The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Magazine

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NAVIGATORNAVIGATOR The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Magazine

FALL 2009 CG Auxiliary operational vessels in Juneau, Alaska, work with CG Station Juneau during two-boat training evolutions in Gastineau Channel. The Auxiliary provides the “vessel-in-distress” so the active duty can practice working with pleasure boats. Juneau Auxiliarists Rich Liebe and Jack Brandt, aboard Auxiliary vessel Noreen Kay, hook-up and prepare to be towed by Station Juneau’s 47-foot motor life boat. Photo by Noreen Folkerts, Flotilla 11, Juneau, Alaska

2 | Navigator DEADLINES Summer: July 1 Fall: October 1 NAVIGATOR WINTER: D e c e m b e r 3 1 Contents Spring: April 1 | 4 COMO Kerigan Guidelines for Our Contributors submissions of 6 | Off the Press editorial and photographic con- 7 | 70 Years and Counting tent are online at www.auxpa.org/ | navigator. Please 10 Delivering the Eagle send editorial and photographic 12 | Happy Anniversary submissions to: navigator@ 16 | Member Survey auxpa.org 18 | We are the Coast Guard Telephone numbers and address- 20 | Back to High School es of members are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. As a 21 | Recipe for Trouble matter of policy, rosters of names, Tim Hale George Hagerty addresses and telephone num- | bers shall not be made available 24 2009 NACON to the general public or any outside organization. Privacy of all 27 | Bringing Teamwork rosters shall be safeguarded and the page clearly labeled. The pub- to the Table lication of these rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on any 28 | Awards Honor the Best computer on-line service including the Internet is prohibited by 32 | BASRA and the Auxiliary the Privacy Act of 1974. 34 | Can You Hear Me Now? 36 | Rip Current Rescue | 38 Our Piece of History Anne and Ray Evans Phil Bailey

WHO’S READING YOUR NAVIGATOR? DON’T TOSS IT, PASS IT.

Karen Novo Jeff Brooks Doug Kroll

On the cover: In gold-rush days thousands of hopeful miners reached the Yukon by ships that brought them to Skagway at the northern end of Lynn Canal. The passage was treacherous and in 1900, Congress allocated funds for a lighthouse to be built on Sentinel Island in Favorite Channel where it joins Lynn Canal, a natural waterway to Alaska’s interior. The original lighthouse complex consisted of a square wooden tower attached to a large, two-story keeper’s house. The lantern room was steel and glass, with a fixed, fourth-order Fresnel lens. The focal plane of the lens was forty- two feet above the island, and eighty-two feet above the water at high tide. Auxiliary personal watercraft operational vessels are invaluable during shoreline searches, where they are able to check shallow areas other vessels cannot navigate. Juneau’s personal watercraft operator Dan Logan checks the shallow waters around Sentinel Island during a practice search on a calm fall afternoon. Photo by Noreen Folkerts, Flotilla 11, Juneau, Alaska

FALL 2009 | 3 Readiness Is All eadiness is a loose term that defines While we honor our past, we cannot oper- our ability to take on something and ate in it. Our future lies in a flexible, agile, Commodore Rdeliver. So Readiness is a measure of and responsive force, backed by a trans- NICHOLAS preparation. If we are ready, we have made formed command and control structure KERIGAN the preparations necessary to do what we and a mature mission support organiza- say we will do. tion. Our future lies in Readiness. National Living requires Readiness. As I said, The Auxiliary has already taken a major Commodore Readiness is a measure of preparation. step in aligning districts, divisions, and flo- What can we measure? tillas with sectors. Now we have adjusted • Adequacy of training and manuals the organization at the national level. We • Budgets have been, and will be, challenged to pro- • Communications within and outside vide more and more support to the active of the Auxiliary duty force. To do so, we must become • Resources more integrated with Coast Guard orga- • Buy-in and motivation nization and practices while at the same • Change management time staying balanced in our RBS missions • Facilities along with operational missions. It is up A number of measures are qualitative, to the Auxiliary leadership with support so it’s difficult to actually assign a score. of Coast Guard leadership at all levels to This is why Readiness is hard to measure maintain the proper balance of RBS pro- and plot on a scale, as several of these fac- grams as we move forward with our mod- tors are qualitative. Budgets are all about ernization of the Auxiliary. numbers; resources and facilities can be It’s rather fitting that as we begin our counted. The other items defy an easily-as- 71st year, we are evolving into an organiza- signed point on a graph. This is why many tion that resembles more the Auxiliary of people really struggle with the concept of 1943 than the Auxiliary of 1993. We must Readiness. really be part of Team Coast Guard and All the same, there are deliverables: always ready to meet the call. It’s a chal- response time, classes taught, RBSVP vis- lenge we need to meet. We must be ready. its, etc. However, what tends to happen is Readiness needs to be at the forefront in that Readiness is considered a low priori- all we do. ty, an afterthought. Preparedness requires Ask yourself “What does ‘Ready’ look planning, training, and practice. like?” ON THE WEB A lack of Readiness (by whatever mea- • Consider the impact and dependen- You can go to the sure) can be disastrous. If we are not pre- cies across the organization. National Commodore’s pared, we can experience: • Review mentoring of new members. page at www.auxnaco.org • Disrupted operations • Work with neighboring flotillas. and i-naco.blogspot.com/ • Complaints • How many people are qualified as for more information on the • Low morale crew/coxswain, Instructor, VE, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary • Wasted effort RBSVP, aircrew, etc.? • Increased costs • Understand our active duty colleagues We recently announced significant and how we can support their efforts changes to our organization. As the Coast more effectively. Guard modernizes we must re-orient the • Utilize the national staff as a resource. Auxiliary so that it more closely supports • Balance the resources available with the Coast Guard’s new direction. The mission requirements. Coast Guard is positioning itself to answer Our members need to be personally the call, to remain always ready, and to ready to accept the challenges we face. execute the mission. The Coast Guard has Being as prepared as possible in your per- never been relied upon by our nation more sonal life allows you to focus appropriate than today. The service is strong, howev- attention on our missions. So take care of er, as we face new challenges we need to yourself and your family first. Maintain an be organized more efficiently, and manage appropriate balance. our business practices more effectively. Semper Paratus

4 | Navigator e - ts e - dor - e en o nc ncy AM n n c & c ng i t o nc ge ey ctor ctor s em ma l or mm e e ng & ng lmo nni r teg ur ma or * a ni f l s pp een ra ntin Ta Sa r Dir Dir Asst n Co or P o l e a St rf Su a l C P Sw n Mea P (ANACO-PS) Pe o e i t or Na ess od in olicy & Resources, d ty ell

mm c Area c u P R DIAG i ** nn Co Dep e Rea e Co al Y (DNACO-R) rc on & Pacif & i t R Fo t re Na or ENT do l e y pp ng zio o ctor ctor e n ear onn mmo i e e M r * aini rs u Asst O’L Co Ven Dir Dir Tr ess Su ess l Pe La a in n d (ANACO-RS) o ti Rea U XILIA Na r y s revention, RBS, Operations D A d m P f fice a log ar c IO) R cer ie h e min i ctor C no yste e vo or h n Of n itc Ch AL N ALIG ief S Off * ) A iller Sa ysis Pr Dir od &Ad l fo Ch Tec M atio n I -SA N NACO- s t m mm e A t * ( CO c Ana c for Ass Co re Ga gi In 1, 2009R 1, rt al ission Support, Chief Information Officer, Readiness Sup Readiness Officer, ission Information Support, Chief e erformance Support, Chief Counsel, and Strategic Analysis. IO do G U ANA ( P on M rat i ppo t y T y St u t o mmo BE r Na l S ** n Co l Depu McE a ission Support, and Force Readiness. Assistant Readiness. ission CommodoresSupport, Force and National n ssio (DNACO-S) i TO o ti M M e lanning & irs OAS lic Na UNCT or P s b u ir ) od a F C O C P Affa n or or e t t olicy, olicy, o r nt c c Aff mm P t & P & t e st c mb re re * m Wa fairs en Nels n As Di Di bli lCo r Gu Af u a e nm P n (ANACO-G o tions tions (one star) will oversee Response & Affairs, International In Chicago, National Commodore Nick Kerigan announced major changes to the national organization. “The staff is being organized to mesh more closely withthe CG as it moves toward modernization,” Kerigan said. “This reorganization will enable the Auxiliary to better meet its performance and readiness goals.” Deputy National Commodores (two stars) are established for Operations, Opera port, and Department Chiefs and Deputy Department Director. Deputy below Chiefs changes name will or now be organizational Directors no are There and Directors. uty Dep ver ary Gov Nati Go ili e e r r o o irs d d o o l o m m l Affa l d or e d d Aux * gan ss na i ** ect ** r Os Vic NACO) Va n (NACO) V Ke Dir atio al Com al al Com al ( Va n n rn o o t re i i s/ e e te r r & st or n t I o o e fair Nat Nat odo d d f pp t t Guar licy W r o o m licy s o R) e o er e m m P m Su Mgm fairs st 12 August 2009 August 12 c r ty o * nal nal A ctor ctor tts ck e u ling oni ce ison t ur ns ns P e e * o u licy & licy As ** p io ns ns P l C l m t rd P T ur o SAf i re Asst so a o Dir Dir P S De atio alCom alCom n Mall rp (ANACO-IA) No Coas RB atio ona Re e (DNACO-P) er lantic Area Area lantic t (ANACO- ti ter er Res n a t tion tion I In r Op N o Op & At & Na Na p p Functional Alignment Diagram Alignment Functional n u or S r ect te re Dir Bauman rp e t r n I l e viso s al es ce d n un n y or e o * tio r rict ity Ad ity od t * Ll w fCo Na rs ie (DCO) La Dis mm o Ch Dive C e t or od s y t ion mm zio o at ** ic Area Eas Area ic er t Depu p Vene al C al O (DNACO-O) lan on i t s a & At & N P am a se r or e ctor Ex on l gol e af r ect e U n Dir Sh ss &RBSV Dir ty re Resp tio e Ve f e a odo ven or e m g S g r t od m st n o * atin mm As Ellio st e & P & e l C l ma * ee As lCo al Bo al (ANACO-RP) ona ons a Fr n ti n a o tion (ANACO-RBS) N r on atio r Resp i o od ea t o o t Nati uc ster c ent d w re Recr E ev Ke ck Direc Di Pr Lo blic Pu

FALL 2009 | 5 Off the Press Sheila Lagrand New Assistant Editor of the Navigator

n Auxiliarist since 2005, Sheila Seiler ALagrand joins the Navigator staff as NAVIGATOR Assistant Editor. She is a member of Flotilla The official magazine of the 2-10, Huntington Beach, California, serving as United States Coast Guard Auxiliary as administrative assistant to the district com- www.cgaux.org modore. She is also active in the Interpreter Corps. Her work has appeared previously in Navigator. She won the district award for best Executive Committee flotilla newsletter of 2006. As part of her duties National Commodore as operations manager of Towneley Capital Nicholas Kerigan, NACO Sheila Seiler Lagrand Management, Inc., she edits corporate commu- Vice National Commodore nications such as newsletters, marketing mate- James Vass, VNACO rials and web content. She and husband Rich, who is also an Auxiliarist, share their Trabuco Canyon home with J.D., a black Labrador retriever, Deputy National Commodore -Operations & Atlantic Area East Thomas Venezio, DNACO-O and Doc, a smallish mutt. They enjoy spending time together aboard their 25-foot Boston Whaler, Tohora Iti. Deputy National Commodore Operations Policy & Atlantic Area West Thomas Mallison, DNACO-P

Deputy National Commodore Mission Support Stephen H. McElroy, DNACO-S

Deputy National Commodore Force Readiness & Pacific Area Victor Connell, DNACO-R Two-time World Immediate Past National Commodore Boxing Stephen Budar, NIPCO Champion, Chief Director of the Auxiliary Jesse James Captain Mark Rizzo, USCG

Leijas, stars Assistant National Commodore Government & Public Affairs in a safe Jackson Gumb ANACO-GP boating PSA targeting Department of Public Affairs young men. Director-Public Affairs Robert E. Nelson II, DIR-A

Deputy Director-Public Affairs Tom Nunes, DIR-Ad

Chief, Publications Division One Tough Hombre, Robert T. Westcott, DVC-AP

Navigator Magazine, Editor One Smart Boater Judy M. Darby, BC-APN Navigator Magazine, Assistant Editor By Frank Dannenberg, Jr. Sheila Seiler Lagrand, BA-APN Flotilla 74, San Antonio, Texas

istrict 8 Public Affairs had a long list of possible spokesmen for a Dpublic service announcement to be produced through a boating Copyright 2009 safety grant from the BoatUS Foundation. The target audience was Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. All rights are reserved. No portion of this publication young, strong males who say they do not need a lifejacket because they can be copied or otherwise be used without written know how to swim or they don’t look cool in a lifejacket or it will mess permission of the editor.Navigator is an official informational and educational tool for the U.S. Coast up their tan. Their best excuse: “I don’t care if I drown.” Guard Auxiliary and is intended to keep the membership and the U.S. Coast Guard apprised of the activities of the A tough athlete was needed as a role model for this hard-to-sell mar- Auxiliary. Accordingly, all articles published in Navigator ket and Jesse James Leijas became that tough hombre. A two-time must be consistent with the stated policies of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. All World Boxing Champion from San Antonio, Texas, Leijas is a success- articles and pictures submitted to Navigator become the ful businessman, community leader and family man who always wears property of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. his lifejacket. In the words of his brother, “Jesse swims like a rock!” The champ came through, delivering a strong message, “Wear it! Pontelo! Do it for your family.”

6 | Navigator 70 Ye a r s a n d Co u n t i n g

Editor’s Note: Doug Kroll is Branch Assistant for Research and Publication, Public Affairs Department, Community Relations Division. He is the author of Commodore Ellsworth P. Bertholf: First Commandant of the Coast Guard (U. S. Naval Institute Press, 2002) and Friends In Peace and War: The Russian Navy’s Landmark Visit to Civil War San Francisco (Potomac Books, 2007). His third book, A Coast Guardsman’s History of the Coast Guard, will be published by the Naval Institute Press in 2010.

