Are You One in A Million?

[GordMay]

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued more than 1 million people since it was established in 1790.

Honouring the heroic efforts of service men and women throughout history, the USCG Foundation's ”Are You One In A Million?” project strives to capture and highlight the unique and diverse stories, and personal impact, of over one million successful missions of bravery and courage.

You can submit or read stories, which will be posted on a daily basis to the site.
Goto ➥ Are You 1 in a Million?

[captain58sailin]

Thanks Gord,
These guys need all the positive recognition they can get. I got rescued once, but it wasn't heroic or life threatening.

[TexSail]

Well my mom and my dog think so but no.

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by GordMay

The U.S. Coast Guard has rescued more than 1 million people since it was established in 1790.

Honouring the heroic efforts of service men and women throughout history, the USCG Foundation's ”Are You One In A Million?” project strives to capture and highlight the unique and diverse stories, and personal impact, of over one million successful missions of bravery and courage.

It's a fine cause and the Coast Guard should be recognized. Still, I'm pedant enough to complain that the question should be "Are You One OF A Million?" rather than "One IN A Million". The latter makes it sound as if your odds of being rescued by the Coast Guard are rather slim!

[Arch Stanton]

My mom told me I was one in a million but then I realized that that means there are 6,000 people exactly like me.

[Maren]

Originally Posted by phiwum

It's a fine cause and the Coast Guard should be recognized. Still, I'm pedant enough to complain that the question should be "Are You One OF A Million?" rather than "One IN A Million". The latter makes it sound as if your odds of being rescued by the Coast Guard are rather slim!

I was thinking the same thing. Glad it wasn't just me.

[TaoJones]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

My mom told me I was one in a million but then I realized that that means there are 6,000 people exactly like me.

Actually 6920, and counting, according to:

World Population

TaoJones

[Strygaldwir]

But, this is since 1790. So thats.... A lot!

[phiwum]

Originally Posted by Strygaldwir

But, this is since 1790. So thats.... A lot!

Yes, but surely there've been fewer than a million million people alive since 1790, so one in a million times all the people who have lived since 1790 would be fewer than a million.

But perhaps I'm thinking on an advertising slogan harder than I should.

[First Mate]

good grief - the grammar and math patrols! sheesh. simple question folks.

I called the Coast Guard to please come rescue me one time, but they were busy fending Green Peace boats away from the Trident Nuclear Submarine around Seattle (1982 or thereabouts).

They asked if I was taking on water. Since the answer was no - I spent two hours waiting for a commercial rescue tug to pull me out of the nonsense I'd gotten into.

Royce's Book of Sailing didn't tell me how to fix a leaking fuel line and I was hanging on the hook in 70' of water with 70' of line - snagged on a rock at the bottom thank God - in 7 knots of currents with shoals everywhere - sun long set.

I survived. Still respect the Coast Guard tho -thanks for the thread Gord

[David M]

Originally Posted by First Mate

good grief - the grammar and math patrols! sheesh. simple question folks.

I called the Coast Guard to please come rescue me one time, but they were busy fending Green Peace boats away from the Trident Nuclear Submarine around Seattle (1982 or thereabouts).

They asked if I was taking on water. Since the answer was no - I spent two hours waiting for a commercial rescue tug to pull me out of the nonsense I'd gotten into.

Royce's Book of Sailing didn't tell me how to fix a leaking fuel line and I was hanging on the hook in 70' of water with 70' of line - snagged on a rock at the bottom thank God - in 7 knots of currents with shoals everywhere - sun long set.

I survived. Still respect the Coast Guard tho -thanks for the thread Gord

Its not the Coasties job to tow in stranded boaters. Unless your life is in peril, they generally will not tow you. If they already have a boat in the area, they may come out to observe in case things go south. Generally though, the Coasties will suggest a towing service if your life is not threatened.

[First Mate]

yes, the Coasties explained that to me whilst I was hanging on the hook biting my nails. I didn't know my life wasn't in peril.

In any case, the Trident nuclear submarine was their first priority that night.

[anjou]

In the UK we have the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, which is funded entirely by public donation and fund raising. They provide lifeboats around the coast and more recently now beach lifeguards in the busier surf beaches too. They do a fantastic job in conjunction with our coastguard and military rescue helos and mountain rescue teams. God bless em all.