The White Falcon - 20.08.1976, Blaðsíða 1

( White Falcon )
Volume XXXII Number 33
Keflavik, Iceland
August 20, 1976
Critically injured
man medevaced
Quick action prevents drowning
Sailor saves children
children, Villjalnur Fannar, age 6, and
Agnar Magnasson, age 7, to the Keflavik
Hospital and Beauchemin to the Base Dis-
pensary for treatment. All were re-
ported in good condition and were re-
turned to their homes.
The cold, shivering Beauchemin was
treated for exposure at the Dispensary
by HM3 John Bennett. He was first
wrapped in blankets and rubbed to revive
circulation, then he was given a warm
shower.
"It felt GREAT," said Beauchemin, who
stayed in the shower for half an hour.
Says the courageous Beauchemin, "It's
the first time anything like this has
ever happened to me and I hope it never
happens again."
While folding a few wet dollar bills
into a dry pocket, he remarked, "The
only thing I lost was my glasses, do you
know of a scuba diver who could get them
for me?"
His wife added, "Luckily, we just
bought an extra pair last week."
When asked how many fish they had
caught that day, Beverly replied, "We
had just caught our 20th fish and were
just about ready to leave the pier when
the accident happened. I guess it was a
good fishing day for us and a lucky day
for those kids.”
OTSN Beauchemin. a native of Chico-
pee, Mass., has been assiened to the
Naval Facility for nine months.
New XO to assume
duties next week
RAdm. Bernstein to become IDF commander
RADM. HAROLD G. RICH, commander of the
Iceland Defense Force.
Rear Admiral Karl J. Bernstein will
succeed Rear Admiral Harold G. Rich as
Commander of the Iceland Defense Force
in change of command ceremonies at the
NATO Base on Tuesday, August 24.
The afternoon event will be located
in Hangar 831. Formation will be assem-
bled at 2:30 p.m. Guests speakers will
be Mr. Doyle Martin, Charge d'Affaires
ad interim, American Embassy, Reykjavik,
and Vice Admiral Howard E. Greer, USN,
Commander Naval Air Force, U.S. Atlantic
Fleet.
Prior to assuming command of Iceland
Defense Force, Rear Admiral Bernstein
commanded Naval Air Station, Jackson-
ville, Fla., from August until July
1976.
The native of Nova Scotia was bom on
March 31, 1925. After attending St. Re-
gis School in New York City, he enlisted
in the U. S. Navy in March 1942. Fol-
lowing duty in the Mediterranean he en-
tered the U. S. Naval Academy in June
1945.
Upon graduation he reported for
flight training at Pensacola, Fla.,
and was designated a Naval Aviator in
July 1952.
Rear Admiral Bernstein has served
with Patrol Squadron 34 in Trinidad,
British West Indies and on the staff of
Commander Fleet Air Wing Eleven, Nor-
folk, Va. After a tour with Pa-
trol Squadron 8 he was a Naval Liaison
Officer to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
This will not be the first time the
new Admiral has been stationed in Ice-
land. He commanded Patrol Squadron 10
for six months, during which time it
was deployed to Keflavik.
He has also commanded Patrol Squadron
31 and served with Allied Forces South-
ern Europe.
In addition to the Naval Academy,
Rear Admiral Bernstein is a graduate of
the Naval War College and the NATO De-
fense College, Rome, Italy.
He is married to the former Jean Eli-
zabeth Schulze of Alexandria,. Va.
They have four children, Mark, Brian,
Courtney, and Amanda.
Commander John A. Mueller will assume
duties as the Naval Station executive
officer next week.
Cdr. Mueller has served for the past
four years as executive officer of the
Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps
(NROTC) unit at Villanova University,
Villanova, Pa.
He was commissioned in the Navy in
1956 and completed flight training at
the Naval Advanced Training Command,
Naval Air Station, Hutchinson, Kan. in
1958.
After serving with various air squad-
rons from 1958-1966, Cdr. Mueller became
the first U.S. Navy officer to command a
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squad-
ron. He commanded Number 10 Squadron at
RAAF Base, Townsville, Queensland from
June 1968 to January 1969.
Cdr. Mueller earned a bachelor of
science degree at Southern Illinois
University. He received an A.M. degree
at Sanford University in 1964 while as-
signed as the Naval Science Instructor
on the NROTC staff. He also attended
college in 1969.
Cdr. Mueller and his wife, Mildred,
have two children: Gay, 17; and John,
13.
