Survivor says thanks

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Cathleen Snow
  • 920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs
PATRICK AFB, Fla. --  Floating alone in the open water of the Atlantic Ocean for more than 24 hours without anything more than an orange life vest left Clinton Daughtry nothing but time to think about his life.

A life which the 27-year-old now credits to the 920th Rescue Wing.

Crews from the 920th RQW were dispatched to help find him Oct. 1 more than 24 hours after he and four other boaters were reported missing Sept. 30 approximately 15 miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla.

Due to a boating incident, he was the last of his friends who was still lost at sea. When two HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, known as "Jollys", arrived on the scene the sound of their blades gave Mr. Daughtry hope he said. Their search would span a vast distance the Coast Guard and other rescue crews had not yet reached in their recovery efforts.

The "Jollys" divided up their search. Almost immediately "Jolly" 236's crews saw signs they were on the right track. A cooler and some boat debris pointed them in the right direction. Minutes later, Capt. John Tatton, co-pilot, 301st Rescue Squadron, spotted the missing man in the water waving his arms.

Mr. Daughtry recalls the spray of salt water stinging his face when the helicopter hovered above him. "I just closed my eyes while they pulled me out," said Mr. Daughtry. That man was Staff Sgt. Joel Corbett, pararescueman from the 308th Rescue Squadron. Sergeant Corbett on his first real life-saving mission plunged into the water to facilitate the rescue. As he approached Mr. Daughtry, "the biggest sigh of relief came over him," said Sergeant Corbett.

Other than being sun burnt, dehydrated and exhausted; Sergeant Corbett knew the man would be okay because he said he was able to respond coherently to his questions.

Several weeks after their valiant rescue, crewmembers and pararescuemen from that mission encountered the poignancy of the Daughtry family's appreciation. Families requested a meeting with the men they referred to as "angels" so they could personally thank them. A rescue reunion was held at Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Oct. 21.

Coast Guard Capt. Paul Thomas, commander Sector Jacksonville said, "... It's a great day to be part of the local maritime search and rescue team. The outcome could not have been better. It serves to remind us all of the importance of our mission, the value of teamwork and the need to always be vigilant, always ready."

"Your efforts saved four lives, reunited four families and demonstrated once again the effectiveness of our partnership and the value that we bring to our community."

"I spent much of the night with the families of these four men. I saw the fear in their eyes and heard the doubt in their voices as they asked me how you were carrying out your duties to find the men. I had the privilege of telling them that you had found their loved ones," said the captain.

The families presented handwritten thank you cards and a round life saver embellished with family photos and thank yous to the men.

Details of the rescue efforts surfaced in conversations as everyone involved reflected on their thoughts and actions that day. Sergeant Corbett and Mr. Daughtery joked about the situation, but both agreed being around for their own children gives them even more reasons to be thankful for the successful weekend rescue.

920th Rescue Wing Crews include:  

Jolly 235
Maj. Michael Bolling, pilot, 301st Rescue Squadron
Maj. Bruce Schuman, pilot, 301st Rescue Squadron
Master Sgt. Carlos Gonzalez, flight engineer,  301st Rescue Squadron
SMSgt Randolph Wells, aerial gunner, 301st Rescue Squadron
TSgt. Paul Schultz, pararescueman,  308th Rescue Squadron
SrA Patrick Dunne, pararescueman, 308th Rescue Squadron

Jolly 236
Lt. Col. Brent Baysinger, pilot, 301st Rescue Squadron
Capt. John Tatton, pilot, 301st Rescue Squadron
Chief Master Sgt. Lazaro Ibarra, flight engineer, 301st Rescue Squadron
Master Sgt. Chad Evens, pararescueman, 308th Rescue Squadron
Tech Sgt. William Allen, aerial gunner, 301st Rescue Squadron
Staff Sgt. Joel Corbett, pararescueman, 308th Rescue Squadron