88^th Brigade Soldier Assists in Helicopter Rescue

Edited From The After Action Report by MSG Gordon Gattsek

MSG Gordon Gattsek was the right New York Guardsman at the right time on 17 June 2005 when he was driving home from 88th BDE Home Station Annual Training.

At approximately 1635 hours, MSG Gattsek was driving home on the FDR Drive (Southbound). Somewhere, near 23^rd Street, he observed 3 fire trucks. Suspecting a problem where he might be of assistance, he pulled into the left lane and made an exit. Upon exiting, he observed a NY Police Department Emergency Service Unit truck parked on the southbound service road and men carrying equipment across the road.

MSG Gattsek approached several firemen and identified himself as a NY State Certified Emergency Medical Technician. The Firemen responded by telling MSG Gattsek that a helicopter had crashed into the East River and by asking him to pull his vehicle in front of the fire truck and to help carry life saving equipment.

MSG Gattsek and the firemen crossed the FDR Drive, where traffic had been previously halted by members of the NY Police Department. MSG Gattsek assisted in cutting a hole in the fence to create an entry port to a pier below whereupon he secured a perimeter to receive casualties.

A private launch named the "Half Moon" brought a total of 3 crash survivors to the perimeter that had been previously secured by MSG Gattsek.

MSG Gattsek helped to put the survivors on gurneys and to attend to patients. The MSG provided material aid and verbal comfort to the pilot, Mr. Mark Schaberg.

MSG Gordon B. Gattsek was the only soldier at the accident site. The survivors were employees of the National Bank of North America. The bank sent a “Thank you” letter to New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg mentioning all the heroes including MSG Gattsek by name.

MSG Gattsek serves as a Data Processing Tech with 88^th BDE Headquarters.