AND IN THE SERVICE BEYOND

Sector ’s New Take on a Long-Standing Training Model By LTJG Justin S. Daniel ’12 and LTJG Clare M. Snyder ’10

n the Coast Guard, we understand ask the question: How can we make this Ithat our core strength is comprised of age-old training model even better? the talented men and women who wear We began by asking one of our our uniform. It is for this reason that our TAD members, LTJG Jonas Miller ’12 of organization is perpetually committed USCGC THETIS, to use part of his TAD to the professional development of period at Sector Boston to begin drafting its members through educational a new, formal training program for opportunities, service schools, and members who are TAD for the primary special assignments. One way that purpose of professional development. As the Coast Guard regularly fosters his dream sheet deadline approached, professional development opportunities, LTJG Miller was looking to learn from both for its members and those interested Sector Boston more about the Response- in joining the service, is through Ashore community before deciding on Temporary Assigned Duty (TAD) billet selections for his second tour. We training periods. asked him to identify the general needs Whether by hosting Coast Guard and goals that TAD members have when Academy cadets during the summer they arrive at an unfamiliar unit, eager to training period or by welcoming a learn but uncertain about where to start. junior hoping to capitalize After LTJG Miller departed Sector on an extended in-port period by Boston one of the authors, LTJG Justin experiencing an unfamiliar field, Daniel ’12, continued to revise the the Coast Guard’s commitment to program that LTJG Miller started, promoting professional development gathering input from the Sector Boston is evident in its willingness to send and Command Cadre and personnel receive members across a wide array of throughout the Sector. The result was units. Even during this period of fiscal a Sector Boston Instruction, outlining constraint, personnel continue to pursue a comprehensive training program for TAD training opportunities by taking TAD members. Rather than having advantage of available Unaccompanied members piece together an ad hoc Personnel Housing or units located training regimen after their arrival, this within reasonable commuting distance. written instruction provides structure, Commanding Officers and Officers in concrete goals, and ample guidance Charge throughout the service routinely throughout the TAD period. Several key open their doors to junior members elements comprise Sector Boston’s TAD in the hopes that these men and Professional Development Program. women will leave their units refreshed, impassioned, and confident about the The Sponsor path that lies ahead of them. Each TAD member is assigned a junior As a large, centrally located unit officer sponsor who is responsible for just down the street from the First Coast providing guidance, logistical support, Guard District, and located alongside and overall structure for the TAD three Medium Endurance Cutters, Sector member throughout the assignment. Boston is as active as any other command The sponsor is assigned through a in sharing our operations with those standard junior officer rotation, or looking to get a glimpse of something through a particular department if the they haven’t seen before. That fact, along TAD member is primarily assigned to with an influx of Academy cadets and gain experience in a single field, such junior officers as travel restrictions limit as Prevention or Intelligence. On the other options, recently prompted us to member’s first day, the sponsor will

