Coast Guard, Make-A-Wish make dream come true for 11 year-old

MOBILE, Ala. — Rescue swimmers from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile demonstrate the proper procedure for entering a rescue basket to Luke Wiedeman (left) and Colin Wiedeman, Nov. 7, 2011. Crewmembers from ATC Mobile worked with the Mobile chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help Luke realize his dream of becoming a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Luke was able to take part in training with the swimmers, navigate high-tech flight simulators and participate in a search-and-rescue demonstration. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.

MOBILE, Ala. — Cmdr. Thomas MacDonald, executive officer of Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, assists Luke Wiedeman in steering his way through a flight simulator, Nov. 7, 2011. Crewmembers from ATC Mobile worked with the Mobile chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help Luke realize his dream of becoming a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Luke was able to take part in training with the swimmers, navigate high-tech flight simulators and participate in a search-and-rescue demonstration. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.

MOBILE, Ala. — The crew of a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile hoists Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Foss and Luke Wiedeman as part of a search-and-rescue demonstration, Nov. 7, 2011. Crewmembers from ATC Mobile worked with the Mobile chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help Luke realize his dream of becoming a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Luke was able to take part in training with the swimmers, navigate high-tech flight simulators and participate in a search-and-rescue demonstration. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.

MOBILE, Ala. — Cmdr. Thomas MacDonald, executive officer of Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, presents Luke Wiedeman with a letter of appreciation for his time spent at the training center, Nov. 7, 2011. Crewmembers from ATC Mobile worked with the Mobile chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help Luke realize his dream of becoming a Coast Guard rescue swimmer. Luke was able to take part in training with the swimmers, navigate high-tech flight simulators and participate in a search-and-rescue demonstration. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Lehmann.

MOBILE, Ala. — The Coast Guard and the Make-A-Wish Foundation teamed up to make the dream of an 11-year-old boy come true at Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Tuesday.

Coast Guard crewmembers from ATC Mobile brought Luke Wiedeman into their ranks to teach him what it takes to be a Coast Guard aviation survival technician.

Wiedeman was trained in the proper way to signal search and rescue aircraft and enter and exit rescue baskets by the professional rescue swimmers of the training center.

Wiedeman was also allowed to pilot the high-tech flight simulators used to teach Coast Guard pilots all over the U.S.

As part of a training exercise, Wiedeman was taken to the site of a simulated search and rescue case by a Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew where he became an active participant in the exercise.

"I performed a rescue. Not many people get to do that," said Wiedeman. "I'd like to thank the Coast Guard, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the friendly people of Mobile."

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