Mitch Landrieu: “I stand here today to pay tribute to four great Americans--Lieutenant Commander Brian Moore, Lieutenant Troy Beshears…”

“I stand here today to pay tribute to four great Americans--Lieutenant Commander Brian Moore, Lieutenant Troy Beshears, Petty Officer First Class Mike Bouch and Petty Officer First Class John Green, all serving in the United States Coast Guard. Last July, these four extraordinary Guardsmen were conducting a night flight over the Gulf of Mexico when they heard a distress call from the oil rig ``Ocean Crusader.'' Immediately flying to the rig, they arrived to find it engulfed in flames from a natural gas fire. Placing themselves in imminent danger, they landed on the rig to rescue the crew of 51. To expedite the rescue, Petty Officer Green left the helicopter to coordinate rescue efforts while his crew mates began the difficult task of ferrying the rig workers to another platform in groups of four. As the helicopter began its first evacuation flight, Petty Officer Green began lowering rig workers to a rig supply boat in groups of four using a crane and gondola. After rescuing 12 workers, in three dangerous trips, the helicopter crew was forced to leave the scene to refuel while Petty Officer Green remained behind to keep lowering people to the supply boat and safety. He lowered 36 workers that way before another Coast Guard rescue helicopter arrived on the scene and landed to pick up the four men who remained on the platform. When told the helicopter could only take three safely, Petty Officer Green courageously volunteered to stay behind.”