By Doug Kroll, Flotilla 11-10, Palm Desert, California What’s in a name? he 1915 act creating the Coast Guard described it as “an armed service,” but by the 1930s it differed from the TArmy and the Navy in at least one fundamental respect: The Coast Guard had no peacetime reserve. This fact was on the mind of Commodore Malcolm Stuart Boylan of the Pacific Writer’s Yacht Club, Los Angeles Harbor, when he had occasion to invite Lieutenant Francis C. Pollard, Commanding Officer of the USS Aurora which was in the same harbor, for a sail in August of 1934. That day, Boylan and Pollard had a meeting of the minds and a few weeks later what is now known as the Founder’s Letter arrived on the desk of Lt. Pollard in San Pedro, California. It said: Photo: Waesche My dear Lieutenant: Admiral Russell R. Waesche, Commandant of the Coast Guard from I have been dwelling on our recent conversations concern- 1936 to 1946, courtesy of USCG Historian’s Office. ing the Coast Guard and your most informative explanation of its origin, traditions and functions. Out of this the thought has The growing danger of war in the Pacific and in Europe come to me that the Coast Guard alone of all armed services has alerted the Coast Guard to the need for a military Reserve, no organized reserve, whereas the Navy, the most comparable as well as the existing non-military Reserve. On February service, has in reserve sixty-five hundred officers and seventeen 19, 1941, Congress amended the original Reserve Act. The thousand enlisted men! “Coast Guard Auxiliary and Reserve Act” created a new mili- Sincerely, tary Reserve and renamed the original non-military Reserve Malcolm Stuart Boylan* the “Coast Guard Auxiliary.” The original purpose of the non- military Reserve was retained. The proposal was pushed relentlessly by Admiral Russel R. In the early years of the Auxiliary’s existence, a frequent- Waesche until Bill No. 5966 was introduced by Congressman ly voiced criticism concerned the organization’s name. Schuyler Otis Bland of Virginia on April 24, 1939. Suggested replacements included “Coast Guard Reserve- On June 23, 1939, Congress passed The Coast Guard Volunteer,” “Coast Guard Temporary Reserve,” and “Coast Reserve Act “. . . in the interest of (a) safety to life at sea and Guard Reserve-Class T.” Commodore Boylan supported drop- upon the navigable waters, (b) the promotion of efficiency in ping the name “Auxiliary” and replacing it with “Coast Guard the operation of motorboats and yachts, (c) a wider knowledge Temporary Reserve.” of, and better compliance with, the laws, rules and regula- In August 1944, Auxiliarists from the First, Third, Fourth, tions governing the operation and navigation of motorboats Fifth, and Ninth Districts held an Inter-District Conference at and yachts, and (d) facilitating certain operations of the Coast Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. They went on record favor- Guard. . . .” The membership was open to volunteers who ing a name change for the organization on the grounds that were citizens of the United States and most of its territories that the word “auxiliary” was “too closely allied with women’s who owned motorboats or yachts. organizations which are adjunct to military or church groups.” Groups of boat owners were organized into flotillas and The Commandant’s Office was flexible with regard to many these into divisions within Coast Guard Districts around the subjects, but not on the change of the name of the organiza- country. Members initially conducted safety and security tion. The name “Coast Guard Auxiliary,” as authorized by the patrols and helped enforce the provisions of the 1940 Federal Congress in 1941, was retained. Boating and Espionage Acts. In some respects it was like the U.S. Power Squadron, which was founded in 1917 as a non-mil- *U.S. Coast Guard. Public Information Division. The Coast Guard at War: itary reserve for the Navy. Auxiliary. Volume XIX. Washington, DC: U.S. Coast Guard, 1 May 1948.

FALL 2009 | 7 70 Ye a r s a n d Co u n t i n g The Birth of The Navigator

lmost since the inception of the Auxiliary, Yachting Magazine car- Aried more-or-less regular columns on Auxiliary news under several titles, one of which was “Under the Blue Ensign.” In 1956 the Chief Director of the Auxiliary, Captain Harold B. Roberts, began issuing bimonthly press releases on letterhead with “Under the Blue Ensign” printed on it. These documents became the basis for the columns published in Yachting Magazine. Other volunteer groups had discovered that national journals helped to keep the membership intact. During the 1950s the Auxiliary’s National Board seized on that medium as a means of not only disseminating information but of strengthening the feelings of camaraderie that kept the organization alive. In the winter of 1959-60 the Auxiliary mailed its first national publication: a nine-page journal bearing the masthead Under the Blue Ensign. This title was a source of some confusion, since Yachting was still using it for its monthly Auxiliary news columns. In the summer of 1960 the Auxiliary journal was renamed the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary National Publication. The editors immediately began solic- iting suggestions for a catchier title, and finally settled on The Navigator. The first issue under that masthead appeared in October 1961. The first issues featured the Auxiliary emblem on a Navy background in the top sec- tion of the front page with the title in white lettering. The bottom part contained a cover photo on a white background. Initially issues were fewer than ten pages in length. Photo: USCG Auxiliary archive, Joyner Library, East Carolina University. — By Doug Kroll, Flotilla 11-10, Palm Desert, California The cover of the first issue of the Navigator October, 1961.

8 | Navigator The Blue Ensign

n testifying before the House of lished a Flag Etiquette Committee to Representatives about the need for design a modernized Auxiliary ensign. Ia volunteer Coast Guard Reserve The committee soon discovered that in 1939, Admiral Russell Waesche, the proposing a new design for a govern- Commandant of the Coast Guard, said mental agency was a complex pro- that among the privileges afforded, cess. They had to gain the approval of owners “will be given a Coast Guard Coast Guard headquarters and of the Reserve flag to fly..… The idea being U.S. Army’s Institute of Heraldry. The Photo: USCG Auxiliary archive, Joyner Library, East Carolina University. that a motorboat or yacht going down Commandant’s Office rejected several the Potomac River, or the Detroit proposed designs because they were decal. River, or elsewhere, flying that flag, is too similar to the ensign of the U.S. It is flown both day and night when serving notice to have been examined Power Squadron. the Auxiliarist is aboard, at the main and passed on; I know the rules of the In 1967, Grover A. Miller, the National truck if the vessel has a mast or at the road; I know how to operate a motor- Commodore, conceived the idea of bas- bow staff if it does not. Boats equipped boat; I have a seaworthy craft, properly ing an ensign design on a simple shape with a radio antenna but no mast may equipped, in compliance with the law.” associated with the Coast Guard: a fly the Auxiliary ensign on it, about two- When Congress authorized the civil- diagonal white band, reminiscent of thirds of the way up. ian, volunteer Coast Guard Reserve the “slash” recently painted on Coast When the Coast Guard takes an in 1939, someone at Coast Guard Guard vessels and aircraft, centered on Auxiliary member’s boat into service Headquarters designed an ensign for a blue rectangular background. In the for a mission under Coast Guard orders, it: a blue rectangular flag bearing the middle of the white slash would be the the vessel displays the Coast Guard Coast Guard emblem in white, with Auxiliary logo, in a new, slightly simpli- Auxiliary patrol boat ensign in place “United States Coast Guard Reserve” in fied form similar to the one the Institute of the normal Auxiliary blue ensign. the circle around the shield. When a mil- of Heraldry had recently approved for The patrol boat ensign is based on the itary reserve was created on February the Coast Guard. The Army and the so-called “racing stripes” painted as an 19, 1941, the former civilian, volunteer Commandant approved the design, and identifying insignia on the hulls and reserve became the U.S. Coast Guard the new blue ensign went into use in the fuselages of Coast Guard cutters and Auxiliary. This “new” Coast Guard summer of 1968. aircraft. If a Coast Guard officer or petty Auxiliary changed its existing ensign The Auxiliary ensign flies on inspect- officer is aboard, however, this patrol by merely changing the word “Reserve” ed surface facilities that display a cur- flag is replaced by the normal Coast to “Auxiliary” in the circle around the rent facility decal and on vessels owned Guard ensign. shield on the rectangular blue ensign. by Auxiliarists that have passed a vessel — By Doug Kroll, Flotilla 11-10, In 1966 the National Board estab- safety check and display a current VSC Palm Desert, California

The Veterans History Project

he Veterans History Project is sponsored by the American The Veterans History Project honors our nation’s veterans Folklife Center of the Library of Congress. Since the like Mr. Albert Nicarelli whose incredible story aboard the Tspring of 2003, the Auxiliary has been a participant in this USCGC Eagle in 1946 begins on page 10. Doreen M. Kordek, enormous undertaking which seeks to record the histories 7th District Historian and national staff officer for the Veterans of Coast Guard and other armed service veterans, as well as History Project, serves as Auxiliary liaison to the Library of Auxiliarists. Congress. Currently, the program needs two volunteers from In 2005, at sites including Tampa, Boston, San Antonio, San each district to help the branch chief in reaching out to vet- Diego and Seattle, the Auxiliary joined forces with others to erans. Training is available. For more information on the train volunteers in interviewing veterans and recording their Auxiliary’s role in the Veterans History Project or to obtain an histories. As a result, the Auxiliary collected several hundred interview kit, please contact Doreen at [email protected], histories at celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the or call her directly at 813/431-4157. Information is also avail- end of WWII. able at www.loc.gov/vets.

FALL 2009 | 9 By Albert Gerard Naccarelli From an interview on July 2, 2009, with Anne and Ramon Evans, Flotilla 15-8, North Orange County, California The Eagle waiting to sail to the U.S. from Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1946.

The deck of the Eagle in 1946

Albert Naccarelli on the left. in various ports: Plymouth, England; Madiera, Portugal; Le Havre, France; Bermuda; the Hudson Bay; and then New London at the end of the year. I was scared when I first started going up [in the rigging] to do the tacking. We went up like monkeys. Then once I almost fell off the Eagle. [We were in] a heavy storm. There was a line stretched across the vessel. When we were on Delivering deck, we put one arm over the line and then put that same hand in our pocket so we could walk without being swept overboard. During that storm they put everyone, even cooks, to do seaman duties. I was scared but I never thought of death. Somehow we never had time to think of dying. We just came running out of our rooms to help, all the time afraid we would fall overboard. There were no lifejackets the Eagle like there are today. Also, there were only four or five life- boats in all. y name is Al “Kid Gonski” Naccarelli. I’ll tell were on the SS Central Falls Victory. We didn’t know the cook from my mother. I entered service at 150 pounds and One day we had a boxing match on board. We had fifty you about that Gonski name later. I was born ship we were picking up was the Eagle. When we got to came home two years later at 215 pounds. German POWs on board and I fought one of them who was in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 18, 1928. Bremerhaven, the Eagle was in dry dock. [It] was painted When I saw the galley on our visit to the Eagle in 2008, it a boxer. I won, of course. I always won. The German spoke MI am Italian, through and through. I grew up in white and did not have that stripe on it the way it does today. looked smaller than I remember. perfect English and he told us he hated Hitler, saying, “He Philadelphia and finished high school there. I have an article from a newspaper, “The Reporter,” May 24, Well, there used to be two galleys, one for the enlisted and made us do it.” I also learned to fight. That’s where the Gonski comes 1946, describing the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Eagle. You can one for the officers. I mainly worked in the enlisted galley, I remember a few of the U.S. crewmen. There was in. Those were Depression days and my family didn’t have see me in the photograph there during the commissioning but sometimes I cooked in the other one for a special meal Ambrose Burrows. Then there was BM3 “Mac” DiMatto and any money. I found out you could earn money for fighting. on May 22. The commander was G.P. McGowan. The Eagle for the captain. Bill Bodine. One crew member spoke French. We picked up I heard that the Poles all got higher ratings than the rest of had been called the Horst Wessel by the Germans. She shot Only problem in Bremerhaven was the snipers. Yes, the a French boy about 12 or 14 on our way back to the U.S. us, so I changed my name to “Gonski” to make me sound down five Russian airships during the war. war had ended, but there were still snipers. I don’t know, but The French-speaking crewman wanted to adopt the kid so Polish. I guess that worked because I ended up the best We stayed at a compound, some naval building the maybe they were shooting at people trying to leave or maybe we took him with us on the Eagle. amateur, almost a professional boxer, and won the Golden Germans had built, while the Eagle was getting readied to the shooters didn’t know the war was over. Even though I After we brought the Eagle back we were sent to Europe Glove Award. sail. I was trained in tacking, but that was a lot of work. I was a cook I carried a .45. The snipers stopped when the again. We were on the Dexter which had once been the SS While I was growing up, I never thought about joining the remembered the guys at the Academy working their butts Army came and cleaned things up. Biscayne. military; but when I turned seventeen-and-a-half, I joined the off. Then I saw the military cooks and thought that looked Bremerhaven was completely flat. The city had been I liked the service. I was honorably discharged on June Coast Guard, August 15, 1945. I attended the Academy in like a good job. I asked to be a cook and that was that. At bombed by the Allies and was just a pile of bricks. 30, 1947. Harry S. Truman sent me this letter. “To you who New London, Connecticut, and eventually became a Seaman least as a cook you got to eat. Oh, the food was good aboard Interestingly enough, the Nazi navy compound that we were answered the call of your country and served in its Armed First Class. ship. All the food was fresh. I improvised with the dry stuff staying in had not been touched. We had the German pris- Forces to bring about the total defeat of the enemy, I extend My most memorable duty in the service was my time and I made pancakes, spaghetti and meatballs, whatever, but oners of war going around gathering up bricks for rebuild- the heartfelt thanks of a grateful nation.” I am proud of that. on the Eagle. About March of ’46, we got orders to be I did hate peeling potatoes. You started with this big potato, ing the city. People today are not as patriotic as we all were back then. I shipped from Brooklyn to Germany to pick up a vessel. We and after peeling you had almost nothing. I had learned to On our way back to the U.S. with the Eagle, we stopped am very patriotic.”

10 | Navigator By Albert Gerard Naccarelli From an interview on July 2, 2009, with Anne and Ramon Evans, Flotilla 15-8, North Orange County, California The Eagle waiting to sail to the U.S. from Bremerhaven, Germany, in 1946.

