What people are saying.
“Lee’s auto-biographical book is a gripping collection of stories about serving others, saving lives in dangerous and crazy situations and receiving much more in return. He started out as a cocky, young doctor thinking he knew it all and in a short period of time quickly realized from the lessons learned on the rescues he went out on that teamwork, training and commitment is what kept him safe. The stories Lee tells are hair raising and very interesting, sharing insights of behind-the-scenes anecdotes about the helicopter aircrew and Coast Guard air station people who work tirelessly to pull off the feats that no one else was able or willing to do. I enjoyed learning more about the life of a flight surgeon in the US Coast Guard and Lee's feats which earned him and his partner the nickname Batman and Robin. Their success required teamwork and the selfless efforts of the group of courageous rescuers who came together in a helicopter to launch into extreme situations ‘So Others May Live’.”
-Martha LaGuardia-Kotite, author, speaker and captain US Coast Guard (retired)
“Once I started reading Lee Walters MD ‘s new book Rescues from the Sky I couldn’t put it down. Dr. Walters did a great job of weaving in his experiences from medical training with the real-life experiences of a Coast Guard Flight Surgeon flying in the HH-52A out of Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco in the mid-1970s. I was personally stationed at CGAS San Francisco from 1977 when I got out of flight school through 1980 when I started flying the HH-52A on SAR and medevacs missions. I flew missions with several of the pilots mentioned in the book that brought back some great memories. The descriptions of being hoisted from the helicopter into exceptionally hazardous conditions for medical rescues by corpsmen, and flight surgeons gave me a perspective from the aircrew position that as a pilot I never quite fully appreciated. I also gained some new information on the genesis of SARWET, the predecessor to the world class Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmers of today. By the time I was transferred to CGAS San Francisco the SARWET program had ended due to lack of a budget, but we continued to fly the “baby-Vacs” and saved countless infants lives that started in 1971. Dr. Walters and HM1 Thompson developed the program in conjunction with Stanford University Medical Center. As I recall, the HH-52A was one of the only helicopters large enough to hold the portable incubator for the premature infants so we were called on to transport for advanced medical care. Once you start reading this book you won’t be able to put it down either. You will come away with a renewed appreciation for the men and women of Coast Guard Aviation whose motto is Semper Paratus - Always Ready.”
-CDR Gary E. Gamble USCG (Ret), Coast Guard Aviator 1826, VP of Coast Guard Aviation Association
The author wishes to thank CDR Gary Gamble and the Coast Guard Aviation Association for permitting use of the images seen in the book and the website.
“DISCLAIMER: I retired from the U. S. Coast Guard after 20 years so I am very biased regarding anything about the service I love. That, however, should not discourage anyone from reading this book.
The book was not what I had expected when I purchased it - IT WAS SO MUCH MORE than I expected. What I had expected was more of situational reports regarding Search and Rescue Missions, one after the other. Yes, the book contained descriptions of these missions as I expected but they were written more like a movie script or entries into a personal journal.
The book was difficult to put down to the point I chose to continue reading it in lieu of doing other things I was suppose to be doing. The book was as exciting as any book I have ever read. Having been in the Coast Guard myself for 20 years, I believe it depicted the “can do” attitude of the Coast Guard personnel I have been stationed with. Dr. Walters descriptions of the perils of Search and Rescue Missions were detailed and the reader, at least for me, got thoroughly engaged in the story line and could easily form mental pictures from the descriptions. It was as if you were there alongside the Doctor and his team.
What I liked most about the book was the honesty of the Doctor as he described his experiences, the relationships he formed and that he had no problem discussing his shortcomings and fears, especially his fears. The Doctor received the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for one of his missions. As a former member of a Coast Guard District Board of Awards, I can assure you that I could have written up awards for all of the crew members on several of the missions he outlined.
This is a very good book!
Who should read the book? I think anyone who reads it will be glad they did. Therefore, I would encourage everyone to read it.
Would I read it again? I doubt that I would because it was so well written that there would be no need to read it again; lessons learned.
Would I give it as a gift? It would be a great gift to anyone who served in the Coast Guard or for that matter any military branch of service and yes, I would give it as a gift especially to a fellow Coastie!”
-Gymbeaux, Reviewer on Amazon
“Rescues from the Sky grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go. The book is both a thrilling memoir of Dr. Walter’s time as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Coast Guard, which starts with the author’s heart stopping call to immediate duty on his first day on the job, as well as a genuine and interesting account of how he got there. A story of hard work, sacrifice, and love, Rescues from the Sky is an adventurous and inspiring page turner that I thoroughly enjoyed.”
