Guardian of the Week – SN Kristin Reger

Friday, December 10, 2010

Posted by: LT Connie Braesch

Post Written by Petty Officer 3rd Class Pamela Manns, public affairs specialist

Kristin Reger Lunkley

SAUSALITO, Calif. - Rear Adm. Joseph “Pepe” Castillo, 11th District commander, applauds Kristin Reger Lunkley, a former crewmember at Coast Guard Station Golden Gate, after presenting her with the Coast Guard Medal, Wednesday, Dec. 8, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by PA3 Pamela J. Manns.

Swimming out to an overturned sailboat Seaman Kristin Reger was not thinking of anything except the man trapped beneath the hull. With a polypropylene line connecting her to the Coast Guard Station Golden Gate 47-foot Motor Lifeboat, her training kicked in as she battled four-foot seas to reach the boat.

The warm July day in 2008 and her dry suit did nothing to negate the ever frigid waters of the San Francisco Bay and the 25-mile an hour whipping winds pushing the overturned sailboat, Wing It, closer toward Hurricane Rock near the cove at Line Point. In a few short strokes, she reached the capsized boat and while talking through the hull she tried to reassure the panicked and trapped man.

Capsized sailboat

The crew from Coast Guard Station Golden Gate tow the sail boat, Wing It, after rescuing its crewmembers from the San Francisco Bay, July, 24, 2008. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

Unable to swim out on his own, Reger devised a plan in which she disconnected her lifeline and attached it to an extra life jacket. Using a boat hook her crew handed her, she wedged the life jacket under the boat and directed the man to swim to her voice.

As she pulled on the line, attempting to free the man, his foot became trapped in the rigging from the upside down sails. Reger maneuvered the rigging, cut lines, and pulled him to safety as a Coast Guard 25-foot response boat recovered Reger and the man.

The rescue not only saved the man’s life but also changed Reger’s.

After her service in the Coast Guard she started pursuing a career in nursing, married the man and crewmember – Petty Officer 2nd Class Wesley Lunkley – who tended the lifeline and watched over her that fateful day, and was just awarded one of the highest medals the service can bestow, the Coast Guard Medal, Dec. 8.

Kristin Reger Lunkley video

Click on the image to watch a video in YouTube of the Coast Guard Medal award ceremony Dec. 8, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard video by PA3 Erik Swanson.

Reger, who prefers to go by her married name Lunkley, is petite and willowy. The 29-year old spent almost two years at Station Golden Gate, and was humbled, by not only that rescue and receiving the prestigious and rarely awarded Coast Guard Medal, but her entire Golden Gate experience. She said she does not feel worthy of such a prestigious award, and added the award belongs to the whole crew.

“The whole crew deserves this award,” said Lunkley. “I was just the one who went in the water.”

“I wasn’t surprised that Kristin volunteered to go in the water,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Brett Bonner, the 47-foot MLB coxswain from that case. “I had to deploy a surface swimmer because of the all the rigging. We had an extra boat on scene to create a controlled environment, and I had no doubt that Kristin was the most capable and qualified surface swimmer that we had on board for that case.”

Lunkley credits the rescue to her training rather than her efforts.

“We either could have done something wrong or something right that day,” said Lunkley. “However, it is because of all the training we receive that when it came down to it, no time was lost,” she said.

“The Coast Guard Medal was created in 1949, but it was 1958 before anything was worthy of awarding the first one. In all the time since then, there have only been just over 300 awarded,” said Rear Adm. Joseph “Pepe” Castillo, 11th District commander, during the award ceremony Dec. 8. “It is really at the very top level of extreme daring heroism and putting yourself out there to save others.”

Do you know a Coastie that has done something great for the service, the missions or the public? Please submit your nominations for Guardian of the Week using the “Submit Ideas” link on the right.

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  • Heather

    You are an inspiration to the rest of us.
    I am in the Auxiliary here in Florida and hope I can perform like you did when needed.
    Thank you for your service.

  • Michael Tilton, sr.

    Congratulations to Seaman Reger. My Father, Lt. Commander Donald O. Tilton was awarded the Coast Guard Medal and I know the selfless dedication to duty and deep down caring for your fellow man at the risk of your own life. The beauty with Dad and I am sure Seaman Reger as well is they say that they are doing the job they need to do. We all owe our freedom and many our very lives to these brave Coasties. Thank you!!!! A grateful and extremely proud son of a retired LCDR USCG.

  • M. Lindsay

    Every single day I am elated by the prodigious efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard. Go Coast Guard!!!!!

  • Blayne

    Wow was I suprised to see this! Congratulations, hope you guys are doing well.

  • LM

    Watch SN Kristin Reger award video on youtube here

  • K. Jahnke

    I am very proud of your courage, dedication, and success! BZ
    LCDR Jahnke, Ret-2

  • crystal

    Excellent job Kristin! Your story brought tears to my eyes as I read it. You are very brave, courageous and determined. You were a true blessing for everyone involved that day. Congrats on you medal! You deserve it girl!!! I’m really happy for you.

  • Dannytheman

    Wow! Beautiful, humble and brave!!

    Congrats!! We are proud to have you, Mrs Lunkley!

  • Thomas

    Awesome! good job!

  • joseph bell

    Congratulation to Kristin and the Crew : :my brother was Chief Quartermaster (20 + years )Raymond Bell :died in Groton at 47 years of age : when he retired he tried to start a Beef Cattle Farm in that area ; exposed to the sun all day ,in the field ,he suffered a Heart attack . He would tell me stories about rescuing Boaters ,esp during races in NewPort ; Strange ,but that’s where he did his Naval Boot Camp ,1942 era … served on Repair Boat in Pacific WW 2 ; always the Military man ,but said the same about his crew whenever they went out ‘ You met a lot of “:crazy “boaters .So , it is with great THANKS and admiration for the most under rated portion of our MILITARY ,,, GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU .. Woburn Ma

  • Carl Bunt

    I can wish nothing more then to have an oppritunity to do the same some day.

  • http://www.nsuntec.com John

    I’m going to gather that she is no longer in the Coast Guard. If she is why wasn’t she in uniform

  • Sn Spears

    Bravo Zulu! Congrats on a job well done to Kristin and the rest of the 47′ crew. It is good to see a fellow seaman receive such a distinguished award. Good luck with your future endeavors in the nursing field.

  • LT Connie Braesch

    Since this post was published, we have gotten a few questions about the two year delay in awarding the Coast Guard Medal to SN Reger Lunkley. The Coast Guard Medal is one of only a few awards that requires an in-person awards board and is reviewed and signed by the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Due to the prestigious nature of the award, a great deal of oversight and coordination is required, from writing to authorizing and finally to presenting the Medal.

    In addition to Lunkley receiving the Coast Guard Medal, other station crew members involved in the case were also recognized for their efforts to save three people onboard the capsized sailboat. Two members received Commendation Medals and several others received a meritorious team ribbon.

    LT Connie Braesch
    Coast Guard Public Affairs

  • CWO3 Randy Litka

    Your actions that day were heroic. You and your crew were true guardians that day. There is nothing more rewarding than saving a life. That is what we do in the Coast Guard. Thank you for your service and I wish you and your family well.

  • Jeanette Sneed

    Way to go! You proved the moto “Always Ready”. My daughter is Seaman Kish stationed in Alameda on the USCGC Morgenthau 722. Hope she gets the honor to meet you some day and shake your hand! Thank you for your service!

  • MCPO

    Bravo Zulu Kristen! Too bad you left the service. We could use more role models like you to rise up and be master chiefs. Good luck in your new career.