[Seahawk]

As a retired Navy helo pilot, I have a few rescues of boaters in distress. I also know a bunch of Coast Guard helo pilots. The general theme of those rescued is fairly consistent: More enthusiasm than readiness and a lack of situational awareness.

A few Sea Stories:

As a white water rafter in the '70's, I was the head boatman on a trip down the North Fork of the American River. Our put-in was a place called Chili Bar. It was early in the season and there was a good snow pack: the river was very high and very cold.

We saw a man was about to launch in an aluminum canoe with his son...little to no flotation, Mae West style life vests, no wet suits.

We tried to talk him out of it. He said he knew what he was doing. He died less than a mile down the river. His son lived because a group that left before my float made a very difficult rescue.

Sometimes it is best to go home and teach your son a lesson about restraint.

Yesterday:

12 inches of snow on Sunday, a few more inches with high winds (snow drifts) Monday morning. I am not going anywhere.

A friend calls me...can you help? There are five cars stuck on our rural road, one of them, a minivan, has locked his keys in his van. The snow drifts are at least two feet.

I get all the tow chains, ropes shovels I own and head out. I find the clique of stuck cars and my buddy and I begin the task of pulling them out. The task is way above our pay grade so we call my other neighbor who has a big John Deere tractor with four wheel drive.

I get the first few folks out and they turn around and head home...the easy part. I also take the 400lb guy in the minivan back to his house to get his keys.

He is so large that he can barely get into my truck and then cannot latch the seat belt. During the fifteen minute trek to his cottage, I ask him why he was venturing out in his minivan in a winter storm.

"I needed cigarettes."

We got him out. No cigarettes for him.

Never underestimate the willingness of some to apply the wrong tool or minivan to a tough job with severe consequences.

I hope these young men are found. I hope the rescuers return home safely.