MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Through the coordinated efforts of Station Marines and Sailors, two Japanese fishermen were rescued from their floundering vessel on the morning of April 2.
Military Policeman Lance Cpl. Brian Cahill was patrolling the seawall near Penny Lake when he observed the fishermen signaling for help from their small aluminum fishing boat.
Cahill coordinated the dispatch of the Port Security Boat Patrol. However, before the patrol could reach the fishermen, they began to drift out to sea.
The fishermen used a flashlight to send distress signals, and were approximately 150 meters from the seawall when the patrol boat reached them 20 minutes later, said Maj. Jonathan Foster.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Louis M. Chilson Jr., and Lance Cpl. Dwayne T. Philbert pulled the two Japanese nationals, Kewji Marda and Katjuhiko Sugimoto, to safety and attempted to tow the fishing boat back to the Station.
The attempt was abandoned after heavy seas threatened to capsize both vessels.
The fishermen were released to the Japanese police, and were escorted to their vehicle, which was parked near the Monzen Marina area.
Immediately after releasing the fishermen, a patrol returned to the last known site of the fishing boat to attempt a recovery. However, they were unable to locate the boat.
The Japanese Coast Guard recovered the boat later that day.
The fishermen were not in a restricted area.