---

Jon Olshefski, Charlie Platt, EM3 Thomas

Five years ago this month we lost 3 shipmates in Key West. PO Thomas,Charlie Pratt, and Jon Olshefski were crewmembers of the CGC Petrel, one of the Surface Effect Ships assigned to the Key West AOR. It was a sad time for all three ships to begin with, since we were going through a sudden decommisioning. With less than 2 weeks to go, we got the call to regroup and proceed out and look for our fallen comrades, who had gone out for a recreational fishing trip. Seas and winds were nasty, and we searched night and day for over 3 days to find them. Only 2 of the 3 were ever found. We never did find Jon. In my 10 years in the guard, this had to be the hardest thing ever to experience, especially when 3 of our closest shipmates were involved. Rest in peace, and may your memories and good times you shared with all your shipmates never be forgotten. I know Charlie is still looking for that big catch somewhere up there in the skies....

01/03/99 Submitted by: Steven Carriere (scarrier66@aol.com)

---

Copyright 2012 Military Advantage, Inc.