They Go Where No One Else Can

There is a dedicated group of men and women who serve our country with little fanfare. They do their job quietly and save many lives and protect our waters. They are the men and women of the US Coast Guard. When they are not rescuing boaters who have gotten into trouble, they patrol the harbors and waters of the US to guard against terrorist attacks.

What they did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina is astonishing. From my house, I could see them flying toward the Big Biloxi River on rescue missions. This was one of the rivers that was heavily flooded during the storm. But this was just part of their mission. They were flying all over the Mississippi Gulf Coast and saved countless lives. But the scope of what they faced and did in New Orleans is astounding.

Forty-three Coast Guard helicopters from 11 air stations converged on the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, to save more that 12,500 lives.

Coast Guard small boats and cutters rescued another 11,600 and combined service units evacuated 9,400 patients from hospitals.

Most of the rescues occurred from Aug. 30, the day after Katrina hit, through Sept. 3, when an unprecedented swarm of Coast Guard units was joined by units from other armed forces, as well as federal, state and local law agencies.SunHerald

Thank you to those dedicated men and women of the US Coast Guard.

UPDATE: Mark from Knocking on the Golden Door provided this link to the US Coast Gusard