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Vera hated the S part of SAR, especially nearshore SAR. Search-and-Rescue from aboard the Coast Guard cutter in high seas was bad enough. Out there, every spare hand was set to rotating on the watch. Often nothing showing in the chaotic waves other than a life preserver…if you were searching for one of the smarter ones. Otherwise, it might just be a floating body, less visible than a drift log in the rough waters.
She and Hailey had two typical duties: Landing Safety Officers and Gunner’s Mates. With no helicopter landing on the Steadfast’s afterdeck and no one to shoot at, SAR meant that they were issued binoculars and set to watch: two hours on, one hour off.
Near to shore, it was the same drill, except the deep ocean swell built to double the height as they became waves ready to cr
