Jerry L. Stephens was 43 and serving as first mate aboard the 180-foot fishing vessel Galaxy when a major fire and explosions forced the crew into the Bering Sea on October 20, 2002. Smoke was first seen coming from an engine room hatch; when hatches were opened before the fire suppression system could be activated a massive back-draft explosion occurred. The blast blew Stephens and other members of a fire team through a hatch and into the icy water.

Some crew were recovered and others had to abandon the rapidly sinking ship, many without survival suits. The U.S. Coast Guard and nearby vessels mounted search efforts in winds up to 55 mph and 20-foot seas, but Stephens was not found. The Coast Guard investigation concluded the explosion was likely a back-draft and the initial fire may have started in a generator, though the exact origin was not definitively determined.

If anyone was aboard the Galaxy or knows more about the crew that night, can you share what you remember about the rescue and the conditions that evening?