Aviation Survival Technician 2nd Class Darren Harrity

Aviation Survival Technician 2^nd Class Darren Harrity became a Coast Guard hero for his super-human efforts during a harrowing rescue in July.

Four mariners were stuck in a stricken boat at night off the Oregon coast when the Coast Guard helicopter carrying Harrity arrived on scene. The rescue would be tricky. Five foot waves smashed the hull against rocks near a beach. Harrity, as rescue swimmer, was lowered down in the hoist. The mariners were in a life raft near the ship’s bow. In this difficult situation, the best means to rescue the mariners would demand a lot of Harrity.

One by one, he swam each of the men an eighth of mile to the shore, towing each through the heavy surf.

“With the seas and inky darkness, AST2 Harrity relied solely on the sound of the surf breaking against the shoreline to guide him in the correct direction,” wrote Lt. Zachary Wiest in Harrity’s nomination. “During each transit, AST2 Harrity fought rip currents, wood debris, clinging kelp beds that fouled his fins, and a surface covered in diesel to reach the shoreline.”

An hour later, all four mariners were safely ashore. Harrity had swam a mile, half of it while ferrying the men to shore.

Harrity is also a role model off duty. He’s volunteered at an animal shelter and visited schools to talk about service in the Coast Guard.