The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Lieutenant Commander Bruce C. Jones, United States Coast Guard, for extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 12 December 1993 while serving as Aircraft Commander of Coast Guard HH-60J 6008, engaged in the rescue of three crewmembers from the sailing vessel MALACHITE east of Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Lieutenant Jones’ precise flight planning allowed the successful completion of both an extremely difficult rescue and a long-range, 632 nautical mile, over-water flight during a winter gale, to Bermuda, itself a considerable feat. Lieutenant Jones found MALACHITE battered by raging seas over 30 feet, her sail in ribbons, and six of her mast stays snapped and flying in the gusty winds. MALACHITE’S crew went over the side as the rescue swimmer deployed. Lieutenant Jones was forced to hover with no other visual reference than the huge foam-covered seas sweeping past the searchlight’s beam. Frequent lightning bolts punctuated the pitch-black sky. Gusty winds and the sea’s constant tossing of the basket and survivors made positioning of the helicopter a physical battle. Displaying remarkable leadership and composure, Lieutenant Jones provided encouragement to his beleaguered hoist operator while monitoring the dwindling fuel supply. The survivors and the rescue swimmer were recovered in only 29 minutes and the helicopter landed in Bermuda with 50 minutes of fuel remaining. Lieutenant Jones’ actions, aeronautical skill, and valor were instrumental in the rescue of three victims. His courage, judgment, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.
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Awards Received
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Legion of Merit
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Legion of Merit
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United States Coast GuardRank:
CaptainAction Date:
August 29 – November 1, 2005
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Legion of Merit to Captain Bruce C. Jones, United States Coast Guard, for outstanding meritorious service as Coast Guard Air Group Commander and Joint Task Force Katrina Search and Rescue Branch Air Response Commander, from 29 August 2005 to 1 November 2005. Following the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, the most devastating storm to strike the northern Gulf Coast in recent history, Captain Jones built the foundation for this unprecedented air rescue by coordinating staging and hurricane evacuation sites in strategic areas along the Gulf Coast. Two hours after the eye of Katrina made landfall, Captain Jones was in the cockpit of a HH-65B helicopter in tropical storm conditions, directing air resources and assessing the situation. The immediate efforts of Captain Jones and his crew resulted in 36 lives saved after the passage of the hurricane, including the first post-hurricane rescue: a grandmother, mother, and 4-month old infant, trapped under a tree near Port Sulphur. Captain Jones’ frontline assessment proved critical in organizing the initial rescue efforts of the 293 aircraft of the Joint Task Force. From the command center, Captain Jones developed the grid system with coordinates that served as a tracking map for the entire City of New Orleans. He also orchestrated a flawless maintenance system and established traffic patterns for all aircraft operating out of air stations which were not designed to accommodate the massive volume of aircraft required for the Hurricane Katrina rescue operations. Captain Jones masterfully directed deliveries of food, water, and even mobile hospitals to thousands of people. Captain Jones intrepid leadership kept Coast Guard personnel focused. When advised to cease operations due to safety concerns, Captain Jones weighed the risk and utilized Department of Defense snipers to secure hostile areas to maintain air rescue operations. Whether directing from the cockpit or taking valuable time to talk with each Coast Guard member, Captain Jones’ actions and decisions directly touched each of the 12,000 lives saved and 9,500 evacuated residents. Captain Jones’ ability, diligence, and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.