
Earlier today, the Coast Guard said goodbye to three of its own. In a memorial service held in the hangar at Air Station Sitka, LCDR (select) Sean Krueger, AMT1 Adam Hoke and AMT2 Brett Banks were honored for making the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our nation.
“There is no greater compliment than to be known as a great Shipmate and no better goal than to become one,” said Admiral Bob Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard to those assembled to honor the fallen Coast Guardsmen of CG 6017. “By all definitions, Sean Krueger, Adam Hoke, and Brett Banks were great Shipmates. This is what makes their loss all that much harder to bear.”
On July 7, 2010, a Coast Guard helicopter, designation 6017, was lost off the coast of Washington State. Three Coast Guardsmen were pronounced deceased as a result of the crash. LT Lance Leone was the lone survivor of the air crew.
Over the past week, the outpouring of support for the Coast Guard family and those left behind by our fallen shipmates has been both a testament to the careers of these brave Coast Guardsmen but also an inspiration to those who choose to wear the uniform in service to and defense of the United States. We here at Coast Guard Compass thank you on behalf of the Service for your support and your prayers in this time of mourning.
Below are photographs capturing just a few of the moments from today’s ceremony. A recording of the webcast of the memorial service is available by clicking here.





As an AM3 in the seventies we Coasties had such a good safety record because we fly in what we work on and USCG Airdales are such a small group it really tore all our guts out when we lost one or more of our own, I’m sure it is no different today. It hurt just to read this.