In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Harry Knight, US Navy Rescue Swimmer. With a long twenty year career in the Navy, Harry was stationed all over the world. The first half of his career was working in helicopters and the second half was working in airplanes. A few rescues he talks about were the basics of people jumping or falling off the ship after they left port. However, the one that stands out to him is his rescue which earned him the Navy Commendation Medal. Harry takes us t...
Apr 16, 2022•1 hr 6 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Gonzalo Valderrama (aka Fonzy), a pilot from Peru. Fonzy served for years in the Peruvian Navy. He talks about a tough night rescue where three people on a fishing boat were taking on water. Fonzy tells about getting launched to a case where a plane crashed off the coast of Peru with a full group of people on board. As they were flying the coast line looking for survivors, Fonzy noticed an issue with the helicopter that wasn't normal. Upon retur...
Apr 10, 2022•1 hr 7 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by French Navy pilot Jean-Baptiste (JB). He walks us through an incredible story that he and his crew were called out for. In 8 meter/25 foot waves and 60 knot winds, a sailing vessel was in distress and made the call for help. JB and his crew arrived on scene to find six people needing to be rescued. With a crazy turn of events, a broken cable and a damaged hoist left the rescue diver and all six victims in the water. Determined not to quit, the c...
Apr 04, 2022•37 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by the entire crew of a unique rescue mission completed by the USCG. Pilot Curt Snodgrass, Pilot David Gomez, Flight Mechanic Ernie Ortegon, Rescue Swimmer Marty Nelson, and Boatswain Mate Dempsey Logue. The crew gives us an inside look at a very unique South Texas rescue from the vessel, The Don Enrique. They take us through this incredible story, each adding to the story from their own unique perspective. Moreover, the rescue evolved further as L...
Mar 29, 2022•1 hr 47 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Marty Nelson USCG RS 251. Marty starts out by talking about his first case out of Cape Cod, MA. He was sent out to help a 27 year-old who was having a heart attack on a fishing vessel. Next, we get into some of his cases while he was in the Coast Guard. The cases vary and with a long career, quite numerous. We talk about a torn carotid artery, an amputated finger with a patient who had a few drinks, a training flight with sharks in the water, re...
Mar 24, 2022•1 hr 39 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Danny Huisman, prior Air Force Fuel Technician from Holland. Danny tells us of how his career started while he was in the Air Force. As he watched SAR teams get called out on rescues, he knew that he wanted to be a part of it. After going to a ground simulator course and passing all the requirements, he thought he was guaranteed to get on the Air Force SAR teams. When that didn’t happen, one of his pilot friends called to offer him a job with a ...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 21 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Eric Williamson, retired USN Rescue Swimmer. Eric brings us through his incredible 30 year career with the Navy. He talks about a memorable experience that made such an impact on him. He watched the SAR alarm go off, the on-duty crew took off, and returned later with a family that they had saved. From that day forward, there was no quitting! We get into his first case which, like some, was a rough start to his career. Eric tells us about a drama...
Mar 13, 2022•2 hr 10 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Bill Moss, aka Red Dogg, retired USN Rescue Swimmer. Red Dogg brings us back to 1963 when he graduated high school and came to his dad to say, “I want to join the Navy.” From there, began a life of adventure and service. He talks about his deployments all over the world and the adventures had at each of his assignments. We get into some of his very memorable rescues while in the Navy, two of which earned him Air Medals. One rescue took place in ...
Mar 05, 2022•1 hr 25 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Flight Nurse Kevin Kissner and Flight Paramedic Mike Abbott from Virginia State Police MedFlight Program. Their normal operations consist of scene call and hospital to hospital transports. On the days when they’re dispatched on a SAR call, the level of rescue is elevated to the next level. Kevin tells of his first SAR call in the Appalachian Mountains. A member of the local university’s cross country running group had fallen about 150 feet off t...
Feb 27, 2022•2 hr
In this episode of the Real ResQ, we are joined by Brian Dickinson, USN RS, mountaineer and author of the book, The Blind Descent. After six years and two deployments in the Navy, Brian decided to move on to the next chapter of his life. He talks about how the training at the US Navy Rescue Swimmer school set him up for success when it came to tackling the tallest mountain on every continent. With the support of his wife and children, Brian set out to climb mountains that other people only care ...
