The trip from New York to Bermuda was normally a 2 day transit through usually calm waters. This time we were involoved in making a series of oceanographic observations as part of a training exercise for the Oceanographic Technician school which would extend the trip by about a day. A major storm was developing off the East Coast (either a hurricane or more likely, a Nor'easter) and the Half Moon's crew hoped to make Bermuda before it hit.

About halfway to Bermuda, the ship received a Search and Rescue assignment near the edge of the storm to seach for the 35 foot yacht Adios. Only flotsam at the last position reported for the missing yacht. The Captain was directed to modify our Oceanographic plan and to proceed to Bermuda in view of the worsening weather. As the ship headed away from the storm, the seas began to moderate and most of the crew turned in for the night.

During the night, many of those aboard were awakened by the return of the severe pitching motions that the 311 foot ship had made when heading into rough seas. She had received orders to head back into the teeth of the storm to evacuate a seriously ill member of the crew of the USS Investigator, a Navy Radar Picket ship on duty near the center of the storm.

When morning came, the Investigator came into occasional view when both ships were atop the mountainous seas. The winds were at a sustained 50 miles per hour with higher gusts. The decision was made by the two captains to attempt a high-line transfer in the near 30 foot seas.

Several attempts were made to pass a shot line between the two ships. Each time the two ships got close enough to attempt a connection, the angry waves threatened to dash the two ships together. Wisely, the two captains devised an alternative plan where the two ships would race together away from the storm in the direction of Bermuda. Once away from the worst of the storm's fury, the highline would be reattempted. After some hours, it was decided to make another attempt.

After some very tricky maneuvering, Half Moon came alongside the Investigator. The Quartermaster on the wheel kept the Half Moon on a precise parallel course in the huge swells as the deck force went about shooting a line between the ships. Once the messenger line was across, the larger diameter line that would be used to effect the transfer was passed between the ships and made fast at a point just beneath the wing of the bridge.

The evacuee was strapped into a seat known as a bosun's chair and carefully hauled across the line between the two ships, only inches above the tops of the angry waves. Once safely on board the Half Moon, the ships carefully disengaged and broke away from one another - the Investigator to continue her duties back in the storm and the Half Moon now in a life or death race to Bermuda with a seriously ill passenger.

As the Half Moon did not carry a doctor on this (and many of her other patrols), the immediate treatment of the patient fell on Half Moon's very capable corpsman who cared for the crewman until land was reached.

Half Moon pulled into St. Georges Harbor, Bermuda some hours later and launched a small boat while still underway to put ashore linehandlers. The patient was immediately taken to Kindley Air Force Base Hospital in the waiting ambulance where he underwent emergency surgery. We later learned that he had been near death when he arrived at the hospital but that he was expected to fully recover.

The following messages were received by the Half Moon and published in the Plan of the Day:

MEDICO USS INVESTIGATOR

1. THE SUCCESSFUL TRANSFER OF A CRITICALLY ILL CREWMAN OF THE USS INVESTIGATOR AND SUBSEQUENT DELIVERY OF MEDICAL CARE IN THE FACE OF ADVERSE AND DIFFICULT CONDITIONS IS A CREDIT TO YOUR COMMAND AND THE PROFICIENCY OF YOUR CREW.

2. IT REFLECTS THE HIGHEST TRADITIONS OF THE COAST GUARD.

3. WELL DONE.

RADM C. L. HARDING, USCG SENDS.

MEDICO EVACUATION

A. USS INVESTIGATOR

1. THE RAPID RESPONSE AND SMART SEAMANSHIP DEMONSTRATED IN THE EVACUATION FOR THE APPENDICITIS PATIENT FROM USS INVESTIGATOR GIVES TESTIMONY TO THE AVAILABILITY OF THE COAST GUARD AND IN PARTICULAR THE OFFICERS AND MEN OF THE HALF MOON, TO DISCHARGE A MISSION WITH PERSISTENCE AND RESOURCEFULNESS UNDER ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS

2. EFFORT SINCERELY APPRECIATED.

Signed: Commander, Eastern Sea Frontier, US Navy