June 17, 2002 – Three St. Thomas Coast Guard Auxiliary members are about to receive one of the highest honors given by the U.S. Coast Guard and three others will also be given high commendations for their participation in a daring sea rescue in March 1999.
W. Donald Jeffrey, Klaus Willems, and Richard Dowling will been presented with the Coast Guard Bronze Plaque of Merit – an award that has not been approved for presentation for 50 years – at a ceremony on Saturday.
Avon Chesterfield will be receiving the Coast Guard Public Service Commendation, the civilian equivalent of the Auxiliary Award.
Derek Sylvester and Renaldo Lettsome will also receive appreciation plaques for their participation in the rescue of nine crew members off the freighter Mint Quick south of St. Thomas, according to a release from the USCG.
At the time of the rescue all but one of the crew members were incapacitated with ciguatera, a potentially fatal fish poisoning and the vessel was on autopilot headed straight for St. Thomas at a rate of speed exceeding 15 knots. All aboard were too ill or otherwise unable to disengage the autopilot or slow the 300-foot cargo vessel down, forcing the rescue team, headed by Jeffrey, to board the ship while it was still moving.
After bringing the vessel under control, Dowling, a local pharmacist, and the others administered first aid to the crew members, many of whom were in critical condition and severely dehydrated.
All of the crew members survived.
The awards will be presented by Capt. Douglas Rudolph, commander of the USCG Greater Antilles section, along with representatives of the V.I. government at a ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Antilles School auditorium.
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