| Mr. Ted J. Munch is awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award in recognition of his meritorious service in the performance of duty during the approach of Hurricane Ivan on September 14, 2004. As the New Orleans Gulf Coast Railroad Bridge Tender assigned to the Highway 23 rail bridge at Belle Chasse, Louisiana, Mr. Munch displayed great bravery, initiative, dedication, and devotion to the safety of the maritime community and the residents of Orleans and Plaquemines Parishes during the approach of this extremely dangerous Category IV Hurricane. As Hurricane Ivan bore down on the New Orleans area, the Highway 23 rail bridge experienced a loss of electrical power that rendered the bridge completely inoperable. The closed bridge effectively trapped a number of tows carrying highly dangerous cargoes in the Intracoastal Canal between the Algiers Lock and the bridge itself. Additionally, the closure prevented more than 20 tows and vessels in the Mississippi River from entering the Algiers Lock and the Gulf Intracoastal Canal, thereby preventing, their escape westward, away from the rapidly approaching storm. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Mr. Munch immediately notified Entergy Corporation and requested emergency electrical assistance as he worked to identify the cause of the electrical outage. When Entergy Corporation's duty utility worker, Mr. Henry G. Bradford, arrived on scene, the two men conducted an intensive hurried investigation and discovered that the problem stemmed from the bridge engine room located in the top of the bridge superstructure. With the assistance of the utility worker, Mr. Munch resolved to attempt to affect an emergency repair and unhesitatingly, began to scale the 40-foot bridge in order to gain access to the engine room. Once at the top of the bridge structure, Mr. Munch assisted in bypassing the 440-voIt, 3 phase controllers which instantly restored power to the bridge. Both men faithfully remained at their posts and ensured the safe and steady passage of over 30 tows and vessels, many of which carried hazardous cargoes and posed a significant risk to tens of thousands of residents in the communities adjacent to the canal. After having tended the bridge for over 10 hours, and with Hurricane Ivan just hours away, U.S. Fish and Wildlife (USFW) Service Officer Michael Downie, called upon Mr. Munch for emergency assistance. The USFW Service vessel, M/V DELTA BREEZE, was critically low on fuel and desperately needed to pass under the bridge in order to reach a safe harbor. Mr. Munch again raised the Highway 23 bridge and coordinated a lock through with the Algiers Lock which enabled the vessel to reach safety. Standing his post well longer than required, Mr. Munch finally secured the bridge as winds from approaching Hurricane Ivan approached gale force strength. Throughout the entire ordeal, Mr. Ted J. Munch displayed a critically needed sense of responsiveness to the emergent situation, incredible bravery, and service to his community resulting in the safeguarding of tens of thousands of lives. His actions are most heartily commended and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Coast Guard. |
