Out of the history books

Coast Guard Snapshot from 1943

Printed on page 62 of the June 1943 edition of the Coast Guard Magazine. 10 Features Up In Smoke 10 Story and photos by CWO Scott Epperson, PADET Los Angeles Searching For History 14 Story and photos by PA3 Etta Smith, 1st Dist. Honoring Our Heritage 18 Story and photos by PA2 Kip Wadlow, 5th Dist. The Haunting Of The Light 20 Story by PA3 Thomas Atkinson, 8th Dist. Nightmare On Pier 17 24 Story and photos by PA3 Tara Molle, 13th Dist. The Gulfstream Pirate 28 24 Story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, USCGR Fight Night 32 Story and photos by PA2 Luke Pinneo, 1st Dist. The Road Taken 36 Story by PAC Helen Chapman , PA1 Jackie Zettles, USCGR Sharing Jurisdiction 40 Story by PA2 Sean Eggert, 13th Dist.

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Departments Up Front 2 All Coast 6 Log Book 42 On The Cover Minots Ledge Light- house stands solidly against the endless on- slaught of the ocean’s fury in this photo illustration.

Photo Illustration by PA1 David Mosley, Coast Guard Magazine Buddy Swim AST1 Samuel Ariola tows AST2 Brad Fitzpatrick during rescue swimmer training at Air Station Savannah, Ga., Oct. 25. They also swim 100 yards underwater in 25-yard stints with only 60 seconds in between each 25-yard stint. The swimmers also warm up with a 500-yard swim. Then swimmers spend several hours practicing escapes and releases and parachute disentanglement as part of lifesaving drills that are required every week. Photo by PA1 Donnie Brzuska, PADET Jacksonville, Fla. Up Front

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

3 Honoring the Past The Coast Guard Honor Guard stands in formation before the beginning of the Coast Guard’s Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetary. Photo by PA1 Adam Eggers, Coast Guard Magazine. Up Front

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

5 p For the Children A crowd of villagers in the Dominican Republic flock to a Coast Guard helicopter. The helicopter crew made the difficult decision to land in order to check on the children at a local school. The village was surrounded on all sides on Nov. 3, by flood water caused by Tropical Storm Noel.

Photo by PA1 Donnie Brzuska, PADET Jacksonville, Fla. q Water Training Fishermen from several crab vessels in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, practice getting in and out of liferafts during survival training at the local pool hosted by the Coast Guard Sept. 12. The Marine Safety Detachment holds the training annually before the Bering Sea crab opener.

Photo Courtesy of Marine Safety Detachment, Unalaska, Alaska Coast Guard

Adm. Thad Allen

Commandant Vice Adm. Vivien Crea

Vice Commandant Rear Adm. Mary Landry

Director of Governmental & Public Affairs Capt. James McPherson

Chief, Public Affairs Patricia Miller

Deputy Chief, Public Affairs CWO4 Lionel Bryant

Chief, Imagery Branch PAC Kimberly Smith

Editor PA1 David Mosley

Senior Assistant Editor PA1 Adam Eggers PA2 Mike Lutz PA2 Joe Patton

Assistant Editors

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Coast Guard, COMDT PUB P5720.2, is produced for members of the U.S. Coast Guard. Editorial content is unofficial and

not authority for action. Views Coast Guard and opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Homeland Security or the Coast Guard. Stories may be reprinted except

Associated Press wire stories • Issue 6 and articles reprinted from other publications. • p Bay Bridge Spill A Coast Guard 25-foot small boat patrols in the Port of 2007 Oakland, Calif., near the container ship Cosco Busan Nov. 10. The vessel struck the protec- tive fendering system of the Bay Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Nov. 7 and spilled ap- proximately 58,000 gallons of oil into the bay. Photo by PA2 Prentice Danner, PADET Los Angeles 7 p Smoky A Coast Guard H-60J helicopter takes off from Air Station San Diego Tuesday morning as smoke from wildfires obscures the sunrise. Coast Guard personnel and aircraft have been participating in wildfire response operations throughout Southern California. Photo by BM3 Paul Ramos, Sector San Diego q One Small Step Members of the Navy’s q Dream Flight Lt. j.g. Adam Young, a pilot at parachute team, the Leap Frogs, jump from a Coast Air Station Cape Cod, Mass., helps Teddy McGowan put Guard C-130 over University of Southern California’s on a flight helmet with night vision goggles Oct. 2 during a stadium near Los Angeles Oct. 3. The practice jumps tour of the air station. McGowan, 7, suffers from a severe were in preparation for a jump during the opening stomach disorder and was traveling to Pittsburgh, Pa., for ceremonies at the USC football game on Oct. 6. The an organ transplant evaluation. The first grader expressed gameday jump was from the same C-130. a desire to ride in a Coast Guard helicopter after seeing several fly over his home in Forestdale, Mass., so his par- Photo by CWO2 Scott Epperson, PADET Los Angeles ents worked with air station personnel to fulfill his wish.

Photo by PA2 Lauren Downs, 1st Dist. All Coast

p Watchful Eye Boarding team members from the CGC Boutwell stand watch over the fishing vessel Lu Rong Yu 1961 after suspecting them of illegal fishing Sept. 27. The Boutwell escorted the vessel along with an ad- ditional fishing vessel, Zhe Dai Yuan Yu 829, to the Tsugaru Straits to transfer custody over to the Chinese Fisheries Law Enforcement Command vessel. The Boutwell works with the Chinese FLEC as part of the North Pacific Coast Guard Forum. This six-nation forum was developed to increase international maritime safety and security on the Northern Pacific Ocean and to combat illegal unregulated and unreported fishing.

Photo by PA3 Jonathan Cilley, 11th Dist. q On the Rocks Coast Guard rescue crews from Station Portsmouth, Va., ferry passengers off the cruise ship Spirit of Nantucket to shore after the ship ran aground in the Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway approximately eight miles north of the Virginia-North Carolina state line Nov. 8. The Coast Guard is investigating the cause of the

grounding. www.uscg.mil/magazine

Photo by PA2 Kip Wadlow, 5th Dist. Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

9 Up in Smoke Story and photos by CWO Scott Epperson, PADet Los Angeles

t’s a chilly Friday morning but on the owner, who has just in October and a thin veil returned for the first time since of smoke and the smell of he was evacuated. The wildfire ash and char still linger had swept through the quiet little Iin the air. Three men wearing lakeside community of Dos Dios, bright yellow fire-fighting gear, Calif., just outside of Escondido. carrying axes, rakes and extra The fire left a path of destruction water stand in the ruins of a that had no real boundaries or house – burned to the ground. defined direction; it went wherever Their focus, however, isn’t on the dry Santa Ana winds blew it – a the devastation around them, scene repeated all across Southern t OS1 offering a hand and comfort to This is Not a Drill returning residents. Overall, Justin Urbano from Coast Guard the team was amazed to see the Training Center Petaluma, Calif., neighborhood in the daylight. puts out a small fire in Dos Dios, The last time they were there, the Calif., while on patrol Oct. 26. He area was only lit by the glow of was in Southern California with the fires that were burning almost Fire Captain Kyle Kortie and Fire out of control. Engineer Brett Callahan as part of “I didn’t even pick up that this a firefighting strike force from the was the one that we hit earlier,” Petaluma area assiting with efforts to said Urbano while standing near fight the recent wildfires that swept the remains of one of the houses through the San Diego area. they were in on Oct. 23. As the firefighters talked with were going to drive down and the owner, one of them mentioned assist with the efforts near San that they had just extinguished Diego, much like many other a still-burning stack of comic fire-fighters and volunteers from books in the rubble, “(They were) all over the state. my kids,” the owner chuckled, “We arrived onscene Tuesday “oh jeez,” he added as his expres- afternoon,” said Urbano. “We did sion changed. After offering to interior attack on two or three help and letting the owner know houses that that the team

were engulfed would be in the www.uscg.mil/magazine … saved five, We did interior area all day, maybe six, attack on two or three Kortie stayed structures that while the owner had active fires “houses that were looked through really close to engulfed… saved five, what was left the buildings.” maybe six, structures of his posses- According to sions. The rest Urbano, they that had active fires Story and photos by CWO Scott Epperson, PADet Los Angeles of the team Coast Guard also patrolled really close to the continued on the fire areas, buildings. patrol. cleared out Residents OS1 Justin Urbano California. fire-breaks to throughout the

The firefighters, Fire Captain Training Center • protect area ” neighborhood Issue 6 Kyle Kortie, Fire Engineer Brett communications Petaluma were retuning Callahan and OS1 Justin Urbano, repeaters and to their homes all from the Coast Guard Training maintained fire watches in delicate •

to find some structures standing 2007 Center in Petaluma, Calif., are areas. and some in ruins. Everyone that in the area as part of a strike team On this day they were “mop- saw the crew thanked them for of five type-3 fire trucks sent from ping up” in the same neighborhood their efforts. Even people driving Petaluma County to assist in the they were in Oct. 23rd; looking for down the nearby highway honked fire fighting. They had gotten the “smokers” (still burning rubble), and waved as they passed. With- word late on Oct. 21 that they identifying safety hazards and out the teams of fire crews, things 11 could have been a lot worse. All and Urbano talked about the fires the firefighters probably looked they fought earlier in the week. 2007 similar to the residents, but they Houses stood untouched only three represented a united effort and the feet from structures burned to the California locals were thankful. ground - a testament to their work. Wildfires As they passed by one house, As they moved into the the owner walked out of his afternoon, the team continued According to a California backyard wearing a facemask to put out small fires still burning Emergency Services, State and holding some of his posses- in the brush and among rocks that Operations Center Situation sions. He shook the firefight- lined the road near the Report, as of Oct. 29: ers’ hands enthusiastically and highway. They only had about w There were more than 20 thanked them for tearing off his an hour of “downtime” back at separate fires. garage door. “Whoever thought the basecamp since arriving on w An estimated 520,000 of that,” he said, “it was a great Oct. 23, but they were energetic acres burned. idea.” Only part of his garage was about their job and continuing w More than 2800 struc- burned; his front steps were also their patrols. They had arrived in tures were destroyed. 1,800 of destroyed. But the house had been the area at about 6 a.m., and they those were homes saved, thanks to the efforts of the would spend the next 24-hours w More than 1,100 fire firefighters. there. But this was what they came engines responded The scene was repeated through- to do; help. w Over 12,000 fire person- out the area as Kortie, Calahan nel were involved. q Bath Time Coast Guard Fire Captain Kyle Kortie u Axing Old Flames Fire Captain Kyle Kortie of (left), Fire Engineer Brett Callahan (center) and OS1 Coast Guard Training Center Petaluma, Calif., puts out Justin Urbano talk to a resident visiting his house for the a fire while on patrol Oct. 26 in the neigborhood of Dos first time after the wildfires. Dios, Calif.

