Japanese Navy thanks 14 Wing responders for medevac support
Effusive thanks turned an office call at 14 Wing Greenwood’s headquarters by Japanese Navy representatives into a fun, relaxed follow-up to a serious SAR call.
Early July 19, 413 (Transport and Rescue) Squadron personnel aboard both a CC295 Kingfisher and a CC149 Cormorant flew approximately 200 miles south southwest of Halifax, where two Japanese warships were sailing. A member of one of the ship’s crew had suffered a sudden collapsed lung, and needed a medevac.
“They have lots of stuff on those ships, and they’d done a chest X-ray,” says search-and-rescue technician Master Corporal Josh Oakley. “His breathing was impeded; he needed higher medical care. They wanted him off ship to Halifax to be seen.”
Oakley says the medevac from the Japanese Navy Ship Kashima was unique: 413 Squadron often responds to fishing vessels, pleasure craft, cruise ships and merchant vessels.
“I’ve never seen these ships. But – it doesn’t matter who or what it is: we go.”
Major Brad Harding was on the Kingfisher, which arrived on scene first. An effort had been made across 14 Wing’s text messaging system to find a member who could speak Japanese, to no avail; the Kingfisher crew did its best to lay plans with the Kashima before the Cormorant arrived.
Oakley says the Navy ship was so big, the helicopter could have landed on its deck with room to space, but they decided on a “pretty standard hoist – it’s what we know, and the conditions were very foggy.”
Once the SAR-Techs lowered to the deck, they went below to find the Japanese sailor ready, lying on a stretched in a cramped hallway. Between the working space, the number of personnel gathered to help and the language barrier, they got the patient up, and supported him to walk to a lowered basket. Life-jacketed and fastened in, up he went, with an escort sailor, paperwork and an overnight bag; followed by the SAR-Techs.
“It was very routine – the whole thing; nothing out of the norm for us – just that it was a Navy ship.”
Fast-forward a couple of weeks, and contacts within Japan Training Squadron HQ, JMSDF, reached out to 14 Wing: the commanding officer of the Japanese Navy Ship Yamagiri was in port in Halifax, and wanted to thank 14 Wing responders for their support of their sister ship. The visit was arranged for August 10.
At 14 Wing headquarters, Harding, Oakley and several other 413 Squadron representatives were joined by Deputy Wing Commander Lieutenant-Colonel Rob Curtis and Wing Chief Warrant Officer Justin Harper, and others. The Japanese party arrived in full white naval dress, including the now-recovered sailor.
While conversation was very limited, there was much appreciation for two ship plaques presented in thanks to both 14 Wing and 413 Squadron, followed by crests, coins, ball hats, decorated folding fans, Pokemon-themed swag and an oversize bottle of saki (with instructions on how to cheers with a “kanpai” while drinking) from seemingly bottomless gift bags. 14 Wing representatives were hard-pressed to keep up, with framed photos, coins and crests in exchange – even removing patches from their uniform sleeves.
“On behalf of the wing commander, these are tokens of our appreciation, for coming to visit,” said Curtis. “You’re going to go to the other side of the base now, and visit 413 Squadron.”
At 413 Squadron, the visitors were toured through both the July 19 responding aircraft, and had the opportunity to see multiple displays of recovered life jackets and equipment 413 Squadron often brings home, has responding personnel sign, and then hang in the hangar briefing room or hallway. On this occasion, though, they were able to return the Japanese Navy sailor’s life jacket in person.
When asked, “are you well?”, he replied, “No problem, thank you!”
