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Posted on 08/03/2003 10:51:44 PM PDT by 68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub
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NOTE: CLICK ON EACH GRAPHIC ON THIS TABLE TO GO TO A COAST GUARD RELATED SITE
Brief Timeline of The U.S. Coast Guard
On any given day, the men and women of the Coast Guard:
Most important, the Coast Guard saves lives.
Now that's a respectable day's work. All from a service of only 35,000 people, fewer than the New York Police Department. And by the way, the Coast Guard is the only service in which the role of women is unrestricted. Regular Coast Guard Total 35,000 Coast Guard Reserves Activated since 9/11 2900 The Coast Guard increased its vigilance, readiness, and patrols to protect the country’s 95,000 miles of coastline, including the Great Lakes and inland waterways. CLICK HERE for the Coast Guard marching song "The civilian volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard" In the summer of 1934 a yachtsman named Malcolm Stuart Boylan planted the seed that eventually sprouted as the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Boylan had just been elected commodore of the newly-created Pacific Writers' Yacht Club, which was about to undertake a cruise from its home in Los Angeles to Catalina Island. Boylan asked a Coast Guard acquaintance, LTCDR C.W. Thomas of the cutter Hermes, to inspect the club's boats before their departure. Another of the Hermes's officers, LT F.C. Pollard, made the trip to Catalina on board Boylan's yacht, and the two men had a long discussion about the relationship between the Coast Guard and the boating community. On August 23, 1934, Boylan sent Pollard a letter outlining a basic concept for a Coast Guard reserve: ... A Coast Guard Reserve would be an excellent thing to perpetuate its traditions, preserve its entity and, more particularly, to place at the disposal of CG officers, auxiliary flotillas of small craft for the frequent emergencies incident to your...duties. A copy of Boylan's letter made its way to Washington, and to the desk of CDR Russell Waesche, an aide to the Commandant of the Coast Guard. Waesche saw merit in the idea, but it languished for some five years. In 1936 Waesche was promoted to rear-admiral and appointed Commandant. He was a forceful, energetic man, and the creation of a Coast Guard reserve became one of his favorite projects. With the backing of the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Navy, and several influential Congressmen, RADM Waesche finally was able to gain Congressional approval for the concept. On February 19, 1941 Congress passed a law restructuring the Coast Guard Reserve. Henceforth the Coast Guard was to operate two reserve forces. The existing civilian reserve organization was renamed the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. A new U.S. Coast Guard Reserve was to function on a military basis as a source of wartime manpower, like the reserves of the other armed services. The officers running the Coast Guard appreciated the staggering demands that war would put on it, and the value of the new reserve system in helping them meet those demands. By the summer of 1941 the District Commanders were sending Coast Guard headquarters lists of boats owned by Auxiliarists that would make good patrol craft - and requisitioning Lewis machine guns, Thompson submachine guns, rifles, and pistols for them. On November 1, 1941, President Roosevelt signed an order transferring the Coast Guard from the Treasury Department to the Navy Department. A few weeks later the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and the Coast Guard's reserve system was put to the ultimate test. On the night of December 7, amid rumors of Japanese invasion, twenty Coast Guard Auxiliarists from the 13th District took their boats out of Seattle on the service's first wartime patrol cruise. In May, 1942 the Secretary of the Navy authorized uniforms for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Perhaps the Auxiliary's most important contribution to the war effort came in the form of the Volunteer Port Security Force. An executive order of February, 1942 directed the Secretary of the Navy to take the necessary steps to prevent "sabotage and subversive activities" on the nation's waterfronts. The task of protecting the hundreds of warehouses, piers, and other facilities that kept the American shipping industry in business fell to the Coast Guard, which in turn delegated it to the Reserve and the Auxiliary. As the war went on and the Coast Guard's resources were stretched thinner, Auxiliarists and TRs were called upon to fill gaps wherever active duty Coast Guardsmen left them. Auxiliarists' boats patrolled the waterfronts and inlets looking for saboteurs, enemy agents, and fires. At least one unit of temporary Reservists, recruited from the Auxiliary, patrolled east coast beaches on horseback. Other Auxiliarists manned lookout and lifesaving stations near their homes, freeing regular Coast Guardsmen for sea duty. When a flood struck St. Louis in the spring of 1943, Coast Guard Auxiliarists and Reservists evacuated seven thousand people and thousands of livestock. The Auxiliary and the Reserve attracted their share of celebrity members. Actor Humphrey Bogart took his yacht on several patrols out of Los Angeles, and Arthur Fiedler, conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, put in his twelve hours per week on patrol duty in Boston Harbor. During the Vietnam conflict several Coast Guard cutters were taken off their normal stations and sent to Southeast Asia. Auxiliarists put their boats to work on patrol duty. The years 1992 and 1993 saw the Auxiliary's ingenuity and dedication tested by disasters precipitated by weather and international politics. Auxiliarists evacuated hundreds of people from the path of Hurricane Andrew, and from the scenes of devastating floods in the Midwest. In 1994 a military coup in Haiti released another surge of immigrants heading for Florida. The Coast Guard and the Auxiliary mobilized in the largest search-and-rescue operation since the Second World War.