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

13 USCG photo Searching for History Mass., June20. original Minots LedgeLighthousenearScituate, spect whatis believed tobeasupportleg forthe Maritime Safety andSecurity Team diversin t SubmergedSupport

Coast Guard -

USCG photo illustration Searching for History Story by PA3 Etta Smith, 1st Dist.

welve brawny men, mostly strangers, pile into a cramped room and gather around a conference table. They listen carefully to the meticulous instruction of a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration scientist as he explains Tthe process for measuring and documenting underwater artifacts. The men are as unfamiliar with the techniques being taught as they are with each other. As they learn the methods, they make light-hearted jokes with one another to break the ice. Who are these men? They are Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team divers from California, New York, Florida and Massachusetts. The mission? To find and document the remains of the original Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse; a lighthouse that collapsed into the ocean in 1851, one year after its construction. After a brief training session with NOAA staff at Coast Guard Sector Boston, and a short, hands-on exercise in the parking lot, the divers were ready to explore the seabed surrounding the current Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse, about four miles east of Scituate, Mass. This archeological expedition was the result of the

culminated efforts of active duty, reserve, retired and www.uscg.mil/magazine auxiliary Coast Guard members in conjunction with more than nine other agencies. “The project goal was to document the underwater remains of the original lighthouse structure by documenting individual items and mapping their locations to produce a map of the submerged site,” said Lt. j.g. Keith Meverden, the Coast Guard’s underwater archaeologist on the project. “This Coast Guard information is used to create a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places.” While several assets and agencies collaborated to

carry out this mission, perhaps the most unique tool • Issue 6 used throughout the week was a remote operated

Photo by PA3 Etta Smith, 1st. Dist. vehicle, provided by MSST Boston. This was truly an uncommon mission for the •

p GM1 Carl Shipley, the 2007 Release the ROV divers and the ROV operator. Typically, MSST divers remote operated vehicle controller for Maritime Safety and the ROV are deployed in support of homeland and Security Team Boston, lowers the ROV into the wa- security missions, said GM1 Carl Shipley, the ROV ter to begin searching the sea floor near Scituate, Mass., operator from MSST Boston. June 20. Working outside of his typical harbor environment, Shipley inevitably encountered new challenges at 15 Photo by PA3 Etta Smith, 1st. Dist.

t Ready the Boat Crew A small boat crew prepares to take the Coast Guard divers to the location where a support leg was believed to be located. Minot’s Ledge. identify, but Meverden had the task of translating the “For me, the most challenging part was dealing with divers’ descriptions, sketches and measurements the the currents around the ledge,” he said. “I was forced divers had recorded on underwater slates. to add extra weight to the robot, allowing the robot to “Trying to interpret data gathered underwater from dive to the sea floor, but it also made the robot very a second-hand perspective was challenging,” said hard to maneuver.” Meverden. “It was difficult to assess what was being Although Shipley encountered challenges on the located on the bottom without seeing and touching it dive site, the project leaders said Shipley’s ability to for myself.” adapt accordingly proved beneficial to the mission. The ability to find these these artifacts aids in pre- The ROV helped the archaeologists and dive teams serving history. Since the by allowing a larger area around the lighthouse to be initial dive, subsequent searched, said Lt. j.g. Keith Wilkins, from MSST New smaller dives have taken place York, the lead dive officer on the project. to continue the search for “This area (covered by the ROV) was in addition to artifacts. the area originally laid out by the underwater “This operation showed how archaeologists,” said Wilkins. “After seeing the video standardized military dive recording of what the ROV had seen, we could start a training allows for several search around the marker buoy that was dropped.” dive teams to come together On the third day of the deployment, Shipley as one cohesive unit within a discovered remnants of iron beams that are believed to very short period of time,” said be structural support legs for the fallen lighthouse. Wilkins. “Day three… success! My expectations were Bringing 12 strangers immediately fulfilled,” said Shipley. “I was like a kid in together to work in an a candy store. I will remember this operation for years unfamiliar environment with to come and probably even tell my grandkids about it.” new equipment and While Shipley overcame unexpected difficulties at techniques could have Minots Ledge, the dive teams enjoyed the benefits of presented many opportunities the offshore environment. for failure. “Visibility being about ten feet throughout the Because of the standardized operation was a nice treat because in New York training each diver receives, Harbor, we are lucky if we can see our hand in front the team met and was in the of our face,” said Wilkins. water the next day, The improved visibility was an asset to the operation documenting artifacts for because divers said finding artifacts that have been historians to continue to learn resting on the sea floor for more than 150 years can from the history left behind. be difficult. “I literally had my face in every nook and cranny I could see on the ocean bottom,” said Wilkins. u Mark the Site The Shipley compared it to ‘looking for a needle in a crew of the CGC Abbie Burgess haystack.’ lowers a block and plaque to Not only were the artifacts hard for the divers to mark the site. The History of Minots Ledge Lighthouse Story by William Thiesen, LANTAREA Historian On April 17, 1851, the state-of- behind the structure was that high the art iron lighthouse recently seas and storm water would find little completed at Minots Ledge, located resistance from the stilts, whereas off the Massachusetts coast south of that water would likely collapse a Boston, slid into the stormy waters single support structure. surrounding the rock killing both of The original Minots Ledge Light- the lighthouse’s keepers. house began service on Jan. 1, 1850. The history behind this techno- From the beginning, the structure identify, but Meverden had the task of translating the logical failure had been in the mak- showed signs of structural weakness divers’ descriptions, sketches and measurements the ing for many years. The local Native and swayed with the action of the divers had recorded on underwater slates. American tribe believed that evil waves below. The iron support struc- “Trying to interpret data gathered underwater from spirits inhabited Minots Ledge and ture was constantly tightened and a second-hand perspective was challenging,” said would roil up stormy seas if the tribe re-worked to alleviate the swaying, Meverden. “It was difficult to assess what was being didn’t provide offerings to the spirits. but nothing seemed to help. located on the bottom without seeing and touching it European settlement of the area In fear for his life, Minots’ first for myself.” brought with it more shipping and keeper resigned after ten months, The ability to find these these artifacts aids in pre- more vessel losses as ships unfamil- and his replacement tried in vain to

serving history. Since the Photo by PA3 Etta Smith, 1st. Dist. iar with local waters would sail too improve the structural support of the initial dive, subsequent close to the unmarked reef in their light. smaller dives have taken place approach to Boston Harbor. A Finally in 1851, a mid-April storm to continue the search for vessel owned by George Minot was arrived that continued unabated for artifacts. one of these unfortunate ships and several days, gradually weakening “This operation showed how the Ledge took its name from the the iron structure. The central iron standardized military dive unfortunate owner. column snapped first, placing the training allows for several Forty vessels are known to have load-bearing burden on the eight dive teams to come together wrecked prior to 1841 and at least outer stilts. as one cohesive unit within a forty lives were lost prior to the The lighthouse’s two keepers were www.uscg.mil/magazine very short period of time,” said completion of the Minots Ledge Light- unable to escape the confines of Wilkins. house in 1850. the quarters due to the stormy seas Bringing 12 strangers In the early 1840s, the U.S. Light- below. Within hours the eight stilts together to work in an house Service called for a lighthouse began to snap as well and by the unfamiliar environment with to be built at Minots Ledge, which early morning hours of April 17th, new equipment and lay a mile offshore. Before Minots, all the light keepers were forced to jump techniques could have American lighthouses had been built into the icy waters as the lighthouse presented many opportunities on dry land, so the service sent its collapsed into the sea. One of them Coast Guard for failure. engineer to England to study offshore managed to swim to a nearby rock, Because of the standardized lighthouses in that country. but died of exposure, and the other’s training each diver receives, The engineer returned and de- body washed ashore. the team met and was in the signed a 30-ton lantern room and So a lighthouse that began as an • water the next day, a lightkeepers quarters complex engineering marvel of its day later Issue 6 documenting artifacts for supported by eight iron pilings and became one of the great technological historians to continue to learn a central iron column. The theory failures of the early 1850s. • from the history left behind. 2007

17 Four lighthouses later, a small North Carolina town finally has a historic downtown landmark, and in doing so, brought back the history from a long-forgotten time. Honoring our Heritage n any other day, an ear splitting explosion like it was written for an episode of Monty Python. and huge plume of smoke issuing forth from Plymouth, located on the southern bank of the a cannon barrel along the waterfront of a Roanoke River, was the fifth largest shipping port in small North Carolina town would normally the state of North Carolina during the 19th century. Obring local law enforcement officers flying to the scene The Roanoke River’s deep draft made Plymouth an in a massive, full-speed response - but this isn’t any ideal spot for transferring cargo from the large, other day. ocean-going vessels sailing into Albemarle Sound, to On this day, the residents of Plymouth, N.C., and smaller ships traveling along the Atlantic Intracoastal the Washington County Waterways Commission are Waterway or to railroads for shipment to major cities joined by Coast Guardsmen from Air Station Elizabeth further inland. City, N.C., and Sector Field Office Cape Hatteras, N.C., The original lighthouse, built upon a screw pile to celebrate the town’s historic past at the dedication foundation in 1866, was located six miles down river of the Roanoke River Lighthouse, Saturday, Sept. 15, from Plymouth on the east side of the channel in 2007. Batchelor’s Bay off the Albemarle Sound. It served the The history of the Roanoke River Lighthouse seems area until a fire destroyed it in March of 1885.

Story and photos by PA2 Kip Wadlow, 5th Dist. u Fire! Two re-enactors fire a time-era cannon during the Roanoke River Lighthouse ceremony. A second lighthouse was quickly erected and the early 1950s. operating by late summer 1885 at the mouth of the A local salvage operator purchased the lighthouse Roanoke River. The new structure survived until after its decommissioning, moved it to Edenton, N.C., January 1886 when heavy ice build-up damaged the and turned it into a private residence where it remains support pilings, causing it to collapse into the sound. to this day. The construction of a third lighthouse began in After trying unsuccessfully to purchase the original September of 1886. This lighthouse became lighthouse structure, the Washington County operational in February 1887 and came under Coast Waterways Commission decided to build a replica of Guard jurisdiction when the Lighthouse Service be- the original 1866 lighthouse in an effort to revitalize

came part of the Coast Guard on July 1, 1939, and the town’s historic waterfront district and introduce www.uscg.mil/magazine continued operating until it was decommissioned in tourists to the town’s unique past. “In doing this project, we’ve discovered a lot of history that has been forgotten,” said Doward Jones, a member of the Washington County Waterways Commission. “A lot of people have brought photos of the old boats they used to use on the river,” said Jones.

The dedication ceremony featured several Coast Guard re-enactors representing soldiers and sailors from the Civil War and the U.S. Lighthouse Service who answered questions and gave demonstrations regarding the town and its historic past. • “We wanted to formally hold an event to recognize all Issue 6 of the hard work that has been done in making these projects possible,” said Jones. • “The Coast Guard was honored to be a part of the 2007 dedication ceremony because lighthouses represent our heritage of protecting life and property at sea. For over 228 years, the U.S. Lighthouse Service and the U.S. Coast Guard have guided ships to safe passage Story and photos by p Walking on History People tour the newly within our harbors and inland rivers,” said Lt. Cmdr. constructed lighthouse after the ceremony. David Obremeier of Sector Field Office Cape Hatteras. 19 PA2 Kip Wadlow, 5th Dist. TheThe HauntingHaunting ofof thethe LightLight

The Pensacola Lighthouse stands order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse as an eerie monolith rising 171-feet survived the Civil War and was over the Gulf Coast. In 1856, even struck by cannon shot fired Congress allocated $55,000 to by Union forces from across the Tbuild the Pensacola, Fla., Light- bay at the Confederate troops house, and it was completed in occupying the tower and keep- 1858, making it the oldest light- ers quarters using it as a lookout. house on the Gulf Coast. First Fearing the light could be used lit on New Years Day 1859, the to aid Union forces at sea, the famed lighthouse featured a first Confederates removed the first USCG illustration of photo by PA1 Nyxolyno Cangemi, 8th Dist. USCG illustration of photo by PA1

Pensacola Light, the oldest lighthouse on the Gulf Coast, is a place of unrest. Since 1931, there have been countless Pghost sightings and mysterious occurences here . . . from the sounds of heavy breathing, doors slamming and faint whispers to the sight of an old woman walking around the lighthouse catwalk.

