FLORES-WILLIAM

COAST  GUARD  MEDAL  RECIPIENT

William Ray Flores was born on November 6, 1961 in Carlsbad, New Mexico, where he grew up until joining the Coast Guard in March 1979.  Following recruit training, Seaman Apprentice Flores was assigned to the 180-foot buoy tender USCGC Blackthorn.  On the night of January 28, 1980, Blackthorn was entering its homeport of Galveston, Texas.  As the ship neared the mouth of the bay in the shipping channel, the 600-foot tanker SS Capricorn was also steaming into the bay, but glare from a nearby brightly-lit passenger vessel initially prevented the bridge watches of Blackthorn and Capricorn from seeing each other.  After regaining its bearings, Capricorn began to turn left but was unable to make radio contact with Blackthorn.  Observing Capricorn closing fast, the commanding officer of Blackthorn ordered evasive action.  However, the order came too late and the ships collided.  The damage to Blackthorn seemed minimal at first, but Capricorn’s anchor had imbedded in Blackthorn’s hull and as the ships began to separate the slack in the anchor chain tightened and the anchor ripped open the tender’s port side filling Blackthorn’s exposed compartments with water.  Blackthorn quickly began to roll onto its port side.

In the darkness as Blackthorn began to capsize, SA Flores and a shipmate rushed to the life jacket locker on the main deck.  They quickly began to threw life jackets to crew members already in the water, and as the ship rolled over, SA Flores used his trouser belt to hold open the locker door which allowed more life jackets to float to the surface as the ship sank.  As Blackthorn sank, SA Flores was seen trying to aid wounded seamen who were still aboard the rapidly sinking ship.  Unfortunately, twenty-two crewmen, including SA Flores, died in the sinking.  Twenty-three crewmen survived what has been described as the worst peacetime disaster in the Coast Guard’s history.

An officer who was on the bridge at the time of the collusion later reported, “I was on the bridge and when the ship rolled onto beams end, I knew we were past the point of no return and would surely capsize.  I went into the water from the bridge wing and by the time I surfaced the ship had capsized over me.  I was injured with a sprained back and injured shoulder.  As I struggled, suddenly a life jacket from the locker that was on the main deck came floating up to me…. I am convinced that William Flores saved my life by his selfless act that night.  That quiet young man that I was impressed with from the first time I met him will forever be a hero in my eyes.  I have never forgotten him and never will.”  Six days after the collision, the body of SA Flores washed ashore on the coast of Florida.

The actions of SA Flores are credited with saving numerous lives as life jackets floated to the surface to save struggling men.  In recognition of his heroism, the Coast Guard Medal, the highest decoration of the Coast Guard awarded to members of the Coast Guard who distinguish themselves by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy, was awarded to SA Flores in 2000.  In addition, a Sentinel class cutter was commissioned in his honor on November 3, 2012 as the USCGC William Ray Flores.

SA Flores is buried at Benbrook Cemetery in Benbrook, Texas.

COAST  GUARD  MEDAL  CITATION

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.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)