Retired Coastie Presented Air Medal

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U.S. Coast Guard | Petty Officer Kurt Fredrickson | November 03, 2006

KODIAK, Alaska - A retired Coast Guard air crew member was recognized in a ceremony at Air Station Kodiak Thursday morning for a historic rescue operation conducted 28 years ago in the North Pacific Ocean.
Retired Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Daryl L. Horning, of Valdez, Alaska, was presented the Air Medal for meritorious achievement in aerial flight.

Horning served as flight engineer and dropmaster aboard an HC-130 Hercules airplane during a search and rescue mission in the North Pacific Ocean. On October 26, 1978 the crew of a Navy P-3C airplane ditched 290 miles west of Shemya Island.

The Coast Guard air crew took control of the search and directed a Soviet fishing vessel to the area, which rescued 10 of the crew.

Lieutenant j.g. William M. Porter, Lt.j.g. Richard H. Holzhsu, Petty Officer 1st Class Barry P. Phillipy, Petty Officer 2nd Class Kenneth B. Henry, Petty Officer 3rd Class Raymond J. Demkowski, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Anthony J. Miconi, and Seaman Daniel W. Malott received medals for their actions in a ceremony at Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., Oct. 26.

Captain Andrew Berghorn, commanding officer of Air Station Kodiak, presented the award to Horning.

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