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introduce the member at the morning brief, assist them in meeting key personnel at the unit, and ensure that the member is able to schedule operational experiences. Pre-Arrival Outreach Sponsors engage their prospective TAD members in advance of their arrival, having them complete a standard questionnaire that allows the sponsor to gather background information about the TAD member’s operational experience, qualifications, and training objectives. Additionally, sponsors Sector Boston’s new TAD provide prospective TAD members with Professional Development required reading material, including Operations First Program is a figurative the Sector Commander’s command For members TAD at Sector Boston, “heaving line” for those philosophy and biography, as well as The operations take priority. On the first CG personnel seeking a Bulletin article “A Look at Sectors” by day of a TAD assignment, the sponsor positive and worthwhile Admiral Joe Vojvodich ‘85 (Vol. 73, No. will escort the member to meet with TAD experience. The 6, p. 40). Members primarily interested program establishes a each of the operational schedulers at connection between the in one area of Sector operations, such as the Sector and schedule involvement TAD member and a junior Response or Prevention, may be asked to in law enforcement operations, vessel officer sponsor, who is read additional articles that shed light on inspections, pollution response activities, “responsible for providing that field. Instituting these requirements facility inspections, and standing watch guidance, logistical of a TAD member in advance of their in the Sector Command Center. If a support, and overall arrival ensures that they are familiar with member is TAD for several weeks or structure for the TAD the Sector construct before they arrive, member throughout the longer, that scheduling process will assignment.” (U.S. Coast thereby allowing the member to focus on be repeated weekly to ensure that Guard photo by Petty gaining practical, operational experience the member has a steady stream of Officer 2nd Class Rob during their assignment. operational experiences throughout their Simpson.) assignment. Unit-Wide Familiarization All TAD members are provided with PQS a TAD Professional Development Visit To provide overall structure to the Worksheet that lists key personnel at member’s TAD assignment, and to Sector Boston, their titles, and several ensure that the member gains some bulleted lines describing the primary exposure to aspects of Sector operations functions for which that person is that may not be available at the time responsible. Regardless of the member’s of their visit, the Sector Boston TAD area of interest, all TAD personnel are Professional Development Program also required to meet with as many of these incorporates Personnel Qualification personnel as is feasible during their Standards (PQS) requirements for the assignment. At Sector Boston, each member. The Boat Force Operations PQS division within the Sector works closely and the Waterways Management PQS and routinely with every other division, are used due to their broad overview of and the TAD Professional Development Response and Prevention operations, Program reflects the belief that gaining respectively. Members complete two an accurate understanding of Sector sections of the applicable PQS each operations cannot be accomplished week of their assignment, if longer than without becoming familiar with each of one week. If necessary, sponsors are its constituent parts. responsible for identifying additional

April 2014 33 HISTORY LESSON

PQS that may be used to suit a member’s the span of a week, she had gathered training goals and area of interest. enough information to leave the unit well-prepared for making future career Continuous Feedback decisions. Before departing the unit, each TAD It was evident in LTJG Snyder’s member submits a memorandum, TAD experience that the structure, addressed to the Department Head of clarity, and broad-based exposure their sponsor, providing feedback of provided by Sector Boston’s TAD the TAD Professional Development Professional Development Program Program and describing their experience was crucial to the success of LTJG while TAD. They are asked to discuss Snyder’s assignment. With the guidance accomplishments, experiences, and and direction provided by the TAD recommendations for future TAD Professional Development Program, personnel. This process allows for along with her sponsor, LTJG Snyder continuous improvement, and allows was able to schedule participation in Sector Boston to maintain a record a host of operations and activities that documenting the experiences had by quickly absorbed the entire period of her members during their assignments. It assignment. With little down-time during also provides a written account that the visit, and exposure to almost every can provide the parent command with facet of Sector operations, LTJG Snyder a snapshot of the member’s use of their came away from her experience with TAD period. more focused career objectives. Designated face-time with the Units across the Coast Guard should Sector Commander is also an important invest the time and energy required to component of each TAD member’s establish a training program similar visit, time and operations permitting. to that established at Sector Boston. Having the sponsor arrange a time for Such a program is flexible, allowing for the member to meet with the Sector members to focus on experiences that Commander allows the member an satisfy their particular training objectives, additional opportunity to provide direct while also providing standardized feedback at the command level. It also expectations and structure to maximize provides the Sector Commander with use of the member’s and the host an opportunity to welcome the member command’s time. While not intended to to the unit, share his or her wealth of replace other tools like the Academy’s experience, and offer career guidance. Cadet Summer Training Manual and guidance provided by parent commands, Beta Testing the TAD Professional Development Sector Boston had the opportunity Program supplements them and to utilize the TAD Professional provides a level of clarification that only Development Program soon after its the host unit can provide: specifics about inception by hosting one of the authors, the operational dynamics of the unit, LTJG Clare Snyder ’10 of the First Coast insight into what activities might provide Guard District. For a one-week period the most benefit to the member, and in October 2013, Response Department how the member should navigate the hosted LTJG Snyder as she, like LTJG unit with the support of their sponsor. Miller, pondered career options after her By adopting unit-specific TAD training current assignment. While assigned to programs like the one at Sector Boston, Sector Boston, LTJG Snyder was able to units across the Coast Guard can more participate in several law enforcement readily maximize the training value operations with the VBST, stand watch of TAD experiences and enhance the in the Sector Command Center, de- professional development opportunities brief a search and rescue case, and even available to Coast Guard men and respond to a pollution incident involving women. a sunken vessel that discharged oil into Boston Harbor. In her spare time, she met LTJG Daniel is the Vessel Boarding and Security Team with several officers and senior enlisted Supervisor at Sector Boston. Lieutenant LTJG Snyder is members in each department and the Patrol Boat Manager at Coast Guard District One. spent time learning about each. Within

