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Last Updated:
Sunday, November 20, 2005 10:39 AM
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News Release
| Navy and Auxiliary – More than just complimentary naval services |
Date:
Contact: Aux. Wayne Spivak |
Operation Katrina is more than one of the largest Coast Guard and Auxiliary operations in history; it is made history to two aviators a more personal experience.
For one Auxiliarist and one Active Duty Naval Officer, Operation Katrina has enabled them to share a family bond while serving in the most noble of occupations; that of the saving of lives.
Doak McBryde is a United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist. He is part of the Auxiliary Aviation (AuxAir). A member of Houston, which is part of the Auxiliary Eighth Coast Guard District, Coastal Region, and the District that has borne the brunt of Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita, Doak volunteered both himself and his aircraft to the Coast Guard in response to this disaster.
During the seven days he was detailed to Alexandria, LA from his home in Houston, he and his crew flew 35.5 hours in support of the relief operations.
On one of the five missions he flew, he found himself at Naval Air Station (NAS) New Orleans. Having just pulled onto the Coast Guard ramp he was told to change to a frequency which was not familiar.
When he announced his Call Sign, he found that his son, LT J.D. McBryde, USN was the person who requested him to change frequency. LT McBryde had had heard the familiar tail number of his fathers plane; Coast Guard 91454.
Lt McBryde is presently assigned as an instructor pilot for the HM53 rag in Norfolk. He had been assigned to bring up the night landing "boat" currency for some 53E pilots aboard the USS Bataan. When he joined the ship he soon found out that he would be called upon to do something different than he expected. Because of his experience he was asked to fly to the Convention Center to evacuate personnel on the ground.
While both Aviators was heavily tasked with duties, they were able see each other's aircraft. Father-Son interaction was however, limited to only radio contact.
As Doak put it, “what are the chances that a 57 year old USCG Auxiliary pilot will get the chance to share such an exhilarating and fulfilling experience with the pride of his life? Thank you AUXAIR for allowing me the opportunity to serve.”
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The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education. The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions. For more information on the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit us at www.cgaux.org. ### |
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