Alumni honored during 2013 Hall of Heroes CeremonyCoast Guard's finest enter Hall of Heroes
by Izaskun E. Larrañeta, The Day
Published Apr 26, 2013
Hall of Heroes 2013
RADM Stephen H. Evans '27
CAPT William A. Earle '40
CAPT Robert E. Emerson '43
CAPT Francis X. Riley '43
CDR John S. Davis '61
CAPT Kenneth W. Thompson '64
CDR Richard W. Walton '65
CAPT Gerald L. Underwood '66
CAPT Paul Langlois '76
CDR William F. McMeekin '82
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New London — When members of the Coast Guard Academy Class of 1976
learned that retired Capt. Paul Langlois was going to be inducted into
the Hall of Heroes, a "Swabo," an immediate call to action, was
initiated.
Lt. Michael Shevock sent the "Swabo" via email to get
members of the class to attend the ceremony that honors the
accomplishments and heroics of academy graduates.
About 70 members of
the Class of 1976 on Friday gathered at the Officers' Club for an
afternoon of activities, including a regimental review by the corps of
cadets.
"Don't you know, he's 'Paul the hero,'" Shevock said. "He
participated in a daring helicopter rescue, plus he's an all-round great
guy."
Langlois was overwhelmed with the show of support. He expected only about five or six classmates to attend.
"It's such an honor," he said. "I'm proud to be here. The Coast Guard has taught me so many life lessons."
Langlois
received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his daring rescue on the
night of Feb. 12, 1997, while serving as aircraft commander of a Coast
Guard HH-65A helicopter.
CDR McMeekin (L) and CAPT Langlois (R)
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Commander William F. McMeekin, Class of
1982, also was inducted. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross for
rescuing dozens of people during Hurricane Katrina. McMeekin flew
through treacherous weather conditions to hoist people from flood zones,
high-rise buildings and roof tops.
"It was a surreal experience," McMeekin said. "Katrina enlightened people to the work that we do."
Langlois
was sent to rescue two people from the sailing vessel Gale Runner that
was taking on water in a gale south of the Quillayute River, off the
Washington Coast.
He flew the helicopter more than 85 miles on instruments alone, aided only by radar and his co-pilot's night vision goggles.
While
en route to the distressed vessel, Langlois was diverted to search for a
Coast Guard motor lifeboat, which also had been dispatched to assist
Gale Runner. Communication with the motor boat had ceased and it was
feared that the vessel also was in distress.
After a search for the
motor boat, Langlois was again diverted to rescue those aboard Gale
Runner, which was in immediate danger of going on the rocks.
Contending
with 40- to 50-knot winds, 30-foot seas and the rocks, Langlois twice
positioned the helicopter over the heaving and rolling sailboat to hoist
the victims safely.
The three people aboard the Coast Guard motor lifeboat, however, perished.
"The
Coast Guard's motto is Semper Paratus, Always Ready, and that is what
you have to be," Langlois said. "You train and train, but I don't think
anything can really prepare you for what we faced that night. The
emotions were very high and low at the same time. We saved lives, but
lost three of our own."
Two years ago, Langlois underwent a heart
transplant after being diagnosed with amyloidosis, a rare blood disease
that destroyed his heart.
A national championship winning bicyclist,
Langlois said he knew something was wrong when he suddenly became
fatigued while doing the slightest things.
There is no known cure for the illness.
"I will fight and continue to fight," he said. "I will never give up. That's what the Coast Guard taught me."
The
Hall of Fame inductees' plaques will be on display at the academy in
the Hall of Heroes in the main lobby of Chase Hall on the Wall of
Gallantry.
http://www.theday.com/article/20130426/NWS09/130429618/1047
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