Terrell E. Horne III
AWARDS BY DATE OF ACTION: 1 of 1
Coast Guard Medal
Service: Coast Guard
Rank: Technical Sergeant
GENERAL ORDERS:
U.S. Coast Guard Historian’s Office
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Senior Chief Boatswain’s Mate Terrell E. Horne, III, United States Coast Guard, for heroism on 2 December 2012 while leading a boarding team from Coast Guard Cutter HALIBUT (WPB 87340) in counter-smuggling operations near Santa Cruz Island, California. Shortly after midnight, Senior Chief Petty Officer HORNE deployed in HALIBUT’s cutter boat with three other crew members to investigate a vessel loitering in the area without navigation lights. Upon approaching the unlit vessel and identifying themselves as law enforcement officers, the vessel ignored commands to stop and instead rapidly accelerated directly toward them. The boarding team immediately maneuvered to avoid the oncoming vessel and fired side arms in self-defense. When impact with the oncoming vessel became unavoidable, Senior Chief Petty Officer HORNE, disregarding his own safety in order to protect a fellow crewmember, forcibly pushed the coxswain from the helm, directly exposing himself to the oncoming vessel. The violence of the subsequent collision forcibly ejected him from the boat, and despite immediate recovery from the water and application of first aid by his shipmates, he succumbed to the severe injuries received during the incident. Senior Chief Petty Officer HORNE demonstrated remarkable initiative, exceptional fortitude and daring in spite of imminent personal danger. His courage and devotion to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard.