THUNDER TRAGEDY Continued from page 11 5
USCG Aux Photo by Todd Wilkinson
Captain Scott Stoermer , Captain of the Port and Sector Commander , prepares to brief reporters at a press conference on Monday , July 23 , regarding the salvage of the sunken duck boat near the Showboat Branson Belle .
did make him reflect on his Auxiliary experiences . “ We always train for these sorts of things , we read about them , but an actual event seems surreal when it happens . I ’ ll never look at a patrol or even an ABS course in the same way again after this ,” stated Larsen .
On Monday , June 23 , Stretch Duck 07 was raised from its resting place 80 feet below the surface of Table Rock Lake by a crane barge under Coast Guard supervision . Auxiliary boat crews remained on station until the duck was brought to land and placed on a tractor-trailer for transport to a secured location for the ongoing investigation . Commodore Tippett and the leadership team observed the operation from the top deck of the Belle . When the duck breached the water ’ s surface , bright orange life jackets began to rise from the depths , a somber reminder of the 17 persons who lost their lives in the tragic incident .
As soon as the duck reached the shore , Stephens called the boat crew on patrol and passed the word to secure and return to port .
“ It ’ s just been fantastic , the response of our Auxiliarists ,” said Commodore Tippett . “ The leadership team and boat crews were nothing less than awesome , especially when you consider they were on station in the heat and humidity for eight hours . Bravo Zulu to all Division 5 members .”
12 NAVIGATO