Searching for an "overdue to destination" vessel or aircraft can be a daunting task. You conduct large search patterns based on known information. You may fly at a higher altitude to gain a better perspective of the water below.  A perfect search day would be clear skies and no wind but that was very rare. Any wind would cause white water and the crew needed to be very diligent in the methods of searching those waters. I have been on searches with multiple  aircraft searching from sunrise to sunset without the anticipated find, You know when you search, that if you take your eyes away for a moment, that could have been the moment, the opportunity to change from search to rescue.  I was proud to be part of crews that understood the task and took it very seriously.

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• It was rare but some guys arrived with less than a stellar attitude to be a Coast Guardsman. I remember on one 

  occasion we were on an extended search. I was positioned on my secured stool at the rear fully opened hatch and had my safety harness secured to the upper bulkhead. I had a full unobstructed view of the search area.  On the opposite side of  aircraft was another crew member at the opened half hatch. Under the hatch, against the bulkhead was a 25 man life raft at the ready for deployment in the event it was necessary. The crew member to my back was not always looking at the water below and continued to be distracted. I told him more than once to stay focused. At one point he was looking out the hatch while fidgeting with the "D" ring on the 25 man life raft and I told him again to focus. On another day and another search, while flying with Rex Barton,  this same individual was doing the same thing and playing with the "D' ring. Then it happened... while positioned on the stool, Rex was being pushed out the hatch by the 25 man life raft being inflated inside the HU16. He immediately grabbed his six inch knife from his ankle holster and started punching holes in the raft before he was dangling outside the aircraft.  This particular crew-member had other entries in his personnel file... this new entry was his last. He was  released from the U.S. Coast Guard. He didn't face any major departure issues. It was a just  go home...  thank you but no thank you. ​

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• On one occasion, we got dispatched to look for an overdue aircraft that based on the flight plan departed from Georgia to San Juan. Once the aircraft was long overdue, aircraft from Miami and St. Petersburg Air Stations were included in the search. One the second day of searching the aircraft was located. The aircraft was found on the ramp at an airport in Texas. It seemed that the pilot told his wife he was going to San Juan and filed as such but went to Texas to meet his girlfriend.  U.S.C.G. had searched for two days with cutters and aircraft  because the wife called for help. She did not stand by her man. The U.S.C.G. used this case as well as others to go after individuals for restitution. 

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