Who died in line of duty saving the lives of shipmates on CGC Blackthorn by letting the life rafts free before the boat sank?

• A. William Flores
• B. Charles Sexton
• C. Richard Patterson
• D. Ralph Mace

Answer: (A)

In emergencies at sea, acting to maximize others’ chances of survival by using life-saving gear is crucial. On the CGC Blackthorn, after a collision caused rapid flooding, a crew member stayed aboard long enough to ensure the life rafts were freed, providing a means for crew to escape as the ship sank. That selfless act cost him his life, and the person who made that sacrifice was William Flores.

This moment highlights the responsibility to protect shipmates by properly releasing life-saving equipment and following abandon-ship procedures under extreme pressure. The other listed crew members were involved in the incident, but the specific act of freeing the life rafts that saved others was performed by Flores. The Blackthorn disaster occurred in 1980 in the Strait of Juan de Fuca.