The deck of the Eagle in 1946

FALL 2009 | 11 Happy Anniversary, USCG Auxiliary his summer Auxiliarists celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary with public affairs events, vessel T examination days, fellowship, and more.

Review on the parade ground at Fort Wadsworth, New York.

Photo by Dee Thompson

District 1 – South

lizabeth Young, Director of Auxiliary for District 1-South, and EFlotilla Commander Jay Millard presented a commendation to Flotilla 72, Norwalk, Connecticut, for 65 years of service to to the Commander Elizabeth Young DIRAUX, D1-South, and Flotilla Photo by Rande Wilson. Coast Guard. Commander Jay Millard at 65th Birthday Dinner of Flotilla 72 at On June 27 New York City Police Commissioner Ray Kelly Shore and Country Club, Norwalk, Connecticut. presented a proclamation from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s office to the Coast Guard Auxiliary in recognition of the 70th anniversary. The proclamation was accepted by First District Commodore Steve Ackerman and USCG Commander Elizabeth Young, District 1 Southern, Director of Auxiliary. The ceremony was held on the deck of the 82-foot Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel Lady B, owner Stewart C. Sutherland. A fleet of 16 Auxiliary vessels surrounded the Lady B along with the Auxiliary tug Long Splice. Following the presentation the vessels displaying custom 70th anniversary banners lined up and passed in review. District 1-South also celebrated the Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary with a ceremony and review on the parade ground at Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York, on June 23. Captain of the Port of New York/New Jersey, Captain Robert R. O’Brien, USCG, presented numerous awards. George Reilly, First Southern’s Sector Coordinator, District Staff Officer-Operations, and Bernard Reiner, First Southern’s Congressional Liaison Officer, accepted Coast Guard Auxiliary Medals of Commendation. District 1 Commodore Steve Ackerman and National Commodore Atlantic East Tom Photo by Dee Thompson Venezio were also present. The 82’ Auxiliary operational vessel, Lady B.

12 | Navigator District 5 – North a marine radio, GPS and flares. C“ oastie” gave out candy to young llison Revy, Flotilla 72, Tuckertown/Egg Harbor, New Jersey, visitors. A representative from the Academy Introductory Mission Areported that CG Station Barnegat Light and District 5-North, provided information about the CG Academy and lifejackets donated Division 7, held an open house to promote safe boating and allow by Division 7 were raffled off to the public. The active duty at Station the citizenry of Long Beach Island a peek inside Station Barnegat Barnegat Light gave tours of their operations area, repair facilities, Light. Attendance was estimated at over 800 people. Display booths and CG vessels. The Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team, Fort Dix, New encouraged the use of lifejackets and provided information on pre- Jersey, gave tours of their mobile emergency response unit and dem- serving the marine environment. Members handed out safe boating onstrated a robotic search unit. A Coast Guard recruiter answered class schedules, informed boat owners on how to arrange for a ves- questions about the Coast Guard and Air Station Atlantic City pro- sel safety check and gave practical demonstrations on how to use vided a ground display featuring a rescue swimmer and equipment.

District 7

ighty-four-year-old Seaman Third Class EWinford Williams was recognized at a ceremony held at the Seneca Health & Rehabilitation Center in South Carolina. The ceremony was coordinated by Jim Rudy, Flotilla 25, Hartwell Lake, Georgia. Mr. Williams was presented with personal letters from the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Thad Allen, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, MCPO Charles Bowen. Seaman Williams is a World War II veteran (1941-1945) who manned the Bertram 28, Catherine II, was on standby at 20 mm gun on a landing tank ship. He served Station Miami Beach as part of a terrorist drill in the Pacific and participated in the battles about 1983. “Note the VHF-RDF. One of the of Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and in the Philippines. first in the Coast Guard, I believe,” said owner He made five beach landings under fire and Bill Petritz, Flotilla 14, Destin, Florida. shot thousands of rounds during his combat experiences. Flotilla 14 is in its 51st year. Flotilla 14, Destin, Florida, had an awards The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Coast dinner, where 70th anniversary cups and Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14-7 worked together 70th anniversary keepsake brochures to participate in several St. Augustine, were presented to members by Flotilla Florida, summer events. Expos containing Commander Anne del Bello. The history of boating safety information were located at the local Auxiliary was related in speeches both Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor as well by Immediate Past District Commodore as the St. Augustine Municipal Marina. Vessel Photo by Rande Wilson. Bill Crouch, District Commodore Larry safety checks were offered at both locations Richmond, and BMSC Jeff Patton of Coast in addition to the Vilano Boat Ramp. USCG Guard Station Destin and Commander del response boats visited both locations and Bello. Nancy Kenaston, an original member an Auxiliary patrol visited the St. Augustine of Flotilla 14 recalled pre-Station Destin days. Municipal Marina.

District 8 – Western Rivers

o help celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Auxiliary, the U.S. Army Corps of TEngineers and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) teamed up with Des Moines Flotillas 33-4 and 33-6 to make water safety fun by having a water safety beach party at Sandpiper Beach at Saylorville Lake. The event was designed to teach families with children about water safety in a fun way. Several activity stations provided enjoy- ment to kids both big and small. Kids and parents got to learn how to toss a throw bag to a person in the water at one station. At another, kids were fitted for a life jacket so they knew what size they needed. Kids also enjoyed the “Sink Fast” station where they learned what to do if their boat is sinking and how to react quickly. Finally, the Iowa DNR provided Auxilarist Jim Berry with the Corps of t-shirts for kids to design and make up with water safety themes. Over 50 children from Engineers mascot “Bobber the Water Safety central Iowa participated in the event. Brandon Butters of Flotilla 33-4 served as the Coast Dog” and Susan Stocker of the Iowa DNR Guard Auxiliary Project Officer for the event. Auxilarists Mary Kimmich, Jim Berry, Steve during the Water Safety Beach Party. Iowa Johnson, Vic Voskans and Francis Meyrat participated. DNR photo used with permission.

FALL 2009 | 13 Photo by Ron Sam, used with permission. District 11 District 8 – Coastal – South he Ventura Maritime Museum at Oxnard, California, ity officials in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Twas the location for a celebration on August 1 for the Chonored Captain James Montgomery, Coast Guard’s 219th anniversary and the Coast Guard Eighth District Director of Auxiliary; Chief Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary. Guests included active duty Warrant Officer David Mulford, com- from Coast Guard Station Channel Islands, members of mander of Station New Orleans; and Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 7, museum members and Commander Edward Cubanski, command- invited guests. er of Air Station New Orleans, with the The Commander of Coast Station Channel Islands, title of co-Grand Marshals of the 2009 July Lieutenant William McGhee, gave a presentation on 4th parade. A Coast Guard truck towed a Coast Guard operations in Southern California. He 25-foot response boat in the parade and acknowledged the Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary and its the Coast Guard Auxiliary towed one of efforts helping the Station succeed in its mission. its patrol boats. A total of 1,300 coloring The museum presented the Station with a model of the books were distributed to children along USCGC Point Carrew. the parade route. The model depicts the ship, an 82-foot steel-hull cut- The recognition came about as a result ter commissioned in 1970 that served at San Pedro, of the Coast Guard’s spectacular rescue California, and finally at Station Channel Islands, Oxnard, of Jessie Powers from 330 feet above the California. In 1987 during a major storm she towed a sail- ground after he suffered a heart attack Co-grand marshall, Capt. James Montgomery, DIRAUX, Eighth District-Coastal Region tosses a boat and rescued five individuals from a sinking pleasure Left: Master Ship Builder Richard Walton; center, Ventura County Maritime while servicing a radio antenna near treat to a young parade-goer on the 4th of July in Bogaulsa, Louisiana. The Coast Guard was craft off Point Mugu. Museum Executive Director, Bill Conroy; and right, Commander of Coast Guard Bogalusa. After no local first responders honored for its daring rescue of a local man from a radio antenna. Guests sang Happy Birthday and a large, delicious Station Channel Islands. Lieutenant William McGhee. The museum presented a were able to reach Powers an HH-65 helo birthday cake was served. model of the USCGC Point Carrew to the Coast Guard. was dispatched from Air Station Belle equipment from the weather. With the helicopter hovering peril- Chasse near New Orleans. “The locals could not believe how ously close, the crew chief lowered the Just as there are concerns with rig- steady the pilot held the helicopter as the rescue swimmer to the proper height ging and masts when lowering a rescue rescue swimmer was lowered towards the where he began to swing back and forth, swimmer on to the deck of a ship being heart attack victim,” Montgomery said. gaining momentum and swing radius until tossed by heavy seas, the rescue heli- “They said it was like the helicopter was he could swing under the dome and grab copter made several passes surveying nailed to the sky above the tower, but the tower. the scene. Guy wires stabilizing the tower what they don’t know is that pilot is trained The victim was secured to a stretcher could be negotiated, but the worker was to hold the helicopter steady in 30-knot and flown to a local hospital where he fully under a dome that protected the radio gusts.” recovered.

District 9 – Central alternating between laughter and tears. Tom conducted hundreds of ick Ives, president of the National Association search and rescue cases over his R of Commodores and member of Flotilla 17-6, 27-year Coast Guard career and Lansing, Michigan, reported that a highlight of is recognized nationally as a lead- the summer in District 9 was the Michigan Senate ing authority on boating safety passing Resolution 64, commemorating the 70th and mishaps. He is a member of anniversary of the Auxiliary. Flotilla 20-8, Manistee, Michigan. The remainder of the evening was spent in fellowship, invit- District 9 – West ing members of the public to learn more about the role of the he members of Division 9 in Southern Auxiliary and the Navy League in TWisconsin gathered in Madison, Wisconsin, promoting boating awareness and with the local chapter of the Navy League to cel- safety on the Wisconsin waters. ebrate the Coast Guard’s 219th birthday with a day Said Command Master Chief of education, fun and fellowship. Denny Behr (Navy ret.), president Flotilla 3-13, Lihue, Kauai, set up a display at the Kauai Veterans Center Organized by the Navy League, with the Auxiliary of the Madison Navy League taking an active role, the day began with vessel Council, “Madison Navy League District 17 – Hawaii boat and a safe boating exhibit by Kauai’s Coast Guard Auxiliary. safety checks on the docks of Lake Waubesa, and was pleased to work with the Annie Leighton and Larry Richardson joined Jim Jung in explaining Auxiliary members talking about vessel safety and United States Coast Guard and lotilla 3-13, Lihue, Kauai, held an open house at the Kauai the safe boating exhibit. Among the attendees were Lieutenant invasive species and providing tips on safely enjoy- the local Coast Guard Auxiliary to FVeterans Center. The program opened with Kauai veterans Gordon Hood, commander of the 87-foot USCGC Kittiwake, Lihue ing Madison’s short boating season. offer our community and its boat- raising the flag and Miss Kauai Veteran, Dominique Pascua, sing- Mayor Carvalho and Councilman Tim Bynum. Inside, guests and members listened to Coast ers an educational event with an ing the national anthem. This was followed by remarks from Kauai In another event, ten members of Flotilla 3-15, six members of Guard Senior Chief Tom Rau (ret.), syndicated emphasis on water safety. Thanks Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr. and special recognition to the crew the newly organized Kauai Sea Scouts and families of the crew boating safety columnist and author, share his to an overall can-do spirit and of Coast Guard Station Kauai and its Auxiliary. The Center has a enjoyed a patrol circumnavigating the Island of Kauai onboard the many experiences as a rescue responder and writer of humor- team effort, the event was successful – what a great way to cel- museum of WWII military vehicles which was supplemented for USCGC Kittiwake on July 1. The sun shone brightly and the seas ous boating stories. His colorful, moving stories had the crowd ebrate the Coast Guard’s 219th birthday!” the occasion with Coast Guard Station Kauai’s 25-foot response were flat. Lunch was provided in the galley while underway.

14 | Navigator Photo by Ron Sam, used with permission. District 11 District 8 – Coastal – South he Ventura Maritime Museum at Oxnard, California, ity officials in Bogalusa, Louisiana, Twas the location for a celebration on August 1 for the Chonored Captain James Montgomery, Coast Guard’s 219th anniversary and the Coast Guard Eighth District Director of Auxiliary; Chief Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary. Guests included active duty Warrant Officer David Mulford, com- from Coast Guard Station Channel Islands, members of mander of Station New Orleans; and Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 7, museum members and Commander Edward Cubanski, command- invited guests. er of Air Station New Orleans, with the The Commander of Coast Station Channel Islands, title of co-Grand Marshals of the 2009 July Lieutenant William McGhee, gave a presentation on 4th parade. A Coast Guard truck towed a Coast Guard operations in Southern California. He 25-foot response boat in the parade and acknowledged the Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary and its the Coast Guard Auxiliary towed one of efforts helping the Station succeed in its mission. its patrol boats. A total of 1,300 coloring The museum presented the Station with a model of the books were distributed to children along USCGC Point Carrew. the parade route. The model depicts the ship, an 82-foot steel-hull cut- The recognition came about as a result ter commissioned in 1970 that served at San Pedro, of the Coast Guard’s spectacular rescue California, and finally at Station Channel Islands, Oxnard, of Jessie Powers from 330 feet above the California. In 1987 during a major storm she towed a sail- ground after he suffered a heart attack Co-grand marshall, Capt. James Montgomery, DIRAUX, Eighth District-Coastal Region tosses a boat and rescued five individuals from a sinking pleasure Left: Master Ship Builder Richard Walton; center, Ventura County Maritime while servicing a radio antenna near treat to a young parade-goer on the 4th of July in Bogaulsa, Louisiana. The Coast Guard was craft off Point Mugu. Museum Executive Director, Bill Conroy; and right, Commander of Coast Guard Bogalusa. After no local first responders honored for its daring rescue of a local man from a radio antenna. Guests sang Happy Birthday and a large, delicious Station Channel Islands. Lieutenant William McGhee. The museum presented a were able to reach Powers an HH-65 helo birthday cake was served. model of the USCGC Point Carrew to the Coast Guard. was dispatched from Air Station Belle equipment from the weather. With the helicopter hovering peril- Chasse near New Orleans. “The locals could not believe how ously close, the crew chief lowered the Just as there are concerns with rig- steady the pilot held the helicopter as the rescue swimmer to the proper height ging and masts when lowering a rescue rescue swimmer was lowered towards the where he began to swing back and forth, swimmer on to the deck of a ship being heart attack victim,” Montgomery said. gaining momentum and swing radius until tossed by heavy seas, the rescue heli- “They said it was like the helicopter was he could swing under the dome and grab copter made several passes surveying nailed to the sky above the tower, but the tower. the scene. Guy wires stabilizing the tower what they don’t know is that pilot is trained The victim was secured to a stretcher could be negotiated, but the worker was to hold the helicopter steady in 30-knot and flown to a local hospital where he fully under a dome that protected the radio gusts.” recovered.

