MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. – A Temecula, Calif., native and 2001 graduate of the Army and Navy Academy of Carlsbad, Calif., was awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal for his heroic life saving actions in June 2011.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean McTague, a Coast Guard flight mechanic stationed at Air Station Humboldt Bay, was formally recognized for heroics when he was presented the award by Capt. John Prince, Eleventh Coast Guard District chief of staff on Nov. 4, 2011.

McTague and his fiancée, Sandra Clausen, were traveling south on Interstate 5 toward their hometown on the night of June 11, 2011, when they were involved in a motor-vehicle collision.  At approximately midnight, McTague noticed brake lights from a car in the right lane, followed by headlights from the car of an intoxicated driver traveling the wrong direction on the freeway. Unable to avoid the oncoming vehicle, McTague slammed his brakes and collided head-on with the intoxicated driver.

Despite suffering serious injuries, McTague quickly got out of the car and attempted to pull Clausen away from the wreck. Due to damage from the crash, he was unable to open the passenger door and had to pull her out the driver’s side door. Seconds after removing her from the car, a third car traveling southbound struck their vehicle, narrowly missing them both.

After the near miss, McTague helped Clausen onto the median between north and south bound traffic, when a fourth vehicle and driver traveling southbound attempted to avoid the damaged vehicles and lost control of the car. That vehicle careened toward McTague and Clausen on the median. Even with his serious injuries, McTague again swiftly reacted and moved himself and Clausen clear of the out of control car, saving both their lives.

When emergency responders arrived at the accident scene, they determined Clausen’s injuries required a medical evacuation via helicopter. While waiting in the ambulance for the helicopter, McTague asked Clausen to marry him, and she said yes.

As a flight mechanic in the Coast Guard, McTague has accumulated over 500 flight hours and has been a part of 14 rescues. As a flight mechanic on Coast Guard helicopters, he is responsible for the hoisting operations of survivors from distressed vessels and assisting the rescue swimmer in tending to those in need of medical evacuation.

McTague enlisted in the Coast Guard in 2003 and has since been stationed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau in Alameda Calif., and Air Stations Sacramento, Houston, and Humboldt Bay. His younger brother Kevin McTague has followed in his footsteps and joined the Coast Guard in 2006. Kevin is a seaman currently assigned at Coast Guard Station Vallejo, Calif.  Their parents, Raymond and Pamela McTague, still live in California but have moved closer to the coast in Seal Beach. 

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. -- Petty Officer 2nd Class Sean McTague and his fiancee Sandra Clausen stand together with the Meritorious Service Medal awarded to him by Capt. John Prince, 11th Coast Guard District chief of staff, Friday, Nov. 4, 2011. McTague was awarded the medal for his actions in saving his own life and the life of his fiancee after being involved in an automobile accident June 11, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Air Station Humboldt Bay.

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. - Petty Officer 1st Class William Foreman, a Manteo native and a rescue swimmer at Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay was part of an aircrew that teamed up with local sheriff’s office to rescue six people from a vehicle that ran off the road last week in Northern California.

Two Coast Guard rescue helicopters arrived on scene after first responders determined medical evacuation was needed and requested Coast Guard assistance. Two of the survivors needed to be hoisted into the helicopter due to the steep and challenging terrain of the embankment where they were found.  One other survivor was medevaced directly to a local hospital and the remaining three were rescued by the Del Norte Sheriff’s Office.

Foreman, the rescue swimmer aboard one of the helicopters was lowered to the crash site to provide additional medical assistance to the injured survivors.  After stabilizing the victim, Foreman prepped and loaded the survivor into a rescue litter, which was he hoisted into the helicopter and transported to a local hospital. 

Dave grew up in the Raleigh area and often saw Coast Guard helicopters flying out of Elizabeth City while he was lifeguarding in the Outer Banks.  After graduating from Apex High School in 1998, Foreman enlisted in the Coast Guard, and later attended rescue swimmer school. Since earning his aviation survival technician wings in 2001, he has been stationed in Elizabeth City, N.C.; New Orleans, La.; and Humboldt Bay, Calif. He has accumulated 1,500 flight hours and conducted over 200 rescues, including a massive effort in the Hurricane Katrina response. His grandmother, Mildred Foreman, still lives in Kitty Hawk and is incredibly proud of his achievements.

Today, Dave is on duty, standing ready to help another in need.  When the call comes, Foreman and the rest of the Coast Guard will be there to answer and live up to the Coast Guard’s motto of “Semper Paratus”.

MCKINLEYVILLE, Calif. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Tim Garfield, a Gloucester native and a flight mechanic at Coast Guard Air Station Humboldt Bay, was part of an aircrew that teamed up with local sheriff’s office to rescue six people from a vehicle that ran off the road last week in Northern California.

Two Coast Guard rescue helicopters arrived on scene after first responders determined medical evacuation was needed and requested Coast Guard assistance. Two of the survivors needed to be hoisted into the helicopter due to the steep and challenging terrain of the embankment where they were found.  One other survivor was medevaced directly to a local hospital and the remaining three were rescued by the Del Norte Sheriff’s Office

Garfield was aboard one of the helicopters which hoisted the victims. This particular rescue was unique because there were many hazards not typically dealt with when operating over the water.  The survivors were on a nearly vertical surface, with many trees, loose gravel, and wind turbulence, all complicating the hoist.  Nevertheless, with Tim’s extensive training and technical skills he was comfortable performing his job and saving lives.

Donald and Jane Garfield, the parents of Tim, have lived in Gloucester for the past 12 years, and Tim graduated from Gloucester High School in 2001. Tim joined the Coast Guard in 2004 and earned his aircrew wings in 2008. He has been an intricate member of Air Station Humboldt Bay since then, conducting three major rescues, accumulating 300 hours of flight time and performing critical maintenance on the helicopters.

