Staff Reports
On November 17, 2025, four fishermen found themselves facing the worst every mariner fears when their vessel began taking on water near the entrance to Grays Harbor, Washington. Local good Samaritans and U.S. Coast Guard crews moved swiftly, and the men were pulled from the water and airlifted to safety in a dramatic, life-saving operation.
Before Coast Guard units arrived, the crew of the nearby fishing vessel Lady Nancy located the distressed mariners, pulling all four from the water and even performing CPR on one person who was unresponsive. A helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria later hoisted the survivors and transferred them to awaiting emergency medical services at a hospital in Hoquiam; at least one remained in serious condition and all were treated for hypothermia.
This was a reminder of the grit and quick action that define ordinary Americans — fishermen and their neighbors who don’t wait for bureaucracy to move. The Coast Guard rightly emphasizes the importance of life jackets and personal locator beacons, but the real heroes that day were the folks who jumped in to help, proving again that preparedness and bravery save lives.
We should all be grateful for the Coast Guard’s skill and for the bravery of private mariners who answered the call, and we should also insist that our leaders fund and support these lifesaving services properly. Conservative patriots know the value of strong, well-equipped first responders who protect our coasts without turning every sea rescue into an excuse for more red tape.
Make no mistake: commercial fishing is one of the toughest, most patriotic jobs left in America, and these crews put food on American tables while risking their lives in brutal seas. Instead of demonizing their trade or piling on needless regulation that drives up costs and reduces safety, policymakers should respect these workers, listen to their safety needs, and back common-sense measures that preserve livelihoods and lives.
Pray for the quick recovery of those injured, and salute the men and women who ran toward danger rather than away from it. If you want to honor them properly, support local mariners, demand that elected officials prioritize maritime safety, and keep a stocked life jacket and a working locator beacon on every boat in our waters.