34 THE BULLETIN AlwAys reAdy

Shell has long recognized the vital role the US Coast Guard plays in responding to troubles at sea in Alaska.

Through teamwork between the US Coast Guard, State of Alaska, Kodiak Island Borough and Shell, the Kulluk response was successfully carried out with no injuries or environmental damage.

Thank you for your efforts. www.shell.us/alaska

April 2014 35 AND IN THE SERVICE BEYOND

Broadening the Wings of EAGLE Under sail in 2013-14 with OCS/NOAA trainees & USCGA cadets By LT Kristopher Ensley, ’04, USCGC EAGLE Operations Officer and Navigator

EAGLE under full sail just south of Bermuda in May 2013. “All Hands to Sail Stations!” week, under a new partnership between EAGLE and , “Ready about!” 74 students from the Boatswain Mate (BM) A-School arrived and took their “Helm’s A-lee!” places in divisions led by the OCS and NOAA trainees. The OCS and NOAA trainees led the sailing evolutions, “Rise Tacks and Sheets!” ensured their divisions arrived on time at training sessions, and helped more “Let Go and Haul!” than 86% of the future BMs earn their helm and lookout qualifications. In hese are the commands, bellowed addition, in order to meet graduation Tthrough a speaking trumpet, that requirements, crew members helped 68 years of Coast Guard Officers have teach A-school classes while underway, followed; bending their backs; hauling including reviews of weight handling, on lines; and learning to lead, follow, radio use, navigation principles, and and grow into the Long Blue Line. In weather. While the program could not 2013, a new group of trainees set sail be expanded to allow all BM students to and took part in the adventure onboard take part in training onboard EAGLE, the EAGLE. During the Spring this ongoing partnership allowed the and Fall Officer Candidate School enlisted Coast Guard workforce to take (OCS) deployments, Coast Guard and part in the same experiences that have National Oceanic and Atmospheric helped build generations of professional Administration (NOAA) trainees sailed maritime officers. the for the first week, ‘learning the ropes’ In similar fashion, the cadet summer of life underway. During the second program broadened in 2013. From the