FALL 2009 | 15 ��

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Special Note: there are five questions where the total response is more than 100%. This is because on those questions, the member was able to select more than one response to a question.

FALL 2009 | 17 By Judy Darby, Photos by Cal Eschete, Flotilla 42, Mandeville, Louisiana Flotilla, 44, Lafayette, Louisiana

Tending the lines and keeping watch, the crew tows in a disabled boat on Vermillion Bay, Louisiana. We ARE the Coast Guard In the marshes of Louisiana

n hour south of Lafaytte, when Hale became the unit’s first cox- Louisiana, La. 319 abruptly dead- swain and Jimmy Sibille outfitted his ends at Cypremort Point on a boat as an Auxiliary patrol vessel. “Their Asliver of marsh jutting between orders come from Station New Orleans West Cote Blanche and Vermillion Bays. and the closest Coast Guard support When the reds and specks are hitting in unit is at Grand Isle — more than 100 Southwest Pass and the seas are calm, miles away by air,” Wellemeyer added. the line to launch at Quintana Landing On July 25, 2009, the flotilla per- is long. That’s when Tim Hale, Flotilla formed its first patrol. Their investment 44’s new coxswain, Mike Clayton, Cal in training paid dividends on that inau- Eschete, and Jimmy Sibille grab their gural patrol. Coxswain and crew did not gear, hookup and head for the Point. expect to come home heroes after that In Flotilla 44’s remote area of respon- inaugural patrol, but they did. sibility (AOR) this Auxiliary crew is In the morning the crew launched at the only search and rescue team to Quintana Landing and after patrolling serve several thousand square miles the launch ramp and beach area, they of marshland. From Vermillion Bay crossed Vermillion Bay to Southwest lost engine power and was adrift. A cell to Point Au Fer, and the near coastal Pass at Marsh Island and headed out phone call to the Iberia Parish deputy to waters of the Gulf of Mexico, they are into the Gulf of Mexico. At 1400, Station obtain a description of the disabled boat the Coast Guard. Chartered in October Grand Isle called to advise that a storm and the number of people on board also 2003, the team traveled 60 to 150 miles was moving their way, so they headed yielded a passenger’s cell phone num- (to Baton Rouge, Covington, and Slidell, back, reaching Quintana Landing at ber. Louisiana) to train and qualify. “What a about 1445. “The boat didn’t have a GPS to give an commitment they have made — very Near the end of their patrol, Sector accurate position,” Hale said, “but they ambitious, and very proficient,” said New Orleans called with a report by were in a gray 17-foot runabout and qualifier Bill Wellemeyer in May 2009 the Iberia Parish sheriff that a boat had thought they were near Bayou Patout,

18 | Navigator boat. Since they did not have a signal- they were eight miles east of their actual ing device either, they tried to describe location,” said Hale “The locations of their location and some nearby land- crab traps change daily,” he added, “and marks. We began moving more wester- there are unmarked wrecks and obstruc- ly and after searching about eight miles tions everywhere that change location of coastline we finally spotted them up with every storm. Being able to read the in the marsh in about one foot of water,” water no matter what the chart says is Hale said.“We would have found them a critical to your own safety as a respond- lot sooner if they had had a flare,” said er or a fisherman. The most important Sibille, “but at least they had a working pieces of safety gear, after your lifejacket, cell phone.” which is mandatory, is a signaling device “One of the two onboard was seasick and a VHF radio. A VHF can definitely and deer flies were attacking both of save your life,” said Hale. them,” said Hale. Working together, the The right boat is important too. Auxiliary crew pulled the boat out of the “Our boat is a 21-foot center-console mud. Fishmaster,” said owner Jimmy Sibille. The wind and seas had built to 22 “It’s the right boat for our AOR, because knots with a 2-3 foot chop, making it too we can run in 18 inches of water. It has rough to cut across the bay with a small a 200-hp engine and holds 72 gallons of boat in tow, and the patrol boat didn’t fuel which lets us run back and forth have enough fuel to return to Cypremort across the bay, or spend hours search- Point. The Auxiliarists identified a landing for someone who’s lost.” “It also ing south of Delcambre as the nearest handles well in rougher water just off- safe harbor with fuel, so they towed the shore,” said Hale. “VHF reception is disabled boaters there. good over a very long distance and a “You won’t find your average family repeater at the flotilla’s base in Lafayette cocktail cruisers out here,” said Hale, enables us to keep open communication “but serious shallow-water bay fisher- with Station New Orleans and Grand men, blue-water sportfishers, commer- Isle.” cial crew boats going back and forth to Offshore oil rigs are important for the oil rigs, tugs, pushboats, and com- both commercial and recreational fish- mercial fishers. In a normal patrol we ermen. The rigs form a reef habitat that are required to stay within one mile of draw fish in abundance. “If someone the shore of the actual Gulf, but you will reports on his VHF that the reds are see all those types of craft in our AOR.” hitting in the Marsh Island block, you’ll Hale explained that search and rescue have dozens of guys heading offshore on the Louisiana Gulf Coast has unique into deep water in 17-foot flat-bottomed challenges. “A guy who fishes the marsh boats that should never leave the bay,” regularly knows it well and doesn’t see Hale said. the need for a VHF or GPS, but if he “I grew up on the bayou,” said Cal gets into trouble he has no way to call Eschete, “and it’s a feeling of accom- for help. His cell phone is no good just plishment to be able to do something I eight miles south of Cypremort Point am good at and that I enjoy and know and that’s not even across Vermillion that at the end of the day there are some Bay,” Hale said. Clayton, Sibille and results. Our goal is to get more people Eschete agreed that the most common trained because there’s a lot of water problem for boaters is equipment fail- to cover and there are just not enough ure. patrols.” Coxswain Hale explained that The other major cause of a search and he and the crew underwent the train- resuce is unfamiliarity with the area. ing and qualification process and began “Mud flats and sandbars appear when patrolling, “just so we could be there Photos by Judy Darby the wind blows from the north; where in a time of need; to provide an overall The south Louisiana swamp. your GPS shows solid land, you are look- safe environment so people can be out ing at water; your GPS shows water, but there enjoying” despite the hazards of in fact it may only be a few inches deep,” the remote area and the perception of said Clayton. Vermillion Bay is over 20 self-sufficiency that fosters a disinterest miles long and 10 miles wide, but the in radios, signaling devices, and other six or more miles away in Vermillion average depth is only about seven feet. safety equipment. “The people wave to Bay. “There are no trees and few structures us and smile. They know we are there “Sector said to locate the disabled ves- or distinguishing landmarks in the to help, not give them a ticket, and they sel and tow them back, so we headed bay or along the coast; it just appears appreciate our presence It’s a good feel- for Bayou Patout. In the search area we as a vast grassy plain. When you are in ing.” spotted several boats that matched the the marsh, it all looks the same,” said Modest words from modest volunteer description, but none was the disabled Eschete. “The guys we towed in thought heroes.

FALL 2009 | 19 Story and photos by Phil Bailey, Flotilla 55 Shell Knob, Missouri Back to High School ho in their right mind would want to take 16 high school students for a boat ride? Flotilla 55 of Shell WKnob, Missouri, that’s who. It began when the flotilla’s public education officer, Bob Tippett, had an idea. He heard that every year the summer school class at Cassville in southwest Missouri, near Table Rock Lake, goes on a field trip. He suggested the Auxiliary’s boating course to the school administrators. Cassville is a farming community where the typical boater on Table Rock is a retiree from Wichita, Kansas City, or Chicago. Young people generally do not have the money or the time to go boating. What kid would turn down a chance to go on a boat ride? In February 2009 Flotilla 55 instructors taught About Boating Safely at Cassville High School in Cassville. It was a week-long course with a test at the end. The students heard all about boats, but it didn’t seem real to them since they had never been aboard one. They wanted some hands-on experience. Tippett found the Auxiliary’s program called meet another boat and On-Water Training and, after speaking pass to starboard, then with Ann Lockwood, Department Chief they crossed from star- of Education, decided it would be a valu- board and port. Proper able reward each student could earn by sound signals were also passing the About Boating Safely test. explained. After the flotilla boat crews spent a “Man Overboard!” was day practicing crossing, passing, and the next lesson. The kids overtaking maneuvers the boats were were taught to keep visu- ready to rendezvous at 0700 at Big M al contact with the object Marina on Table Rock. Permission slips in the water by pointing to were collected and the kids were fit- it while the boat returned ted with life jackets. They boarded the Above, summer school students get fitted for lifejackets. to retrieve it. Auxiliarists boats according to colored name tags Below, students learned to sniff for gasoline fumes and check demonstrated anchor- and listened to a thorough briefing that for oil leaks before starting the engine. ing and how to retrieve included an explanation of safety and a stuck anchor. The last emergency procedures. They also learned the parts of a boat lesson was on marine radio use. Frequencies were discussed and how equipment aboard a boat is used. and each student got a chance to talk over the radio to crew Before getting underway, the students checked the engine aboard the demonstration boat. room for leaks and gasoline fumes; they checked whether When the class was finished, the boats headed back to the engine blowers were on and confirmed that all instruments marina where the kids and crews enjoyed box lunches provid- worked. Then the dock lines were released and the instruc- ed by the high school. The excited youngsters talked about tors explained how to leave the dock safely at idle speed. what a great time they had. It’s true most of them won’t ever Sixteen students were aboard two Auxiliary operational boats own a boat, but if someday they go boating again they might with one demonstration boat and one boat for the flotilla’s pub- remember what they learned. The summer school teacher at lic affairs team. Lessons were taught by qualified Auxiliary Cassville High, Bonnie Cox, was so impressed with the Coast instructors and each boat was manned by a qualified crew. The Guard Auxiliary she decided to join. The event was so suc- coxswains radioed one another to advise of the maneuvers they cessful Flotilla 55 expects to repeat it with another group of were about to perform. They demonstrated the proper way to high schoolers soon.

20 | Navigator By George J. Hagerty, Flotilla 21-4, Chestertown, Maryland USCG photo by PA3 Brandyn Hill

Auxiliary patrol vessel Joy Sea, coxswained by Gene Olson, underway with two guests from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the right at the stern. Recipe for Trouble Keeping The Lid on Canal Day

ake about 400 recreational boats 20-45 feet in size and Station (Small) Stillpond and Station Curtis Bay had conduct- carrying over 1,000 boaters, cram them into a very small ed routine patrols in the basin during the event’s peak hours basin adjacent to a major commercial waterway, add a Friday and Saturday. In 2006, as the festival continued to grow, Tparty atmosphere, hot weather and thunderstorms. Let organizers requested that Sector Baltimore assist the stations the brew steep three or four days and you have the festival by providing support during the planning sessions, followed known as Canal Day in Chesapeake City, Maryland. by sustained on-site support and incident management during This annual event is held the last Saturday of June to com- the event. memorate the 1829 completion of the Chesapeake and Canal Day is the largest annual event in which personnel Delaware Canal linking the Chesapeake Bay with Delaware of Sector Baltimore participate. In 2009, under the leadership Bay, thus shortening the distance for commercial shipping of Lieutenant Josh Blocker, Chief, Incident Management, at between Baltimore and Philadelphia by almost 300 miles. Sector Baltimore, over 80 members of the active duty, Auxiliary Canal Day began as a land-based festival, but over the last and other partner agencies provided twenty-four-hour support 15 years a growing number of boaters have begun converg- for five days using an Incident Command System (ICS) with ing on the city a few days before the festival, rafting up inside input from all participating agencies. Engineer’s Basin adjacent to the canal. In late April, all stakeholders met in Chesapeake City to For several years, Auxiliary and active duty boats from begin planning. Representatives from Chesapeake City’s Canal

