Huntsville native throws a lifeline for rescues at sea in Alaska
on February 26, 2011 at 2:08 PM Michael WallacePetty Officer 3rd
Class Michael Wallace, a Huntsville native who is now with the
U.S. Coast Guard at Air Station Kodiak in Alaska, helped rescue
five fishermen during a storm earlier this month. "It's a day in
the life for up here," Wallace said. "It's definitely a whole
different world from Mobile Bay." HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The
"mayday" call came in the middle of the stormy night.  While the
crew slept, a 68-foot cod fishing vessel named Midnite Sun broke
its mooring and ran aground at Tanaak Cape on the northwest
coast of Kodiak Island, Alaska. Now, five men were stranded as
25-to-30-foot seas washed over the wheelhouse and beat the hull
against the rocks.  On the other side of the island, U.S. Coast
Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Wallace, a Huntsville
native, lifted off at 1:17 a.m. on Feb. 11 in an MH-60 Jayhawk
rescue helicopter. The crew of four included the pilot, co-
pilot, a rescue