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Open-Ocean Deck Watch Officer. By the end of the summer, two 1/c cadets qualified as EOWs, three qualified as DWOs Under-Instruction, and 1/c Tony Seleznick earned his Open-Ocean DWO qualification. As a change from previous years, the 1/c cadets were permitted to sail for just one phase of the summer. Twenty 1/c cadets rotated out at the mid-summer phase change. This programmatic alteration allowed cadets to pursue both an EAGLE summer and tackle other Coast Guard opportunities such as internships, training programs abroad, or additional afloat and operational experiences. This change greatly All cadets undertook extensive damage control training while onboard, and 89% of the increased the 1/c cadet applications to 3/c managed to earn their basic DC qualification. take part in the summer deployment and doubled the number of senior cadets moment they stepped onboard, the 3/c sailing EAGLE. cadets were kept extremely busy. They However, the summer was not all stood watches, charted the ’s course just work and sweat. Cadets sailed with a sextant, handled sails, and were throughout the , the East offered the opportunity to qualify in Coast, and Canada, visiting ten ports, basic damage control. By partnering learning about international relations, with the Company Chiefs in Chase Hall, and helping teach the public about the who taught introductory classes during Coast Guard and the Academy. They the Spring semester, EAGLE developed even ventured through the historic an onboard training program where Drake’s Passage in the Virgin Islands the 3/c were able to work through the under full sail. In St. Maarten, St. entire damage control qualification Petersburg, FL, and Bermuda, cadets and process. The cadets put forth a strong crew participated in local community effort, and by the end of the summer, service projects. In Guantanamo Bay, more than 89% had completed the EAGLE challenged the Navy to friendly basic DC Professional Qualification games of softball, ultimate frisbee1, Standard (PQS) and passed the onboard and soccer. On July 4th, the crew was qualification test, greatly aiding their granted holiday routine and held swim professional development and building call in the middle of the , practical skill-sets that can immediately followed by a talent show and a concert be put to use upon graduation. featuring the ship’s band, the Screaming The 1/c division officer program was EAGLEs, led by CAPT Wes Pulver ’87 on designed to give the upperclass cadets the keyboard and backup vocals. While a complete ‘Ensign’ experience. They in St. Pierre, a small French island off assumed collateral duties, managed the coast of Newfoundland, the crew their 3/c divisions, worked through and cadets challenged the local town or engineering qualifications, and to a soccer match. To the dismay of mastered a variety of projects, ranging the EAGLE team, the score was rather from coordinating wardroom morale lopsided and the event was broadcast events to organizing daily weather briefs live on local TV. A film crew from the and coordinating phase changes. After new Weather Channel TV show, Coast completing their basic Quartermaster Guard Cape Disappointment, sailed aboard of the Watch (QMOW) or Engineering and followed four cadets who had been Oiler watchstander qualifications, the stationed at STATION Cape D during the 1/c cadets pursued stations normally filled by junior officers, including 1. After an epic struggle that lasted into double overtime, a 10-person cadet, crew, and Navy pile up ensued in Engineer of the Watch (EOW), Deck the end-zone, with CWO Jimmy Greenlee, the Eagle Watch Officer Under-Instruction, and Sailmaster, making a one-handed grab on the frisbee and bringing home a victory.

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first half of the summer through daily 2018, EAGLE will continue to set sail life onboard the Barque. Stay tuned for each summer with cadets and OCs. For EAGLE’s starring role during an episode six months each winter, the Barque will of Season Two. return to . While there, the 2014 promises to be another banner ship will undergo a service life extension year. EAGLE will again sail to the project, similar to the restoration EAGLE Caribbean, visiting San Juan, Puerto underwent in 1975-1983. The overhaul Rico; Oranjestad, Aruba; Cozumel, includes routine drydocking projects as Mexico; and Miami, FL during the first well as upgrades to many of the onboard phase, followed by , Canada; systems, including the HVAC equipment, St. Johns, Canada; , NY; the main diesel engine, and many other Bourne, MA; and Rockland, ME for the antiquated electronic and mechanical second phase and the swab shorts. After systems. With these necessary upgrades, a short visit to downtown New London, EAGLE will remain a safe and viable CT, EAGLE will sail with the Fall OCS platform capable of serving as the Coast class to Baltimore, where the ship will be Guard’s premier training vessel for one of the centerpieces of the 200-year another 30+ years. anniversary of the penning of the Star Spangled Banner. Following the celebration in LT Ensley is the Operations Officer and Navigator Baltimore, EAGLE will arrive at its new onboard the Barque EAGLE. temporary home port: the CG Yard facility in Curtis Bay, MD. During the next four years, through the summer of

