Posted on Jul 27, 2022
Written in Blood: The Catastrophic Shipwreck that Prompted the Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmer...
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The crew of the 65-foot fishing vessel Theodora was disoriented, and the ship was taking on water fast. It was Feb. 11, 1983, and a record-breaking nor’easter was battering the East Coast, shutting down airports and tossing ships around like toys in a tub — except this tub had 50-foot waves and 55-mph winds.
The Coast Guard asked the Marine Electric — a 605-foot World War II-era bulk carrier — to assist the Theodora as the Coast Guard rescue unit attempted to make headway in the worsening storm. The Marine Electric, which at the time was transporting 28,000 pounds of coal north from Virginia to Massachusetts, agreed to the Coast Guard’s request and diverted course, making its way to the Theodora’s last reported position.
The Coast Guard asked the Marine Electric — a 605-foot World War II-era bulk carrier — to assist the Theodora as the Coast Guard rescue unit attempted to make headway in the worsening storm. The Marine Electric, which at the time was transporting 28,000 pounds of coal north from Virginia to Massachusetts, agreed to the Coast Guard’s request and diverted course, making its way to the Theodora’s last reported position.
Written in Blood: The Catastrophic Shipwreck that Prompted the Coast Guard’s Rescue Swimmer...
Posted from military.com
Coast Guard
Search & Rescue
Death
Military History
American History
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 4
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Unfortunately, it often takes disaster and catastrophe to make processes and systems safer
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I have a friend who retired a Commander in the US Coast Guard. Guess the value of the Coast Guard will force me to stop ribbing him........................NAH
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Lt Col Charlie Brown Thank you for sharing that article. I had no idea of that history. The article was well-written and riveting. The Coast Guard and its Rescue Swimmers deserve far more recognition than they ordinarily are given. "The Guardian" provides some insight into the training and lives of the Rescue Swimmers.
"Many regulatory rules are “written in blood,” as neglect, mistakes, and poor regulations are often discovered only because of a disaster resulting in a massive loss of life."
Yet the problems continues to happen - everywhere with everything. Something is wrong when people's lives are required to be sacrificed before dealing with a careless lack of foresight and preparedness that allows, thus encourages "neglect, mistakes, and poor regulations".
Another example - everywhere I have lived, there has been an issue with school children being run over crossing busy streets - with the light - across the street from the school! How many lives does it require for people to get off their duffs and actually install a pedestrian overpass for the children, even though parents and the community have been asking for a very long time?
Always too many.
"Many regulatory rules are “written in blood,” as neglect, mistakes, and poor regulations are often discovered only because of a disaster resulting in a massive loss of life."
Yet the problems continues to happen - everywhere with everything. Something is wrong when people's lives are required to be sacrificed before dealing with a careless lack of foresight and preparedness that allows, thus encourages "neglect, mistakes, and poor regulations".
Another example - everywhere I have lived, there has been an issue with school children being run over crossing busy streets - with the light - across the street from the school! How many lives does it require for people to get off their duffs and actually install a pedestrian overpass for the children, even though parents and the community have been asking for a very long time?
Always too many.
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