To those who believe, this lighthouse’s history simply refuses to die. Story by PA3 Thomas Atkinson, 8th Dist.

guests, volunteers and Coast still heard the creaking. He called Guardsmen and their family out “Who’s there?” There was no members who have served or answer except the sound of the even lived at the lighthouse. front door opening and shutting. Reported ghost sightings and Hatten then ran to the second mysterious activities, in and story balcony to see who had left

around the lighthouse, date back the house but all he saw was the www.uscg.mil/magazine to 1931. front gate opening and slowly Emmitt Hatten, a Pensacola closing on its own. resident, lived with his parents Another report by Hatten tells in the keeper’s quarters while his the story of a former keeper being father was the keeper from 1931 murdered by his wife in the keep- to 1953. er’s quarters. According to Hat- “When I would go up to pull ten’s story, the keeper was stabbed

the chains to keep the lens to death by his wife, leaving blood Coast Guard turning, I could hear human stains on the pine floors that are breathing. I was certain that it still visible today. Hatten reported wasn’t mine and I would stop that the wife’s punishment was to and listen.” Hatten said according carry out her husband’s lighthouse • order lens and sent it to Birming- to reports maintained at the duties for the rest of her life. Issue 6 ham, Ala., for safekeeping. lighthouse. According to another report The light has also survived When he was 10 years old, on July 9, 1994, a sightseer, • more than a century of keepers, Myrtle Belle Hatten, Hatten and Bruce Hamilton, took his son Alex 2007 some whom are said to still roam his mother heard the 100-year- and daughter Anne to tour the the halls of the keeper’s quarters, old stairs in the keeper’s quarters lighthouse. “During the wait to go tower and surrounding grounds. creaking. Myrtle Hatten yelled at up and while climbing the stairs, There are many stories and Hatten to go see who was there. Alex kept saying that he wanted photographs posted around the When Hatten went to see who was to see the ghost. I told him that lighthouse’s visitor center from in the old house he saw no one but the ghost moved things around 21 u Historic Look Back In this undated photo, a Pensacola Lighthouse keeper’s wife, Bessie Pryor Roberts, poses for a photograph in front of the lighthouse. USCG file photo but never showed itself. He contin- at his father and sister and contin- an electrical connection in ued to insist on seeing the ghost, ued to head down the stairs. the lighthouse on Oct. 1, 1992, speaking out loud to me for most “Why did you think Anne was when he heard a banging noise. of the climb up,” said Hamilton. whispering,” Hamilton asked. He turned to see what made “By the time we reached the top “Somebody whispered in my the noise and saw a sheet of he had stopped talking about the ear,” Alex told his father. plywood covering an opening ghost. We admired the view from “There was no one near you,” to the outside entrance the top of the lighthouse and Hamilton said. “I was looking right bouncing as if it was being hit started back down. Anne was one at you.” rapidly. step ahead of me, but Alex had Alex became more serious when A carpenter who was also moved ahead several steps. He was he realized that his father was working on the lighthouse still in my direct view. In fact, I was right. There was no one within heard the noise and went to keeping an eye on him in case he sight, and they were alone on the investigate. When he got to the stumbled. stairs. source of the banging the noise “Stop whispering, Anne!” Alex “What did you hear?” Hamilton had stopped. Everett reported suddenly snapped. asked his son. the banging lasted 30 seconds. “What are you talking about, Alex waited for his father and Everett and the carpenter went Alex?” asked Hamilton. sister to catch-up to him and into the basement to see what “Anne is whispering in my ear,” put his hand up to his fathers the cause of the bouncing could Alex replied. ear and said “ALEX” in a loud have been, but there was no “No she didn’t,” Hamilton told whisper. apparent cause. There was no him. “She’s back here with me.” Joe Everett, a retired Coast evidence of damage to the wood Alex gave a skeptical look back Guard petty officer, was checking panel the carpenter had installed, Photo by PA1 Nyxolyno Cangemi, 8th Dist. Photo by PA1 t The Stairwell of Whispers Tourists climb the Pensacola Lighthouse’s stairs to get a view from the top of the light. According to a July 9, 1994, story where a father and two small children were climbing the tower, the little boy continually heard someone whisper- ing his name. except that the four nails he of GHG Ghost Hunters. “This had either the Friends of the Light- used to secure the wood had been noted on a previous visit in house members or the Coast Guard raised one fifth of an inch from the tower midway up.” stationed at this site or the GHG where he had placed them flush The team conducts their Ghost Hunters have experienced, with the wood’s surface. investigation beginning with we do feel strongly there are Many other reports are available baseline electro magnetic field energies associated with this site,” at the lighthouse - from people readings, still photos and a general said Blanchard. seeing a man in the windows survey of the rooms noting Capt. Jeffery Pettitt, the Coast of the house, to anything that Guard liaison to Naval Air Station a woman on might influence Pensacola’s naval flight school, the catwalk When I would go up to readings or spends much of his time in the around the top suspected room the stabbing is rumored of the light and pull the chains to keep anomalies to have occurred in because it doors and gates “ to assist with is now his office. Pettitt has not opening and the lens turning, I could the review of had a runin with any ghosts or closing. the data, said strange activities around the “I was here hear human breathing. I Blanchard. lighthouse. one afternoon, According “I’m just a Coastie like them, so by myself, and was certain that it wasn’t to Blanchard, they know I’m just doing my job I kept hearing the team divides and they aren’t trying to scare me,” footsteps. When mine and I would stop into pair of two said Pettitt about his lack of para-

I got up to or three people, normal experiences while serving www.uscg.mil/magazine see who was and listen. positioning in at the lighthouse. here I wouldn’t Emmitt Hatten, Keeper’s Quarters different areas find anybody,” ” to sit quietly said SK1 resident 1931-1953 and report to Marilyn Warner, the monitor stationed at Coast Guard Liaison station anything unusual. Office Pensacola and whose office “We set up wireless cameras is in the keeper’s quarters at the in different areas and a monitor Coast Guard lighthouse. is situated in the room, which Many ghost-hunting groups has access to the tower. At have been to the lighthouse to least one person is assigned scientifically investigate the house. to the monitor, making notes • In May 2007, a paranormal as reports are radioed in Issue 6 research group called GHG Ghost from the investigators,” said Hunters visited the Pensacola Blanchard. • Lighthouse to investigate the “While our documentation 2007 house. has not revealed the anomalies “We did note the odor of tobacco, like a cigar or pipe that had just been lit, on a landing at the top u Eerie Trails A lone dirt of the stairs on the east side of the trail leads up to the Pensacola house,” said Marlene Blanchard, Lighthouse. Thomas Atkinson, 8th Dist. Photo by PA3 23 Nightmare

onStory andPier photos by PA3 Tara Molle,17 13th Dist.

blood-red sun begins to set over the Columbia River in Astoria, Ore. ANight draws near, bringing a sharp crisp chill that settles eerily into the sleepy town. The air is silent. It enhances all other sounds that would have been suppressed by the powerful winds. reatures of the night begin to donate non-perishable items such as canned emerge from the land and sea goods. The Coast Guard Spouses Association and yellow eyes begin to peer makes Thanksgiving baskets with all the food out from behind trees and shrub- we collect. Last year we had enough food to make bery. The sky is now as black as 120 baskets. Excess food goes straight to the food a raven’s feathers and a harvest bank in town.” moon rises “The town looks forward to it from the far every year,” said Cmdr. Charles horizon, giving a frightening glow Alcock, the executive officer aboard to ships scattered throughout the Our crew loves the Alert. “We had almost twelve Charbor. A white cutter bobs ever getting in character hundred people come last year so slightly against Pier 17, giving “ and collected over two thousand it a ghostly presence. Ghouls, and cutting loose. pounds of food.” goblins, vampires and other “It’s awesome to see the pile Halloween creepers wait hungrily The actors defi- grow as the night goes on,” said aboard for their first set of victims Ensign Edward Quinn. “We have to tour the haunted ship. nitely want to give a lot of fun and it’s for a good To keep with the Halloween cause, which is pretty hard to spirit, the Coast Guard Cutter the guests what they beat.” Alert, homeported in Astoria, The crew spends two-to- has been conducting “haunted came for. three days turning their work- tours” for over five years. Most of spaces into what would seem like the ship’s crew, along with their Ens. Edward” Quinn something in a scene from a family and friends, join horror movie. Passageway walls together for two nights of fun, CGC Alert are lined with endless amounts thrills and chills. Admission for the of black plastic to a create an tour is simple-the crew just asks that people bring even darker effect when the lights are turned off. www.uscg.mil/magazine canned goods instead of paying a fee. Many rooms are transformed into freakishly “The food drive is the main focus for this event,” frightening scenarios a person must endure in said Ensign Andrew Pritchett. “We ask people to order to continue on through the tour. What will u Legion of Doom Parents and children begin to line up on Pier

17 for the CGC Alert’s haunted ship Coast Guard tour in Astoria, Ore., Oct. 27. The Alert crew had just returned from a 60-day patrol and had only four days to set up the ship. Crewmembers, • family and friends all volunteered Issue 6 their time and creativity in setting up the ship and conducting tours for • two nights. 2007

25 one find in this room? A wicked witch perhaps? appeal for more of an audience,” said Pritchett. “The Or possibly a demented doctor, a bloody butcher, first half is for kids 9-years-old and below and the or a menacing madman? The possibilities of second half is for 10 and up. That way we can tone it spooks are endless. down for the younger kids.” “It’s nice to let loose and scare people,” said Liz Safety is also a key factor in the success of the Alcock, daughter of Cmdr. Alcock. “It’s great to haunted ship. do something for the community. My favorite part “We have small groups of five to ten with escorts is when people see Kassie (Ensign Kasandra Mertens) to provide safety on the ship,” said Cmdr. Alcock. lying on the floor pretending to be a mannequin. “We also have rotating security to ensure people People don’t know if she is real or fake and when are not intoxicated or tearing down the decorations. they lean in close to see, she’ll move and scare There are evacuation plans set in case of emergency.” them.” Some children do not even make it into the “Our crew loves getting in character and cutting entrance of the tour. The dark stairwell leading into loose,” said Quinn. “The actors definitely want to give the bow of the ship can seem quite daunting. They the guests what they came for.” are accompanied by a parent or family member The tour takes place on a Friday and Saturday and when a situation arises where they become night from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. As people arrive, the really scared, the “character” will immediately cease sun has already begun to set as if to setting the mood acting. for the evening. Spine-chilling Halloween music and “If the younger kids get really scared, we get out sounds begin to play over loudspeakers placed around of character and tell them everything is fake,” said the cutter and pier. Two separate tour times are then Liz Alcock. set for different age groups. However, most of the children are able to brave the “This is the first year we had two separate times to creepsters and freakouts hiding throughout the ship. q Witchy Woman Angela Sidlo offers some interesting snacks to children during the CGC Alert’s haunted ship tour in Astoria, Ore., Oct. 27. Crewmembers, family and friends all volunteered their time and creativity in setting up the ship and conducting tours for two nights. u Dr. Feelgood SK3 Matthew Pincumbe conducts mock heart surgery on a mannequin during the CGC Alert’s haunted ship tour in Astoria, Ore., Oct. 27. At the end of the tour, a large trea- sure chest sits full of a wide variety of yummy treats and candy for the kids to choose from. “The blinking lights were fun,” said John Stevens from Seattle, a huge grin plastered across his face and a lollipop firmly gripped in his right hand. “I like the suckers at the end.” John’s sister Destiny explained in wide-eyed fear that she encoun- tered a severed hand on the floor that freaked her out. “The people coming out of corners was scary,” said Colton McAster from Astoria, Ore., still shivering slightly from his encounter. “We go every year,” said Liz McAster from Astoria, and Colton’s mother. Many families who attend are repeaters from years before, and there is of course, always fresh blood to experience the event. Once the children’s portion of the tour ends, the crew is given a 10-minute break to freshen up and grab some water before the adult tour commences. Then, there are

