The Wreck of the Alaska Ranger

QUOTE  A Jayhawk helicopter was the first to arrive.

"As we approached the scene, we saw three strobe lights and we assumed those were rafts," flight commander Lt. Brian McLaughlin said. "The scene was very grim.

"We got a little closer and there was a fourth light, then a fifth, and a sixth and the numbers just kept growing. The ocean was flashing at us over about a mile-long stretch." UNQUOTE

When I was growing up in western Oregon back in the sixties and early 70's one of the folkies I really liked was ol' Gordon Lightfoot, whose whiskey and smoke edged voice and plain good journeyman guitar work combined with a bard's gift of storytelling to produce some fine, fine tunes.  I couldn't get the song The Edmund Fitzgerald out of my head last night when I heard the news about the Alaska Ranger going down in the Bering Sea, 120 miles west of Dutch Harbor, Alaska. Way out in the Aleutian islands, as far west as America gets, the US Coast Guard pulled  off its largest coldwater sea rescue in its history. Kudos to them for their bravery, professionalism and quick response. Also, I think perhaps some Good Samaritan vessels helped with the rescue, props to them as well.

This is a saga, with heroes. This is a drama worthy of Titanic fame or Greek drama or Shakespeare. The captain, first mate and engineer made sure all others were off the boat, in survival suits and went down with the ship, losing their lives. Most others miraculously survived, 35 degree waters and prolonged immersion. The were bobbing, in the dark frigid Bering Sea, for 5, 6, 7 hours, stretched out over a mile long area-in 20-foot swells. The heroes of the Alaska Ranger died on Easter Sunday. I'm sure the Catholics and Orthodox amongst us know what that means, but for the rest of us ~ straight to Heaven. Do not pass go. Do not worry about $200. Do not worry about your sins and omissions. Ancient Church tradition has it that only the very very deeply good die on Easter, because they bypass the individual judgment and are shooed straight up to the bosom of Abraham and the right hand of the Compassionate One, like the Good Thief.

Mr. Lightfoot, are you still in the songwriting field? Because this saga needs telling, and telling for many years to come.


Rescued Alaska Ranger Crew Member Safely Aboard Coast Guard Vessel