Book SummaryComing Back Alive, by Spike Walker

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Coming Back Alive

The story explores the challenging and strenuous missions undertaken by the Coast Guard's exceptionally trained helicopter recovery teams in Alaska.

Walker highlights the extraordinary bravery and skill of the Sitka, Alaska-based U.S. Coast Guard helicopter teams, who regularly face some of the world's most challenging and perilous flying environments. He emphasizes the vital role they play in safeguarding the safety of those who courageously face the solitary and severe Alaskan wilds, especially those engaged in the commercial fishing industry.

The highly regarded Coast Guard personnel, including aviators and their teams stationed in Sitka, Alaska.

The author emphasizes the rigorous standards and extensive training that teams, including Coast Guard pilots, must undergo to be ready for the challenging conditions of Alaska. He portrays specific people, emphasizing their expertise, dedication, and steadfast determination to rescue others.

Individuals including Lieutenant Dan Molthen and David Durham is acknowledged for his exceptional abilities and profound understanding stemming from his role in the Coast Guard.

Walker underscores the critical contributions of pilots stationed in Sitka, such as Lt. Bill Adickes and Cmdr. Dan Molthen. David "Bull" Durham is widely recognized for his exceptional bravery and skill. He recounts their past exploits, including the distinguished mission that led to the rescue of the Oceanic fishing vessel's crew, an act for which Adickes was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his role as a copilot and navigator. He also mentions Molthen's DFC award, emphasizing his crucial involvement in the rescue of the crew from the Collisto and his extensive experience in naval aviation. The narrative also emphasizes the pilot's more than twenty years of experience in aviation. The writer emphasizes the bravery of these aviators who regularly navigate through weather that their peers in other regions would deem inconceivable.

Context

• The Oceanic and Collisto are likely references to real or fictional vessels involved in maritime incidents requiring Coast Guard intervention, highlighting the dangerous nature of sea rescues.
• The Distinguished Flying Cross is a military decoration awarded to individuals who distinguish themselves by heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight.
• David "Bull" Durham is a nickname that suggests a strong, resilient character, often used to denote someone with a formidable presence or reputation.
• The award of the Distinguished Flying Cross to Adickes highlights the significance and difficulty of the mission, as well as his critical contribution to its success.
• With extensive experience, aviators are likely involved in diverse missions such as search and rescue, reconnaissance, and transport, often in demanding environments.
• The geographical isolation of many areas in Alaska means that air travel is often the only viable means of reaching remote locations, increasing the importance of skilled pilots.

The team comprises individuals trained rigorously to handle the harsh Alaskan environment.

Walker also underscores the critical roles played by the rescue personnel and the technical staff tasked with maintaining the aircraft. He details the intensive sixteen-week program designed to prepare individuals such as Rich Sansone with the essential capabilities to meet the challenging mental and physical requirements of maritime lifesaving operations. The author emphasizes the expertise demonstrated by Sean Witherspoon and Chris Windnagle, whose adept handling of the winch system and critical advice to the pilot are pivotal during rescue operations. He highlights the rescuer's skill in safely retrieving people from dangerous environments, which involves the precise maneuver of touching down on narrow outcroppings barely the width of an average sheet of construction board. Throughout the book, Walker emphasizes the shared dedication and unwavering resolve of the team, often putting their own well-being on the line for the salvation of others.

Context

• Handling specialized equipment like helicopters and winches in adverse weather requires advanced technical skills and knowledge of aviation safety protocols specific to cold climates.
• Strict safety protocols are in place to protect both the crew and the aircraft. These include pre-flight checks, emergency procedures, and regular drills to ensure readiness for any situation.
• Such programs typically include physical conditioning, technical skills training, survival techniques, and simulations of real-life rescue scenarios to ensure readiness for actual emergencies.
• The success of rescue missions depends on seamless teamwork. Witherspoon and Windnagle's roles are part of a larger coordinated effort involving pilots, technical staff, and other rescue personnel, all working together to ensure mission success.
• Understanding the local wildlife and natural hazards is crucial, as these can pose additional risks during rescue missions in remote areas.
• A winch system is a mechanical device used to lift or lower heavy loads, crucial in rescue operations for hoisting people safely from difficult terrains or water.

