HC-7 RESCUE 75 (1) 11-Feb-1970 (Wednesday)

SH-3A Sikorsky Seaking helo Det 110 Big Mother #76
USS Horne (DLG-30) Routine Night (2)
58 miles off North Vietnam coast

Pilot – LT Richard A. Everett
Co-pilot – LTJG Ronald J. Abler
1st crew – ADJ-3 Tommy L. Baron
2nd crew – ADJ-3 Steven G. Springer

USN USS Platte (AO-24)
SN Natham Leroy Hill
( Seamen )

USS PLATTE (AO-24)
(Course and Speeds – omitted)

04:59 USS Horne (DLG-30) has assumed tactical command of Platte. 05:30 set the replenishment detail, man Sta. 3, 4, 7, 8, P/H/L S/H/L. 05:43 turned on replenishment light display. 05:44 Horne commenced making her approach to port. 05:49 Horne alongside to port. 05:51 first line across to port. 05:52 USS Fechtler (DD-870) commenced making her approach to stbd. 05:55 USS Fechtler alongside to stbd. 05:57 first line across to stbd. 06:13 P/H/L. 06:20 high-line rigged to stbd. 06:23 Sta #8 rigged to port. 06:27 MAN OVERBOARD stbd side – EMERGENCY breakaway. 06:30 All lines clear to stbd. 06:31 USS Fechtler clear to stbd. 06:34 R/F/R sounded one short blast. 06:35 S/stop. Horne clear to port – Helicopter from Horne is performing SAR Ops. Turned on man overboard display. 06:38 A/stop/ Position for man overboard is 18⁰–52’N, 106⁰-52’E. 06:39 A/A 1/3 – man overboard bears 251⁰ T – 2700 yards. 06:40 “Oscar” now bears 252⁰ T 2400 yards. 06:44 “Oscar” bears 255⁰ T 2000 yards. 06:45 “Oscar” bears 257⁰ T 1900 yards. “Oscar” bears 257⁰ T 1800 yards. A/stop. 06:46 “Oscar” bears 260⁰ T 1700 yards. 06:50 man overboard is aboard helo of USS Horne. )6:53 L/F/R A/A 2/3. Turned off man overboard display. Turned on underway lights. 06:56, USS Horne reports via fleet comm. Man who was aboard and is in satisfactory condition. 07:00 ALL unrep stations re-manned. 07:15 Fechtler commencing her approach to stbd. 07:21 USS Fechtler alongside to stbd. 07:22 Horne commencing her approach to port. 07:24 Horne alongside to port. First line over to port. First line over to stbd. 07:29 Sta #3 over and rigged to stbd. 07:31 commenced pumping on sta #3 to stbd. 07:33 Sta #7 over and rigged to stbd. 07:40 Sta #8 over and rigged to port. 07:41 Sta #4 over and rigged to port. 07:42 commenced pumping on sta #7. 07:45 secured pumping on Sta #3 to stbd. 07:47 sta #3 unrigged and retrieved to stbd. 07:55 secured pumping on sta #7. 07:59 commenced pumping on Sta #4 & 8 to port. Sta #7 unrigged and retrieved to stbd. P/H/L unrigged and retrieved to port. 08:00-12:00 underway as before. All lines clear to stbd. 08:06 Hill, Latham Leroy the man previously overboard returned to the ship via personnel high-line from USS Horne. 08:20 secured pumping on Sta #8 to port. Secured … (11)

USS HORNE (DLG-30) (12)
(Courses and Speeds – omitted)

05:51 on station alongside port side of PLATTE, first line over. 06:24 first probe. 06:28 initiated emergency breakaway procedure, man overboard starboard side of PLATTE. 06:30 all lines and hoses clear, maneuvering to clear port side of PLATTE. 06:32 set flight quarters. 06:34 set man overboard detail, secured the replenishment detail. 06:44 launched Big Mother 76. 06:50 man overboard recovered by Big Mother 76. 06:52 recovered Big Mother 76, man recovered is HILL, NATHANEL, SN. 06:59 secured flight quarters …… 07:28 on station alongside PLATTE. 08:05 commenced highline transfer of SN HILL with USS PLATTE

USS FECHTELER (DD-870) (13)
(Courses and Speeds – omitted)

05:52 commenced approach on USS PLATTE. 06:05 shotline in hand amidships. 06:14 span wire on deck aft. 06:26 span wire ready forward station. 06:27 emergency breakaway procedure, man overboard on PLATTE. 06:29 manned forecast off for man overboard recovery. 06:31 Captain has the conn, maneuvering to recover man overboard. 06:40 sighted man overboard. 06:51 helo from USS HORNE (DLG-30), man overboard, maneuvering once again to station on PLATTE.

Crewman stated; SN Hill, a man of color, was very difficult to see at night.

1) Numbering as per HC-7 Rescue Log (accumulative rescue number)
2) HC-7 Rescue Log
3) No rescue report within collection
4) Map – Google Earth
10) HC-7 History collection; Ron Milam – Historian
11) USS PLATTE (AO-24) – Deck Log
12) USS HORNE (DLG-30) – Deck Log
13) USS FECHTELER (DD-870) Deck Log

(Compiled / written by: Ron Milam, HC-7 Historian – HC-7, 2-1969 to 7-1970, Det 108 & 113)