BMC David Michael Ramsey is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Boatswain’s Mate and an elite Surfman(Designation #374) who earned nationwide recognition for extreme heroism in maritime rescue. [1, 2]

🏆 Heroic Rescue of the F/V Catherine M

While serving as a Heavy Weather Coxswain at Station Cape Disappointment, Ramsey led one of the most harrowing rescues in modern Coast Guard history: [1, 2, 3, 4]

• The Incident: On January 15, 2006, the 50-foot fishing vessel Catherine M lost power and was drifting helplessly into the treacherous surf of Peacock Spit on the notorious Columbia River Bar (the “Graveyard of the Pacific”). [1, 2]
• The Action: Operating a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB 47248) under extreme, deteriorating sea conditions, Ramsey expertly navigated the heavy surf zone. He maneuvered his vessel with millimeters of tolerance to shield the sinking ship and successfully establish a towline. [1, 2, 3]
• The Outcome: His elite boat handling and split-second decision-making saved the lives of all three crew members on board just moments before their vessel would have been destroyed by the surf. [1, 2]

🎖️ National Honors & Career

For his “flawless performance” and willingness to accept immense prudent risk to save others, Ramsey was awarded the prestigious Association for Rescue at Sea (AFRAS) Gold Medal on Capitol Hill in October 2007. The AFRAS Gold Medal is the highest honor bestowed by the organization upon an enlisted Coast Guard member for a single act of extraordinary bravery. [1, 2, 3, 4]

He eventually retired at the rank of Chief Boatswain’s Mate (BMC) and remains highly respected within the tight-knit community of Coast Guard heavy weather lifesavers. [1]

Would you like to know more about the Surfman designation requirements or the historic Columbia River Bar where he served?