Smith Point County Park, Fire Island, Shirley, N.Y. -- On April 29, 2008 Senior Master Sgt. McAleavey and Staff Sgt. Napolitano prepare the buoy. Members of the 106th Rescue Wing, the Coast Guard, and the Smith Point County Park rangers worked in tandem to help remove a buoy which washed ashore after a storm. The buoy, which had its solar panel and light torn off, had been placed in a dredge channel and was attached to a concreted block via a chain which broke. According to Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Tony Certa the concrete block never had a chance to settle in the channel and was easily torn from its base. After the buoy was reported to have washed ashore the Coast Guard contacted the 106th Rescue Wing and coordinated the removal. Without the aid of the 106th Rescue Wing the Coast Guard would have had to drive crane and trucks onto the beach, possibly disturbing the nesting ground for the Piping Clover, an endangered species. The entire operation would have been scrapped if it didn't occur before May 1st due to hatching of the Piping Clover. The buoy will be sent to up to Boston, Mass., to be refurbished and reinstated said Chief Petty Officer Certa. Senior Master Sgt. James F. McAleavey, of the 101st Rescue Squadron assisted by attaching the buoy to the HH-60 which was operated by Aircraft Commander Craig Utica, Co-Pilot Fager Spann and Flight Engineer Mike Kurtz. Staff Sgt. Joesph Napolitano maintained communications with the helicopter during the exercise. (Official USAF Photo by Staff Sgt. David J. Murphy)
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