no boundaries and all hell breaks www.uscg.mil/magazine loose. Shrieks, howls and blood- curdling screams can now be heard throughout the entire ship. Friends clutch each other tightly, urging each other to “go first.” The customers can be seen walking off the pier and crew is now in full effect, using reminiscing frantically about their happy haunt the dark to their advantage to make people

excursion. Crewmembers begin to emerge from Coast Guard really jump out of their skin. open hatches and dark hallways, removing masks “It’s so much fun to volunteer for this,” said Angela and exposing ear to ear grins. This is now another Sidlo, mother of SK1 Corey Sidlo. successful “haunted ship” year for the Alert. It takes Angela Sidlo is dressed in full witch garb and is almost two-to-three days to get the cutter fully back really a sight to see. Green paint covers her entire • to normal, what with taking down decorations and Issue 6 face causing her emerald eyes to stand out even removing the endless amounts of hay that has been more. She waits in the galley with a cauldron filled scattered throughout the entire flight deck. The

with dry ice, rubber snakes and spiders, which she •

crewmembers, exhausted and hoarse from scaring 2007 offers as food in exchange for an appendage. townsfolk for the last four hours, now clean up what Group after group continues to brave their way they can and say their goodnights to one another, onto the ship. A line stretches from the brow entrance only to return the next day and swap stories of to the end of the pier and a nervous excitement seems who got the best scare. The last crewmember to make its way through the crowd. departs for the evening, leaving a dark cutter to sit in The tour finally comes to an end and satisfied the moonlight against Pier 17. 27 Story by PA2 Judy Silverstein, USCGR The Gulfstream Pirate

p Not Forgotten Coast Guardsman Sidney C. Sanderlin was killed during the arrest of Horace Alderman for rum-running. The

p Rum Runner Horace Alderman was hanged for killing two Coast Guardsmen and one Treasury Gulfstream officer during prohibition.

Pirate www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard Sanderlin whirled to grab a gun and • “I shot him in the back. I whirled right Issue 6 • around outside the door and put the 2007 gun on the rest of the Coast Guard - Horace Alderman” 29 n the heyday of bootlegging, a colorful character During this era, the Coast Guard fell under the known as the Gulfstream Pirate met his untimely Department of the Treasury with anti-smuggling op- end at the hands of the federal government- the erations one of its important missions. Congress had only person ever hanged at a U.S. Coast Guard extended the territorial limit to 12 miles, making the station. Bahamas and Cuba ideal sources for Florida bootleg- IHorace Alderman made his living as a fishing guide, gers. Only 50 miles from Miami, the northeastern tip amassing a rap sheet for petty larceny and migrant of the Bahamas offered smugglers an easy port to fill smuggling before turning to rum running in the feisty their boats with contraband. Most trips went without days of Prohibition. incident. With its heady tropical allure, Florida depended On Aug. 7, 1927, Alderman and crewman Robert upon alcohol to fuel the dreams of those touring the Weech were intercepted by Coast Guard Patrol Boat Sunshine State. Common were tales of smugglers 249, on special duty transporting Secret Service agent speeding to the Bahamas in boats powered by con- Robert K. Webster to Bimini for a counterfeiting inves- verted World War I aircraft engines. According to news tigation associated with smuggling. reports, liquor was in high demand despite restrictive A lengthy and deadly altercation ensued and laws. Alderman was bleeding and semi – conscious when In 1922, a reported 10 million quarts of alcohol help arrived. He had killed three of the five crewmem- were sold out of Nassau, Bahamas. Newspaper clip- bers of Patrol Boat 249 and injured the others. pings from the era read like a vintage thriller with Convicted in Jan. 1928 for the brutal murders of tales of high-profile smuggling cases stretching into Boatswain Sidney C. Sanderlin, Machinist’s Mate first the most senior ranks of law enforcement, South class, Victor A. Lamby and Agent Webster, Alderman Florida politics and even the judiciary branch. was sentenced to death. A hangar at Base Six in Fort Illicit activity could be traced to the 1920 passage of Lauderdale, Fla., was the unlikely site of Alderman’s the 18th Amendment banning “the manufacture, sale Aug. 17, 1929, demise - the only hanging ever carried and transport of alcoholic beverages”. As American out by the Coast Guard. streets grew increasingly violent, so too did its thirst Descriptions of his ruthlessness near the Ft. for contraband liquor. Lauderdale sea buoy filled the papers, dubbing

q Rum Chaser The CG-100 is one of the 203 75-foot patrol boats built specifically for Prohibition enforcement duties. They were known as the “Six-Bitters” and entered service between 1924 and 1925. They had a top speed of 15 knots, slower than most of the rum-runners they were up against, but were known as sturdy, well-built crafts capable of offshore operations. This photo was taken Feb. 15, 1928. Photo by Joseph N. Pearce Alderman the “Gulfstream Pirate” and likening him to Miami cousins that fateful day. bloodthirsty swashbucklers of a bygone era. “Ruby, one of his daughters, had a head of really The hanging occurred, however, as public support beautiful, red hair.” she said. “I remember she walked for Prohibition dipped to an all-time low, and as South out the front door at dawn with a Bible in her hand Florida authorities were carted off and incarcerated for and looked up at the sky,” said Ola Dragon, who also their own roles in smuggling operations. Alderman’s recalls bits and pieces of the funeral which, accord- hanging – which may have been the only legal execu- ing to news reports at the time, lasted four hours. She tion in Broward County history - was thought to be proffered a historical perspective on alcohol. designed to stem the tide of smuggling-related “I grew up on Marco Island,” she said, “and lots of lawlessness. people had stills … you could see them sticking out of In court, Alderman recounted a ruthless tale of the swamp - that’s just what folks did,” said Dragon, murder at sea, including a bullet in the eye for the whose family has been in Florida since the 1700s. Secret Service Agent and one fatally lodged in the For years, the memory of her Uncle Horace lay spine of a Coastie. But Alderman dormant, tucked in the back of claimed his actions were not with- This is a serious her mind. In 1974, her son Barry out cause. joined the Coast Guard and was The Coast Guard crew story, but I still like serving as an E-6, special agent was dressed in dungarees and prosecuting the illegal smuggling of did not immediately identify “to tease my mother marijuana in Florida when he first themselves, Alderman said, about her relatives. heard the tale. claiming he mistook them for rival “It was kind of ironic and amus- smugglers. - Barry Dragon ing at the same time,” said Barry “Lamby made a grab for one ” Dragon, a retired Coast Guard of the guns and when he did, I grabbed at the Commander who served 25 years. same time. I got a gun and shot him in the breast. As his career progressed, he worked in Operations When I shot him, I jumped back. That put me and Law Enforcement in the Seventh Coast Guard just outside the door of the pilothouse. Sanderlin District. In a strange twist of fate, the wife of his com- whirled to grab a gun and I shot him in the back. manding officer turned out to be the daughter of the I whirled right around outside the door and put man who had hanged his uncle. While being related the gun on the rest of the Coast Guard - the rest of to a rum runner was mildly entertaining for a man the boys that were on the deck of the Coast Guard who dedicated his career to law enforcement, he also boat. If I had not shot Lamby when I did, he would helped ensure the sacrifice made by Sanderlin and have shot me. I was going to bring them to Miami, Lamby were recognized. In 1994, as the Officer-in- turn them over to the authorities -- the sheriff or Charge of the Seventh District TACLET, with the help the city police department. I was going to throw the of documents received from the National Archives re- liquor overboard before I got in. I was going to give trieved by his crew, he drafted a request to have their myself up.” names engraved on the National Law Despite his claims, the Supreme Court declined to Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C. hear the case, President Calvin Coolidge declined to “This is a serious story,” he said, pausing. “But I commute the death sentence or stay the execution, still like to tease my mother about her relatives.” www.uscg.mil/magazine and on Aug.15, 1929, Alderman’s death warrant was In a story laced with unusual twists, the tale of the signed. Judge Ritter moved the execution to the Gulf Stream Pirate seems to be missing a chunk of closest federal facility, Coast Guard Base Six. facts. Other papers from the Archives describe involve- Following his hanging, Base Six received more ment of Coast Guard personnel in smuggling liquor, personnel, ships and seaplanes to help fight the war illustrating the spectacular failure of Prohibition and on smuggling. Alderman was buried in what remains perhaps telling the true tale of what happened near an unmarked grave. the Fort Lauderdale sea buoy. In telegram 9916-1320 to the commandant, R.L. Coast Guard A Fading Memory Jack, commanding officer of Coast Guard Base Six, early eight decades later, rumors of Alderman’s details smuggling operations by personnel at Base Six. heists still raise eyebrows. Ola Dragon was Dated Jan. 17, 1929, he notes his disappointment and barely 5 years old when “Uncle Horace” was details the evidence. •

N Issue 6 hanged. He had lived with his wife Pearl – the sister “Liquor was found concealed in every compart- of her father’s first wife - and their three daughters, ment on (the ship), chains had been routed out, cases Bessie, Ruby and Wilma, in what his niece recalls as stored under them ... the radio cabinet was stocked • a, “nice, large home”. While papers from the full, there was liquor in the lazarette, in the cabin, in 2007 National Archives describe Alderman’s life as a rum the galley and in the engine rooms, the floorboards in runner and petty thief, Ola Dragon, 83, recalls very the crew’s compartment had been lifted and the liquor little talk of the case, though she said, “rum running was stored in the turn of the bilges.” may have been discussed”. While details have been “It’s an unusual story,” said Barry Dragon, now lost in the fog of time, the memory of that August chief of the Seventh Coast Guard District’s Bridge dawn has stayed with her, as her family visited their Branch. “But in the end, justice was served.” 31 FIGHT NIGHT Story and photos by PA2 Luke Pinneo, 1st Dist.

He was six feet tall and weighed weight” took on an entirely new more than 200 pounds when he meaning for him. “One day I ended punched his commanding officer. up sparring and found out I just And it wasn’t the first time. really wanted to fight.” SK2 Phillip Miller had sparred Miller said his first introduction with his commander many times to the sport was one that most on the deck of the CGC Vigorous, amateurs don’t get. based in Cape May, N.J. Both “It was a Friday I’ll never forget,” shared a passion for boxing, and he said, speaking of sparring for at the time, neither man expected the first time. “He beat me up!” to become a professional fighter Surprisingly, he had been - but one of them would. paired that day with a professional Miller happened upon the sport fighter. with no intention of fighting. In “He beat me up, but the whole May 2004, he wandered into a weekend I thought about it, and I boxing gym in Wildwood, N.J., to said, ‘this is what I want to do,’ so I shed some weight. At nearly 250 was back there on Monday.” pounds, he was outside of the He’s been at it ever since. Coast Guard’s standard. Miller has fought 10 amateur “When I put on the weight, I fights including the 2007 Golden found a boxing gym and started Gloves Tournament, and in 2006, training there just to lose the he won the highly esteemed Rocky weight,” he recalled. Marciano Tournament, named As it turned out, the term “heavy after the 1952 to 1956 heavyweight FIGHT Ready to Fight SK2 Phillip Miller, now assigned to the Coast Guard Naval Engineering Support Unit in Boston, found a passion in boxing while trying to lose weight. Miller likens a boxing match to, “a blind date. You’ve never seen this guy before. You’re going to spend NIGHT the next 12 minutes with him, so you’re just trying to size him up.”