Feb 21, 2022•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Phoenix Bean, Flight Paramedic from South Africa. For Phoenix, her story begins with a CPR class and a crazy incident at her home that led to her meeting her Paramedic mentor. She tells about an array of crazy calls that she has seen working throughout many different countries. As an “observer” at her first call, she assisted in responding to a pedestrian vs motor vehicle accident. After a few years of working in South Africa, she traveled to Za...
Feb 15, 2022•1 hr 2 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Steve Ober, USCG RS 01. This conversation was a blast for me. It was so much fun talking our way through Steve's crazy cool career! He begins by talking about how the road that led him to be a Rescue Swimmer. We talked about him getting through ASM “A” School before they had Rescue Swimmers. He tells us stories from his first AIr Station in San Diego, CA. When it came time to start implementing the Rescue Swimmer Program in the Coast Guard, Stev...
Feb 09, 2022•1 hr 40 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Jason Vaughn, US Navy Rescue Swimmer. We had a wicked fun conversation beginning with a story about a rescue he had while serving in the Navy. Jason talks about a vessel that was trying to dump their cargo to prevent getting detained for the illegal items on board. In this case, he volunteered to be deployed to help retrieve “contraband” out of the water. As the operation continued, the weather changed and started making the operation more diffi...
Feb 03, 2022•1 hr 1 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Stephanie Hyatt, Mechanical Engineer and volunteer rescue emergency response member. She was told early in her career, “If there's not someone that looks like you in a position that you want, be that person.” Well, that's exactly what she has done! She tells us that she wasn't going to take no for an answer when it came to being part of the team. Her mindset revolves around rescue and helping in order to save lives. She has dedicated many hours ...
Jan 28, 2022•50 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Scott Holway USCG RS 387. He talks about some of his incredible rescues that earned him The Coast Guard Achievement Medal for saving four guys on a sinking ship. Two separate Air Medals, the first for assisting two people off a sailing vessel off Cape Cod, MA and the second for his efforts during Hurricane Katrina. We also talk about a few more memorable cases. Scott talks about an overdue vessel off of Atlantic City, NJ, which unfortunately tur...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 2 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Keith Carolan, Winchman, Winch Operator and Paramedic for CHC and the Irish Coast Guard. As a guy who didn't even want to pursue Search and Rescue, he has both loved and embraced it, beginning with the Irish Defense Forces, to the Fire Brigade, to his present position with the CHC Irish Coast Guard. He tells us of his first case, which turned out to be a winch, and how he was so excited about it and having to hold his excitement in until the nex...
Jan 17, 2022•1 hr 43 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Tyler Gaenzle USCG RS 797. His stories from being a Rescue Swimmer are incredible. His first case, with a victim who fell down a cliff, landed in a tree and had a broken back and shattered ankle. Ty brings us through everything he did in that case which earned him a Coast Guard Commendation Medal. The second case was another tough one. He deployed into 15ft waves to help a sailboat in distress. Pitching and rolling, he helped a couple and their ...
Jan 10, 2022•1 hr 35 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Retired EMS Battalion Captain Marc Segal. In his 41 years of EMS, Fire and Rescue, he has some stories to share. We get into a handful of them in this episode. Some of Marc’s stories include an invention that he helped create that has gone worldwide, a major incident with a plane crash at LAX, and being called to the zoo and having to go into the lion's den. He told us about a call out to a club with an interesting twist and a dive trip to Papua...
Jan 04, 2022•3 hr 27 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Jason Orsborn, USCG RS #280. Throughout our conversation, he takes us through some incredible rescues during his time as a Rescue Swimmer. After he joined the Coast Guard at the young age of 17, he was at a small boat station where he experienced a few SAR cases. It was at that point in his career where he realized that he wanted to go to the next level in Search and Rescue. He did just that when he became a CG Rescue Swimmer. He recaps his firs...
Dec 29, 2021•54 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Chief Crewman Simon Kremser, currently working with Wiking Helicopters in Germany. When you have your family in the Search and Rescue world, it seemed fitting that Simon would follow. At a very young age he was a volunteer helping out in rescues. He tells about a woman that fell on her head on a mountain and he and his team had to run up and ski down to assist her. He brings us through a rescue in bad weather to a guy with a head injury. We talk...