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The grandson did this religiously and lived to be age of 110. He left 4 children, 20 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren
. . . And a 50-foot hole where the crematorium used to be.
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Hi, Ctlpdad! Welcome to the Canteen!
Wanna buy a burka?
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NIGHTTIME RAID — A soldier with the 3rd Battalion, 502d Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) , mans a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon providing support during a nighttime raid on Aug. 1, 2003 at a location where a suspected former Iraqi Army General has been taking refuge to hide from coalition forces in Mosul, Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Kevin Wastler
Soldiers with the 20th Special Forces Group work with soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army (ANA) to search for suspected Taliban members and weapon caches at a school in the Gardez Province during Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks, U.S. Army
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army (ANA), gather for prayer before conducting searches for suspected Taliban and weapons caches in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. This marks the first major combat operation held by the ANA in which they worked alongside the 20th Special Forces Group. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
A Typical Day in the Coast Guard Auxiliary
By Wayne Spivak, ADSO-CS 1SR
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Ever wondered what an average day was like for the Coast Guard Auxiliary? On any average day, somewhere in the United States, an Auxiliarist will help educate 929 people on issues surrounding Recreational Boating Safety & Marine Environmental Protection.
Likewise, America's Volunteer Lifesavers will save $729,000 worth of property while assisting 56 People in Trouble on Water. Another 615 Vessel Safety Checks will be performed as well as over 150 support missions for the United States Coast Guard.
And most important of all, one or two recreational boaters, whose death was certain - somewhere on the waters of the U.S. - had his or her life saved by a Coast Guard Auxiliarist!
And to top it all off, they, enjoyed what they were doing! They like volunteers all over the nation reaped the rewards that only come when you unselfishly give to others so they can better themselves.
But, so far we've only used statistics to demonstrate that typical day. Let's put a human face on some of these Auxiliarists.
On Patrol
During a typical patrol, members of the Auxiliary, using both a power boat and a Personal Water Craft (PWC) played parts in two Search and Rescue (SAR) cases, involving a total of two vessels and providing assistance to three persons.
In one such SAR mission, members of Flotilla 13-06 of Freeport, New York, consisting of USCGAux Coxswain's Hal Gold, Jim Dunn alternating with Coxswain Jessica Ksaizek (on the PWC) and Crew member Pete Seidel were proceeding east along Reynolds Channel in their respective vessels.
As the units were within ½ mile of the LIRR Bridge, the crew noticed a rider-less PWC adrift in the channel. On further inspection, they also found a person in the water (PIW). Utilizing the unique ability of PWC's to maneuver; Coxswain Gold dispatched Coxswain Ksaizek on the PWC to find out if the PIW needed assistance.
Jessica Ksaizek (on the PWC) informed Coxswain Gold that the PIW was injured and needed help. The injured rider was a 23 year old man who was complaining of severe pain in left hip, knee and leg, and severe head pain from blow to his head during his accident.
After transferring the injured man to the Auxiliary power boat (called a Facility), he was rushed to Long Beach Hospital, with local law enforcement providing an escort to clear the way.
Not every patrol involves this type of event, but even the dullest and most uneventful patrol in itself provides benefits to the boating public.