-Robert Bailey, bestselling author of the McMurtrie & Drake Legal Thrillers series and Legacy of Lies.
“I've just finished reading Rescues from the Sky and want to tell you how much I've enjoyed it. Not just I, for I read all of it to my wife Kathleen (who has macular degeneration), and she shares my viewpoint entirely. Your voice is modest, notwithstanding the extraordinary courage, dedication, and sense of honor you display in the face of extraordinary challenges that most mortals (myself included) would shrink from. You capture the drama of each event to such a degree that you never lose your reader's absorption in your narration, his imaginative involvement in critical moment after critical moment. And with great candor you depict your own human misgivings, a necessary act which also binds your reader to you. Hooray! I can see your book's adaptation as a feature film, if such a happenstance appeals to you. And, speaking of the future, I'm eager to hear about that next book which you're preparing to start.
Thank you for asking me to take a look at your highly successful current one.”
-Dr. Gordon Ball, Visiting Associate Professor Department of English Washington & Lee University
A Poetic Review
“Guy in the Sky”
A former flight surgeon named Lee
Served two years in the USCG.
Now just take a look
At his true-story book
About daring rescues at sea.
A very athletic ex-jock
Became a Coast Guard flight doc.
From the shore to the ships
On helicopter trips,
Often racing to beat the clock.
Acrophobia haunted the guy.
At times he thought he would die.
But he conquered that fear
In his Coast Guard career
Making rescues from the sky.
The job was both scary and fun,
On-call, always ready to run.
At times, Dr. Walters
Gets dizzy and falters
But hangs on and gets the job done.
"Batman and Robin" were unreal.
They ran to each rescue with zeal.
They would save the day
All around the bay,
Without capes or a Batmobile.
A Coast Guard corpsman named Dave
Was "Semper Paratus" and brave.
A rock-solid guy
On land, sea, and sky;
There are many lives he helped save.
In the summer of '73,
Lee decided to leave the CG.
He gave up his wings
For civilian things.
He became a more "grounded" MD.
by William Logan, Senior Process Engineer , Dow Chemical Co.and Poet Laureate for “Rescues from the Sky”
Email received after a presentation at the Duke Mansion, Charlotte, North Carolina
Hi Dr. Fanning – as I was leaving the mansion just now, I was stopped by a couple who had attended our lecture for the first time. They asked me what we had in store for next year, and said we must have a very high bar after today’s presentation! And, wherever I went after the lecture closed, our guests were talking about how much they enjoyed your story.
Thank you so much for sharing your memoir with us – it was so apropos for Veteran’s Day. I really appreciated your comments about the origin and mission of the Coast Guard, reminding everyone that they are indeed an integral part of our military family.
On behalf of everyone at the Rosalie Reynolds Explore History series, thank you for a wonderful afternoon! Linda
Coast Guard Aviation Association
Flying since the world was flat
ALPTERO 200717
Fellow Pteros,
Here’s a summer reading book recommendation:
Rescues from the Sky by Lee F. Walters MD (Dr. Fanning is a CGAA member, Ptero P-4814)
True Stories of the Air Medical Rescue Teams of the US Coast Guard who risk their lives to save others as seen through the eyes of a newly trained flight surgeon stationed at CGAS San Francisco from 1971-1973.
Rescues from the Sky features the true stories of the US Coast Guard Aviation Medical Rescue Service as seen through the eyes of a wet-behind-the-ears flight surgeon fresh out of training. The events it recounts took place during the author’s experience while stationed at US Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco from 1971 to 1973. The rescues are described in detail and include, among others:
The crash of a 747 on the runway on the author’s first day of work
The hijacking of a 737 by two Bulgarians
The rescue of a woman bleeding from an abortion performed on a Russian submarine
Saving the life of a sailboat owner in Half Moon Bay who had a heart attack and fell unconscious while sailing in thirty-mile-per-hour winds toward a rocky shore
Rescuing a Czech crewman who developed appendicitis fifty miles at sea in a storm with fifty-five mile-per-hour winds
This is a great read and highly recommended.
Submitted by his shipmate,
CDR Gary E. Gamble USCG (Ret)
1826
VP Communications and Media
Coast Guard Aviation Association