FALL 2009 | 21 Day planning committee, local police, fire and other emergency responders, the Army Corps of Engineers (which owns the C&D Canal and Engineer’s Basin) and personnel from Sector Baltimore, Station Curtis Bay, Station (Small) Stillpond and the Auxiliary attended. Auxiliarists from Divisions 21 and 22 District 5 South, and Division 1 from District 5 North, working with the Coast Guard incident commander, began on-site activity on the Wednesday before the event, placing buoys within the basin to define the safe anchorage area. The layout allowed adequate room for patrolling Coast Guard boats and emergency access during the event. Auxiliary patrols were scheduled from Supporting Sector Baltimore at 0800 through approximately 0200 the Canal Day, Auxiliarists exercise following morning. To comply with operational restrictions, Auxiliarists fol- a variety of skills as they serve lowed a staggered schedule. A moored the public. For example, the operational vessel provided food, water Auxiliary this year: and rest facilities. • Was first on scene to render first aid The Auxiliary team had two distinct to an assault victim with a serious roles: one team, in larger Auxiliary bleeding head injury. boats, provided a picket at the east and west ends of the C&D Canal (which is • Well after dark, assisted a disabled boat in the unlighted C&D Canal by less than 200 feet wide) to limit speeds towing it into the basin just a few of recreational boaters who were en minutes before two tugs and barges route to the event or transiting the canal. transited the position where it had They also alerted boaters to oncom- been disabled and adrift. ing commercial traffic in the canal and • Transported Sector Baltimore assisted in keeping the canal clear of VIPs such as Captain Mark kayaks and other small boats. A second O’Malley and Commander Brian team of Auxiliarists in boats under 22 Penoyer (Commander and Deputy feet patrolled within the basin to ensure Commander, respectively, Sector moored boats stayed within the estab- Baltimore) to meetings and tours of the basin. lished boundaries, to watch for hazards such as carbon monoxide exposure, • Provided food, drink and an air- and to provide whatever other services conditioned rest facility for active duty and support the incident commander crews. needed. • Provided first aid to an active duty Recreational boaters looking for crew member who became ill. prime anchoring locations began arriv- • Took soundings and then guided a ing on Thursday. Friday and Saturday 62-foot Army tugboat into the shallow the party intensified as more boats basin to safe mooring. arrived to raft up in groups of up to • Had a boat and crew in “ready” status 25 or 30. The great majority of partici- 24 hours per day, from Wednesday pants behaved well and once anchored, through Sunday morning. Auxiliary patrol vessel with Ken stayed either on their boats or in the Peregoy on watch and George water. Active duty vessel boarding Hagerty in the coxswain’s chair. teams from Sector Baltimore rode aboard the Auxiliary boats and pro- USCG photo by PA3 Brandyn Hill. jected a law enforcement presence. was evident to the incident commander enforce the basin closure. Auxiliarists except one Coast Guard response boat. the entire period supported Sector Flotilla 14, Middle Newark, Delaware; As the weekend wore on and people that the basin was becoming dangerous marshaled a great deal of tact and diplo- On Sunday morning, after most of the Baltimore proving their ability to work and coxswains Alan MacKinnon and swam, paddled their inflatables and and, under the authority of a Regulated macy in this assignment, having no participants had left, Auxiliary units effortlessly and seamlessly alongside Jeff Patrick, Flotilla 21-4, Chestertown, drove their PWCs, it became increas- Navigational Authority for Canal Day authority to actually enforce the basin’s retrieved the mooring buoys from the their active duty teammates. Auxiliary Maryland. Involved in planning were: ingly hazardous for both active duty in the Code of Federal Regulations, closure. The smaller boats continued basin. operational vessels included those Larry Smith, Flotilla 21-8, Northeast, and Auxiliary boats to navigate within closed the basin to additional boats. their patrols within the basin, working Canal Day 2009 was a success for of owners Les Turner, Flotilla 21-5 Maryland; Gene Olson, Jeff Patrick and the basin. Whole rafts of boats shifted This status change meant the Auxiliary into the late hours of Saturday and the both recreational boaters and Sector Chesapeake City, Maryland, and Ken George Hagerty. Larry Smith is also on on their anchors with changes in the boats on picket duty in the canal were early hours of Sunday, long after the Baltimore. A total of five Auxiliary ves- Peregoy, Flotilla 21-4 Chestertown, the Chesapeake City Canal Day plan- tide and wind. By noon on Saturday, it reassigned to blockade duty to help departure of all other support boats sels with 22 Auxiliarists on patrol over Maryland; coxswain Don Merrill, ning committee.

22 | Navigator Day planning committee, local police, fire and other emergency responders, the Army Corps of Engineers (which owns the C&D Canal and Engineer’s Basin) and personnel from Sector Baltimore, Station Curtis Bay, Station (Small) Stillpond and the Auxiliary attended. Auxiliarists from Divisions 21 and 22 District 5 South, and Division 1 from District 5 North, working with the Coast Guard incident commander, began on-site activity on the Wednesday before the event, placing buoys within the basin to define the safe anchorage area. The layout allowed adequate room for patrolling Coast Guard boats and emergency access during the event. Auxiliary patrols were scheduled from Supporting Sector Baltimore at 0800 through approximately 0200 the Canal Day, Auxiliarists exercise following morning. To comply with operational restrictions, Auxiliarists fol- a variety of skills as they serve lowed a staggered schedule. A moored the public. For example, the operational vessel provided food, water Auxiliary this year: and rest facilities. • Was first on scene to render first aid The Auxiliary team had two distinct to an assault victim with a serious roles: one team, in larger Auxiliary bleeding head injury. boats, provided a picket at the east and west ends of the C&D Canal (which is • Well after dark, assisted a disabled boat in the unlighted C&D Canal by less than 200 feet wide) to limit speeds towing it into the basin just a few of recreational boaters who were en minutes before two tugs and barges route to the event or transiting the canal. transited the position where it had They also alerted boaters to oncom- been disabled and adrift. ing commercial traffic in the canal and • Transported Sector Baltimore assisted in keeping the canal clear of VIPs such as Captain Mark kayaks and other small boats. A second O’Malley and Commander Brian team of Auxiliarists in boats under 22 Penoyer (Commander and Deputy feet patrolled within the basin to ensure Commander, respectively, Sector moored boats stayed within the estab- Baltimore) to meetings and tours of the basin. lished boundaries, to watch for hazards such as carbon monoxide exposure, • Provided food, drink and an air- and to provide whatever other services conditioned rest facility for active duty and support the incident commander crews. needed. • Provided first aid to an active duty Recreational boaters looking for crew member who became ill. prime anchoring locations began arriv- • Took soundings and then guided a ing on Thursday. Friday and Saturday 62-foot Army tugboat into the shallow the party intensified as more boats basin to safe mooring. arrived to raft up in groups of up to • Had a boat and crew in “ready” status 25 or 30. The great majority of partici- 24 hours per day, from Wednesday pants behaved well and once anchored, through Sunday morning. Auxiliary patrol vessel with Ken stayed either on their boats or in the Peregoy on watch and George water. Active duty vessel boarding Hagerty in the coxswain’s chair. teams from Sector Baltimore rode aboard the Auxiliary boats and pro- USCG photo by PA3 Brandyn Hill. jected a law enforcement presence. was evident to the incident commander enforce the basin closure. Auxiliarists except one Coast Guard response boat. the entire period supported Sector Flotilla 14, Middle Newark, Delaware; As the weekend wore on and people that the basin was becoming dangerous marshaled a great deal of tact and diplo- On Sunday morning, after most of the Baltimore proving their ability to work and coxswains Alan MacKinnon and swam, paddled their inflatables and and, under the authority of a Regulated macy in this assignment, having no participants had left, Auxiliary units effortlessly and seamlessly alongside Jeff Patrick, Flotilla 21-4, Chestertown, drove their PWCs, it became increas- Navigational Authority for Canal Day authority to actually enforce the basin’s retrieved the mooring buoys from the their active duty teammates. Auxiliary Maryland. Involved in planning were: ingly hazardous for both active duty in the Code of Federal Regulations, closure. The smaller boats continued basin. operational vessels included those Larry Smith, Flotilla 21-8, Northeast, and Auxiliary boats to navigate within closed the basin to additional boats. their patrols within the basin, working Canal Day 2009 was a success for of owners Les Turner, Flotilla 21-5 Maryland; Gene Olson, Jeff Patrick and the basin. Whole rafts of boats shifted This status change meant the Auxiliary into the late hours of Saturday and the both recreational boaters and Sector Chesapeake City, Maryland, and Ken George Hagerty. Larry Smith is also on on their anchors with changes in the boats on picket duty in the canal were early hours of Sunday, long after the Baltimore. A total of five Auxiliary ves- Peregoy, Flotilla 21-4 Chestertown, the Chesapeake City Canal Day plan- tide and wind. By noon on Saturday, it reassigned to blockade duty to help departure of all other support boats sels with 22 Auxiliarists on patrol over Maryland; coxswain Don Merrill, ning committee.

FALL 2009 | 23 2010 Conference in Scottsdale A First-Timer he 2010 National Conference (NACON) will be held the week of August 24, 2010, at the J.W. at NACON TMarriott Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona. Coast Guard Auxiliary members from through- By NavigatoR Editor Judy Darby out the United States and counterparts from other nations will gather in Scottsdale to learn about new techniques, share ideas, and reward those who have excelled. 2010 is also an election year he 2009 NACON was a first for Tme in several ways. It was the when a new National Commodore and Vice Commodore will be selected. first time I attended an event outside my own flotilla, the first time I met my Department Chief, the first time I saw the suburbs of Chicago, and on and on. I’m a convention junkie and I love a good trade show, The Commandant’s especially if it has anything to do with boating or reporting, so I was excited to learn that the job of the Message to NACON public affairs team was to report the The important things that will endure and provide us con- entire event from gavel to gavel. As tinuity — the things that will ensure the watch is stood — the the rookie editor of the Navigator, Coast Guard Auxiliary is already doing. – Admiral Thad Allen, my job was to simply meet everyone Commandant of the Coast Guard I could, watch the action, and learn as much as possible about the Coast t’s an honor to be here tonight. I’ve worked with Nick Kerigan Guard Auxiliary. In full disclosure, I Iover the last year as we both proceeded with modernization. should admit that before my appoint- I want to publicly thank Nick for his leadership. I also want to ment, I was not the most involved thank all of you for your leadership, your innovation and fore- member. I don’t recall reading any sight. You understand the power of creating an organizational part of the AUXMAN, I was always structure that can be more responsive to mission support and too busy for a boating course, and mission execution. When we look at the innovations that are I reluctantly attended only a few taking place - whether the Citizen’s Action Network in the 13th flotilla meetings over two years. District, the linguists you are providing all over the world, or For such an underachiever to land your food service folks--there is nothing that we request that as the Navigator editor is another you won’t do, and the only things you don’t do are the things story, but the truth is, that except we didn’t know you were capable of or forgot to ask. for a very excellent experience at In a modernized Auxiliary, you have a better alignment from the AUX12 C-school, I had virtu- the flotilla through the sector, up to the district and now at a ally no contact except by phone and national level, to better identify those skills and talents the email with any Auxiliarist outside Coast Guard needs. This is especially critical in a budget-con- my own flotilla. So I went to Chicago strained environment. It puts you in a place where your pas- a blank slate armed with a Nikon, a sion, skills, and talents can be brought to bear for this country. notebook and a digital voice record- You have never been more needed and more relevant than you er. My assignment was to observe are right now. and learn; to find out what’s so great As I said to senior leadership earlier today, the Coast Guard I realize we, the Coast Guard, don’t have a piece of authorizing we have a few years where things will and are part of the PTA. The incred- about NACON and report to you is facing a very, very uncertain budget future. In fact the entire legislation. You are leading the way; we have to catch up with be unsettled. First, we had the change ible link between the Coast Guard and why you should plan to attend the nation is. It’s comforting to know that in the past when we have you. With some help from Congress we will. The Coast Guard of administration, then a new Secretary the community – the thing that makes 2010 NACON in Scottsdale. needed an operational support some place, whether it’s the is looking for legislation that will allow us to re-title the Pacific of Homeland Security, and we are about that bond so strong and makes us so local operations that sprinkle the Great Lakes during boating Area Commander as FORCECOM and the Atlantic Area six months from my successor being valuable to the community – is the fact Why should you plan to attend season, the operation at Whittier, the outreaches of Alaska, the Commander as OPCOM, upgrade the Deputy Commandant chosen. The important things that will that the Auxiliary doesn’t move. The the 2010 NACON in Scottsdale? Yukon River, the Auxiliary has always stepped forward. You for Operations to a three-star admiral, rename the Chief of endure and provide us continuity – the Auxiliary is the symbol of continuity. What’s so great about NACON? have provided us presence, operational capacity, and response Staff to the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, and things that will ensure the watch is Remember that you represent intel- It’s meeting the person on the capability that we could not always provide with our current elevate the Vice Commandant to a four-star rank, making that stood – the Coast Guard Auxiliary is lectual capital, competency, skill, and other end of the phone who you force. I can tell you that you will be needed more in the next position equitable with our sister services. already doing. As you know, we intro- continuity that we cannot do without pictured as short, stout and foreign, several years as we come to grips with the national debt in this While that will happen at its own legislative pace, I am com- duced the Guardian Ethos over the last in this stage of dramatic change. The and seeing that he is actually very country. As we look for efficiencies and how to best operate mitted to moving forward as far as our legal authority allows. couple of years. You embody it. You are extraordinary value you bring to the tall and from Milwaukee; the Coast Guard, it is no secret to anybody that the best value There is commitment to modernize throughout the Coast able to translate it at the grassroots level Service shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s hearing about the state of the is the Auxiliary. I think the opportunities for you are not end- Guard. We understand what needs to be done and we under- in your local communities and we are To the extent a Commandant and the organization directly from those less, they are infinite. It’s just a matter of finding out what you stand we are moving into an uncertain future. You will be a grateful. men and women of the Coast Guard can who steer it; do, what you want to do, and matching that up with what we critical part of that, and having modernized, you are actually One of the great things that distin- recognize you for what you do every Realizing it’s bigger than your flo- need. Commodore Kerigan and the senior leadership have leading the way for the rest of the Coast Guard. That’s a great guishes us from the other services is single day and the incredible value you tilla, division, or district; positioned the Auxiliary to step forward and say, “Here’s a way place for you to be. that we don’t have to deploy to execute bring to the country, I’m here to tell Realizing its reach is wider than we can help,” and I can tell you, we will need it. I ask you to think about a couple of things as you close your our mission. We execute our missions you, we couldn’t do it without you. even the borders of the United As I sit here this evening looking at a modernized Auxiliary, conference. As I said, we are in a time of uncertainty. I think where we live, where we coach soccer, Thank you and Semper Paratus. States;

24 | Navigator 2010 Conference in Scottsdale A First-Timer he 2010 National Conference (NACON) will be held the week of August 24, 2010, at the J.W. at NACON TMarriott Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona. Coast Guard Auxiliary members from through- By NavigatoR Editor Judy Darby out the United States and counterparts from other nations will gather in Scottsdale to learn about new techniques, share ideas, and reward those who have excelled. 2010 is also an election year he 2009 NACON was a first for Tme in several ways. It was the when a new National Commodore and Vice Commodore will be selected. first time I attended an event outside my own flotilla, the first time I met my Department Chief, the first

