Petraeus honors Bainbridge crew for rescue - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Petraeus honors Bainbridge crew for rescue

Three crew members of the destroyer Bainbridge were recognized with awards by Gen. David Petraeus, head of Central Command, for their roles in the April rescue of a cargo ship skipper captured by pirates.

According to a press release by U.S. 5th Fleet, Petraeus held an all-hands call with the crew and praised their actions to help Maersk Alabama captain Richard Phillips.

Senior Chief Intelligence Specialist Joel Steinbach was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for acting as a negotiator and a liaison to FBI agents.

Boatswain’s Mates 2nd Class Matthew Olin and Joshua Waters were awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals for their roles in the “covert recovery” of Navy SEALs who had parachuted to the scene and for subsequent small-boat operations.

Petraeus visited the ship while it was in port in Bahrain.