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

33 u Lacin’ Up SK2 Phillip Miller laces up his boots before a July 18 fight against Robert Irazarry. champion of the world. “My arms are very, very long, and stood for the first time as a victori- But Miller’s greatest victory was I looked at him and just said, ‘He’s ous professional fighter. on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, not going to be able to hit me.’” Although it was a great personal when he made the leap from Miller was fully confident in his victory, he wasn’t the only one amateur to pro. secret weapon: his jab. celebrating the win. Miller, now It was a muggy night in Boston Miller likens his fighting skills to assigned to the Coast Guard Naval when he ducked under the ropes those he’s absorbed from being in Engineering Support Unit in and into the ring at the Park Plaza the Coast Guard. Boston, had gained the support Castle. “I’ve been on ships and when of more than 100 fellow Coast His opponent was just yards you look at evolutions, whether it’s Guard men and women. Many away. Both men paced and circled picking up migrants or doing of the units and members that in their corners, looking back and a boarding, they don’t just go right Miller has supported in service forth at their trainers and down at in and do it - they sit back and had come to cheer him on in the the bright blue mat. brief.” ring. While avoiding eye contact, they Just like his days at sea, Miller When the referee clutched shot looks toward each other, said when he’s in the ring he sets a Miller’s wrist and raised it high into taking in as much as they could in plan and sticks to it. the air, the crowd’s approval was a short amount of time. “Even if I see an opening, I’m not evident by its burst of applause. “It’s like a blind date. You’ve going to rush right in. I don’t go “It felt good,” Miller reminisced. never seen this guy before,” he out there like a madman. We have “To look out there to see how said. “You’re going to spend the a plan, and we have to go out there many people came out to support next 12 minutes with him, so and execute the plan.” me was one of the best feelings.” you’re just trying to size him up.” After four, three minute rounds, Citing personal victory, Miller Miller said he immediately knew Miller’s fierce fighting and relent- looks back and relishes his he had an advantage because of less jab had gained the judges’ success along the path he’s each man’s reach. favor. In a unanimous decision, he traveled. “When I walked into that boxing gym, my initial goal was just to lose weight and feel good about myself,” he said. “But it was the best feeling “My arms are very, [to win] because only a few people get to fight a professional fight. To very long, and I looked come in the ring and do that, and actually win - it was really fulfilling.” at him and just said, Above all, Miller says he gleaned much of his fighting skill and ‘He’s not going to be determination from his former commander and fellow boxer able to hit me.’” aboard the Vigorous, Capt. Glenn Grahl. “He helped me more than anything,” he said. “To have boxer and during their last patrol coworkers. someone of his rank, busy on together, Miller and he worked the “One of the toughest parts of patrol, to take a few hours out jab nearly every night on the flight being a boxer is - and this has of his night every night to come deck. happened at every unit I’ve been down to the flight deck to help “He showed me how to jab at since I started boxing - people me - that really boosted my correctly,” Miller said. constantly throw punches at you,” career.” It was a technique that won him he said. It is challenging for a young his professional championship. “They think because you’re a boxer to be underway, he said. Miller said he hopes to add to his boxer you’re supposed to take When he was in port he had the list of pro victories. He estimates he punches. So it happens all the time convenience of the gym and his has about eight to 10 years left and on base. They put their hands up trainers. But at sea, he said he has set his ultimate sights on and start throwing punches at me.” wouldn’t have had anyone to guide boxing in a world title fight. They won’t let him put his guard him as a boxer in training. But that, he admits, is a long down. That all changed the day Grahl way off. took command of the Vigorous. Until then, he said he’s going to qLeft Jab SK2 Phillip Miller “When he became CO on the keep training hard and soak in the connects with a left jab during a fight ship, it was awesome,” he said. encouragement from some of his against Robert Irizarry. Miller won Grahl is also an avid amateur strongest supporters: his the fight by unanimous decision.

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

35 Story by PAC Helen Chapman and PA1The Jackie Zettles, USCGR

RobertRoad Frost’s famous poem, “The Road Not Taken,” Takenthe Coast Guard. But, success didn’t come overnight. describes the dilemma of decision. In it, the careful His dream of being a Coast Guardsman began years traveler observes the differences of each path. One is before he ever enlisted, at age fourteen, when chance bent and covered in undergrowth; the other is grassy met determination. and unworn. In the end, he knows he can choose only Stroman explained that as a teenager he had a paper one of the paths, and is well aware that he will likely route and during one Saturday delivery, the never return to experience the other. newspaper’s front page displayed a photo of a Coast Generally in life, and specifically in the Coast Guard, Guardsman working a navigational light. each individual has countless decisions to make and “Something about that picture lit the spark for my those decisions lead to new challenges, dilemmas and future,” he said. opportunities. But, how does one even begin to know Stroman’s high school shop teacher was also a private what road he/she should follow? pilot. On weekends, his teacher would take him flying. In the late 1970s, four young men made the The young Stroman was also enrolled in a vocational decision to enlist in the Coast Guard and shortly program for electricians. A few years later, when he thereafter, though for different reasons, decided to enlisted in the Coast Guard, he decided to follow the AT pursue the same rating. rating, which combined his love of flying and his In the winter of 1980, Karl Stroman, Paul Washlesky, aptitude for math and science. Henry Hudson and Gordon Weeks attended Aviation After 27 years of service in the aviation community, Electronics Technician “A” school in Elizabeth City, N.C. the master chief still believes remaining enlisted was Though in different classes, they all became friends the right career path for him. Simply put, he says he and graduated as junior petty officers. After loves his job and takes great personal satisfaction in graduation, however, each took an entirely different knowing he has saved lives and contributed to the path, but all went on to be highly successful leaders in Service’s leadership. He says one of his proudest the Coast Guard. moments was during Hurricane Katrina when he served as the command master chief at ATC Mobile, R Ala. “To be a part of the command leadership and to 1980: AT3 witness the teamwork and dedication of those crews 2007: AET MASTER CHIEF was extraordinary. Although I didn’t fly any mission nor Karl Stroman: hoist a single victim, my personal satisfaction in Stroman climbed the enlisted ladder to the top. As contributing to the effort responsible for saving well over the AET Rating Force Master Chief, he is in a position 4,000 lives was no less than the first lives I ever saved,

to have endless influence in his rate and throughout twenty years earlier.” Photo Illustration by PA1 David Mosley, Coast Guard Magazine Guard Coast Mosley, David PA1 by Illustration Photo —TheTwo roads divergedRoad in Nota yellow Taken— wood, And sorry I could not travel both And be one traveler, long I stood And looked down one as far as I could To where it bent in the undergrowth; Then took the other, as just as fair

And having perhaps the better claim, www.uscg.mil/magazine Because it was grassy and wanted wear; Though as for that, the passing there Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black Coast Guard Oh, I kept the first for another day! Yet knowing how way leads on to way, I doubted if I should ever come back. • Issue 6 I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence: • two roads diverged in a wood, and I -- 2007 I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference.

_ Robert Frost 37 before he ever heard about the Coast Guard. He was working at a small shipyard with his best friend from 1980: AT3 high school when they noticed, “a couple of guys,” in Paul1998: CWO2 Washlesky: TO LIEUTENANT uniform who were inspecting the newly built ships. His 2007: LIEUTENANT COMMANDER, Retired friend informed him that they were Coast Guardsmen and suggested they, too, join the Coast Guard so they Paul Washlesky joined the Coast Guard after high could come back to Biloxi to do the same work as the school with the intention of serving only one enlistment. Coast Guardsmen they had been observing. After his initial 4-year contract was complete, he went “Boy, how naive can you get!” said Hudson. “What I on terminal leave and began taking college classes. didn’t realize was that these were warrant officers!” De- But, before his leave ended he realized how much he spite his misunderstandings of how the Coast Guard loved the Coast Guard and the people with whom worked, Hudson and his best friend he served. entered bootcamp shortly thereafter. Washlesky said re-enlisting was the best As a seaman, Hudson was uncertain about choice he ever made. what rate to choose, but was Washlesky graduated from AT “A” determined to attend the most school a month before Stroman, challenging “A” school. His chief at the Hudson and Weeks. And, like time informed him that AT or ET Stroman, Washlesky feels great had the reputation for being personal satisfaction from the especially difficult, but AT had an time he spent in aviation. extra incentive of flight pay. Hud- “There is nothing more son said a challenging “A” school satisfying then finding a person in a combined with an increased salary life raft after he has been adrift for five “sealed the deal” for him. days and almost everyone had given up on He remained in the aviation community any chance of his survival,” said Washlesky. for eight years. In that time he advanced to “On the downside, when your fellow Coast chief petty officer, nearly completed a bache- Guardsmen never come back [from a lor’s mission], you realize how dangerous degree and applied to officer your job is.” candidate school three times. All of Like Stroman, Washlesky his hard work paid off remained enlisted for a time, and simultaneously when two then his road diverged, as he significant opportunities came entered the Warrant to Lieutenant along. One month after advancing program. to chief he was selected for both Washlesky said throughout his Advanced Computer Electronics career he always set achievable Training school and OCS. For goals for himself and each time he reached a new goal Hudson, the decision breaker was financial in nature. there was a supervisor or mentor who “I had a wife and three children to support and I encouraged him to move to the next level. In wanted more for them than what I had as a child addition to achieving the rank of lieutenant growing up in a single parent environment,” he said. commander during his career, the Coast Guard also Hudson believed the ultimate financial dividends paid for him to attend college for three years; initially would be worth the challenge of completing OCS in for two years while he achieved a BS in Electrical the long run. Engineering Technology, then later for a year to He graduated from OCS in 1987 and took his attain a master’s in Engineering Management and experiences as an enlisted member with him as a new then a second master’s degree in Quality Systems ensign. He said his electronics background, flying Management. experience and initial leadership traits he learned in the He said, “In my opinion, the Coast Guard provides early part of his career have all been instrumental in his you with an opportunity to have one of the most success as an officer. exciting and rewarding careers you could ever want out Additionally, he added, “Advancing to chief in a short of life.” Washlesky retired Oct. 1, 2006, and now works time provided proof to me that if one set a goal and for the Air Force in an office that handles performance worked hard to achieve it, it was possible to excel.” and interoperability for international air traffic control. Hudson’s drive and determination have paid off, as he is now a commander working as the Coast Guard Chief Information Officer’s senior Deepwater liaison officer. He is the CIO’s direct representative for the $24 billion 1980: AT3 Deepwater project. Henry1987: OFFICER Hudson: CANDIDATE SCHOOL “How is that for starting out as a seaman recruit!” said 2007: COMMANDER Hudson. Henry Hudson’s story begins in Biloxi, Miss., at a time In addition to having his own drive and determination, the commander has also received motivation to excel from his shipmate, Capt. Weeks. The two have a friendly professional competition to Career-Planning see who will advance the furthest in the Coast Guard. They also have a close personal friendship and in 1981, Weeks assumed the role of best man in Resources Hudson’s wedding. There are a number of resources available to you, both within the Coast Guard, and in the pri- vate arena, that can help you make career-related decisions. 1980: AT3 The most comprehensive place to get career Gordon1984: CG ACADEMY Weeks GRADUATE related information within the Coast Guard is the 2007: CAPTAIN, Retired Coast Guard Career Central Web site.

