The three men, all in their 40s, set off on Easter Sunday in a 6-meter boat from Polowat to Pikelot, two small Pacific islands in the Micronesian archipelago, the Coast Guard said.
Six days later, on Saturday, a woman called the Coast Guard to report that her aunt and uncle had not returned from Pikelot, which is about 100 nautical miles (about 185 km) from their place of departure.
A Coast Guard rescue center in Guam began the search, but ran into difficulties due to the weather and the availability of resources. A Navy plane stationed in Japan and a USCGC Oliver Henry Coast Guard ship then joined the mission.
The teams searched an area of more than 78,000 square nautical miles (about 202 km2).
It was then that the Navy plane detected the message "HELP" written by the three castaways on palm leaves in the sand on the beach of a small Pacific island.
"This act of ingenuity was instrumental in directing rescue efforts directly to their location," explained Lieutenant Chelsea Garcia, coordinator of the search and rescue mission, quoted by NPR.
The aviation teams then sent a radio and other materials to the island. The castaways reported that they had food and water, were in good health and had their boat, although it was damaged.
On Tuesday, the three men were finally transported to Polowat.
"Whether we're protecting valuable resources or saving lives, we're not just visitors, we're members of this vibrant maritime community that connects all these islands," said Lieutenant Ray Cerrato, commander of the USCGC Oliver Henry.
"This operation near Pikelot Atoll really shows the difference we can make. It's about more than just fulfilling a duty; it's about the real human connections we make and the lives we touch."