Photo by Mel Borofsky. Mel by Photo time I saw the suburbs of Chicago, and on and on. I’m a convention junkie and I love a good trade show, The Commandant’s especially if it has anything to do with boating or reporting, so I was excited to learn that the job of the Message to NACON public affairs team was to report the The important things that will endure and provide us con- entire event from gavel to gavel. As tinuity — the things that will ensure the watch is stood — the the rookie editor of the Navigator, Coast Guard Auxiliary is already doing. – Admiral Thad Allen, my job was to simply meet everyone Commandant of the Coast Guard I could, watch the action, and learn as much as possible about the Coast t’s an honor to be here tonight. I’ve worked with Nick Kerigan Guard Auxiliary. In full disclosure, I Iover the last year as we both proceeded with modernization. should admit that before my appoint- I want to publicly thank Nick for his leadership. I also want to ment, I was not the most involved thank all of you for your leadership, your innovation and fore- member. I don’t recall reading any sight. You understand the power of creating an organizational part of the AUXMAN, I was always structure that can be more responsive to mission support and too busy for a boating course, and mission execution. When we look at the innovations that are I reluctantly attended only a few taking place - whether the Citizen’s Action Network in the 13th flotilla meetings over two years. District, the linguists you are providing all over the world, or For such an underachiever to land your food service folks--there is nothing that we request that as the Navigator editor is another you won’t do, and the only things you don’t do are the things story, but the truth is, that except we didn’t know you were capable of or forgot to ask. for a very excellent experience at In a modernized Auxiliary, you have a better alignment from the AUX12 C-school, I had virtu- the flotilla through the sector, up to the district and now at a ally no contact except by phone and national level, to better identify those skills and talents the email with any Auxiliarist outside Coast Guard needs. This is especially critical in a budget-con- my own flotilla. So I went to Chicago strained environment. It puts you in a place where your pas- a blank slate armed with a Nikon, a sion, skills, and talents can be brought to bear for this country. notebook and a digital voice record- You have never been more needed and more relevant than you er. My assignment was to observe are right now. and learn; to find out what’s so great As I said to senior leadership earlier today, the Coast Guard I realize we, the Coast Guard, don’t have a piece of authorizing we have a few years where things will and are part of the PTA. The incred- about NACON and report to you is facing a very, very uncertain budget future. In fact the entire legislation. You are leading the way; we have to catch up with be unsettled. First, we had the change ible link between the Coast Guard and why you should plan to attend the nation is. It’s comforting to know that in the past when we have you. With some help from Congress we will. The Coast Guard of administration, then a new Secretary the community – the thing that makes 2010 NACON in Scottsdale. needed an operational support some place, whether it’s the is looking for legislation that will allow us to re-title the Pacific of Homeland Security, and we are about that bond so strong and makes us so local operations that sprinkle the Great Lakes during boating Area Commander as FORCECOM and the Atlantic Area six months from my successor being valuable to the community – is the fact Why should you plan to attend season, the operation at Whittier, the outreaches of Alaska, the Commander as OPCOM, upgrade the Deputy Commandant chosen. The important things that will that the Auxiliary doesn’t move. The the 2010 NACON in Scottsdale? Yukon River, the Auxiliary has always stepped forward. You for Operations to a three-star admiral, rename the Chief of endure and provide us continuity – the Auxiliary is the symbol of continuity. What’s so great about NACON? have provided us presence, operational capacity, and response Staff to the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support, and things that will ensure the watch is Remember that you represent intel- It’s meeting the person on the capability that we could not always provide with our current elevate the Vice Commandant to a four-star rank, making that stood – the Coast Guard Auxiliary is lectual capital, competency, skill, and other end of the phone who you force. I can tell you that you will be needed more in the next position equitable with our sister services. already doing. As you know, we intro- continuity that we cannot do without pictured as short, stout and foreign, several years as we come to grips with the national debt in this While that will happen at its own legislative pace, I am com- duced the Guardian Ethos over the last in this stage of dramatic change. The and seeing that he is actually very country. As we look for efficiencies and how to best operate mitted to moving forward as far as our legal authority allows. couple of years. You embody it. You are extraordinary value you bring to the tall and from Milwaukee; the Coast Guard, it is no secret to anybody that the best value There is commitment to modernize throughout the Coast able to translate it at the grassroots level Service shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s hearing about the state of the is the Auxiliary. I think the opportunities for you are not end- Guard. We understand what needs to be done and we under- in your local communities and we are To the extent a Commandant and the organization directly from those less, they are infinite. It’s just a matter of finding out what you stand we are moving into an uncertain future. You will be a grateful. men and women of the Coast Guard can who steer it; do, what you want to do, and matching that up with what we critical part of that, and having modernized, you are actually One of the great things that distin- recognize you for what you do every Realizing it’s bigger than your flo- need. Commodore Kerigan and the senior leadership have leading the way for the rest of the Coast Guard. That’s a great guishes us from the other services is single day and the incredible value you tilla, division, or district; positioned the Auxiliary to step forward and say, “Here’s a way place for you to be. that we don’t have to deploy to execute bring to the country, I’m here to tell Realizing its reach is wider than we can help,” and I can tell you, we will need it. I ask you to think about a couple of things as you close your our mission. We execute our missions you, we couldn’t do it without you. even the borders of the United As I sit here this evening looking at a modernized Auxiliary, conference. As I said, we are in a time of uncertainty. I think where we live, where we coach soccer, Thank you and Semper Paratus. States;

FALL 2009 | 25 Photo by Bill Coby, Flotilla 38, St. Louis, Missouri. International VIP Guests

rom around the globe our Finternational partners came to NACON in 2009. Hosted by the Auxiliary’s International Affairs team under the leadership of Commodore Everette Tucker, the VIPs were welcomed at a morning workshop and later met at area What’s so breakout sessions. Fun Night great about provided fellowship and plenty of NACON? A time to network and on Saturday photo op evening they were seated front with the and center at the Commodore’s Commandant. Banquet. International guests included National Commodore Ray Campbell and Vice Squadron Commander Barry Cordwell of the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Association. From Canada came Malcolm Dunderdale, president and chairman of the National Board of Directors Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary; Gary Endicott, president Central and Arctic Region; Ted It’s learning about changes even before Brainstorming ideas over lunch with Smith, president Quebec Region; your shipmates back home read it on four people who didn’t plan to share a and Anthony Gardiner, past Chief SITREP; table, but are now really glad the grill Commander, Canadian Power and Attending a workshop given by the was crowded; Sail Squadrons. person who is on the national leadership Never having to say or hear, “No com- From Curacao, Netherlands team for the program; ment;” Antilles, came Adriaan van der Trying on an AUX shirt before you buy It really is the best way to bond; Hoeven and Curd Evertsz, the wrong size; Getting at least one statistic you Bumping into an admiral in the rest- can remember: “For every one dollar president and vice president room—and hearing her thank you for invested in the Auxiliary, $11 in effort is respectively of the Citizens Rescue your service; returned by the volunteers.” Organization. Shopping for a new product manufac- Navigator magazine doesn’t give advice, Attending from New Zealand was tured by a corporate partner; but this newbie suggests that if you are Bruce Reid, Chief Executive Officer Finding out at dinner that a guy you reading this and wondering, “What’s in the Coast Guard New Zealand. worked with for years who lives 2,000 Auxiliary for me?” pick up the AUXMAN NACON also welcomed miles away is the neighbor of someone and turn to Appendix M, the list of acro- Commander Jose Isaga, aide on your PA team; nyms. Read down the definitions list; it is to Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo, Enjoying a mystery drink the Alaskans also a pretty complete list of the oppor- Commandant of the Philippine call Moose Milk; tunities available to Homeland Security Coast Guard; also, Vice Admiral Having a District Chief of Staff who volunteers. When it’s time to stop you’ll Eduardo Alvarez, national director really gets it, explain it; know it. The Coast Guard truly does have Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary; A photo op with Thad Allen; a need for every skill, for every interest, Rear Admiral Higinio Mendoza, Saying “Good morning” to a sweaty for every volunteer who ever said, “I want Commodore Joseph Dy and Thad Allen as he walks out of the gym in to make a difference.” As Peter Raiswell, Commander Vanessa Garon; and his shorts; District 13 Chief of Staff, advises, “Involve Commodore Harold Wolf, national Meeting a new DIRAUX who’s look- yourself. The hardest thing to do is shift commander, International Affairs ing for a way to reach boaters in an area a member’s perception from the flotilla to Directorate. underserved by the Auxiliary and know- a division position, from the district to an United States partners in ing exactly who to introduce him to; area position. But, when you make that attendance included David Recruiting for your team; transition doing the things you are inter- Chomeau, Treasurer, Association for It’s seeing your fellow Auxiliarists ested in, you like and are good at, you’ll be Rescue At Sea; Creighton Maynard, dressed up as gangsters on Fun Night— rewarded.” There’s no place like NACON Chief Commander, U.S. Power then in dinner dress uniform the follow- to truly appreciate the depth and breadth Squadrons; and Lieutenant James ing evening; of our Auxiliary. Vandervort, U.S. Navy.

26 | Navigator US Coast Guard photos by PA3 Mark Jones Story by Brian McArdle, Flotilla 33, Kilmarnock, Virginia

Bringing Teamwork to the Table

his year marks the 70th anniversary of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and its working relation- Tship with the Coast Guard. To Left to right: John Mill, Robin Wells, and Ron Simon completing CG Station Milford Haven’s honor the anniversary, three woodwork- new chart table. ing Auxiliarists, John Mill, Flotilla 33, and Robin Wells and Ron Simon, Flotilla with the Chief. After getting the go- dry fit of all the parts, then each did the 62, Kilmarnock and Deltaville, Virginia, ahead, I turned my sketches into CAD finishing with a very light stain and sev- respectively, collaborated to design and drawings based on the sizes of charts eral coats semi-gloss polyurethane for construct a new chart table for CG Station the station used and we divided up the durability. On July 15 we met at the sta- Milford Haven, Hudgins, Virginia. work – I did the basic structure, Ron tion and did the final assembly. We had “I am the operations officer for the Simon did the tops, and Robin Wells did a nice lunch and the chief surprised us station’s Operations Support Team con- the drawers and chart-storage cubbies. with a couple of very nice brass plaques sisting of members of the Auxiliary from “Our biggest problem turned out to for the table, one commemorating the Divisions 3 and 6,” said John Mill. “I was be finding quarter-sawn white oak,” Auxiliary’s 70th anniversary, and one talking to Chief Petty Officer Matthew Mill continued. “After we spent a couple with our names on it. Welsh one day when he mentioned of months searching, Robin got wind of “About two weeks later, Admiral that he would really like to have a bet- an Australian company in Warrenton, Wayne Justice, the new commander of ter chart table and was there anything Virginia, about three hours away, that District 5, visited the station and we got I could do. I told him I was a woodwork- carried all kinds of exotic woods as to show off our project again. er and might be able to put together a well as the oak we needed. I ordered it “In all it was a very satisfying experi- plan. He said he would buy the materi- and Robin and I picked it up. [Note: In ence and a great show of inter-divisional als, so I put out a call and located two quarter-sawn white oak, the boards are cooperation. There have been various other woodworkers from Flotilla 62 in sawn perpendicular to the growth rings, estimates of the hours we put in, but I Deltaville who agreed to help. exposing what are called “medullary think it was probably about 600,” Mill “I made some sketches based on a ray flecks” that give it its unique appear- said. Craftsman-style table in one of my mag- ance]. “After a couple of months of work- “We had an old, steel chart table, out azines and the three of us discussed it ing individually, we got together for a of date and not very nautical,” said Chief Welsh. “This new table will remain part of the station forever, long after we’re all gone. It’s something the station crew and the Auxiliary can be proud of. It commemorates the value of Team Coast Guard, the active duty and the Auxiliary working together, along with our civil- ians and reservists,” Welsh continued. “The Auxiliary plays a major role in operations at Station Milford Haven and within its area of responsibility,” Welsh said. “They keep a boat and crew at the station on standby during busy weekends and they provide chefs from the AUXCHEF program to help feed the station’s crew. Auxiliarists also stand regular watches at the station, allowing crew members time to keep up with training and operational requirements. We couldn’t do our Chief Matthew Welsh (OIC), Robin Wells, John Mill, Ron Simon, BM1 Gonzales (XPO). job without them,” Welsh said.

FALL 2009 | 27 Awards Honor The Best of the Best

U.S. Coast Guard Meritorious Chart Updating Awards Team Commendations Fit to Float Marketing Promotions Team, the Flotilla Leadership Course District award for the most members submitting Development Team, the Intermediate Course Development Team, the reports – District 5-South. 2008 National Search and Rescue Competition Management Team, and the Shipboard Deployment Guide Team. The award for the greatest amount of credit points awarded – District 1-North. The Eagle Award: Recreational Boating Safety Award of Excellence from the U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla award for most members submitting reports – Atlantic-East – Lillian Haines, District Officer-Vessel Examinations, Flotilla 12-2, District 5-South. Flotilla 24-1, Branford, Connecticut. Atlantic-West – Frank Dannenberg, District Officer-Public Affairs; The award for the individual member with the great- Flotilla 74, San Antonio, Texas. est number of credit points – James Duncan, District Pacific – Peter Kyryl, Division Officer-Marine Safety, Division Officer- 11-Nor th. Member Training, Flotilla 67 Officer-Program Visitor, Santa Cruz, California. The award for the individual member with the greatest number of credits applied – Frank Larkin, District 1-North. Auxiliarist of the Year – Marilynn Leonard, Flotilla 42 Sequim/Port Angeles, Washington. Department of Vessel Examinations Vessel Safety Checks winner: – Flotilla 12-24, District The Boating Manufacturers Recreational Boating Safety 11-South. Auxiliarist of the Year – Chris Todd, Flotilla 6-11, Miami Beach, Florida. Runner-up – Flotilla 63, District 7.

Flotilla of the Year – Flotilla 65 of District 1-North. Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program The award was presented by Ms. Ruth Wood, BoatUS, and was accepted winner – Flotilla 42, District 13. by Flotilla Commander Warren L. Washburn, Jr. for the flotilla. Runner-up: Flotilla 20-1, District 9-West.

