07/26/2026
Jeff Tunks was the first Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer to receive the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hearing him tell the story firsthand is something youâll never forget.
Honored to have Jeff and his wife, Karyn, as part of the shop. đđ»
On December 10, 1987, Coast Guard Air Station Sitka launched an HH-3F into some of the worst weather imaginable after the fishing vessel Bluebird began sinking off Alaska.
With 25â30 foot seas, near-zero visibility, and wind gusts reaching 70 knots, the crew made repeated attempts to hoist a father and his 6-year-old son from the water, but the conditions made it impossible.
Rescue Swimmer ASM2 Jeff Tunks volunteered to deploy. Battling violent seas, he reached the survivors, helped secure them in the rescue basket, and ensured they were safely hoisted into the helicopter. During his own recovery, he was slammed through a massive wave, losing his mask and snorkel and injuring his back before finally being brought aboard.
For his extraordinary courage in conditions unlike any previously faced by Coast Guard rescue swimmers, Jeff became the first Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer to be awarded the Distinguished Flying Crossâthe nationâs highest peacetime award for heroism at the time.
Story adapted from the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation History archives.