Dec 23, 2021•59 min
In the episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Todd Davis USCG RS #453. Dr. Todd Davis, a current university professor,and I take a trip down memory lane where he tells us about a quote that has stayed with him since Swimmer school. His instructor, Thor Wentz, would tell his students, “Keep your composure and finish the job.” This has stuck with Todd through everything that he has accomplished in his life. We get into some of his rescues, including an overdue vessel where the outcome was two ...
Dec 17, 2021•1 hr 37 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Sam Fielder, Aircrewman from Australia. Sam has been working since 2007 and has had a wild career. He brings us through two very memorable events while flying. We recap his first big incident while on a case, where the cable parted due to an entanglement and he fell to the deck. We review this case and the major importance of pilots' reference points. The second case was a training flight that started with a basic approach and entered the vortex...
Dec 11, 2021•1 hr 50 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Dan Halsall, USCG RS #139, who started his rescue career at 14 years old. He fell in love with the rescue side of things and wanted more. He joined the Coast Guard with the sole intention of becoming a Rescue Swimmer. After the Coast Guard, he continued on with a career in law enforcement, among other things. Dan shares several memorable cases while in the Coast Guard, including getting stuck in fish hooks after sliding down a mast, a fatal car ...
Dec 05, 2021•1 hr 6 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Ashley Morrison, Critical Care Paramedic. She tells us stories from where she began on the ambulance and her first night out after being qualified as a medic. She tells us about wanting to be a flight medic and when the phone call came to fly, she was thrilled to join the team. We talked about some of the training and MedEvacs she had which included a tough hoist case we were called on together. After she left the air ambulance/SAR she continued...
Nov 29, 2021•59 min
In the episode of the Real ResQ, we are joined by Steve Frye, USCG RS #35. Steve was able to take us back 40 years ago to his very first rescue out of Sitka, Alaska. A case that still stands out to him today. We talk about his incredible rescue while he was stationed in San Francisco, CA. As we recap this case, he talks about what happened to him during that rescue and why it was a big key factor with how to deal with caves. His case is exactly why it was integrated into the Advanced Rescue Swim...
Nov 23, 2021•1 hr 26 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by California Highway Patrol Pilot, Kevin Vinatieri. He has been flying for over 30 years in multiple different aircrafts, including the H60, H1, OH58, UH78, 105, and the A-Star. Kevin brings up local and overseas stories from the Army and CHP. As an instructor, he makes sure guys are ready for whatever comes their way too. I’m personally taking some of his advice with one particular training tip of “High. Low. Look out below.” Enjoy! https://there...
Nov 17, 2021•1 hr 12 min
In this Veteran’s Day episode of The Real ResQ, I wanted to record an episode that recognized and honored military veterans who have served in the United States Armed Forces. When thinking about how to do so, I immediately thought about my friend, fellow USCG Rescue Swimmer #649, Dustin Bernitovich. I wanted to highlight Dustin’s amazing career in the Coast Guard and his work that followed after his time in service. Dustin was humble, brave, larger than life in more than one way, and an incredib...
Nov 11, 2021•1 hr 7 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by Neville Murphy from CHC Helicopters and the Irish Coast Guard. Neville is a winch operator, a winchman and a paramedic, based in Waterford, Ireland. When we discussed one of his very first cases, he was surprised when he walked in to see one of his friends. He tells of a cliff case, where a broken bone didn't stop him from completing the rescue. We discuss a case where the whole crew was recognized for a rescue from a huge cargo ship. He also di...
Nov 07, 2021•1 hr 14 min
In this episode of The Real ResQ, we are joined by USCG Rescue Swimmer #230, Harold Hoffmaster. He tells stories from all throughout his career, starting with a story from the small boat unit where he met his wife. Next, he shares about going through swimmer school where a “not going to quit” attitude helped him each and every day. Harold tells us about his first SAR case from his first Swimmer unit in NY, a case which turned out to be quite interesting. As you listen, you’ll hear him tell story...
Nov 03, 2021•1 hr 28 min
In this ASTerisk episode of The Real ResQ, Olaf Leavelle and George Cavallo return to talk about leadership, mentorship, and the ever important topic, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Having Olaf and George on this episode together was important because their dynamic as Senior Chief and Chief made for a solid and supportive work environment. Their leadership styles and the depth at which they knew and supported their crew were vital to those facing life altering rescues. We get into the why, how, ...
Oct 30, 2021•1 hr 27 min