April 2014 39 AND IHN ISTORYTHE SERVICE LESSON BEYOND brought to you by

Lt. James H. Scott, Class of 1891 Combat Operations of the Revenue Hudson in the Spanish-American War By William H. Thiesen, Ph.D., Atlantic Area Historian, USCG t a little over three months, the ASpanish-American War of 1898 proved a brief engagement as most wars go. However, it served as a reminder of the Revenue Cutter Service’s ability to support the nation’s military in time of war. A predecessor service to today’s Coast Guard, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service fought proudly in both Atlantic and Pacific theaters of this conflict, known also as the War with Spain. In the early months of 1898, tensions mounted between the and Spain, reaching a crescendo in late February 1898 with the sinking of the USS in , . By March, the prepared for war with Spain, and an executive order put the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service on a wartime footing with oversight of several cutters transferred from the Treasury Department to the U.S. Navy. While all of these cutters served honorably throughout the hostilities, few distinguished themselves as much Engraved portrait of James Hutchinson Scott as he as the Hudson. Hudson’s crew included appeared in his uniform around 1898. The image comes a complement of three line officers from an 1899 issue of the newspaper San Francisco Call. (captain, executive officer, and junior (Courtesy of the Scott family) officer) and two engineering officers. The line officers included Third Lieutenant Scott’s Early Heroics Ernest E. Mead (Academy Class of 1898), Scott was born in East Liberty, First Assistant Engineer Nathaniel E. Pennsylvania, on February 11, 1868, Cutchin, and Second Assistant Engineer into a distinguished military family. He Theodore G. Lewton. Hudson’s captain, later received a presidential appointment Lieutenant Frank H. Newcomb, had to the U.S. Naval Academy for the class served since 1873 and, during the Civil of 1884. Scott had to resign due to ill War, served as a U.S. Navy officer while health and began serving on merchant still a teenager. Hudson also carried plying the waters between the East eighteen enlisted men, including two Coast, and India. warrant officers, a cook, steward and a Rather than continue in the merchant boy. Hudson’s executive officer was First marine, Scott entered the Revenue Cutter Lieutenant James Hutchinson “Hutch” Service Academy with the class of 1891. Scott. He demonstrated his bravery during the cadet cruise to Europe. While the training ship called at Lisbon, the vessel’s quartermaster fell overboard. Scott