The Coast Guard was not Weeks’ first military http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wt/g-wtl/career/ service of choice. In fact, his true desire since the third index1.htm grade was to be an Air Force fighter pilot, but imperfect vision kept him from pursuing that dream. It is the primary location for professional devel- In high school he applied to the Coast Guard opment information for all members of Team Coast Academy, but was initially denied, so by default Guard and includes information on the following: decided to enlist. - Workforce Specific Information The decision to attend AT “A” school was different - Evaluation Systems from that of his peers. Weeks was uncertain about - Training which rate to choose, so while stationed aboard the - Education CGC Jarvis, he struck nearly every operational rate, - Financial Aid including BM, MST, RD, ET and QM, but finally - Professional Development decided to pursue AT. Shortly before graduating “A” - Leadership Information school he was selected to attend the Coast Guard - Career Opportunities Academy. He entered the Academy soon thereafter and - Resources graduated in 1984. - Organizations and Associations Throughout his career, Weeks has had countless - Other Career Guides opportunities to move the Coast Guard forward as technology changed. While Commanding Officer of OTHER PRACTICAL TIPS TO ASSIST Loran Support Unit in Wildwood, N.J., he and his command were key players in modernizing the U.S. WITH CAREER PLANNING: LORAN system, used by both military and civilian ships and aircraft. He said he is also especially proud - KNOW YOURSELF: of the very first search and rescue saves that were Personality and vocational tests are a great way to learn about your personal strengths and

a result of the AMVER system at Operating Support www.uscg.mil/magazine Command Martinsburg, which he helped redesign and weaknesses, as well as your level of desire for install. certain careers. Many of these tests can be found In addition to technology, Weeks has also moved online in various forms and some may require others along throughout their Coast Guard careers. a nominal fee. The following are three reputable “My favorite experiences have been to set the bar tests that are located online: way high for the folks working with me and to watch - The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) reports them exceed,” he said. “We have great people in this on an individual’s personality preferences along organization and I know my greatest treasures have four psychological categories including been enabling them to reach high and often.” extraversion, introversion, sensing and intuition. Coast Guard Online at: http://www.myersbriggs.org/ - The Career Assessment Inventory (CAI) compares an individual’s occupational interests to those of individuals in 111 specific careers. Online at: • http://www.pearsonassessments.com/tests/cai_ Issue 6 Stroman, Washlesky, Hudson and Week have in fact, I took the one less traveled by, e.htm set the bar high for themselves and have led others by - The Self-Directed Search (SDS) is used to help their examples. As junior petty officers in 1980, their • individuals understand more about how their 2007 Coast Guard futures were boundless. Each skills and interests are related in choosing a approached his career in a different way; considering career. Online at: http://www.self-directed- where the different roads would lead. And, like the search.com/ careful traveler in Robert Frost’s poem, each made a series of choices, which, “…has made all the difference.” 39 Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police continue efforts in strengthening relations and ... Sharing Jurisdiction Story and photo by PA2 Shawn Dean Eggert, 13th Dist.

pilot project in cross-nation cooperation Coast Guard Station Bellingham, Wash., near the could mean bad news for smugglers and Georgia Strait separating Blaine, Wash., from other lawbreakers along Washington’s Vancouver, B.C., was selected as one of the locations to maritime border with Canada. host the Shiprider project from August through to the A The Shiprider Project is bringing new end of September. enforcement capability to both the Royal Station Bellingham responds to approximately 150 Canadian Mounted Police and the U.S. Coast Guard. search and rescue cases and 340 law enforcement cases The maritime boundary between Canada and a year. Station members are able to get on scene Washington snakes through approximately 160 miles of quickly with new 33-foot fast-response boats and the water in jagged “S” shapes and curves giving smugglers amount of traffic through the strait makes it an ideal an angle to take advantage of when evading law location for testing Shiprider’s effectiveness. enforcement on both sides of the border. With that in “This is something we’ve needed for a long time,” said mind, Brad Kieserman, chief of operations law at the BMC Thomas Rooks, Executive Petty Officer at Station Coast Guard’s Office of Maritime and International Law, Bellingham. “Before this occurred, one of the RCMP set out to create a program that would take that guys called me one week and said ‘I’m following a advantage away. boat that may be running something illegal, I’m about “Smugglers don’t recognize the boundary lines, they to hit the Canadian/U.S. border and I’m going to have exploit them,” said Kieserman. “U.S. and Canadian to stop and watch it go away, can you get there,’ we authorities aren’t allowed to pursue suspects across got there about ten minutes after that boat crossed the each others’ border. The goal of Shiprider is to enable border.” law enforcement officials from both sides to operate on Coast Guard and RCMP members received two weeks either side of the boundary line.” of training for Shiprider at the Maritime Law Kieserman discussed the project with Canadian Enforcement Academy in Charleston, S.C. There, they officials in 2003 and the first attempt at establishing the were familiarized with each others’ laws, protocols, program took place in 2005 on the Detroit River firearms and boarding techniques. Coast Guard and between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario. The two-week Canadian members were also given temporary power to trial proved the program had potential and it was enforce law in each others’ waters. temporarily revived to provide security for the 2006 “The training was essentially about building trust Superbowl in Detroit. In June, it was decided Shiprider within our teams,” Rooks said. “These people are would get another test-run. This time, the program basically acting as our partners and we’re acting as would take place in two locations for a period of two theirs. We have to know that if something went down months. we’d be able to count on each other to know what Coast Guard and Royal Canadian Mounted Police continue efforts in strengthening relations and ... Sharing Jurisdiction Story and photo by PA2 Shawn Dean Eggert, 13th Dist.

needs to be done.” Georgia Strait hope Shiprider becomes a permanent With their training completed, the Mounties and addition. Coast Guard members returned north to kick off “It’s disappointing to hear it’s almost over, but we Shiprider’s trial run. all knew it was a short term project,” said Sgt. Jock Flying a Canadian flag in addition to the U.S. and Wadley of the Vancouver Police Department. “All of us Coast Guard flags, Coast Guard Shiprider vessels want to see Shiprider get to the point where we always each carry an RCMP member while the Canadian have a pool of qualified individuals to pull from vessels bring along a Coast Guardsman. This, along whenever we want to run the project.” with their training, gives the boat crews the ability to “If Shiprider is the baby step towards something traverse the waters of either country. While in longer and more permanent, that’s where I’d like to Canadian waters, Coast Guard members are then able see it go,” said Cpl. Donovan Tait of the RCMP’s Island to board Canadian vessels with an RCMP member District Border Integrity Program. “What we’ve acting as the lead boarding officer. Canadian RCMP accomplished here might help with extending this boats are, in turn, able to board American vessels with project to land and air protection as well.” a Coast Guardsman acting as lead boarding officer. Kieserman believes there is a good chance Shiprider

“The ability to move across the border is will be made a permanent fixture along the U.S./ www.uscg.mil/magazine working well for us,” said Constable Jeremy Dunphy Canadian border and hopes to see improvements of the RCMP. “When the Coast Guard comes over into made to the program as it evolves. Canadian waters, they become RCMP supernumerary “What I’d eventually like to see is an extant constables. They don’t lose powers, they just switch circumstances clause in place that gives boats on both powers. They can carry the firearm, make arrests and sides of the border the power to pursue suspects over enforce the same laws we enforce.” the boundary lines in situations where a Shiprider is “Now if there was a major incident on our border, not aboard,” said Kieserman.

RCMP would really know our processes, how we The lessons learned from this project will be Coast Guard handle things, what to expect from us and how to deal valuable to both agencies regardless of its future with us,” said Rooks. “The hardest part of ending this and the experience has only strengthened the Coast program will be returning to this situation where I’m Guard’s partnership with the RCMP. once again bound by this invisible line. I can’t imagine “The thing about this project that kind of blows me •

not having this program running again in time for the away is the amount of respect between the two Issue 6 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.” nations,” said Rooks. “For two nations to see each The future of Shiprider hasn’t yet been decided, others’ peace officers as being so equal is pretty

but members of both organizations operating in the amazing.” • 2007

41 HH-65C crew records a rescue and clocks a fleet first in flight hours. Barber’s Point Makes a Million Story by PA3 Michael De Nyse, 14th Dist.

Coast Guard HH-65C Dolphin rescue emergency medical services team at Hilo International helicopter crew from Air Station Barbers Airport. A Point, Hawaii, recently completed the fleet’s “The HH-65C is truly a reliable and capable one millionth flight hour during a rescue - a asset that forms the ‘backbone’ of Coast Guard significant milestone in the life of these crucial Aviation,” said Cmdr. Thomas G. Nelson, Barbers rescue assets. Point executive officer. “Through experience and “This major accomplishment was made possible persistence, the people behind Coast Guard by hard work, dedication aviation have made this air- and unselfishness on craft into something behalf of the crew,” said The HH-65C is truly a we can all truly be proud of.” AVI3 Mark Hannon, Air reliable and capable asset that The Coast Guard recently Station Barbers Point HH- forms the ‘backbone’ upgraded all 95 of its 65C “ operational helicopters maintenance officer. of Coast Guard Aviation. to the HH-65C re-engined The medical airlift off Cmdr. Thomas G. Nelson model as the first of three the Big Island the night of ” phases. This particular Sept. 20 was led by pilot, upgrade provided two Lt. Dan Long, co-pilot, Lt. Chris Finch, AMT2 Wayne Turbomeca Arriel 2C2-CG turboshaft engines that Caetano and AST1 Jason Schelin. deliver approximately 40 percent improved perfor- The crew located the Taiwanese-based long-line mance and reliability. These upgrades also allowed for fishing vessel Darlong Hsing 21, 176 nautical miles safety and easier maintenance for the Dolphin fleet. east of Hilo. After a hoist from the vessel in six-foot When the second and third phases of the upgrade are seas, the aircrew transported the 50-year-old patient complete, the HH-65s will be designated Multi-Mission who was experiencing chest pains to a waiting Cutter Helicopters.

Millionth Mile Marker An HH-65C helicopter, from Air Station Barbers Point, Hawaii, takes off from the CGC Boutwell on Aug. 22.

Photo by PA3 Jonathan R. Cilley Combing the Cliffs for Cairns Logbook Story by Lt. Adam Merrill, Air Station Sitka, Alaska

Rocky Road An archeological researcher studies a prehistoric manmade stack of rocks recently discovered in the Alaskan Islands.

