WHO: Rear Adm. Joseph Buzzella, commander Coast Guard District Eleven; Capt. Christopher Huberty, commanding officer, Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco; Lt. Cmdr. Jacob Conrad, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, Air Station San Francisco
WHAT: Presentation of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lt. Cmdr. Jacob Conrad
WHEN: 8 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024
WHERE: U.S. Coast Guard Air Station San Francsico
1020 N. Access Road
San Francisco, CA 94128
Editor’s note: Media is requested to RSVP with intentions to attend by 7 a.m., Thursday, and arrive no later than 7:45 a.m. RSVP to Levi.A.Read@uscg.mil or 206-820-1327.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Coast Guard is scheduled to present Lt. Cmdr. Jacob Conrad with a Distinguished Flying Cross Medal, during a ceremony at Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco, Thursday.
Conrad is being recognized for heroism while participating in aerial flight as the aircraft commander of rescue helicopter 6562 during a rescue mission Dec. 29, 2023.
After receiving a report of two individuals stranded on a cliff, one of whom had fallen 100 feet and sustained severe injuries, Conrad and his MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew launched around midnight to the survivor’s position northwest of Sacramento. After departure, Conrad battled convective activity and aircraft icing while navigating hazardous terrain in a winter storm forcing an emergency landing. During the night, land rescuers had ascended the valley wall but were now also trapped due to rockslides and heavy rainfall. Launching again at first light, he overcame an internal communications failure before navigating the aircraft three miles through a narrow, fog-covered valley to locate the survivors 700 feet up the canyon wall. Maneuvering into the fog bank above, he established a precision hover over the survivor’s position. While at a critical fuel state and surrounded by mere feet on three sides by overhanging rocks and trees, he overcame numerous hoist hazards and deployed the rescue swimmer to the cliff 200-feet below. Maintaining an exact position above the wall, he deployed the basket and recovered the severely injured survivor. As winds began to build over the rescue site, he again returned to the wall and re-established the confined hover. While operating 6562 within one percent of its maximum power output, he deployed the rescue swimmer three more times, recovering the second survivor and two rescuers.
The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is a military decoration that can be awarded to Coast Guard members who perform acts of heroism or extraordinary achievement while flying. The DFC is the highest award in the United States for aerial achievement. It was established on July 2, 1926, and is awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces who have distinguished themselves since April 6, 1917.