Sailors assigned to Freedom-class Littoral Combat Ship USS Little Rock (LCS 9) Gold Crew “Scorpions” rescued a 30-foot Catalina sailboat, her Captain, a Vietnam Veteran, and his cat “Keke” after they ran aground the evening prior Aug. 21.

Little Rock Gold Sailors were conducting routine training on the 11-meter Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat (RHIB) when they heard chatter from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FFWCC) about a sailboat in the vicinity of Fort George Island in distress. Lt. j.g. Arielle Shoap-Hall, the Boat Officer, recognized they were in the area and directed the crew to the location to aid and investigate.

Upon their arrival, they made communications with the FFWCC’s helicopter and took control of the rescue.

“We were excited to lend a hand and be of assistance,” said Lt. Levi Rosa, the Electronics Material Officer for USS Little Rock Gold Crew. “Safety is always the primary concern so we had to make sure everyone onboard was okay and that we were operating safely around the area too,”

The sailing vessel, downwind, was on her way down the East Coast from Annapolis, Maryland before she was caught in low tide on a sandbar near the St. Johns River.

The Captain, Gary Lee, was extremely compliant and grateful for the Navy’s assistance as they towed her two nautical miles to Sister’s Creek Marina.

“Events like today do not happen every day, but when they do, it provides a sense of duty and pride,” said Shoap-Hall. “It is a good feeling knowing we are training and ready for the moments when life surprises you most.”

“Each watch stander is trained extensively on the RHIB and boat operations are not taken lightly in the Jacksonville operating area,” said Chief Boatswains Mate Jack Buckner, the RHIB’s Coxswain.

Buckner has 20 years of naval experience and trains all USS Little Rock Gold Crew Sailors on the importance, capabilities, and roles onboard the RHIB.

“Scorpions are Poised to Strike; ready to tow,” said Buckner.

LCS is a highly maneuverable, lethal and adaptable ship designed to support focused mine countermeasures, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare missions. LCS integrates new technology and capability to affordably support current and future mission capability from deep water to the littorals.

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