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responded immediately, jumping over the Service’s first steel-hulled vessel; the side to rescue the drowning man. however, she was essentially a large After receiving his commission as tugboat. With a draft of only nine feet, a junior officer in the Revenue Cutter she was designed for harbor patrol duties Service, Scott served on a number of rather than high-seas naval operations or cutters, including theWoodbury , where offshore blockade duties. he began his active-duty career. On On April 2, 1898, Hudson slipped an icy, sub-zero day in January 1891, her moorings at her homeport of New Woodbury was cruising east of her York. She steamed down the East Coast homeport of Portland, Maine. The cutter to the Norfolk (Virginia) Naval Shipyard, came across the wreck of a three-masted which was outfitting and arming the schooner that had grounded on a rocky American fleet for combat operations. ledge. Heavy seas broke clear over the The navy yard was humming with schooner, so the crew took refuge on a activity when Hudson arrived to receive high ledge. her armament of two six-pound rapid- Woodbury’s commanding officer fire guns located fore and aft and a decided to commandeer a fishing dory in Colt automatic “machine” gun on top a local village to attempt the rescue in the of the aft deckhouse. The cutter also ledge’s roiling waters. After retrieving the received a layer of five-eights-inch armor fishing boat from the village, the captain bolted around her pilothouse and aft called for volunteers and Scott stepped deckhouse. forward. As Scott’s dory deployed into By Saturday, April 23, Hudson the stormy sea, a U.S. Life-Saving Service completed fitting out and steamed south boat approached from down the coast toward , Florida, a staging and the race was on to see who would area for U.S. naval operations around save the shipwrecked men. Cuba. Off the Outer Banks of North Despite the greater experience and Carolina, the cutter met with a severe boat-handling skills of the Life-Saving storm, including hurricane winds, Service crew, Scott’s dory reached the lightning, mountainous seas, torrential stranded sailors first and, after some rain and hail the size of “hen’s eggs.” unsuccessful attempts to heave a line to The storm nearly washed away the the survivors, Scott secured it around his cutter’s pilothouse, but the new armor waist. Before anyone knew what he was plating held everything together against doing, Scott jumped overboard into the the heavy seas. After the storm, Hudson bone-chilling water. He swam toward the steamed up the Cape Fear River and rocks, yelling at the officer-in-charge to moored off Wilmington, North Carolina, pay out the line. Scott reached the surf to make repairs and re-stow gear. zone and the seas dashed him against the rocks, before the sailors could grab him War with Spain and haul him up the slippery rocks. On April 25, Congress declared that Scott was stunned by his wave- a state of war existed with Spain, tossed landing, but his feat allowed the retroactive to April 21. By Thursday, sailors to secure the rescue line to the May 5, Hudson arrived in Key West and, rocks. By the time the stranded men four days later, she took up her duty climbed down the line into the dory, they station off the coast of Cuba. Due to her had been exposed to the wind, water relatively shallow draft of nine feet, the and freezing cold for fourteen hours. naval command assigned Hudson to They would have perished had they enforce the blockade between the ports remained on the rocks any longer. This of Cardenas and Matanzas. On May 10, selfless act demonstrated yet again Scott’s Hudson reconnoitered the approaches uncommon bravery and heroism. to Cardenas Bay, which was defended by three Spanish gunboats. Captain The Hudson Newcomb tried to draw the gunboats Several years later, Scott found out for a fight, but they refused to steam himself assigned to the Hudson. Powered outside the safety of the bay. Newcomb by a triple-expansion steam engine, later found that the Spanish had blocked the ninety-four-foot Hudson made a the two main channels into the bay with top speed of twelve knots. She was debris. He considered steaming his way

