Your Finest Hours Continued from page 3
USCG Aux
Andrew Fitzgerald and his shipmates departed from Chatham Lifeboat Station ( today known as Chatham Coast Guard Station ).
hurricane force winds and frigid temperatures , all in an effort to save mariners in peril . For some of those answers the chance to talk with the one surviving Coast Guard crewman who was there that night , Andy Fitzgerald , was a priceless opportunity .
A Colorado Coastie
What follows is an account by Eighth District , Western Rivers , Division One , PA-1 Patrick Hickey of his encounters with Fitzgerald . Mr . Fitzgerald ’ s comments have been edited for clarity .
It was a crisp winter evening in Colorado when Hickey met Andy Fitzgerald for the first time . Unbeknownst to Hickey , both he and Fitzgerald were attending the Colorado All Service Academy ball at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs , Colorado . The annual event is held in honor of service academy cadets that were home for the holiday .
Among the families and friends representing the Coast Guard Academy , Hickey was surprised to learn the story of “ The Finest Hours ” and astonished to learn that he was sitting in the company of one of the four crewmembers who took part in the rescue . The entire audience at the ball was enthralled as the details of this rescue were recounted , and gratefully rose to acknowledge Fitzgerald , who is 85 years old .
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Hickey listened intently as Fitzgerald responded to questions regarding the events of that evening off the Cape Cod coast on February 18 , 1952 . That chance meeting led to further opportunities to interact personally with Fitzgerald . Hickey was asked to interview him specifically for this article .
Although the details have been recounted in many venues , Hickey offered his personal gratitude for Fitzgerald ’ s service to his country . That night , 65 years ago , four men , all under age 25 , took their creed to heart and responded in time of need , rescuing 32 survivors of the sinking SS Pendleton , in the midst of a raging storm . As the last surviving member of that crew , Fitzgerald ’ s legacy is strengthened as the story lives on . It provides a tangible example of the spirit of the Coast Guard and by extension the Coast Guard Auxiliary .
What follows are some of Fitzgerald ’ s memories of the rescue as were related during an interview conducted by Chief Petty Officer Stanley Ritter ( SR ), Master Chief Petty Officer Jack Hunter , USCG ( Ret ) ( JH ) and Auxiliarist and Hickey ( PH ). Fitzgerald ’ s comments have been edited for clarity and are a part of a longer interview that has been preserved . ( Ed .)
The interview was conducted on March 17 , 2016 at the Coast Guard recruiting office in Denver , Colorado .
NAVIGATO