On December 2, 2012, BMCS Terrell Horne, III, USCGC Halibut’s Executive Petty Officer and Boarding Officer, was killed when the small boat on which he was embarked was intentionally rammed by a panga style vessel as the cutter was carrying out law enforcement operations near Santa Cruz, CA. The operator of the panga was found guilty of second-degree murder of a federal officer. BMCS Horne was posthumously awarded the Coast Guard Medal for his heroism during the incident.
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THE COAST GUARD MEDAL
TO
TERRELL E. HORNE, III
SENIOR CHIEF BOATSWAIN’S MATE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
Senior Chief Petty Officer HORNE is cited 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.