Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Coast Guard Medal

    Service:

    United States Coast Guard

    Rank:

    Fireman

    Action Date:

    May 9, 1999

    U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Fireman Jolyn Williams, United States Coast Guard, for heroism at the risk of life on 9 May 1999, for her heroic rescue efforts following a landslide at Sacred Falls State Park, Oahu, Hawaii. At the time, Fireman Williams was stationed as a seaman on the Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS, homeported in Honolulu. She and three other Jarvis crewmembers were hiking in the park when the landslide occurred, dumping tons of rocks on dozens of hikers and campers. The catastrophic event killed eight people and injured many others. The four JARVIS crew members demonstrated a total disregard for their own personal safety by re-entering the landslide area to offer assistance. Fireman Williams established a makeshift triage area away from the danger zone. She assisted many injured people for more than three hours by bandaging bleeding cuts and applying pressure to wounds until tourniquets could be applied. She also helped prepare the injured for transportation on body boards, supplied water to both the injured and rescue workers, and comforted a fatally injured child.