THE NEW Naval Station Executive Officer,
Cdr. John A. Mueller.
‘A family image of good neighbors
by JOCS James A. Johnston
When Rear Admiral Harold G. Rich as-
sumed duty as Commander, Iceland Defense
Force in May 1974, the NATO Base, and
indeed, the fate of the North Atlantic
Treaty Organization's status in Iceland,
were in a state of upheaval amid re-
negotiation of the Memorandum of Under-
standing between Iceland and the United
States.
Renegotiation continued through Sep-
tember, when points of conflict were
mutually resolved.
"The agreement was quite satisfact-
ory," RAdm Rich recalls. "Changes in
the Memorandum of Understanding removed
some of the controversies. Our new
housing construction, reduction in per-
sonnel and other points are all on track
now: plans have been implemented and
programs have been established."
Adm. Rich said mutual cooperation and
Sespect have been rebuilt since the Oct-
|er 1974 signing of the MOU. The De-
fense Force, he said, working through
the U. S. Embassy, has gained the trust
and confidence of the host nation.
"The NATO Base will always be a sens-
itive political issue in Iceland," the
Admiral said, "probably as long as the
need for a defense force exists. We
must minimize the sensitivity."
The Admiral said Defense Force mem-
bers can help minimize the sensitivity
by the image each individual projects.
i'What kind of guests are we?" he ask-
ed. "We are guests in Iceland, and we
must project the total family image of
good neighbors and guests."
Adm. Rich compared the Defense Force
presence in Iceland to guests in a fam-
ily home. There are those who are exem-
plary guests and are welcomed back, and
those who are not welcome.
"I am proud of our results," the Ad-
miral offered. "During difficult times
and under trying circumstances, members
of the Iceland Defense Force have con-
ducted themselves in an exemplary man-
ner. I am grateful for the understand-
ing and support of every member of our
community.
He attributes much of the success to
base leadership at all levels, but par-
ticularly at the middle management
level.
"The reason for our success is com-
Story continues on Page 4
by J02 Terry Barnthouse
A NATO Base Navyman was responsible
for saving the lives of two Icelandic
children after they fell from a fishing
pier in Keflavik Sunday morning.
Ocean Systems Technician Seaman David
Beauchemin and his wife Beverly were
fishing at the pier when they noticed
some children playing near them. Beau-
chemin explained, "I saw these two kids
playing and as one fell, the other
tripped over him, and both fell over the
side of the pier."
Without hesitation, Seaman Beauchemin
took off his coat and dove 10 feet into
the water.
He said, "I thought I was going to
passout the moment I hit that cold
water. The kids tried to stand on top
of my head when I came up. Somehow I
managed to hold their heads above the
water. All I could think of was survi-
val. I imagined them being saved, but
not me."
What seemed like an eternity was only
10 minutes for the 20-year-old Beauche-
min to stay afloat with the struggling
children before help arrived.
His wife ran for help and a couple of
Danish fishermen from a ship in the area
helped pull the three from the water
with a long pole.
One of the children received mouth-
to-mouth resuscitation from a Danish
sailor.
The Icelandic Police took the two
THE FUTURE Commander of the Iceland De-
fense Force, RAdm. Karl J. Bernstein.
i>y Det. 14 helo.
The HH-3E Jolly Green Giant rescue
helicopter of Air Force Det.14, 39 ARRWG
medevaced a critically injured Icelandic
man from Akranes to the Reykjavik
Hospital Friday.
Thorstein Benjaminsson was involved
in an automobile accident at Svinadal-
lur, near Akranes. He was taken to
Akranes and examined. His leg was broken
in two palces, he had a number of open
wounds and a severe loss of blood.
The Icelandic Lifesaving Association
requested Det. 14's aid at 9:22 p.m. and
the Jolly Green Giant was airborne at
10:05 p.m.
The aircraft commander was Lieutenant
Colonel A1 Fechser, the co-pilot was
First Lieutenant George Tota, Navy Lieu-
tenant (Dr.) Charles Tate was the flight
surgeon. The Flight Mechanic was Ser-
geant Clint Solt and the Pararescueman
was Airman 1st Class Andy Moser.
The injured man was picked up, taken
to the Reykjavik Airport and on his way
to the hospital by ambulance by 10:40
p.m.
OTSN DAVID BEAUCHEMIN indicates the spot
where he jumped into the icy 46° water
in Keflavik harbor to save the lives of
two Icelandic children.