Even Thieves Get Rescued
PO3 John “Branch” Walton, USCG
Great account of SAR from the wet perspective.
Coast Guard Swimmer Recounts Dramatic Rescue of Alleged Oregon Yacht Thief and ‘Goonies’ Prankster
By Aimee Green
“They all could have got it done, but they let me go,” Walton said. “I was kind of in disbelief, like, ‘Oh, is this really happening?’”
Unbeknownst to the 22-year-old who learned to swim only after joining the Coast Guard a few years earlier, he’d soon execute a very difficult rescue seamlessly. And he would be thrust into the national limelight as millions viewed video of his first real-world rescue, taken from a camera mounted to the Coast Guard helicopter that flew him to the imperiled boater. Walton was widely lauded for his courage and agility.
It wasn’t until later that day that Walton and others in the Coast Guard would learn the man he’d pulled from the stormy waters allegedly had stolen the $160,000 yacht and drawn the attention of Astoria police for placing a dead fish on the porch of the famous “Goonies” house days earlier.
Two 47-foot Coast Guard boats that were being used for training nearby respond to the yacht’s 10 a.m. Feb. 3 mayday call. But crew members quickly realized they couldn’t attempt a rescue by boat. The seas were far too rough…
“Branch” got surfed up pretty well and still executed a textbook rescue, first time. Brings a tear to my eye. BZ, stud.
Category: Bravo Zulu, Coast Guard, Search and Rescue
BZ PO3 John
I saw that the other day without reading the article first and couldn’t believe such a poor seaman was driving that boat.
Dude was super lucky they were in the area and ready to go when he ran into more than he could handle during his heist of the century.
Never understood how Coastie swimmers could stay afloat with big brass ones like that. Well done!
I had the benefit of swimming competitively from a young age- this young man learned to swim in the Coast Guard.
Just, damn.
Ed, were you a Wetcrewman or a P-3 bubba? Just curious.
First tour helos, then switched platforms. Gave me a different perspective than straight P-3 bubbas.
Roger that!
PO3 “Branch” Walton really went out on limb to save the dirtbag.
BZ Puddle Pirate!
A BALLSY Young Warrior and KUDOS to him for a job well done!