U.S. Coast Guard District 13 news release
Thursday afternoon, July 8

The U.S. Coast Guard has identified the one survivor and three crew members who lost their lives, Wednesday, after their MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed in the waters off of James Island, near La Push, Wash.

Lt. Lance D. Leone, 29, of Ventura, Calif., survived the crash and is being treated at a Seattle hospital with non-life threatening injuries.  He is married.

Deceased are:

Lt. Sean D. Krueger, 33, of Seymour, Conn.  The Aircraft Commander is married with three children.  His awards/accolades include: Air Medal, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, four Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Service Medal, Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, Armed Forces Service Medal, Global War Terror Service Medal, Coast Guard “E” Ribbon, two National Defense Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medal, Coast Guard Overseas Service Medal, Coast Guard Pistol Expert Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Transportation 9-11 Medal, DOT Outstanding Unit Award.

AMT1 Adam C. Hoke, 40, of Great Falls, Mont.  The Air Crewman is single with one child.  His awards/accolades include:  Aircrew Insignia, Coast Guard Commendation Medal, two Coast Guard Unit Commendation Medal, three Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, Global War Terror Service Medal, two Commandant’s Letter of Commendations, Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendation, two Coast Guard “E” Ribbons, two National Defense Medals, Humanitarian Service Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, five Coast Guard Good Conduct Medals, DOT Outstanding Unit Award, Coast Guard Rifle Marksman Ribbon, Coast Guard Rifle Expert Ribbon, Coast Guard Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon.

AMT2 Brett M. Banks, 33, Rock Spring, N.Y.  The Air Crewman is married with two children.  His awards/accolades include:  three Coast Guard Unit Commendation Award, three Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendations, two Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations, Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Coast Guard Presidential Unit Citation, Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon, three Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal, Transportation 9-11 Ribbon, Global War Terror Service Medal, Coast Guard Rifle Marksman Ribbon, Coast Guard Pistol Marksman Ribbon.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, co-workers and friends of the survivor and with those that have lost their loved ones to this tragic accident.  Team Coast Guard nationwide mourns this loss,” said Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, Commander of the 13th Coast Guard District.

The next step of this response is the salvage and investigation phase.  The investigation includes survivor interviews, witness interviews, and examination of the wreckage and flight data recorder.