The Coast Guard in Alaska utilizes sophisticated H-60 Jayhawk helicopters for their search and rescue missions.

Walker provides a detailed depiction of the H-60 Jayhawk helicopter, a sophisticated apparatus that empowers the Coast Guard in executing missions efficiently, particularly under the challenging Alaskan environment. He emphasizes the mission's challenges while also acknowledging the skillfulness associated with the airplane's capabilities.

The aircraft is exceptionally equipped for the challenging environment, thanks to its sturdy engines, sophisticated guidance technology, and specialized equipment for rescue operations.

The author highlights the H-60's sophisticated...

Coming Back Alive Summary The challenging professions and labor of those engaged in the commercial fishing sector of Alaska.

Walker delves into the lives and challenges faced by Alaskan commercial fishermen, highlighting their unwavering commitment, tireless resolve, and deep connection to the sea. He explores the numerous risks and obstacles encountered by individuals whose livelihoods are earned in what is acknowledged as a highly demanding profession.

The intrepid and independent nature is characteristic of individuals who engage in commercial fishing in Alaska.

The author captures the essence of Alaskan fishermen, portraying them as remarkably resilient, persistent, and prepared to face danger. He underscores their profound bond with the ocean and their cognizance of the intrinsic risks that come with their line of work.

Mike DeCapua, alongside Bob Doyle, has dedicated himself to the hazardous but rewarding tasks found in the waters of Alaska.

Walker portrays Mike DeCapua and Bob Doyle as pivotal individuals who embody the quintessential spirit of the fishing legacy in Alaska. He portrays DeCapua as a valiant individual whose diverse and colorful professional journey throughout the United States reached its pinnacle when he found his genuine calling in Alaska's fishing grounds....

Coming Back Alive Summary Fishermen often work alongside the Coast Guard on dangerous sea rescue operations.

Walker provides a gripping account of two dramatic helicopter missions aimed at saving people from tumultuous waters, underscoring the extraordinary measures taken by the Coast Guard to save fishermen caught in Alaska's fierce storms. He describes the difficulties that both aviators and the individuals responsible for in-flight repairs and water rescues confront when they tackle dangerous weather and hazardous situations.

The Coast Guard's heroic efforts in locating and saving the crew of the La Conte as the fishing vessel was sinking.

The writer describes the heroic actions of the Coast Guard helicopter crew who courageously navigated through extreme weather conditions to rescue the crew of the fishing boat La Conte. He describes the escalating dangers and hardships faced by the early teams, which forced them to abandon their endeavor due to intense storms and critically depleted fuel supplies.

The aviation teams faced considerable weather-related obstacles while attempting to save the stranded fishermen.

Walker offers a detailed narrative of the operations executed by a trio of Coast Guard helicopters, underscoring the unwavering dedication of the pilots and their...

Coming Back Alive Summary The capsizing of the La Conte, coupled with the extreme weather conditions, had a deep impact on both the crew members and the surrounding communities.

Walker provides a detailed account of the violent and unpredictable storm that precipitated the sinking of the La Conte. He narrates the vulnerability of the fishing vessel and portrays the intensifying fear that engulfed the crew when they faced the imminent peril of demise.

The La Conte was engulfed by a violent tempest, with winds that escalated to 100 miles per hour and monstrous waves that rose as high as 90 feet.

The writer provides a detailed account of the La Conte's ordeal with extreme weather conditions, emphasizing the hurricane-strength gusts that hit speeds of one hundred miles per hour, the heavy rainfall, and the colossal waves that surged up to ninety feet. The crew was unexpectedly thrust into a scenario of extreme terror due to the storm's sudden and fierce escalation.

The La Conte fishing vessel was not designed for the harsh conditions of open sea navigation and possessed intrinsic structural flaws.

The La Conte, an aging vessel, encountered harsh conditions in the Fairweather Ground, which presented significant challenges. He describes the vessel's shortcomings, including the lack of a crucial inflatable safety apparatus and the improperly...