Obama thanks Whidbey SAR for help with OSO landslide

By Crosswind Administrator • April 23, 2014 3:48 pm
President Barak Obama thanks Whidbey Island Naval Air Station’s Search and Rescue (SAR) unit and Federal firefighters for their rescue efforts following the deadly mudslide near Oso, Wash., on March 22, 2014. Obama visited the area on April 22 to meet with first responder rescue personnel and family members impacted by the devastating slide that killed 41 people. NAS Whidbey Island’s SAR five-member team and three federal firefighters attended the event with President Obama. The SAR crewmen were Naval Aircrewman Helicopter 2nd Class (NAC/AW) David Scott, Lt. Cmdr. David Waner, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Brent McIntyre, Lt. Robert Merin and Chief Naval Aircrewman Helicopter Richard Andraschko. The federal firefighters recognized, also from NAS Whidbey Island, were Kevin Paggao, Ian Walton and Michael Wenzel. (KOMO TV 4 photo)