THE HATTERASK INCIDENT-Genesis "Domino" Live from Wembley Stadium

Based on a novel by John D. Randall

STORY LINE: The Hatterask Incident begins when an 86 foot trawler named the "Hatterask" runs aground in the treacherous waters of Oregon Inlet, in the Outer Banks.

Although several attempts are made to tow the vessel free from the sandbar, it is too deeply embedded, and cannot be pulled free. Also, due to its size and position, the Hatterask is effectively blocking the channel through Oregon Inlet, impeding commercial and recreational boat traffic, as well as preventing the Army Corps of Engineers from performing daily maintenance dredging of the inlet.

Because of that, the Coast Guard, and the Army Corps of Engineers, notify the owner, Captain Alton Mackey, that he has a very short time limit to remove the trawler, or the Army will summarily remove it for him, by whatever means necessary, which, unfortunately means blowing it up with explosives, and salvaging the remains. Captain Mackey hires an attorney named Dan Winsloe, to seek an injunction against the Army Corps of Engineers. The judge denies the request for an injunction, and grants the Army the authority to proceed with salvage operations. When the Army Corps' Captain Merritt Hancock and a salvage crew show up to mine the boat with explosives, Mackey takes a stand, and fires shots at Hancock, and also steals two crates of dynamite in the process. Mackey also fires shots at the Coast Guard, takes a Coast Guardsman hostage, and throws sticks of dynamite at their boats, warning them to back off. The Coast Guard fires a shot at the pilothouse of the Hatterask with a 50mm cannon.

A stalemate ensues, as Alton Mackey tries to save his trawler and his livelihood in desperation. Several attempts are made by the Coast Guard to free the hostage and capture Alton Mackey, including one attempt where Mackey's attorney is brought into the picture, to try to negotiate. All the attempts end in failure. Around this time, the hurricane of the century is moving up the east coast, on a direct collision course with the Outer Banks. With the hurricane projected to make landfall on the Friday of Labor Day weekend, all of the Outer Banks is evacuated, with Dan Winsloe acting as area coordinator for thirteen coastal counties in North Carolina. During the height of the storm, some fishing trawlers offshore are in distress, the crew of one, the "Clamshell", is rescued by helicopter.

About this same time, another Coast Guard helicopter with Commander Tom Waterfield's wife and children on board, crashes in the woods near the Cape Hatteras lighthouse.

Coast Guard Commander Tom Waterfield ventures into the storm, to rescue the crew of the other trawler, the "Diamond Shoals"     The crew is rescued, but during the rescue, the Coast Guard crew encounters two waterspouts that threaten to capsize their MLB. Tom Waterfield makes the ultimate sacrifice, staying at the wheel while the crew retreats below, so that others may live.




US Park Rangers Sharron Lee and Marsha Bennett are trapped on Pea Island during the storm, and they take cover in the backside of a sand dune. At this same time, other members of the Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet, venture out to the Hatterask, to finish the job that the Army started, and to bring Alton Mackey in, dead or alive, and rescue the hostage. 

 Coast Guard Boatswain's Mate Hap Reynolds wires the trawler with the explosives, setting the timer for 4:20 a.m., as well as rescuing the hostage, Jesse Harlow; however, they are unable to find Mackey. Young Jesse Harlow is safely escorted off the Hatterask. Hap Reynolds boards the Coast Guard Utility Boat (UTB) at 4:14 a.m., just six minutes to blast-off. As they make their way back toward port, and away from the Hatterask, the clock ticks around to 4:20 a.m., but there is no explosion. In hindsight, Reynolds realizes that he has set the timer for 4:20 p.m. instead of 4:20 a.m.

Hap Reynolds looks back toward the Hatterask, just in time to see Alton Mackey standing on the bow, with a manual detonator in his hand.

Mackey sets off the detonator, sending the Hatterask up in a three-tiered ball of fire, going down with his ship.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• GenesisDomino
• TheHatteraskIncident

[Fallster]

Have you read "The Tojo Virus"? It's a great read. (John is my 1st cousin!) I have always thought that all three of his books would be great movie fodder.

[HKPSG1Shooter]

@Fallster

Actually, I haven't read that one. I need to get a copy. That, and his other novel "Jihad Ultimatum" I bet that's also another good read.

I still hope to see the Hatterask Incident on the big screen one day, I know it would be an awesome movie. I spoke with one of my contacts a couple of months ago, and right now, there's just nothing happening. I'm still keeping my fingers crossed

Very cool to have input from a relative of John. Thanks for the response, and tell him I said hello.

[sherrylynn70]

Very Interesting Audio/Visual...perfect Phil Collins..I have found more folks could enjoy your talent if you would make philcollins genesis the name of the group first creates way more views and the title of the song....this should be seen more...thanks for your time

[HKPSG1Shooter]

@sherrylynn70 Thanks for the compliments! As someone who loves the NC OBX, The Hatterask Incident has always been one of my favorite novels. The issues presented in the novel have been ongoing issues since the 1940's...the story of the Hatterask Incident is timeless, it could just as easily take place today, as it was depicted in 1987. And, the ultimate sacrifice made by Commander Waterfield accurately represents the dedication to service by members of the US Coast Guard.

[HKPSG1Shooter]

@RIPPLES70

Not many people have heard of John Randall, or the "Hatterask Incident" That novel, released in 1987 only sold 4000 hardback copies. But if they ever produced it into a movie, it would be as good as "The Perfect Storm", maybe even better. I put this video together this past year, as a way of pitching the idea of the story to some folks in Hollywood. Hopefully, one day, we'll see it on the big screen.