Today, Garfield is on duty again, standing ready to help another in need.  When the call comes, Garfield and the rest of the Coast Guard will be there to answer and live up to the Coast Guard’s motto of “Semper Paratus”.

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A Scappoose, Oregon native and 1982 graduate of Scappoose High School was named the Coast Guard's Spouse of the Year and has been nominated for the Military Spouse of the Year Award.

Mrs. Laura Vanderwerf will join four other nominees, from the four other military branches, in Washington D.C. in May, with an opportunity to meet with first lady Michelle Obama. Vanderwerf, a military spouse for 23 years, is married to the 11th Coast Guard District's Command Master Chief Petty Officer Terence Vanderwerf, also a native of Scappoose and 1982 graduate of Scappoose High School.

"It is an honor having Laura in our Coast Guard family and supporting our district's service members and families," said Admiral Joseph "Pepe" Castillo, commander of the 11th Coast Guard District. "She is a dynamic force and a great advocate for our people; furthermore, we admire her dedication, are proud of her being awarded the Coast Guard's Spouse of the Year and wish her all the best."

Vanderwerf was nominated, in part, because of her continued volunteer efforts as an ombudsman, which she first began in 1994. Since 1994, Vanderwerf has served as an ombudsman for four units including the 17th Coast Guard District. She has had a positive influence on hundreds of people at units in Alaska, Washington and California. During her time in Seattle, Wash., Vanderwerf received the Swivel Shot Award, which is awarded to those who, through their voluntary commitment to the betterment of the world in which we live, enhance and enrich the lives of the Coast Guard family and community.

An ombudsman serves as a link between a Coast Guard command and the families of the command. An ombudsman can assist families with locating resources, communicating information from the command to the families, and addressing concerns of families to the command.

Although currently not an ombudsman in an official capacity in the 11th Coast Guard District, Vanderwerf is still an advocate for the program and supports the current ombudsman every way she can.

"I continue to advocate and support the ombudsman program because it is important to the families who have loved ones serving this country, whether home, deployed at sea or ashore," said Vanderwerf.

"Laura was a crucial part of a team that helped relocate families during Hurricane Katrina in 2005," said Terry Garrison, close friend and fellow ombudsman. "Family members were able to contact Laura and she would assist them with locating temporary housing until they could be reunited with their families."

Following a tragic event that happened Oct. 29, 2009, when Air Station Sacramento's rescue flight CG-1705 crashed and the crew was lost, Vanderwerf was one of the first to offer assistance to the devastated families. She helped provide comfort, support and food for the families struck by the tragedy.

"She has dedicated so much of her personal time to Coast Guard families; personal time that she was more than willing to give up, and yet, despite all of her efforts in mentoring families, she still made time for her role as wife and mother," said Garrison.

"Aside from Laura’s extensive contributions to the ombudsman program, her personality has made her a legend within the ombudsman community," said Garrison. "Laura has an enthusiastic personality. Her quiet willingness to give, share and appreciate has made her one of the most loved ombudsmen! Laura is one of the troopers who has stayed strong from year to year with the ombudsman program; she's seen it all!"

Laura has raised three children--Joshua and Ryan, who are both serving in the U.S. Air Force, and Katy, a college student, who is pursuing a degree in medicine. Vanderwerf is also currently attending college to receive her Bachelor's Degree in dental hygiene.

"Winning this award would leave me humbled and honored," said Vanderwerf. "I don't think I do anything differently or more special than any other ombudsman who support our military branches. There are so many unsung heroes--spouses who work so hard without anyone singing their praises."

Full written interviews with Laura Vanderwerf and the four other nominees representing their respective military branches can be found at http://www.milspouse.com/msoy11-branch-winners.aspx.

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- A Cedar Rapids native and 2004 graduate of Jefferson High School was awarded a Letter of Commendation March 1, 2011 for his heroic actions in administering medical assistance to a passenger on a commercial flight July 10, 2010.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Wesley Sedlacek, a boatswain's mate at Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay, Calif. and a Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician, was onboard a cross-country flight from Miami to San Francisco when a fellow passenger took ill and began cramping, vomiting and shaking. Sedlaceck responded to a flight attendant's call for assistance to a medical emergency. He took control of the situation by interviewing the flight crew and surrounding passengers.

Sedlacek combined the new information with his own observations of the patient's physical presentation and charted the best available course of action in the current environment. Sedlacek accessed in-flight medical supplies and administered oxygen through a non-breather mask. During the remainder of the flight he continued to monitor the passenger's vital signs and other symptoms. He exuded confidence and remained  calm while he provided comfort to the ill passenger, flight crew and other passengers for more than 90 minutes of the flight. Upon the aircraft's touchdown at San Francisco, Sedlacek facilitated an efficient relief with medical responders who arrived to transport the passenger.

"I never expected an award, but I am very thankful for it," said Sedlacek. "This flight alone solidified my desire to continue learning about advanced medical care and taught me anything can happen no matter where you are, so I always need to be semper paratus - always ready."

Vice Adm. Manson K. Brown, Pacific Area Commander presented the Letter of Commendation to Sedlaceck at Station Bodega Bay on March 1. The award was signed for the Commandant by Capt. Cynthia Stowe, Sector San Francisco commander.

The Commandant's Letter of Commendation was originally created to enable the Secretary of the Treasury or the Commandant to address a Letter of Commendation to any individual in the Coast Guard for "meritorious service resulting in unusual and outstanding achievement rendered while the Coast Guard is serving under Treasury Department jurisdiction." The current ribbon is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, for an act or service resulting in unusual or outstanding achievement. For more information on the Commandant's Letter of Commendation, click on this link.