Best Auxiliary Websites of 2009 The Department of Public Affairs winners of the Public Affairs Contest – four categories District First place – District 17, Alaska; Photography http://a170.uscgaux.info. Operations – Joseph Giannattasio, Flotilla 82, Cape May, New Jersey. Runner-up – District 11-North, Northern California, On watch during a patrol in Cape May Canal. Utah, Nevada; http://www.d11nusgaux.info

Division First Place – District 1-North, Division 11, Cape Cod and the Islands, Massachusetts; http://a01311.uscgaux.info/. Runner-up – District 7, Division 11, West Central Florida; http://a07011.uscgaux.info/.

Flotilla First Place – Flotilla 11, District 11-South, San Diego, California; http://a1140101.uscgaux.info/. Runner-up – Flotilla 14-8, District 7; Jacksonville, Florida, http://a0701408.uscgaux.info/.

28 | Navigator Public Affairs – Joseph Giannattasio, Flotilla 82, Cape May, New Jersey. Coast Guard Auxiliarists from Flotilla 82, Cape May, conduct their annual Memorial Day Flower Boat ceremony on the beach with the color guard Public Education – Jerri A. Smith, Flotilla 15-5, Saginaw, Michigan. from the USCG Past District Commodore Bob Colby, teaches the bowline knot during Training Center. a boating safety class.

Marine Safety and Security – Noreen Folkerts, Flotilla 11, District 17, Juneau, Alaska. Spring officially arrives in Juneau when the seasonal buoys are set on the Mendenhall Bar by the small boat team of the CG Buoy Fellowship – Harry E. Bruno, Flotilla 86, District 7, Venice, Florida. Tender Elderberry. On April 1, 2009, in order to speed the process CG Station Cortez, Bradenton, Florida, Auxiliarists and active duty and complete the task in one tide cycle, the smallest craft of the enjoy a cook-out with plenty of fun and fellowship. Juneau flotilla assisted by towing the buoys up the bar for the team. Auxiliarist Dan Logan makes his way up with one of the buoys.

Recruiting – Joseph Giannattasio, Flotilla 82, Cape May, New Vessel Examination – Chris Todd, Flotilla 6-11, Miami Beach, Jersey. Florida. Auxiliarist Judy Dempsey completes new member applications for Vessel Examiner Felipe Pazos, Flotilla 6-11, Miami, conducts a Linda Tomasello and James McClellan. complimentary Vessel Safety Check at Pelican Harbor boat ramps.

FALL 2009 | 29 Public Affairs Projects Flotilla Winner

District Winner (Joint Award) T-shirt and water safety campaign during National Safe The Dan Marino Project, National Safe Boating Week, produced by James O. Powell, Flotilla 63, Boating Week produced by William F. Poquoson, Virginia. Hanlon, Flotilla 31, Hollywood, Florida, and In late March 2008 Flotilla 63 was awarded a grant from Christopher M. Todd, Flotilla 6-11, Miami the National Water Safety Congress for $1350.00 to cover Beach, Florida. the cost of 300 child-sized t-shirts with the phrase “I GOT CAUGHT WEARING MY LIFEJACKET BY THE COAST National Football League (NFL) Hall of GUARD AUXILIARY FLOTILLA 63.” Volunteers then put Fame Quarterback Dan Marino served a t-shirt, a class schedule for their boating safety class, as the honorary spokesperson for the safe boating literature, state and federal requirement U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s 2009 NSBW pamphlets, and a summary of the Virginia State Boater campaign across the entire Seventh Coast Education law which was to take effect July 1, 2008, into Guard District. Mr. Marino, quarterback plastic bags from America’s Waterway Watch and distrib- for the Miami Dolphins for 17 consecutive uted them to coxswains and vessel examiners. The bags seasons, held 25 NFL records at the time were handed out by patrols and at public ramps and local of his retirement and has since become a marinas during vessel safety checks during National Safe media star and philanthropist. Boating Week. Mr. Marino’s credibility, combined with the tragic March 2009 USCG SAR case off the west coast of Florida related to the loss of NFL players Marquis Cooper and Roll ‘em! NFL legend Dan Marino and NSBW officer Bill Hanlon, District 7, Miami, look over a Corey Smith, and Will Bleakley, made this teleprompter loaded with scripts as Marino prepares to read PSAs promoting safe boating. Division Winner a perfect time from a public affairs stand- Welcome Aboard the Elmore! produced by Loretta Rindal, Flotilla 48, North Kitsap, point to associate a prominent NFL player tinue to be distributed both regionally TIRES, BRAKES, AND LIGHTS” a minimum Washington. with the cause of recreational boating and nationally throughout the U.S. Coast of two hours per day on each of more safety. Guard, Auxiliary, media outlets and our than 300 digital highway signs scattered Launched in 1890, the steam vessel, Elmore, carried up to 50 passengers and forty tons Miami High School was chosen as the partner organizations. throughout the State. of freight twice a week between Astoria and Tillamook, Oregon. The trip entailed success- location to film public service announce- To raise awareness of the start of the Public tours of the USCG Cutter fully crossing the very dangerous bars of the Columbia and Tillamook Rivers. In 1898 she ments focused on National Safe Boating 2009 National Safe Boating Week cam- Diamondback were given at Bayside ferried freight and passengers from Seattle to Alaska in the rush for Yukon Gold. Week and recreational boating safety. The paign, a news brief featuring Mr. Marino, Marketplace in downtown Miami. Owned by Dee and Sara Meek since 1990, the Elmore is an operational facility of initiative resulted in the production of: U.S. Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Recreational boating safety messages the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and is used on patrols and in training exercises with the Fifteen versions of audio PSAs promot- Rear Admiral Steve Branham (USCG were displayed from the Goodyear blimp Auxiliary, the U.S. Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard. ing recreational boating safety, District 7 Commander) Commodore Spirit of Innovation. The charm of this 119-year-old tug is certain. Just ask the folks who came aboard during Assorted 30 and 60 second video PSAs Donald Frasch (District 7), representa- Muvico Entertainment, a chain of the three-day Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival in 2008. promoting National Safe Boating Week, tives from the Florida Fish and Wildlife premium, megaplex motion picture the- Over three dozen Auxiliarists from around Division 4 covered eight watches, greeting Assorted 30 and 60 second video PSAs Commission, and other parter agencies aters operating 154 screens in Florida, guests and sharing the history of the Elmore. Guests signed up for boating safety classes promoting recreational boating safety, was held at USCG Station Miami. California, and Illinois, ran Marino PSAs while others signed up to learn more about the Auxiliary. Assorted 30 and 60 second video PSAs Florida Department of Transportation in its theaters resulting in over 1,000,000 This division-wide effort to produce a public awareness event which spotlighted promoting the USCG Auxiliary. displayed the safe boating message, patrons being exposed to the PSAs, Auxiliary members and their mission succeeded in its its goal to sign up guests for boating The PSAs featuring Dan Marino con- “TRAILER YOUR BOAT SAFELY, CHECK according to Muvico. safety classes and membership informational material.

Publications Awards Video Award District Winner Division Winner Flotilla Winner National Winner The Breeze; Editor Dorothy J. Riley, Flotilla The First Line; Editor Patricia A. Salotti, The Excelsior; Editor Noreen K. Folkerts, Jay M. Prior, Flotilla 79, Tampa, Florida Flotilla 11, Bellingham, Washington Flotilla 11, Juneau, Alaska 12-3, Point Allerton, Massachusetts ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! Collection

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30 | Navigator Public Affairs Projects Flotilla Winner

FALL 2009 | 31 Story by Eric Glasscott, Each year approximately 200 kids No fees are charged for the training. tions in Barbados, the Dominican Flotilla 10-1, Beaufort Jasper, South Carolina from local schools, churches, and the Certificates are handed out during a dis- Republic and Belize. These projects are Photos by Tom Christian and Mary Tarzwell, Salvation Army attend on-the-water boat- cussion session, and as Justin and his funded by the U.S. Southern Command BASRA, used with permission ing safety classes lasting approximately fellow instructors Tom Christian, D’Von (SOUTHCOM). There are also practi- one to two hours, depending on their Archer, Rod Lowe and Robert Tarzwell cal initiatives taking place at the present ages. They start at an incredibly young say with great enthusiasm about the time, including a pilot “Float Plan” proj- age of only four years old and continue program, “It works!” ect for Jamaican subsistence fishermen, Below, a BASRA volunteer demonstrates to age sixteen. The kids’ favorite is the With the assistance of Elaine Sevin, simple VHF antennas for extending the water safety equipment on young boaters. man overboard drill. In the first demon- assistant director of the Officer Snook range of distress calls and the provision Right, Justin Snisky and son show off Inky stration, Snisky goes overboard without water pollution program, the Auxiliary of lifejackets to volunteer SAR organiza- the Whale coloring books. his lifejacket. The captain drives off a recently provided BASRA with activity tions. short distance and the children see just books such as The True Story of Inky the The various official and volunteer how difficult it is to locate a person in the Whale, the Officer Snook coloring book Caribbean SAR organizations have water. The second time Snisky goes in and Officer Snook’s Future Boaters and a group website at carsar.cgaux.org, wearing a lifejacket and the children see Environmental Guide. which covers in detail the CAR-SAR how much easier it is to find the person. Relationships between the Auxiliary goal: “To reduce maritime risk within In another demonstration, instructors and its international search and rescue the Caribbean community by bringing explain the importance of never jump- (SAR) sister organizations are domiciled together the appropriate government ing overboard to retrieve a person, but in the International Affairs Directorate, agencies and the currently twenty-six rather to have a pole, paddle or rope to whose strategic goal is to help establish volunteer search and rescue organiza- pull the person in the water back to the and strengthen volunteer SAR organizations within the Caribbean, to estab- boat. Back at the dock, when all kids tions so official entities can focus on law lish vigorous programs directed at the have answered a question about some- enforcement, port security and drug prevention of maritime accidents and thing that was covered during the drill, and illegal alien interdiction. Currently terrorist events, and to respond to mari- they are given a small reward such as a the Directorate is assisting the estab- time emergencies, terrorist events or t-shirt. lishment of volunteer SAR organiza- natural disasters.”

BASRA and the Auxiliary Supporting recreational boating safety education in the Bahamas

cattered over 5,000 square miles control center in the evenings and vol- started three years ago when a member of ever changing blue, azure and unteer captains and crews are on duty at of BASRA, Justin Snisky II, expanded turquoise sea, the Bahamas’ 29 all times. the water safety instruction curriculum Sislands and over 660 cays present The Commonwealth of the Bahamas to include on-the-water instruction. The a challenge to maritime safety officers also provides tremendous challenges for children go on a ride in the rescue ves- and volunteers. To answer the need, the boating education. In July 2003 the U.S. sel to see a demonstration of the safety Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association Coast Guard Auxiliary became involved equipment and procedures and learn (BASRA) was formed in the early 1960s in the Bahamas when Commodore that operating a boat safely can be fun. as a nonprofit volunteer organization. Its Everett Tucker coordinated the first Lessons cover the importance of life- headquarters are in Nassau; two other boating safety classes there and recog- jackets and how to properly fit them; stations are located on Grand Bahama nized BASRA as an “Honorary Unit” of how to use channel 16 on a VHF radio and on Abaco. Mariners in the Bahamas the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, dedicat- as an emergency hailing and distress are protected by these three stations, ed to saving the lives of distressed sea- frequency; how to read a compass and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and men and airmen in the Bahamas. Using GPS; chart plotting (electronically and U.S. Coast Guard. BASRA has one full- America’s Boating Course and its accom- manually); how to use safety equipment time administrator, who also carries out panying lesson plans, Richard Clinchy such as a flare gun and hand flares, watchstanding duties at headquarters and Commodore Robin Freeman, then signaling mirrors, whistles, rescue on weekends. Under the leadership of Chief and Deputy Chief-Education, con- helmets, strobes and flashlights; how Commodore Richard Parker, volunteer ducted the classes. to tether lines in rough seas; and the teams maintain coverage at the police The youth program was successfully importance of the buddy system. A class of young boaters at BASRA headquarters on Grand Bahama Island.

32 | Navigator Story by Eric Glasscott, Each year approximately 200 kids No fees are charged for the training. tions in Barbados, the Dominican Flotilla 10-1, Beaufort Jasper, South Carolina from local schools, churches, and the Certificates are handed out during a dis- Republic and Belize. These projects are Photos by Tom Christian and Mary Tarzwell, Salvation Army attend on-the-water boat- cussion session, and as Justin and his funded by the U.S. Southern Command BASRA, used with permission ing safety classes lasting approximately fellow instructors Tom Christian, D’Von (SOUTHCOM). There are also practi- one to two hours, depending on their Archer, Rod Lowe and Robert Tarzwell cal initiatives taking place at the present ages. They start at an incredibly young say with great enthusiasm about the time, including a pilot “Float Plan” proj- age of only four years old and continue program, “It works!” ect for Jamaican subsistence fishermen, Below, a BASRA volunteer demonstrates to age sixteen. The kids’ favorite is the With the assistance of Elaine Sevin, simple VHF antennas for extending the water safety equipment on young boaters. man overboard drill. In the first demon- assistant director of the Officer Snook range of distress calls and the provision Right, Justin Snisky and son show off Inky stration, Snisky goes overboard without water pollution program, the Auxiliary of lifejackets to volunteer SAR organiza- the Whale coloring books. his lifejacket. The captain drives off a recently provided BASRA with activity tions. short distance and the children see just books such as The True Story of Inky the The various official and volunteer how difficult it is to locate a person in the Whale, the Officer Snook coloring book Caribbean SAR organizations have water. The second time Snisky goes in and Officer Snook’s Future Boaters and a group website at carsar.cgaux.org, wearing a lifejacket and the children see Environmental Guide. which covers in detail the CAR-SAR how much easier it is to find the person. Relationships between the Auxiliary goal: “To reduce maritime risk within In another demonstration, instructors and its international search and rescue the Caribbean community by bringing explain the importance of never jump- (SAR) sister organizations are domiciled together the appropriate government ing overboard to retrieve a person, but in the International Affairs Directorate, agencies and the currently twenty-six rather to have a pole, paddle or rope to whose strategic goal is to help establish volunteer search and rescue organiza- pull the person in the water back to the and strengthen volunteer SAR organizations within the Caribbean, to estab- boat. Back at the dock, when all kids tions so official entities can focus on law lish vigorous programs directed at the have answered a question about some- enforcement, port security and drug prevention of maritime accidents and thing that was covered during the drill, and illegal alien interdiction. Currently terrorist events, and to respond to mari- they are given a small reward such as a the Directorate is assisting the estab- time emergencies, terrorist events or t-shirt. lishment of volunteer SAR organiza- natural disasters.”