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through the blocked channels; however, he feared the presence Scott and Third Lieutenant Meade of underwater mines. After further reconnaissance, he found a commanded Hudson’s main ordnance of third channel that was passable by shallow-draft vessels at high six-pound Hotchkiss guns. tide. Lt. Scott commanded the aft six- On Wednesday, May 11, gunboats USS Machias and USS pound gun as Hudson steamed toward Wilmington (PG-8) and boat USS Winslow (TB-5) the crippled Winslow, with enemy shells appeared outside Cardenas Bay to enter the bay and attack landing all around her. Scott oversaw the Spanish gunboats. The Machias drew too much water to the gun crew while sitting calmly on an participate in the attack, so she laid down a bombardment on icebox and smoking a cigar. Meanwhile, the barrier islands to eliminate any snipers near the shallow the ship’s boy, sixteen-year-old Moses entrance. Afterward, Hudson, Wilmington and Winslow slowly Jones of New Bern, North Carolina, fed steamed through the passage toward Cardenas Bay. Between ammunition to the aft gun and Ship’s noon and 1:00 p.m., the vessels emerged from the channel and Steward Henry Savage passed up shells Wilmington’s captain, Commander Coleman Todd, sent Hudson from the magazine. Savage, a veteran in search of the Spanish gunboats on the western side of the of the Civil War, shouted up to Lewton, bay. While Hudson carried out her reconnaissance, Winslow “Hot time in the old town tonight, Mr. and Wilmington met about 3,500 yards off the port of Cardenas, Lewton!” where Commander Todd had spied the gunboats moored By now, both sides were fully along the waterfront. engaged, with Spanish gunners closing Todd directed Winslow’s commanding officer, Lt. John the range on Winslow. Accurate enemy Baptiste Bernadou, to investigate the situation with his torpedo fire disabled Winslow’s steering gear and boat. Winslow was the fifth of the Foote-class of swift torpedo one of her engines. Lt. Bernadou called boats and carried a crew of twenty men and the dashing out to the Hudson, “I am injured; haul me Bernadou as captain. With a top speed of twenty-five knots out.” In addition to her battle damage, a compared to Hudson’s twelve, and armed with torpedoes and strong breeze was pushing the torpedo three rapid-firing one-pound guns, Winslow seemed perfectly boat dangerously close to the Spanish suited to destroy the Spanish gunboats. Winslow’s executive batteries and shoal water too shallow for officer, Ensign Worth Bagley, came from a distinguished North Hudson to navigate. Carolina military family that included brother-in-law Josephus Daniels, later Secretary of the Navy. To the Rescue Newcomb reacted quickly to Winslow’s The Battle of Cardenas Bay precarious situation, steering Hudson As often happens in combat, the original battle plan proved through the muddy shallows toward useless once the fighting began. Bernadou ordered Winslow Winslow as the cutter’s propeller churned to steam toward the waterfront in reverse, probably to make up brown water. Hudson steamed as close full use of the stern-mounted torpedo tube. But as soon as as she could while Lt. Scott stood on the Winslow reached a distance of 1,500 yards from the wharves, bow preparing to heave a line to Ensign Bernadou found himself among white range buoys used by the Bagley and his enlisted men on Winslow’s enemy to aim their artillery. The firefight quickly escalated with deck. Scott and Bagley were old friends, enemy one-pound guns blazing from the moored gunboats and Bagley yelled to Scott, “For God’s and artillery salvoes from guns hidden within Cardenas’s sake, get us out of that fellow’s fire!” waterfront. and Scott answered, “Keep your shirt on Having witnessed the shelling, Hudson steamed toward old man. We’ll get you out in a minute.” the Wilmington at full speed and asked permission from However, by the time the cutter closed Commander Todd to engage the enemy. By 2:00 pm, the battle enough for Scott to heave the line, a was raging between the Spanish artillery and gunboats, against shell exploded among Winslow’s men, Winslow, with her one-pounders; the distant Wilmington, with instantly killing Bagley and an enlisted her heavier four-inchers; and Hudson, with her six-pounders. man and mortally wounding three more According to one eyewitness, Spanish guns blazed from half- men. Bagley and his men became the a-dozen directions, but they were difficult to spot because the first Americans killed in the Spanish- enemy used the new smokeless powder while the American American War. gunners were blinded by their own black powder ammunition. Despite the enemy shells, strong During the gun duel, Hudson’s Engineer Nathaniel Cutchin winds and shallow water, Hudson’s oversaw the rapidly changing engine operations. To help the crew managed to secure a three-inch captain navigate the shallow bay and see his way through the hawser to the Winslow and tried to fog of Hudson’s guns, Assistant Engineer Theodore Lewton tow her out of range. The hawser mounted the cabin top behind the pilothouse and helped snapped due either to the strain or an Newcomb direct the cutter’s movements. Second Lieutenant incoming round. Determined to succeed,

