Charles W. Sexton (March 7, 1953 – January 11, 1991),

Machinery Technician Machinery Technician (MK) is an enlisted rating in the United States Coast Guard that is responsible for the operation, maintenance and repair of a cutter's propulsion, auxiliary equipment and outside equipment, internal combustion engines (gaso ...

First Class,

USCG The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, mi ...

, was awarded a posthumous award of the

Coast Guard Medal The Coast Guard Medal is a decoration of the United States military that is awarded to any service member who, while serving in any capacity with the United States Coast Guard, distinguishes themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict wi ...

for "extraordinary heroism."

Action cited

Sexton died during the rescue of fishermen stranded off the treacherous

Columbia River The Columbia River (Upper Chinook language, Upper Chinook: ' or '; Sahaptin language, Sahaptin: ''Nch’i-Wàna'' or ''Nchi wana''; Sinixt dialect'' '') is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river headwater ...

bar. A Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat Crew had proceeded to the

fishing trawler A fishing trawler is a commercial fishing vessel designed to operate fishing trawls. Trawling is a method of fishing that involves actively dragging or pulling a trawl through the water behind one or more trawlers. Trawls are fishing nets tha ...

''Sea King'' in ''motor lifeboat 44381'', because the trawler had lost power off the Columbia bar, and was taking on water. As the unit's Emergency Medical Technician, Sexton was tending to a wounded fisherman's injuries after bringing over dewatering pumps when the trawler unexpectedly turned over. Two of the trawler's crew and a Coast Guardsman were thrown into the Ocean and were eventually rescued, but Sexton and two other crew members became trapped in the vessel's pilot house and drowned.

Coast Guard Medal citation

His award citation stated:

Petty Officer SEXTON is cited for extraordinary heroism on 11 January 1991 while serving as
emergency medical technician An emergency medical technician (often, more simply, EMT) is a medical professional that provides emergency medical services. EMTs are most commonly found serving on ambulances and in fire departments in the US and Canada, as full-time and som ...
aboard Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG-44381. The boat crew was responding to a distress call from F/V SEA KING, a 75-foot stern trawler with four persons on board, which was taking on water and in danger of sinking, four nautical miles northwest of the
Columbia River Bar The Columbia Bar is a system of bars and shoals at the mouth of the Columbia River spanning the U.S. states of Oregon and Washington. It is one of the most dangerous bar crossings in the world, earning the nickname Graveyard of the Pacific. The ...
, with her decks awash and after compartment and engine room steadily filling up with water. From the relative safety the motor lifeboat, Petty Officer SEXTON unselfishly volunteered to go aboard the foundering fishing vessel to treat the injuries of a SEA KING crew member who had fallen to the deck boat during a failed helicopter hoist. He skillfully diagnosed the victim’s injuries, informed the flight surgeon of the extent of the injuries and provided first aid treatment. Once the victim was stabilized, Petty Officer SEXTON turned his attention to assisting with the dewatering of the vessel. The SEA KING required several dewatering pumps to remove the initial quantity of sea water from the engine room. Then, hourly dewatering of the vessel was necessary to maintain proper trim aboard the vessel. After more than 6 hours of this exhausting routine, with the worst of the treacherous bar crossing behind them, the SEA KING suddenly, without warning, rolled over, throwing victims into the churning seas and trapping Petty Officer SEXTON in the enclosed pilot house. He went down with vessel, sacrificing his life while attempting to save the lives of the SEA KING’s crew members. Petty Officer SEXTON demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude, and daring in spite of imminent danger in this rescue. His courage and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.

Sexton Hall

The first barracks new Coast Guard recruits inhabit upon their arrival at the Coast Guard Training Center in

Cape May, New Jersey Cape May (sometimes Cape May City) is a City (New Jersey), city and seaside resort located at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, Cape May County in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Located on the Atlantic Ocean ...

, is named ''"Sexton Hall"'', in his honor. Recruits stay there during their orientation, prior to their assignment to a training unit. Upon arriving to recruit basic training in

, recruits spend their first three nights in ''Sexton Hall'' for forming, and before being put into a company. Named after Charles W. Sexton, there are tributes to him within the barracks. Sexton Hall is also the residence of recruits discharged before completion of recruit training awaiting orders home (whether for medical or disciplinary reasons).

Cape Disappointment

The Coast Guard's National Motor Lifeboat School where Sexton was stationed at the time of his death, named the maintenance building in his honor. A bronze relief plaque is displayed at the building entrance to remind staff and students of his ultimate sacrifice.

USCGC ''Charles Sexton''

In 2010, when the Coast Guard decided that all the new

Sentinel class cutters The Sentinel-class cutter, also known as the Fast Response Cutter or FRC due to its program name, is part of the United States Coast Guard's Deepwater program. At , it is similar to, but larger than, the lengthened 1980s-era s that it replaces. ...

would be named after Coast Guard personnel who had been recognized for their heroism, Sexton was one of those to be honored. The 8th cutter in the class was named the USCGC ''Charles Sexton'' and is based in

Key West, Florida Key West is an island in the Straits of Florida, at the southern end of the U.S. state of Florida. Together with all or parts of the separate islands of Sigsbee Park, Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key, and the northern part of Stock Islan ...

. A 154' USCG Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter that bears his name was commissioned in Key West, FL on March 8, 2014.

References

Sources

Who are some of the heroes of the Coast Guard?", USCG
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sexton, Charles W. 1953 births 1991 deaths Military personnel from North Carolina United States Coast Guard non-commissioned officers Emergency medical technicians Deaths by drowning in Washington (state) Recipients of the Coast Guard Medal