicked person inside; carrying her through the rising water and darkness to the door; signaling with his wet, yet miraculously reliable, flashlight for his helo to return; then placing her into the rescue basket, all before the trailer sank, capsized, or collided with a large object, most likely seriously injuring or killing both of them.

There was one last hope for Mrs. Dingeman, and for all who loved her.  Victor Roulund’s efforts to be her “one last hope” place him among the quick-thinking Coast Guard members – before him and after him – who improvised in the real world of high winds, cold seas, and chaos.  In addition, he operated well outside of what was routinely regarded as normal “crew duties,” with the intent to save a life or lives. 

For further information contact:  CGAA Executive Secretary at:  [email protected].