U.S. Coast Guard Experience

Lt. Craig D. Neubecker has gotten more out of his experience with the United States Coast Guard than he first bargained. Neubecker, who attended Cowley during the 1988-89 academic year, was involved in a daring rescue mission in December 2000 that became the subject of a Discovery Channel special and an ABC Primetime Live episode.

And in early 2003, Neubecker and two crewmates completed a dramatic first night airborne use of force drug interdiction mission that resulted in the seizure of more than three tons of cocaine. For their efforts, the crew was presented the Airborne Law Enforcement Association’s 2003-2004 Captain “Gus” Crawford Memorial Air Crew of the Year Award. The award was presented July 24 at the annual ALEA conference in Charlotte, N.C. Pilot Neubecker, co-pilot Lt. Shawn Koch, and avionics electronics technician first class and aviation gunner William Greer serve with the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron in Jacksonville, Fla. “I felt very honored and thankful that our crew received the award,” said Neubecker, a 1988 graduate of Central of Burden High School. “Knowing that we were selected by our peers in the Airborne Law Enforcement community from amongst all the other outstanding aircrews out there meant a lot to me, and I am humbled that we were so honored.”

The annual award identifies and recognizes a crew for flying efforts and professionalism that epitomizes ALEA’s motto – “To Serve and Protect from the Air.” Neubecker, Koch and Greer received the award for successfully completing the first night airborne use of go-fast interdiction under extremely daunting conditions, ultimately stopping more than 6,083 pounds of pure, uncut cocaine with a street value of more than $194 million from reaching the United States. Neubecker, 35, has completed his HITRON tour, which lasts three years.

He is now a helicopter pilot instructor training the next generation of Navy, Marine and Coast Guard aviators. “I’m trying to pass along some of the knowledge I have learned in over 10 years of Army and Coast Guard flying,” Neubecker said. Along with that knowledge are some wild stories, including the one that unfolded in the drug transit zone of the Eastern Pacific Ocean about 250 miles west of Costa Rica in early 2003.

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter “Diligence” was on patrol with Neubecker, Koch and Greer aboard. The 210-foot vessel is the smallest flight deck-equipped ship in the U.S. inventory. However, the crew was armed with the MH-68A Sting Ray armed interdiction helicopter, the latest weapon in the war on drugs. In the late evening, the “Diligence” received an intelligence report of a “go-fast” drug smuggling vessel in the area. Go-fasts are high-speed, multi-engined boats usually carrying several tons of illegal cargo. Unfortunately, the darkness and prevailing weather at the time meant detection of the go-fast would be nearly impossible, and up to that time, not a single go-fast had been stopped at night. With weather of 700-foot overcast, one mile visibility, rain showers, confused seas and zero percent moon illumination,

Neubecker and crew weighed the risks, but came to the conclusion that the intelligence was so strong that it warranted they at least give the mission a try. “During the mission, you are so focused on the task at hand, that you don’t really have much time to think about anything else, but we were very pumped up,” Neubecker said. “I don’t think that many Americans realize the importance of fighting the Drug War, but it is actually now part of the larger War on Terrorism.

The sale of illegal drugs is a major funding source for terrorists that would do our great country harm, so stopping them is our top priority. Knowing that we deprived them of hundreds of millions of dollars of income sure felt good.” The crew maneuvered its armed Sting Ray helicopter to track the go-fast boat as it sped toward the U.S. shore with its illicit cargo. After firing warning shots and then disabling the go-fast boat’s engines with pinpoint shots from the helicopter crew’s .50-caliber precision rifle, the boat, its crew and its $194.6 million cargo of drugs all were captured.

Neubecker said the mission was difficult, but that the crew felt it was its responsibility. “It was without a doubt the most difficult mission I have ever flown,” Neubecker said. “And while many have praised us for completing the mission, some have also questioned why we even tried it. The simple answer is that it is our duty, and we must all do our part to serve our country, just like our other brothers and sisters in arms serving around the world are doing their part. “I always try to say a prayer before I go fly, and I remember that I said a lot of extra prayers before we launched on this one, and I knew that we had the training and the equipment to get the job done. But I certainly asked for some divine intervention to get it done safely. A couple of times we were pretty close to hitting the water, and the ‘pucker factor’ was really high, but we worked as a team and got the job done. The bad guys trying to shake us and put us in the water just strengthened our resolve, and made us try even harder. It was scary, but we were on the side of right, so I had faith that it would all turn out well. I sure thanked the Lord when it was all over though, and I think I even kissed the flight deck once it was all over and we were safe on deck.” All four go-fast crewmembers eventually pled guilty, and are serving time in the Federal Penal system.

Neubecker said Americans should never take their freedom for granted. “The mission hasn’t changed my thinking at all, except maybe now I have a little more first-hand experience, which has only strengthened my belief in the importance of serving our country,” Neubecker said. “Freedom is not free, and we must never forget all those brave Americans who have died earning and preserving that freedom. I am honored to be able to serve my country and do something I love—to fly, at the same time. I will serve my country and fly as long as they will let me.”

Neubecker said he’ll train new pilots in Pensacola, Fla., for the next four years, then it will be back to a regular Coast Guard air station flying search and rescue and law enforcement missions. “I will probably end up in Alaska flying for at least one tour, and after that I wouldn’t mind a tour in Hawaii or California, but the needs of the service come first, so I will go where they need me to go,” Neubecker said. “If I am retired after reaching the 20 year mark, which is pretty typical, I would like to find a job flying for a police and rescue unit, or even a civilian EMS helicopter company. Either way, I will still be serving others and doing the flying that I love. Who knows, I might even end up back in Kansas.”

The crew also deployed on short notice to Valdez, Alaska and New York City in response to intelligence of possible terrorist activities, safeguarding these areas against possible terrorist attacks. Neubecker has talked with Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Security, and to former President George H.W. Bush on two separate homeland security missions. “In addition to our counter-drug mission, we deploy around the country anytime the terrorist threat level rises, and we base ourselves near where the intelligence indicates a possible terrorist attack may occur,” Neubecker said.

Fall 2004