ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew received an Air Medal and Coast Guard Commendation Medals during an awards ceremony held at the air station Friday.
Rear Adm. Karl L. Schultz, 11th Coast Guard District commander, presented the Air Medal to Lt. Cmdr. James R. Kenshalo, the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, and Coast Guard Commendation Medals to Lt. Beau C. Belanger, the helicopter co-pilot, Petty Officer 2nd Class Travis L. Swain, aviation maintenance technician (flight mechanic) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Corey A. Fix, aviation survival technician (rescue swimmer) for their part in the rescue of six hypothermic hikers from a remote cove near Point Reyes, Calif., July 30, 2013.
Coast Guard Sector San Francisco watchstanders received notification and a request for assistance from the National Park Service in the search for six stranded hikers in the vicinity of Pelican Lake, Calif.
An Air Station San Francisco MH-65 Dolphin aircrew was launched and located the missing hikers near Abalone Point, Calif. The rescue swimmer was deployed and rescued four of the hikers. The rescue swimmer remained on scene with the remaining two hikers while the helicopter crew returned for fuel and brought the four hikers ashore. The aircrew quickly returned and hoisted the rescue swimmer and remaining two hikers.