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Newcomb exclaimed, “We will make it fast this time.” In the heat of battle, Newcomb plowed further into the mud, backing and filling to carve a path to the stricken Winslow. Hudson’s crew secured the torpedo boat alongside the cutter in tugboat fashion and Hudson finally hauled the Winslow out of range of the enemy guns. The men of the Winslow and Hudson had served with honor during the Battle of Cardenas Bay. Winslow withstood eighteen shell hits. Her smokestack and ventilator were shot out, her armored conning tower was disabled and her hull holed near the water line. The enemy killed five of her crew and wounded several more, including Bernadou, who Hudson provides covering fire with six-pounder guns en route to rescuing the disabled received shrapnel wounds. Congress Winslow. Hudson’s guns fired 135 shells during the duel with Spanish batteries. would recognize three of Winslow’s crew The cutter was successful in reaching the disabled torpedo boat and towing her out of for their heroism with the Medal of harm’s way. (Coast Guard Collection) Honor. After a doctor boardedHudson to tend to Winslow’s wounded, Scott, Meade and Lewton met in the galley area to unwind, have a cup of coffee and discuss the day’s events. However, Hudson’s work was not finished and Newcomb received orders to ferry Winslow’s dead and wounded to Key West. That evening, the cutter steamed toward the fleet’s base of operations, arriving at Key West the next morning. The crew of the Hudson had performed courageously during the Battle of Cardenas Bay. In addition to rescuing the Winslow in a hailstorm of incoming rounds, the cutter returned enemy fire, pouring 135 six-pound shells into Spanish positions in only twenty minutes and reducing one enemy battery on shore. In his after-action report, Captain Newcomb spent much of the narrative praising the heroic efforts exhibited byHudson ’s crew, commending Lt. Scott for his “coolness and intrepidity” in handling his gun crew and securing a line to Winslow “under the most trying circumstances.” During the summer, Hudson remained the blockade ship at Cardenas Bay, stationed father east than any other U.S. warship. While guarding the approaches to the bay, Hudson captured three vessels carrying enemy stores destined for Cardenas and destroyed a fourth. In addition, Hudson landed Proudly two detachments of Cuban fighters and their equipment to reinforce the insurgents surrounding the port city. Hudson also fired on a suspected Spanish torpedo boat. The vessel proved supports the to be a hulk filled with explosives by the Spanish in hopes of destroying an unsuspecting U.S. Navy vessel. The USS San USCG Academy Francisco (C-5) later destroyed the bomb ship. Hudson Crew Commended and its Hudson continued her patrol duties into early August and the war’s conclusion. On August 12, she returned to New York City Alumni! and a rousing welcome by local citizens. In a special message to Congress, President William McKinley commended Hudson for rescuing the Winslow “in the face of a most galling fire” and Congress recognized her crew with specially-minted medals www.marcomllc.com

April 2014 43 HISTORY LESSON

for their valor. A joint resolution provided Lt. Newcomb with the war’s only Congressional Gold Medal. Congress awarded Scott and Hudson’s line and engineering officers the Congressional Silver Medal, and bestowed the Congressional Bronze Medal to the enlisted crewmembers. During the battle, Hudson’s crew served with distinction as they manned guns and worked on deck without any protection from enemy fire. The day’s action resulted in the destruction of two Spanish gunboats and heavy damage to enemy shore batteries. At the height of the action, Hudson kept up hot covering fire and, according to Lt. Mead, each one of the cutter’s rounds “shook Hudson from stem to stern.” Commanded by Lt. Scott, the aft 6-pound gun crew kept up a steady covering fire at close range as the cutter moved in to rescue the crippled Winslow and its surviving crewmembers. Scott and the crew of the Hudson performed honorably in the face of intense enemy fire. Newcomb was the only officer that had seen combat action before and he later wrote that each of his men performed “in a cool and efficient manner” under fire and that “each and every member of the crew . . . did his whole duty cheerfully and without the least hesitation.” James Hutchinson Scott served in the Revenue Cutter Service a few more years after the war. After his tour on board Hudson, he served on CutterManhattan , and then received temporary command of CutterWashington . He also served as navigation officer of Cutter Gresham, when it rescued 103 passengers and crew from the grounded Portuguese bark Fraternidada. He ended his career as executive officer of CutterPerry , resigning on July 1, 1901. He was the first Revenue Cutter Service officer to receive an official letter of regret from the Revenue Cutter Service. After his resignation, Scott began a business career as an executive with the rapidly-expanding Pennsylvania Railroad.

Dr. Thiesen received a Master’s degree from East Carolina University’s Program in Maritime History and earned a Ph.D. from University of Delaware’s Hagley Program in the History of Technology and Industrialization. His research interests include Coast Guard history, naval history, ship design and construction, and the history of technology.

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