July 7, 2010 started out as a semi-average day in our military family and it changed our future.
Brett had spent the 4th, 5th, and 6th in Astoria. Originally not scheduled for the job, he'd been asked to be a part of the crew sent to rendezvous with a brand new helicopter USCG Airstation Sitka was in need of. The new model aircraft had been ferried across country by another crew out of Elizabeth City, North Carolina.
Brett postponed again his long anticipated cross-country motorcycle trip.
But those 3 days were spent with some old and new friends. They worked and played, ate and shopped. Shane had turned 5, Austin was his usual dynamic self, and the baby was due in a matter of months- a little girl that daddy was going to teach to outdo her brothers and every other guy.
The helicopter rook off as scheduled; heading northwest, up the Washington coast, over into Canada for a pit stop, maybe another once they reached Ketchikan, Alaska and then on home. It would take most of the day and the crew was grateful for a beautiful day to fly.
Sean Kreuger, Lance Leone, Adam Hoke, and Brett Banks started home on a routine flight. As Brett supplied gummy bears and Swedish Fish and Lance a generous selection of fresh fruit, they were enjoying the beautiful day
As they passed over La Push, Washington they overflew a CG boat heading out the channel. (check out GoogleEarth). As is habit and tradition, they turned the helicopter to say 'hello' to thier waterlogged compatriots. It was a steep banking to the right and the world changed. Those on shore and boat saw the helicopter hit or catch some long, awkwardly placed power lines and right angle downward. To those in the helicopter; a hard stop and the worst whirlygig ride times ten in a matter of a second to be suddenly underwater. When a propeller spinning that fast is stopped suddenly it's 'equal and opposite reaction' is for the body of the helicopter to suddenly spin just as fast in the other direction.
USCG Flight 6017 crashed. Only one crewmember survived. It wasn't Brett. My husband and eternal love, my childrens' father and your son, brother, and friend died and went on ahead to await us on the other side.
Because of the geographics of the area, CG personnel were unable to promptly respond to the downing of thier brothers in blue. Fishermen, boaters, and the Harbormaster of the local Quileutte Native American tribe responded without hesitation.
Right now, it's unclear at what point he was removed from the water, though we do know that the surviving crewman was pulled from the water approximately 30 minutes after impact. Lance showed true "hero colors" as he expressed 2 concerns as he lay on the deck of the boat- don't take me in until you find my 3 crewmates/friends and let my wife know I'm alright. At the time he was convinced he was the last out of the wreckage, sure his buddies would be worried about him.
I'm next to dunce when it comes to medical terms, but from some insurance documents I wasn't supposed to recieve, we think they may have tried to bring him back. That suggest that he was recovered fairly early on.
We haven't been told exactly what injuries were sustained, but officially Brett died of a tension hemopneumothorax (he-mo-new-mo-thor-ax). Look it up if you're of a mind too- I don't want to upset anyone by describing something they don't want to envision. Essentially, a massive impact to the chest. He did not suffer and was gone before the helicopter hit the water (none in his lungs).
The course of the day here in Sitka was very different. It was a beautiful morning, I was sitting on the back porch. Shane and Austin were asleep still. And the boy I was babysitting was watching a movie (I think). The phone rang and I missed it. Checking caller ID, I noticed it was a CG number that I hadn't seen before. Facetiously, I thought to myself that they only had 2 possible reasons to call me; a change in the flight or the plane had crashed. I had just about decided that it must have been nothing, and the kids were up when the knock came at the door. When I opened it and saw the two men standing there (my neighbor and friend, Mike and ........ ) they really didn't have to say much. I couldn't help but thinking on the scenes in We Were Soldiers Once, where the general's wife takes it upon herself to deliver the condolance telegrams to the other women Their reactions, I went through all of them inside I'll never know how Mike was able to get the words out. The plane has crashed, we're waiting for more information. Flight protocol has the crew sending a call-check out every 15 minutes. They had already missed 2. It was just after 10 am.
I guess I settled on denial, or practicality. I couldn't go to the base until there was someone to watch the kids. I had a house to clean and if anyone would make it out of a mess like that it'd be Brett. I did hide upstairs when I called my mother and Brett's to have them pass on the emergency prayer message (and post it on FB too). And I called my Visiting Teacher and dear friend Patty to borrow her husband for a blessing. I also allowed myself a little breakdown cry before shaking myself and getting back to work.
Christina (Mikes wife and my wonderful friend) came to worry and clean with me and we waited. Patty and her husband Brock came and we still waited. My sister Heather called twice to see if she should start making her way to me- I told her to wait until we heard and she told me she didn't want to talk to me anymore. She spoke to Patty and was soon on her way, feeding us information from the news and Internet as she came. When she called to say that the third crewman had been removed from the water, I decided it was time to get closer to where I assumed the information would be more readily available and accurate. I got a blessing and taking Patty with me, spent the next few hours sitting in an office. People came and went, expressing concern and love, bringing food, and helping me distract myself the best we could. Around lunchtime, our good friends Troy and, a little later, his wife Jenn came to join our wait. We talked about all sorts of things that none of us wanted to think about. 3 found, 1 alive-the clinic where they'd been taken wasn't giving any names to anyone, not even the Coast Gaurd. But I was stubbornly insistent that Brett was still out there making his way home. Which in a way he was.
It was early afternoon- the longest day ever- when the airstation's Commanding Officer (a family we'd known in Kodiak) came to confirm to us all that Brett had gone, as had the 2 other men; Adam Hoke (divorced single dad of a young teenage son here, with a fiancé and soon-to-be stepdaughter in Astoria), and Sean Kreuger (married with 3 children 9, 5, 1).
We later learned that the surviving crewman, copilot Lance Leone had been able to get a text message to his wife via a rescuer's phone. 'Lance is alright and he loves you'. She recieved the message before anyone had been notified.
Then began our own whirlygig ride as family and friends came rushing and the Coast Gaurd shifted into high gear for getting things done. Funeral arrangements, memorials, honors, press releases, transportation, replacement Gaurdsmen for SAR duty, therapists, investigators, details and decisions. But me, I had to tell the boys that daddy wasn't going to be coming home.
Though the first time was the worst, it is something I have and will do over again as they grow and understand. Austin refused to stop playing. If he remembers that day it will be confusion that eveyone was crying when he physically felt no pain. Shane was confused too. I held him close when I explained that the helicopter Daddy had been flying in broke and fell down.
Don't worry mommy, Daddy can fix it.
No baby, it's too broken.
Then don't worry, I can fix it with my new tools!
Shane, Daddy got really hurt and he doesn't get to come home.
He's got a job to do Mom and then he will come home.
Right, Heavenly Father and Jesus have some Jobs-To-Do for him but it will take a long time and a very important and we won't get to see him.
It's ok mommy, when he's done he will be home. Can I go play now?
The friend Patty who had been beside me all day has a 12 year old son that was Brett's Little Brother in the Big Brothers/ Big Sisters Program. When he was told the news he was ready to go home and be alone. His wise and wonderful mother pointed out how much the boys looked up to him and needed him there and calm more than ever. That brave boy held it together and was THE best care the boys could have had.
The days that followed are a blurry of people, places and decisions. Some I'll be able to relate and others are too vague or too overwhelming right now. I guess you just have to stay tuned.
It was the best thing we found all day- COMPLETELY cute! Can't wait 'til she's big enough to wear it!
