Rescue at sea: Makassar Strait

The DoD has released a photo essay of distressed mariners, small children to the aged, that received humanitarian aid recently. The caring attitudes and competent skills of our active duty sailors and Marines are evident in the photos (PD).

“Distressed mariners floating on bamboo rafts tied together and with no

“Makassar”. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikipedia –

means of propulsion wait to be rescued by U.S. sailors and Marines aboard the USS Rushmore in the Pacific Ocean’s Makassar Strait, June 10, 2015. The Rushmore offered assistance to distressed mariners in the waters between the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi.”

150610-M-ST621-140 MAKASSAR STRAIT (June 10, 2015) Distressed persons wait to be rescued by Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in the Pacific Ocean. Rushmore rescued 65 people after it was discovered they were floating on bamboo rafts tied together and with no means of propulsion. Once on board, the rescued individuals were provided food and medical attention by Marines and Sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

” MAKASSAR STRAIT (June 10, 2015) Distressed persons wait to be rescued by Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in the Pacific Ocean. Rushmore rescued 65 people after it was discovered they were floating on bamboo rafts tied together and with no means of propulsion. Once on board, the rescued individuals were provided food and medical attention by Marines and Sailors from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)”

“A U.S sailor helps a distressed mariner get to the medical staff aboard the USS Rushmore in the Makassar Strait, June 10, 2015. The Rushmore offered assistance to distressed mariners in the waters between the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi. ” Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos

“U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit play soccer with an Indonesia child while he waits to be transported to an Indonesian coast guard vessel from the USS Rushmore (LSD 47), June 11, 2015.”(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

Soccer, a great global ice breaker. (What are those monster machines? Landers?)

U.S. Marines with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit assist distressed mariners ready to be transported to an Indonesian coast guard vessel from the USS Rushmore (LSD 47), June 11, 2015. The distressed mariners were rescued from a sinking craft in the Makassar Strait. Once on board, the mariners were provided food and medical attention by Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU and Essex Amphibious Ready Group. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

Marines”… assist distressed mariners ready to be transported to an Indonesian coast guard vessel from the USS Rushmore (LSD 47), June 11, 2015. “(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

“A U.S. Sailor with the Essex Amphibious Ready Group loads an Indonesia boy onto a watercraft to be transported to an Indonesian coast guard vessel from the USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in the Pacific Ocean, June 11, 2015. ” (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

I think the children want to stay on the Rushmore.

U.S. Marines and Sailors with the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Essex Amphibious Ready Group assist rescued mariners onto a watercraft to be transported to an Indonesian coast guard vessel from USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in the Pacific Ocean, June 11, 2015. Rushmore rendered assistance to the distressed mariners in the waters between the Indonesian islands of Kalimantan and Sulawesi while transiting the area during a deployment with the Essex ARG and 15th MEU. Once on board, distressed mariners were provided food and medical attention by Marines and Sailors of the 15th MEU and Essex ARG. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

The mariners are helped “onto a watercraft to be transported to an Indonesian coast guard vessel from USS Rushmore (LSD 47) in the Pacific Ocean, June 11, 2015. “(U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Emmanuel Ramos/Released)

An event no one will forget. So proud of tomorrow’s veterans, today still at work.

2 Responses to Rescue at sea: Makassar Strait

Clear Left says:

June 18, 2015 at 10:24

Bamboo rafts tied together? …. No propulsion….? Sounds like the boatpeople of Vietnam trying to get away from some BAD Dudes…. and they put them back on an Indonesian Naval Vessel? Probably gonna be couple folks turned into shark chum…..

- Kiedove says:
  
  June 22, 2015 at 13:21
  
  I think you are correct. What were they trying to escape to or from? The docs they saw on the ship may have been the first they had seen in a long time.