Vessel Safety Checks
It's Labor Day Weekend and coincidently Vessel Safety Check Weekend. Several members of the Freeport Flotilla number 13-06, 1st Southern District of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are manning a VSC checkpoint at the public marina in Wantagh, New York. It's a clear, somewhat chilly day, but the traffic into the waters of the Great South Bay is moderate. Flotilla Staff Officer for Vessel Examinations (FSO-VE) Phil Caroleo and his team are busy performing VSC's.
All type of water craft has been trailered to this ramp. From 26 foot single engine cruisers to fishing boats, PWC's and even a few kayaks. As each new boat is brought to the ramp, an Auxiliarist approaches the skipper and asks if they want a VSC. This start's the process of both educating the boaters, not only on what he or she forgot to check, but also additional safety items and the need for further boater education to the mix.
That day 30% of the boaters flunked the VSC. This means that they were missing some type of required equipment or had some other major deficiency. Some of them just have inaccessible PFD's or had them still in the plastic bags. Easily rectified!
Other boats had navigation lights not working, expired Visual Distress Signals (flares) or none at all. While still others found out, thankfully sooner than later, that they had other problems, like valve's left in the open position, or seacock's left out. Many of the individuals took a quick run to the local marine store, just to buy those items that would bring them into compliance!
In the Classroom
Approximately twenty-five boaters have gathered at a local West Marine store in Island Park, New York to take Navigating with GPS, a three hour course on how a GPS works, and how to integrate this tool with your navigation knowledge.
Flotilla Staff Officer for Public Education (FSO-PE) Pete Siedel is the lead instructor this evening. Utilizing a Power Point presentation, large paper charts and several assistant instructors, these Auxiliarists begin educating the class that using a GPS is not just a 'click and shoot' technology.
Many members of the class have weak navigation and charting backgrounds, and are unaware that the GPS as a navigation tool will only work well if you have previously calculated your course. They were unaware or never thought out the logical process that if you put in two waypoints, the GPS will calculate the shortest distance between the points, a straight line.
That is fine and dandy, but if there happens to be a land mass between these two points, the GPS won't know, and will nottake that into account. Failure to use basic navigation techniques would lead the unsuspecting boater into a grounding condition, and possibly a dangerous hard grounding condition.
Three hours after the beginning of this course, all the students have gained a greater insight into the use of their GPS's, and navigation. Several of the students have said they will sign up for the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Advanced Coastal Navigation course.
At the Boat Show
One aspect of boater education is to provide information about Environmental Protection issues. One such issue is Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS). The Coast Guard is charged with monitoring such species and their introduction and migration in this country. Monitoring also includes the identification and exclusion of these animals.
The most well known of the ANS animals is the Zebra Mussels. These pests can cause all sorts of havoc. From clogging intake pipes used by power plants to usurping indigenous wildlife, it is the mission of the Coast Guard to protect our environment. The Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard in this endeavor by providing the boating public with information. It is to this end that District Staff Officer for Marine Safety & Environmental Protection (DSO-MS/EP) Diane Castrogiovanni spends much of her time, both at boat shows, and in front of the public.
When we man public information booths at local, regional and national boat shows, we provide the public with the information they need to help stem the tide of ANS animals.
Americas Volunteer Lifesavers
38,000 men and women spend hundreds of thousands of hours making boating and environment safer. These were some highlights of just a few of them. How does that old cliché go? "There are a million stories in the naked city…"
Take the time and talk to a member of Team Coast Guard. There are lots of interesting aspects that make becoming a member of the team a unique experience.
How can you help?
You can contact your local Coast Guard Station or Unit for the phone number of the local Coast Guard Recruiter (for Active and Reserves duty) or the phone number of the local Flotilla (for the Auxiliary). Better yet, why not visit us on the web at http://www.uscg.mil (Coast Guard) or http://www.cgaux.org (Auxiliary).
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army, prepare to set up overwatch on top of a school being searched for suspected Taliban and weapon caches in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
Soldiers of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Brigade, Afghanistan National Army, search for suspected Taliban and weapon caches in schools and other compounds in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
A soldier of the 20th Special Forces Group prepares to detonate fuses to rocket propelled grenades found in a compound in the Gardez Province, as part of Operation Warrior Sweep, July 22, 2003. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Preston E. Cheeks
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