BASRA and the Auxiliary Supporting recreational boating safety education in the Bahamas cattered over 5,000 square miles control center in the evenings and vol- started three years ago when a member of ever changing blue, azure and unteer captains and crews are on duty at of BASRA, Justin Snisky II, expanded turquoise sea, the Bahamas’ 29 all times. the water safety instruction curriculum Sislands and over 660 cays present The Commonwealth of the Bahamas to include on-the-water instruction. The a challenge to maritime safety officers also provides tremendous challenges for children go on a ride in the rescue ves- and volunteers. To answer the need, the boating education. In July 2003 the U.S. sel to see a demonstration of the safety Bahamas Air Sea Rescue Association Coast Guard Auxiliary became involved equipment and procedures and learn (BASRA) was formed in the early 1960s in the Bahamas when Commodore that operating a boat safely can be fun. as a nonprofit volunteer organization. Its Everett Tucker coordinated the first Lessons cover the importance of life- headquarters are in Nassau; two other boating safety classes there and recog- jackets and how to properly fit them; stations are located on Grand Bahama nized BASRA as an “Honorary Unit” of how to use channel 16 on a VHF radio and on Abaco. Mariners in the Bahamas the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, dedicat- as an emergency hailing and distress are protected by these three stations, ed to saving the lives of distressed sea- frequency; how to read a compass and the Royal Bahamas Defence Force and men and airmen in the Bahamas. Using GPS; chart plotting (electronically and U.S. Coast Guard. BASRA has one full- America’s Boating Course and its accom- manually); how to use safety equipment time administrator, who also carries out panying lesson plans, Richard Clinchy such as a flare gun and hand flares, watchstanding duties at headquarters and Commodore Robin Freeman, then signaling mirrors, whistles, rescue on weekends. Under the leadership of Chief and Deputy Chief-Education, con- helmets, strobes and flashlights; how Commodore Richard Parker, volunteer ducted the classes. to tether lines in rough seas; and the teams maintain coverage at the police The youth program was successfully importance of the buddy system. A class of young boaters at BASRA headquarters on Grand Bahama Island.

FALL 2009 | 33 Story By Karen H. Novo, Flotilla 10-8, East Valley, Arizona Can You Hear Me Now?

Steep, rugged mountains and sheer cliff faces make radio communications difficult or impossible on Arizona lakes. Testing the new communications equipment are helmsman Chris Harshfield, crewman Richard Crane at the stern, and Coxswain Bud Gothann, on watch. Photo by Crewman Brett Bigelow

34 | Navigator Photo by Karen Novo byKaren Photo

The radio room at Auxiliary headquarters, Lake Pleasant. It’s getting easier to communicate on Arizona lakes

ivision 10 of the Eleventh District Hill. With the new method, a coxswain Southern Region, whose mem- Map by Fish-N-Map Company, simply states, “Ops normal, R17S,” iden- 8535 W. 79th Avenue, Arvada, Colorado 80005. bers patrol Lakes Saguaro, 303/421-5994. Used with permission. tifying the position as south of Windy DCanyon, Roosevelt, Pleasant, Hill. Bartlett, and Powell, has enhanced Grids also help speed responses communications with two new tools. to calls for help. If a communicator The first is the installation of repeat- supporting vessels on multiple lakes ers, acquired through the efforts of receives a call for assistance, the watch- Commodore Mike Johnson, to improve stander can quickly determine and com- radio coverage in the sharp, mountain- municate with the closest patrol. ous terrain of Arizona. The second is a Points on the grid are identified with new grid identification system that is a simple series of letters and numbers. expected to streamline radio communi- The first letter identifies the lake. For cations and reporting accuracy. It was example, “R” represents Roosevelt developed by Division 10 Commander Lake, followed by a location sector num- Bud Gothann. ber. Generally, even numbers are used Bud Gothann explains, “Division 10 north of the channel; south of the chan- patrols the Colorado River and lakes nel, odd numbers are used – the main with many coves and canyons that seal channel being the original path of the off radio communications. The new Roosevelt Lake Fish-N-Map with printed river before it was dammed to create repeaters will allow us to reach areas we overlay of the new grid identification system. the lake. One to three letters may come have never been able to reach through next indicating more northerly or south- normal VHF-FM radio. My vision was to create an easy, mul- erly locations, such as coves, and landmarks such as a sheriff’s tifunctional grid reference system. These new grid IDs will office, marina or portable restroom. make it easier for everyone to report and know where our Auxiliarists of Division 10 recently tested the system at assets are.” Roosevelt Lake using the Mount Ord repeater. Coxswains used Previously, a new communications watchstander, unfamiliar the grid system and the narrow band repeater at Mount Ord to with a lake being patrolled, might receive a report similar to evaluate clarity, reach and dead spots, with good results. Testing the following: “Ops normal, Windy Hill.” He would record the of the whole system should be completed by fall of 2009. time, the boat, location and comments. If he needed to visual- “Effectiveness, simplification, and additional operations ize the location, he would consult the Roosevelt Lake Fish-N- security should result from these efforts,” Commodore Map©, laboring to find the geographic reference on the chart. Johnson said. “These changes should also help us work more The watchstander may have asked additional questions to effectively with our boating safety partners, including the vari- determine whether the boat was north, south or east of Windy ous sheriffs and the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

FALL 2009 | 35 Story by Jeff Brooks, Flotilla 19, Panama City Beach, Florida

aturday, May 25, 2008, was Memorial Day weekend. Hundreds of boaters were out on St. Andrew’s SBay, Panama City, Florida, and thousands more locals and visitors took advantage of the warm temperatures and sunny skies to go to the beaches of Florida’s panhandle. Auxiliary patrol vessel Face Off, a 25-foot center-console Angler, owned and helmed by William “Mac” Shepard, began a routine patrol at 1400 hours. Jeff Brooks was coxswain on board, and Bob Wells was crew; Walker Parish and Bill Winfrey were also aboard as crew break-ins. All are members of Flotilla 19, in Panama City Beach, Florida. After a brief anchoring training evolution in the waters north of Hathaway Bridge that Rip Current links Panama City with Panama City Beach, the crew headed south to the entrance channel of St. Andrew’s Bay where they encountered four- to five- Rescue foot seas caused by a 10-knot southwest wind opposing a falling tide, and two- to A dramatic rescue near three-foot seas offshore in the Gulf of Panama City Beach, Florida Mexico. Most boaters wisely stayed in the bay, and the patrol decided to join them and cruise behind Shell Island. one-quarter mile ahead of the patrol and to the bow as well, grabbed a heaving At 1625, while patrolling the rela- several hundred yards farther offshore. line, and accurately threw the line direct- tively calm bay, the crew was alerted The Face Off crew ran only a short dis- ly to the pair. As Shepard slowly backed to a swimmer in distress in the Gulf tance outside the breaking surf. The the vessel away from danger, Wells and just south of Laguna Beach, a distance scene on the beach was surreal, with Brooks pulled the two swimmers to of about 12 nautical miles west of the dozens of flashing red and blue lights the swim platform where Winfrey and bay entrance. Responding immediately, on the beach and visible between the Parish pulled them both from the water. the crew arrived on scene several min- condos as police, fire, and ambulance The man was barely able to assist with utes before a Coast Guard utility boat units responded to the numerous calls. the effort to get him onto the swim plat- and the two began a sector search and As they traveled west at sunset, form and over the transom into the boat. a parallel track pattern respectively. Air Brooks saw a Panama City Beach Patrol Winfrey had to climb onto the platform resources were called in to assist in deputy flashing his spotlight at them. to reach them, and with seas still run- not only the search for the initial victim The low light aided in noticing the ning two to three feet on the stern, this (who in fact drowned), but ultimately, spotlight which might not have been was no small feat, requiring a great deal 45 other swimmers swept out to sea by seen earlier in the day. Shepard turned of agility and strength. the strong current along a four to five the boat towards the shore and as the Neither swimmer suffered any inju- mile stretch of shoreline. Many were crew approached the surf line, they ries, but the man was exhibiting signs pulled in by police and fire rescue per- first heard and then spotted a man and of shock so he was wrapped in a blanket sonnel, others by jet-ski rental vendors a woman exhausted and clinging to a and given warm water. After notifying pressed into service along the beach small float board adjacent to the break- Coast Guard Station Panama City of the front. A USCG Dolphin HH-65A helicop- ing surf. Shepard approached the pair rescue, the Auxiliarists took the victims ter, began a parallel track search, and an cautiously, aware that if his boat entered to Lighthouse Marina in Grand Lagoon hour later a Falcon HU-25 jet began run- the surf it could capsize, putting more where they were eventually reunited ning a parallel track over a much larger people in the water. As each swell sub- with their families. area looking for victims. sided, the sandy bottom of the bar was En route to safe harbor, the crew After several hours of searching with- exposed only a short distance ahead of learned the cause of their distress. The out success for any victims, the utility the Face Off. 57-year-old woman had been floating on boat and the Auxiliary vessel began a Brooks guided Shepard as he nosed her board in shallow water near shore multi-unit parallel track pattern with the vessel forward to within 10 feet of when the rip current rapidly pulled the Coast Guard vessel running about the heavily breaking surf. Wells moved her offshore beyond the breakers. She

36 | Navigator Pattie Fritchie, Flotilla 19, Panama City Beach, Florida. appropriately went with the current and The Auxiliary crew was first recog- swam parallel to shore to break the hold nized by the Coast Guard with a Medal it had on her, but was then unable to of Operational Merit issued on behalf break back through the surf to return of the Commandant by Rear Admiral to shore. Her nine-year-old grand- Joel R. Whitehead, then-commander daughter saw what was happening and of the Eighth Coast Guard District. approached the man whom she did not Recently, the crew was again honored in know, telling him her grandmother was Washington, D.C. by the Association for in trouble. Rescue At Sea. Established in 2000, the The 36-year-old man swam to the Association for Rescue at Sea’s Silver woman, but was also unable to get back Medal is presented to a United States through the surf to the beach. He said Coast Guard Auxiliarist. The ceremony they were able to touch bottom briefly is attended by members of Congress, as the surge subsided, but were repeat- AFRAS members, the Commandant of edly pulled seaward with each subse- the Coast Guard, and others. quent wave. To be considered for the Silver medal, The lack of communication between AFRAS says that an “active Auxiliarist the various responders was very evi- must have performed a rescue involving dent during the emergency, requiring a the saving of a life or lives from either resourceful beach patrol officer to use inland or coastal waters where the hero- his spotlight to signal the rescuers. As ic action of the nominee was uniquely a result, Flotilla 19 Commander, Jerry distinguished.” In some years no medal Marano, obtained a grant to purchase is awarded. nine handheld VHF radios and present- AFRAS was formed in 1976 to raise ed them to several beach law enforce- funds, exchange information and pro- ment agencies early in 2009. “We’re vide co-operation among sea rescue hoping we don’t need to use them this organizations. Its chairman is Vice year, but we’ll be better prepared if we Admirald Terry M. Cross, USCG do,” said Marano. (Retired). U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st ClassAnastasia Devlin.

In the center, Vice Admiral Terry Cross, (USCG ret.) former Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard and now Chairman of AFRAS, presented the Silver award for lifesaving to: left to right, William Winfrey, Robert O. Wells, R. Jeffrey Brooks, and William M. Shepard.

FALL 2009 | 37 by Richard A. (Steve) Stephenson Flotilla 43, Lake County, Florida Our Piece of History n 1988, the Coast Guard Auxiliary established its archival collection at East Carolina University in IGreenville, North Carolina, to pre- serve the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s history. In 1999, the archive was named the O.W. “Sonny” Martin, Jr., Coast Guard Auxiliary Records Collection, in memory of the Auxiliary’s national historian who helped establish the collection. The archive is located on the fourth floor in the Special Collections Department of Joyner Library. Archivist Dale Sauter, with the aid of staff members Nanette Hardison, Martha Elmore and Rochelle Barainca, oversees the collection, prepares contributions to it and assists researchers. The collection includes items from the inception of the Auxiliary in 1939 to the present. Flotillas, divisions, districts and the national staff contribute items such as newsletters, minutes of meetings, and photographs. There are 14 major files: a national file, a file for each district, and files for personal papers, audio/visual materials, oral histories, memorabilia such as flags and maps, and a file for the Navigator. Categorized items are contained in acid-free folders and boxes. The Special Collections staff main- tains the index which at this time includes items from First Southern, First Northern, and Districts 12, 14, 17 and most of 13. A “how-to guide” to the Auxiliary collection is expected to be completed by the end of the year. To find out more about the Auxiliary’s archive and how to contribute materials or donate to its endowment fund, visit www.ecu. edu/lib, click on Special Collections, then on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Collection link; or go directly to media.lib.ecu.edu/spclcoll/ coastguard. Contact the Special Photo by Cliff Hollis, East Carolina University News Bureau. Used with permission. Collections staff at media.lib.ecu. edu/spclcoll/coastguard/dona- Dale Sauter, Manuscript Curator, Special Collections at the Joyner Library, East Carolina tions.cfm#materials. University, looks over items in the Auxiliary’s archive.

38 | Navigator BM1 Gonzales (XPO) helps John Mill, Flotilla 33, Kilmarnock, Virginia, put the final touches on a new chart table for CG Station Milford Haven, Hudgins, Virginia. Read the story on page 27.

FALL 2009 | 39 Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. The Auxiliary Center 9449 Watson Industrial Park St. Louis, MO 63126

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Launched in 1890, the steam vessel Elmore is one of the oldest operational vessels still in use by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Visitors are welcomed aboard during the Port Townsend [Washington] Wooden Boat Festival. Photo by Loretta Rindal, Flotilla 48, North Kitsap, Washington.

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