Air Station Named Rescue Swimmer Birthplace DVIDS1094773

ELIZBETH CITY, N.C. - The Coast Guard's first five rescue swimmers stand in front of a plaque naming Air Station Elizabeth City as the birthplace of Coast Guard rescue swimmers after a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Coast Guard rescue swimmer program on April 2, 2010. The first five are Joe "Butch" Flythe, Steve Ober, Matthew Fithian, Kelly Gordon and Rick Woolford. Ober and Gordon were the first two rescue swimmers, graduating from a Navy rescue swimmer school on Oct. 5, 1984. Air Station Elizabeth City became the first rescue swimmer ready unit on March 5, 1985.