Photo courtesy of the National Park Service ith several helicopter flights Elders from the Sitka Tribe of field research. During two full Wduring the week of Aug. 27, a Alaska approached Park Rangers at days of field time, the team located, joint federal venture between the the Sitka National Historical Park identified and recorded 22 cairns National Park Service, the Forest to request assistance in redeeming of various types and sizes, signifi- Service, the Sitka Tribe of Alaska these vital elements of their history cantly more than the two or three and Coast Guard Air Station Sitka from obsolescence. Most of South- they had expected to find. culminated in the successful east Alaska falls within the Ton- Once back at sea level, the delivery of a team of archeological gass National Forest, which covers researchers met with tribal elders researchers to the top of Ushk Bay almost 27,000 square miles and is from the Kiksadi clan to report on Mountain and Cross Peak, located the nation’s largest national park. their findings. Clan leader Ray in Hoonah Sound. Baranof and the southern Chicha- Wilson was visibly moved after see- The four-person alpine field gof Islands are managed by the ing archeologist Bill Hunt’s photo- team, made up of three NPS Sitka Ranger District of the Forest graphs of the numerous cultural ersonnel and one Forest Service Service. Only one archaeologist features in the alpine. He thanked ranger, conducted alpine research is responsible for the entire area. the team for opening a window into into the existence and purpose of Based on the importance of the po- an aspect of his ancestors’ lives prehistoric man-made stacks of tential knowledge to be gained from that had been lost. Wilson also rocks called cairns that have this research and the grand scale expressed that the cooperation recently been discovered atop of its reach, the local Park Rangers between the agencies was a model remote peaks in the high alpine requested collaborative assistance for the culture as the clans work

areas of several Southeast Alaskan in the form of archeologists from together for the good of the Tlingit www.uscg.mil/magazine islands. the NPS. people. The function and relationship of The NPS responded enthusiasti- After the success of this initial, these cairns across the landscape cally, dispatching several archeolo- reconnaissance-level survey, is poorly understood. The goal of gists from the Midwest Archeologi- more in-depth studies are being the exploration was to use archaeo- cal Center to Sitka to assist in the planned. logical survey combined with eth- nographic accounts of the features

by Tlingit elders to provide a better Coast Guard understanding of the prehistoric use of alpine areas in Southeast Alaska. These cairns have been part of the oral history tradition of • the Kiksadi and other native Issue 6 Tlingit clans for generations, but Service Park National the of courtesy Photo their origin, meaning and exact locations have since been lost to • 2007 time. u Eureka An archeological researcher from the National Park Service studies a newly discovered cairn atop Ushk Bay Mountain. 43 Sea Horse Tests New Weapons System Story and photos by BMCM Mark Rieger, CGC Sea Horse

GC Sea Horse was selected been used successfully by other “Wait ‘till you see it shoot,” he said. by the Office of Cutter Forces armed services, this was the first The system routinely dropped Cand Office of Counterterror- attempt to install the system ten round bursts in a two-yard ism and Defense Operations to pro- aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Sea circle and quickly sank 55 gal- totype the Remote Operated Small Horse was selected largely because lon drums at ranges of up to 600 Arms Mount for the Navy. ROSAM its homeport at ISC Portsmouth, yards in three foot seas. Since the is a computer controlled gyro-sta- Virginia, provided the ideal location weapons system has full manual bilized weapons mount that locks with easy access by all necessary capabilities, a crew served platform onto and automatically tracks support entities. Since Sea Horse was installed. targets. The mount can carry is hull 61, it has all the latest After multiple gunnery exercises the M2 .50-caliber machine gun, major engineering changes already and more than 6,000 total rounds 40mm grenade launcher or the completed, making it very similar fired, Sea Horse completed a flaw- M240 machine gun. In addition to to the WPBs under construction less gun shoot. The same exercise the ROSAM, the Shipboard Infra- ROSAM was installed on June was used to give crewmembers red Video Surveillance System was 20 after extensive structural modi- hands on experience prior to re- also installed. SIRVSS can auto- fications were made to the foredeck ceiving their cutter. They will con- matically track targets as far as 5 including stiffening cross members tinue the prototype period conduct- nautical miles away. If the target and replacing a 4x4-foot section of ing additional gunnery exercises were to display hostile intentions, the main deck with heavier gauge with smaller and faster targets and the gunner would be able to utilize steel. The weapons system is plug evaluating the systems capability the ROSAM to engage the target. and play and was quickly installed in the harsh winter environment. The ROSAM weapons system in just a few days after the three SIRVSS, with the additional vid- is being installed on the four 87- week process to ready the cutter’s eo recorder, has already been used foot patrol boats currently under structure. Although there were extensively on search and rescue construction and will be slated some initial technical glitches, the and law enforcement cases, and to perform Navy escort phenomenal accuracy of ROSAM due to it’s zoom capabilities, can missions. quickly impressed the crew. identify vessels farther away than Although BMCM Mark Rieger, the cut- standard binoculars. Both systems the RO- ter’s officer in charge, said that he also have night capabilities with SAM has was made a believer in onboard infra-red cameras, greatly the weapon during the enhancing the awareness of watch- operational testing. standers during the night.

Gun Show This Way The remote operated small arms mount, with a M2 .50-caliber machine gun mounted on it, faces a target used during the CGC Sea Horse’s test of the sys- tem. The Sea Horse was the first to test this weapon that will be used on four new 87-foot patrol boats. Logbook Law Enforcement Detachment 401 stops 7,000 lbs of cocaine from reaching American streets. Busted Story and photo by Ensign Todd Bagetis, TACLET South

ll was quiet on the Pacific Ocean as the USS outboard engines to slice through the ocean at Klakring silently glided through the pre-dawn a remarkable rate of speed. The Coast Guard Adarkness on Sept. 8. To the casual observer, boarding team, fully prepared by training, quickly the ship might have seemed devoid of activity, but skirted across the sea in the USS Klakring’s RHI nothing could be further from the truth. They were to the go-fast location. The helocopter and USS hunting, and the crew was busy tracking an elusive Klakring provided eyes on scene, a vital role for target. crewmember safety. Somewhere on the horizon, a 45-foot go-fast Two Coast Guard boarding team members went vessel loaded with over 7,000 lbs of cocaine was aboard the go-fast to commence the boarding while headed north, its payload intended for the streets the other boarding team members stood watch in the of America. The solitary goal of this go-fast crew RHI. The boarding team embarked on the go-fast was to make its destination without being detected started a Basic Initial Safety Inspection of the go-fast by law enforcement authorities. to make sure it was safe for people to be aboard. Around 10 a.m. the crew of the SH-60B Sea Hawk Almost immediately, the team made a plain view helicopter spotted the target with the ship less than discovery of numerous bulk sized packages which 10 nautical miles away and the closest point of later tested positively for cocaine. land over 100 nautical miles away. The crew of the After nine hours, the result of the boarding was in, go-fast vessel came to all stop and awaited the Coast over 7,000 lbs of cocaine was seized and four smug- Guard. glers detained. The crew of USS Klakring satisfied with The go-fast was a 45-foot, dark green vessel a job well done, turned the ship back to the horizon to that was outfitted with four Yamaha 200 HP start the hunt again. q Reach for the Sky Members of Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 401 prepare to board a go- fast in the Pacific Ocean.

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • Issue 6 • 2007

45 A team of Auxiliarists from Florida attempts to beat 11 other teams to finish where no other U.S. team has before. Auxiliary Wins International Search and Rescue Competition Story and photo courtesy of CG Auxiliary

quartet of U.S. Coast Guard teers’ ability to plan, communicate Springs, Don Hoge, 59, Jim A Auxiliarists from Pinellas and prosecute a maritime search Ryder, 69, and Max Garrison, County, Fla., beat five other U.S. and rescue mission. 65, all of Dunedin, Fla. In teams and six Canadian teams A Person-In-the-Water Recovery events that included skills at the 2007 International Search Event evaluated each team’s ivolving strength and speed, and Rescue Competition in ability to safely approach and these veteran American mariners Toronto Harbor, Canada Sept. retrieve a person or other object beat out teams that included 28-29. in the water and rescue a person much younger U.S. and Canadian For the first time in the eight from a burning boat. Other competitors. Scoring an impressive year history of the events included: Search and 88 out of a possible 104 points, competi- tion, American Rescue Planning, Seamanship, the Florida Auxiliarists bested lifesavers carried home Communications, Dewatering Line the closest competitors, a Cana- the coveted trophy. Toss and Marlinspike and two dian team, by an impressive 35 To get to surprise events, one with the points. ISAR, teams boat helmsman blindfolded and of lifesavers taking direction from a crewman q Nice Shot A team of Auxiliar- must compete and another where crews rowed ists from Florida participate in the line out to retrieve and backboard in preliminary toss event at the International Search a mannequin and bring this simu- regional events. and Rescue Competition in Toronto lated victim to shore. Teams are judged in Harbor. skill areas in the field The winning American team of Maritime Search and consisted of team captain Rescue. ISAR 2007 featured events Kevin McConn, 48, that are designed to test the volun- of Tarpon Coordinated Patrol Logbook Conducted With Canadian Coasties

Story by Ensign Kristen Potter, CGC Northland

he CGC Northland had the unique opportunity to two U.S. offshore lobster boats and one Canadian Tparticipate in a coordinated fisheries observance longliner. In addition, both nations had aircraft with the Canadian Coast Guard Ship Sir William conducting overflights, which helped in spotting Alexander Sept. 19. fishing activity. The two ships rendezvoused along the “I thought it was a great experience. Even Canadian/U.S. Hague line, which separates though our attitudes towards fisheries enforcement the countries’ exclusive economic zones. During differ, I think that both services were able to learn the coordinated event, the ships conducted a a lot from each other,” said SN George Degener, professional exchange, and unarmed members who observed a Canadian fisheries boarding. of each crew observed fisheries management Northland’s crewmembers found that although activities of the other agency. This occurred on we focus first on commercial fishing vessel safety, for our counterparts in Canada the main priority is fish conservation and enforcing fisheries regulations. Not only was the Northland able to learn about the fisheries management aspect of the Canadian Coast Guard and Department of Fisheries and Oceans, but the cutter also got a glimpse into daily life aboard a CCGS.

Photo courtesy of the Canadian Coast Guard “This was a remarkable opportunity. I now have a greater understanding and appreciation of the practices and operations of the Canadian Coast

Guard,” said Ensign Laun Clark, one of Northland’s www.uscg.mil/magazine members who spent the day aboard the Sir William Alexander. The Canadian Coast Guard is a uniformed service, but not a part of the nation’s military. The civilian organization performs many of the same functions as the U.S. Coast Guard including maritime safety through preparation, prevention and response, maritime scientific support, search and rescue, ice Coast Guard breaking and aids to navigation. They also work closely with the DFO’s Conservation and Protection Branch to conduct offshore living marine resources

protection. • Issue 6 Capt. Gary Saunders, the commanding officer of the Sir William Alexander, summed up the entire exchange best, “… in a word or less excellent! • The spirit of camaraderie and level of co-operation 2007 between both vessels was outstanding!”

t Lobster Traps A Canadian DFO officer ob- serves BM2 Carlos Montejano as he inspects the gear aboard a U.S. lobster boat. 47 USCG Photo

Remembering the Fallen of the Cuyahoga Story by Lt. Jerrel W. Russell, Tracen Yorktown, Va

oast Guard Training Center Virginia Capes where it still lies p The CGC Yorktown held the 29th upright in 100 feet of water. Final Voyage Cuyahoga is raised from the depths memorial to honor the 10 As a partial result of this ac- C after a fatal collusion in the Chesa- Coast Guardsmen and one Indo- cident, the Coast Guard instituted nesian Naval Officer who lost their more stringent controls and cer- peake Bay, Oct. 20, 1978. lives aboard the CGC Cuyahoga. tifications. These include peri- tional at the end,” said Rutledge, On Oct. 20, 1978, the Cuyahoga, odic examinations for deck watch one of the 18 survivors. with 29 personnel aboard, was con- officers and rigorous seamanship A memorial to honor the ship- ducting a night-time Officer Candi- refresher courses for all prospective mates who lost their lives aboard date School training cruise for OCS commanding officers and executive CGC Cuyahoga is located across Class 6-78. At about 9 p.m., the officers. the street from the Coast Guard Cuyahoga collided with the motor “29 years and 29 Guys” was the Dining Facility and Lincoln Hall in vessel Santa Cruz II in the Chesa- remark of Capt. Daniel A. Neptun, Yorktown, Va. peake Bay and sank about two referring to the number of years minutes later in 58 feet of water. since the tragic event and the In Memory Of: The Cuyahoga sank quickly due number of shipmates aboard the u MKCS David B. Makin to massive damage to its hull and Cuyahoga at the time of the col- u YN1 William M. Carter rapid flooding as the much larger lision. Captains Daniel Neptun Santa Cruz II bulldozed the cutter and William Uberti were both OCS u SS1 Ernestino A. Balina underwater at about 13 knots for classmates of those who perished, u SA Michael A. Atkinson at least one minute. and both spoke at the memorial. u FA James L. Hellyer The Santa Cruz II rescued 18 Also in attendance from OCS u SA David S. McDowell men from the water, but the Class 6-78, were Cmdr. Robin Orr, u OC James W. Clark remaining 11 were lost. retired, Lt.Cmdr. Pat Rutledge, re- u OC John P. Heistand Cuyahoga was raised, examined tired, and Lt. j.g. Craig Kugelberg, u OC Edward J. Thomason and deemed too damaged to war- retired. u OC Bruce E. Wood rant repair. Cuyahoga was eventu- “The ceremonies are always jo- u Wiyono Sumalyo, Indonesian ally returned to the deep off the vial at the beginning, but very emo- Navy Logbook A community in Virginia combines their passion for motorcycles with their desire to help Coasties in need by spending a day raising money for the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Program. Riders Rally for CGMA Story and photo by PA2 Christopher Evanson, 5th Dist.

