I know the information has already been posted, but I feel like I need to say something today. I actually just blogged about this on my friends and family blog, but I think I need to bring it here. Pardon the cross-posting....
My bubble of altered reality (the one where I pretend that the hubs' job isn't dangerous) was shattered this morning when I opened my email at work.
At about 8pm last night, Hawaii time, a CG HH-65 crashed just five miles off the coast in Honolulu. The crew was doing some training with a local small boat, and no details have been released as to what happened or how. There will, of course, be an investigation.
Here's the latest update on the local Honolulu newspaper's website.
As of right now, three Coasties have lost their lives, and a fourth is still missing. All the members of the crew have wives and families, and have left them, as well as their wider CG family behind. The hubs and I are "lucky" enough to not know any of those involved personally, but that doesn't make it hurt less.
I am choking back tears as I type - our service is so small that we feel every loss. Our aviation community is even smaller, and, of course, closer to us, and I'd be lying if my first thought wasn't of the hubs. I like to forget that, every time he flies, this possibility exists. I like to think that he's always safe. But, the reality is that every Coastie takes a risk every time they fly or get underway on a boat or cutter. It's not inherently safe, and we can only do our best to keep it safer.
I think I'll stop there, before I make it too real for everyone else, as well. But, please, keep the familes of LCDR Andrew Wischmeier, AST1 David Skimin, and AMT2Joshua Nichols in your thoughts and prayers. At the same time, please keep the family of the missing pilot in your thoughts. Prayer that he may be found sooner than later. Also, keep all of Air Station Barbers Point in your prayers. They're still out there right now, flying and searching for their own lost crewmember. And, finally, remember the crew of the 47' MLB - they watched it happen since they were there conducting training with the helo. I can't imagine what images are going through their minds right now.
Hug your loved ones a little tighter tonight
5 comments:
Thank you for posting this. I wanted someone in the know to say more, and I'm really glad you did.
We will continue to keep the families of missing Coast Guardsman in our thoughts and prayers as well as the families of LtCmdr Wischmeier, AST1 Skimin and AMT2 Nichols.
Again, such a sad day for the Coast Guard. It's tragedies like this that really put the danger of CG jobs/training/deployments into perspective.
I wanted to add, I cross-posted this again for you (I hope you don't mind) on another blog:
http://mymilitarylife.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/a-sad-day-for-the-uscg/
My heart is breaking. My husband did a lot of work with Barbers Point, and knows a lot of the Coasties there.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the families.
Hi, I just wanted to thank you for putting such a nice blog up. I am Danielle Nichols, Josh Nichols wife. I found this when I googled his name to read stories that have been written about him. If I have learned anything from this, it is to not take one day for granted, love like there is no tomorrow. Thank you again for not letting our heros be forgotten.
Danielle, on behalf of all of us here, please accept our sincerest condolences. If there is anything that we can do for you, please let us know. Prayers continue for you all.
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