THE CLOVER BOYS IN BRISTOL BAY
(or Up the Kviehak River Without Any
Water)
When we last left our friends they
were at Dutch.Harbor, having just com
pleted the- rescue of a trapped mount
ain-. clibcr. Little did they know what
lay ahead*f
At 0709,... Monday, 23 April, we got
underway to servid'e Priest Rock Light
but swells were too large. So we ret
urned to the harbor, serviced Rocky
Point Shoal Buoy 1, and moored again.
The remainder of the day was spent in
loading buoys for Bristol Bay. •
At 18do we were' underway again,and
at 2300 anchored in Akutan Harbor.Tues
day morning we were able to work Akutan
Harbor Lt., and when the swells subsid
ed, Akun Straits Light, after lunch. At
1435 we set course for Billings Head. Lt
on Akun Island, however, weather was
stiiJL.a_qainst us and we were forced to
anchor in Akun Bay for the night*
At 0345 Wednesday morning we.got
underway. It was still too rough to
work Billings Hoad, so we continued on
to Chunak Point & demolished the day
beacon, which was no longer, required.
We continued on to Sea Lion Rock,arriv
ing at 1645. The sea lions and/or
weather had tipped over the light
structure, so it was necessary to re
build it. After the light was recharged
it was noted the characteristic was in
correct. However, as it was growing
dark we could not take time to change
the flasher,'and we will have to stop
again on the return trip.
At 0916, Thursday, the 26th, we anch
ored off Cape Seniavin, and what follow
ed is the most harrowing experience I
ever hope to■' have•: At 0935 the' light
party went ashore. Because ,of the shal
low water and surf, we used a Marine 10
map iiiiFlatable rubber assault boat,pow-"
eToy'wvth a 25hp outboard motor and att
ended by one ••of; pur work "boats.The land
ing was made without incident and the
light serviced* About noon the party
_attempted to debark but the motor would
not*”start. An-attempt was made to paddle
off, but was unsuccessful. A line was
(Continued next column)
passed to the boat, but when going thru
the surf, CHMACH DIETZ, STEENSLAND, EN2 '
and MOODY, SN were washed out of the •
boat and back on the beach. CANADY,EN2
paddled the'rubber boat back in. The
four men again got in the.boat, but
when going through the sutf it capsized.
Canady reached the beach first, then
Dietz. They saw Steensland struggling
in the water and pulled him out.Looking
about, they spotted Moody and pulled him
cut also.
me attending worK coat returned to
the ship with the remaining six of the
original party and then returned to the
scene.* The ruber boat had washed ashore
where the water was too rough to work,
& the exhausted men could not drage it
up the beach. The work boat returned to
the ship, where a 15 man rubber raft was
inflated, & returned to the scene.Cur
rents along the beach prevented it beach
ing, however, so CHBQSN, THIELE got in
the raft and attempted to paddle it in.
Currents were still too strong, so a
line throwing gun was used to pass a
line ashore. Canady pulled the raft in,
& the four, got aboard. The raft was
successfully pulled through the surf
and at 1701 we were underway again. Mr.
Dietz, Mr. Thiele, and Canady will be
recommended for-appropriate oitations
for their actions.
Earlier in the afternoon when it app
eared rescue of the men might not be
possible a message was sent requesting
an air drop of survival gear. An aircraft
was enroute to the scene when the rescue
was made.
Moody, SN, was suffering from expos
ure and severe immersion foot. After an
exchange of messages, it was decided he
shduld be air evacuated from King Salmon
AFB near Naknek. We anchored in Kvichak
Day at 0724, .and at 0745 the boats dep
arted with Moody.
Saturday, 28 April we got an early
start. At 0415 No. 3 boat departed to
work Bristol- Bay Cannery, the Bend, and
Graveyard Poing Lights-. At 04.18 No. 4
departed to work Squaw Creek and Duck
Creek lights.’ At 0426 No. 1 departed
to.work Naknek and Naknek Entrance light
(Continued page 4 )