III

110TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 433 

Honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard 

whose tireless work, dedication, and selfless service to the United States 

have led to more than 1 million lives saved over the course of its 

long and storied 217-year history. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

JANUARY 29, 2008 

Mr. STEVENS (for himself and Ms. MURKOWSKI) submitted the following 

resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the brave men and women of the United States 

Coast Guard whose tireless work, dedication, and selfless 

service to the United States have led to more than 1 

million lives saved over the course of its long and storied 

217-year history. 

Whereas, since 1867, the United States Coast Guard has 

been a vital piece of Alaskan history, providing lifesaving medical treatment to native villages along its 

coasts, protecting its fisheries resources, and courageously rescuing those who face peril on the seas; 

Whereas, in 2007, the men and women of the United 

States Coast Guard stationed in Alaska valiantly responded to 696 calls for assistance and saved the 

lives of 463 mariners in distress; 


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•SRES 433 ATS 

Whereas the actions of Petty Officer Willard L. Milam 

personify the proud history of courage and public 

service of the United States Coast Guard on the 10th 

of February, 2007, when, on a pitch-black winter 

morning, Petty Officer Milam launched aboard a 

Coast Guard HH–65 helicopter in near-zero visibility 

to locate the source of a distress signal approximately 

50 miles southwest in Makushin Bay, Alaska; 

Whereas Petty Officer Milam bravely deployed into storm 

tossed, 40-degree seas and swam to a life raft to find 

four survivors hypothermic and soaked in unprotected clothing; 

Whereas Petty Officer Milam heroically overcame exhaustion and hypothermia to pull each survivor from a 

life raft and assist them through the raging seas, 

placing them into a rescue basket to be hoisted into 

the rescue helicopter; 

Whereas Petty Officer Milam’s courageous rescue off the 

coast of Alaska has earned him the 2007 Coast 

Guard Foundation Award for Heroism and the 2007 

Captain Frank Erickson Aviation Rescue Award; and 

Whereas, through extraordinary teamwork, airmanship, 

and courage, the crew of the Coast Guard rescue helicopter saved four lives from the treacherous Bearing 

Sea: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the heroic accomplishments of Petty 

3 Officer Willard Milam, who represented the finest 

4 traditions of the United States Coast Guard during 


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•SRES 433 ATS 

1 the dramatic rescue of four survivors from the 

2 treacherous Bering Sea; 

3 (2) honors the United States Coast Guard, 

4 America’s lifesavers and guardians of the sea, for its 

5 unflinching determination and proud 217-year his6 tory of maritime search and rescue resulting in over 

7 1 million lives saved; and 

8 (3) recognizes the tireless work, dedication, and 

9 commitment of Coast Guard men and women, many 

10 of them stationed in Alaska, far away from family 

11 and friends, who commit themselves every day to 

12 executing this noble mission hundreds of miles from 

13 our shores with honor, respect, and devotion to duty. 

Æ 


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