oasties stationed throughout the Hampton of the Public Health Service serving with the CRoads region of Virginia participated in a Coast Guard, reservists and auxiliarist’s and their motorcycle rally for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance families. in Portsmouth, Va., Sept. 22. In 2006, Coast Guard Mutual Over 65 riders showed up Assistance left a big footprint, for the “Riders on the Storm” providing $5.8 million in assistance motorcycle rally and donated 2006 CGMA to more than 6,500 individuals in money out of their pockets need. even though rain clouds loomed In 2006, CGMA provided The majority of mutual above. The bike route was 53 $5.8 million in assistance to assistance recipients in 2006 were miles long and culminated more than 6,500 individuals. junior personnel. Eighty-six per- with a barbecue at a local This included: cent of the assistance provided park, where a check for $3,000 l $4.18 million in interest- went to petty officers, non-rates was presented to Capt. Steven free loans to 2,953 recipients. and lower level civilians. Andersen, commanding officer l $1.2 million in personal In addition to donations by of Integrated Support Command grants to 348 recipients. Coasties, the event was aided by Portsmouth and regional director l $446,900 in supple- contributions from local busi- for CGMA. mental education grants and nesses. Bayside Harley Davidson “The motivation behind the education loan origination Dealership in Portsmouth and rally, which was the idea of fee reimbursements to 3,330 The Raven Restaurant of Virginia four junior officers in the region, recipients. Beach, Va., donated a significant was to do something that we More information on CGMA amount to the cause. all enjoyed doing and turn it can be found at http://www. “We were a bit concerned about into something positive on a cgmahq.org/ the weather, but thankfully it did much larger scale,” said Lt. j.g. not deter any of the participants Jeff Janaro, executive officer of who came out to support this won- the 87-foot CGC Albacore homeported in Norfolk, derful cause,” said Janaro “Due to the success of this Va. first rally, the ‘Riders on the Storm’ are already plan- “We named our riding club ‘Riders on the Storm’ ning our next rally or event to continue supporting our because it is not only the name of a song by one community and the men and women of the U.S. Coast www.uscg.mil/magazine of our favorite bands, The Doors, but also since it Guard.” is an appropriate name for a group of bikers that earn their living riding the stormy seas of the Atlantic with the Coast Guard,” said Janaro. CGMA is a non-profit organiza- tion that provides financial Coast Guard assistance to members of the Coast Guard, civilians and dependents in need. It offers

aid to the entire Coast Guard • Issue 6 family, active duty and retired military personnel, civilian employees, commissioned officers • 2007 u Hog Ride Coasties stationed throughout the Hampton Roads community participate in the Riders on the Storm Rally for Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, Sept. 22. 49 USCG Photo by BM2 Daniel Clouse, Sta. Buffalo

Coast Guard SUDOKU Twister A waterspout passes near the Buffalo Light- house in Buffalo, New York, Sept. 28. The water- spout formed over Lake Erie and lasted almost ten minutes passing along the north side of the Coast Guard Station there.

Fill in the blank spaces in the grid so that every vertical column, every horizontal row and every 3 x 3 box contains the letters C-O-A-S-T-G-U-R-D, without repeating any. The solved puzzle can be found in the online version of Coast Guard Magazine at www.uscg.mil/magazine. USCG Photo

Ironman Lt. j.g. Brian Monaghan races in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii, Oct. 13. Monaghan finished first place in the military men’s catagory, fourth in the 18-24 year-old age group and 121st overall. MSU Lake Charles Greetings From

arine Safety Unit Lake Charles is the sole local community officials each day. Members and Louisiana member of the Sector Houston- their families avail themselves to a host of local activi- MGalveston zone. A subordinate unit of MSU ties including concerts in the park or Civic Center Port Arthur, Texas, MSU Lake Charles became an in- across the street, stress-free shopping, diverse din- dependent command in 2001. In 2005 the office relo- ing or one of the 75 festivals that are carried out each cated from its previous site in the Port of Lake Charles year. Often referred to as a sportsman’s paradise, the to accommodate a steadily growing crew complement, surrounding area is flush with outdoor activities from and moved to the current location in downtown Lake many sports leagues and events to copious fishing and Charles. The main office itself constitutes the entire hunting opportunities. second floor of the Chase Bank Building, overlooking a So, if you’re looking for a break from a major metro- vast lake-side park in the heart of downtown. A satel- politan city but still want big city-like amenities along lite facility to store and perform maintenance on the with an excellent opportunity for professional growth, unit’s RB-S fleet and serve as work spaces for the boat consider MSU Lake Charles. For more information force is at a local marina near the main office. visit http://www.uscg.mil/d8/msd/lakecharles/. Lake Charles is situated approximately 25 miles north of the Gulf of Mexico along the Calcasieu River. Housing It is located conveniently between Houston and New Most members live in Lake Charles or one of Orleans. Nearly 200,000 people call the Lake Charles the neighboring towns. The rate for an average area home, making it the fifth largest city in two-to-three bedroom apartment ranges from Louisiana, however, it still exhibits a small-town $900 to $1100. Arrangements can also be made atmosphere. for Coast Guard leased housing. www.uscg.mil/magazine The unit’s 40 active duty and five reservists are comprised mostly of enlisted members with a hand- Facilities ful of regular and warrant officers. They carry out all The Fort Polk Army base is within an hours maritime safety, security and law enforcement activi- drive north and has a large commissary and ties in the unit’s 8,000 square mile area, inland of the exchange. All members and their dependents Gulf of Mexico shoreline. The BM and MK rates make participate in Tricare Prime Remote and use civil- up the unit’s boat force and are responsible for law ian medical doctors and dentists that are located enforcement and port security on the water. MST’s within a few minutes drive as primary care man- Coast Guard agers. The unit also has a membership with the make up the Contingency Planning Division and Field local YMCA fitness club. Operations Group, managing the unit’s Operations Center and carrying out daily facility, security and Education

port state exams as well as leading unit responses to •

Lake Charles is home to McNeese State Uni- Issue 6 oil spills. The officers comprise the inspections and versity, The Delta School of Business and Tech- investigations, waterway management and command nology and Sowela Technical Community Col- staffs. lege. The unit also has an onsite DANTES testing • Community involvement is highly emphasized at center. 2007 the MSU. Being the only Coast Guard unit in the area, MSU members serve as the de-facto recruiters Weather for Southwest Louisiana. Unit members participate Temperatures range from an average of 51 de- in local parades, tutor at local elementary schools, grees in January to 83 degrees in July. Summer coach in local sports leagues and work closely with is known for its frequent rain showers. 51 Search and Rescue Satellites Help save Lives Story by Jordan St. John, CG-09223 combination of some quick The Rescue Coordination Center the 1980s. thinking and an Emergency immediately called the emergency As technology advances, more A Position-Indicating Radio contact number. When the Coast rescues are possible, translating Beacon helped save Tom and Guard realized the Gailbraiths were into more lives saved. A major chal- Stanna Galbraith on April 11 when not in port, Coast Guard Seventh lenge now is to educate all beacon their 35-foot catamaran, Paradox, District in Miami, was notified and users of the phase-out of the older capsized. immediately coordinated an initial style distress beacons. 121.5 MHz, The couple were sailing from search with an Air Station Miami classes A, B and S, EPIRBs Honduras to the West coast of HU-25C Falcon and then launched became prohibited for use on Jan. Florida when a squall increased an Air Station Clearwater, Fla., 1. On Feb. 1, 2009, the Cospas- the wind speed from 11 knots to 48 C-130 equipped with the newly Sarsat system will no longer knots, capsizing them. installed 406 MHz direction-finding process 121.5/243 MHz signals. Tom and his wife took shelter equipment. “406 MHz beacons have su- for the night in the overturned hull The C-130 quickly located the perior performance capabilities where tools, wetsuits and other es- EPIRB’s position, finding the over- over 121.5 MHz beacons,” said Lt. sential gear were available. Among turned catamaran approximately Cmdr. Kathy Niles, from the Coast the items was the 406 MHz EPIRB, 170 miles southwest of Tampa, Guard Office of SAR. “They trans- which used the Cospas-Sarsat sat- Fla. An Air Station Clearwater mit a much stronger signal, are ellites to relay Paradox’s location to HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter arrived more accurate, are traceable and search and rescue authorities. onscene and hoisted the couple are verifiable because of each bea- Tom, realizing the EPIRB’s signal to safety. Neither Tom nor Stanna con’s unique identification encoded probably wasn’t being received by had suffered any injuries after and registration data required to be the satellites as the EPIRB was still spending the night in their over- provided by the owner.” inside the hull and the antenna turned catamaran. When a person is in distress, was lost, used a hammer to make a This year marks the 25th Anni- their beacon transmits a digital hole in the bottom of the hull and versary of the first satellite launch 406 MHz signal to the Cospas- floated the EPIRB in the water. The and operational use of Cospas- Sarsat system. EPIRB’s signal was then received Sarsat by SAR agencies. The Inter- The signal is then relayed to a by the satellite and relayed to national Cospas-Sarsat Program ground station which processes the Coast Guard Eighth District in New has been instrumental in saving signal and computes an accurate Orleans. over 22,000 lives worldwide since location for the beacon using Dop- pler technology. The United States Mission Control Center, operated by NOAA in Maryland, combines this information with other satellite detections, determines who is in distress based on the information decoded from the digital signal and then generates an alert message. This alert is transmitted to the appropriate RCC based on the beacon’s geographic location or identification. For rescue personnel, especially Coast Guard air crews and boat crews that have to venture out in treacherous weather conditions at sea, the accuracy of information provided by the 406 MHz beacons make a big difference. “If we can verify a SARSAT bea- con alert and give our responding personnel more accurate informa- tion, we can help reduce some of the risk they face on every mission” said Capt. Chris Hall, chief of the Coast Guard Office of SAR. Photo by PA1 Adam Eggers, CG Magazine

Whether providing sustenance, maintaining records, ensuring safety at sea or enforcing federal laws - everyone contributes to the mission.

Saving lives since 1790

www.uscg.mil/magazine Coast Guard • You are a Issue 5 • 2007

Lifesaver 55 Little Monster PA2 Mariana O’Leary, a public affairs specialist stationed at Coast Guard Island, Alameda, Calif., hands out candy to a trick-or-treater from the Coast Guard Island Day Care Center, Oct. 31. Photo by PA3 Melissa Hauck, PAC Area