Remembering SA William Flores

The universe often has a funny way of working; the way a certain smells or a song can remind you of a specific instance, how a friend can call at a random time, but it was the time you needed them to call most. How sometimes you don’t know where your life is headed or what your calling is, but you look back and realize you were on the perfect path the whole time. How sometimes someone’s life can be so short lived, but they’re actions impact thousands of others once they’ve gone.

During the Summer of 2008 I was a Swab at the United States Coast Guard Academy (the Academy’s version of Boot Camp).  During Swab Summer, at the end of the day, everyone gets time to reflect and write in their journal. Sometimes the Cadre (the Cadets in charge) read a motivational story. One of the stories stuck with me, one of courage, heroism, and self sacrifice. As a Swab I didn’t remember many of the details; names, place, etc. I do remember there was a young boy, fresh out of boot camp that sacrificed his life to save his shipmates. I remember sitting against the bulkhead (Coast Guard word for “wall”) half listening to the story half writing in my journal thinking, “I hope one day I will be someone’s hero, change someone’s life”. Then I went to bed, woke up, and probably got yelled at for something, and stashed the story of the young boy far back in my mind somewhere.

5 years later I’m finishing up my tour on the USCGC MORGENTHAU and getting ready to report to USCGC WILLIAM FLORES, the third Fast Response Cutter. All the FRCs being added to the Coast Guard Fleet are named after Coast Guard Enlisted Heroes. As I get ready to report in, I look up SA William Flores interested to learn why we have honored him. I being reading a very familiar story, one I feel like I have read before, and then it all comes back to me. That night writing in my journal, listening to my Cadre read the very story of SA Flores, the cutter I am now assigned to. 

It is interesting how a story 5 years ago came back into my life in a completely unplanned way. I am honored to be serving on a Cutter recognizing SA Flores. 

Flores was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal. The Coast Guard Medal is the highest non-combat bravery award of the United States Coast Guard.

Seaman Apprentice FLORES is cited for heroism on the evening of 28 January 1980 while serving onboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter BLACKTHORN. Immediately after the collision between SS CAPRICORN and USCGC BLACKTHORN near the entrance to Tampa Bay, Florida, BLACKTHORN rolled to port and capsized before the ship's personnel could prepare for an orderly abandon ship. Exhibiting composure beyond his shipboard experience, Seaman Apprentice FLORES joined another BLACKTHORN crewmember in making their way to the starboard lifejacket locker and commenced throwing lifejackets over the side to fellow crewmembers in the water. Later, as the BLACKTHORN began to submerge and his companion abandoned ship, Seaman Apprentice FLORES remained behind to strap the lifejacket locker door open with his own belt thereby contributing to the survival of struggling shipmates who retrieved lifejackets as they floated to the surface. Even after most of the crewmembers abandoned ship, Seaman Apprentice FLORES, with complete disregard for his own safety, remained on the inverted hull to assist trapped shipmates and provide aid and comfort to injured and disoriented shipmates. His exceptional fortitude, remarkable initiative and courage throughout this tragic incident were instrumental in saving many lives and resulted in the sacrifice of his own life. Seaman Apprentice FLORES' courage, selflessness and devotion to duty are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.