[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

As of Oct 3 2001 I am in Coast Guard Auxiliary
District 13, Division 5 Flotilla 51 COOS BAY, OREGON
On 5/28/02 I passed my test and oral review board and am a fully qualified radio watchstander.
The training and test(s) is the same as members of the Coast Guard do.







This is where I stand my Radio Watches.
Motor Lifeboat Station Coos Bay OR

Which is under the Command of Group/Air Station North Bend

The missions of Group North Bend include maritime search and rescue, enforcement of laws and treaties,
providing aids to navigation, and marine environmental protection.
In addition, the Air Station frequently assists Federal, state and county agencies
by responding to calls for
assistance with inland searches and medical evacuations (medevacs) of injured loggers.
Group North Bend has integrated members of the Coast Guard Reserve
into every facet of the Group's operations,
and maintains an active liaison with Coast Guard Auxiliarists on the central and southern Oregon coast.

On any given day, the men and women of the Coast Guard:

• Conduct 109 search-and-rescue missions.
• Assist 192 people in distress.
• Seize 169 pounds of marijuana.
• Nab 306 pounds of cocaine.
Most important, the Coast Guard saves lives.
"Ten or 12 people today will go home to dinner with their family
only because the Coast Guard got them out of trouble,"
said Adm. James Loy, commandant of the Coast Guard.
Now that's a respectable day's work.
All from a service of only 35,000 people, fewer than the New York Police Department.

I am sometimes on this boat in the ocean as part of my training.

52' Motor Lifeboat Intrepid
Generally regarded by their crews as the "Cadillac" of the motor lifeboats, these boats answer the call when heavy weather conditions are too severe for any other rescue boat. Built in 1960 to replace wooden-hulled ships that carried the same names since the 1930's, these steel-hulled 52-foot motor lifeboats can withstand 100-mile per hour winds and sea swells up to 35 feet. These are the only Coast Guard vessels under 65 feet that have names. Only four 52-footers are in service, all in the Pacific Northwest. They are built to withstand the most severe conditions at sea and are capable of effecting a rescue at sea even under the most difficult circumstances. They are self-bailing, self-righting, almost unsinkable, and have a long cruising radius.
Missions: Search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, and recreational boating safety.


We Need You -- In the wake of the recent attacks on the United States, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will be called upon to provide essential services to the Coast Guard as they focus more heavily on their military missions.  We will need all the help we can get.  You needn't own a boat or even be an experienced boater, since our missions are wide-ranging.  For information about existing Auxiliary missions and the Auxiliary in general, go to our Join the Auxiliary webpage.  You will find there a form through which you can ask that a local Auxiliarist make contact with you to explore the ways in which you can assist Team Coast Guard
and, in the process, do something for our country in its hour of need.
Age 17 and up (no upper age restrictions) Click Here for details.

[zip]

Congratulations Brother. What do you do in your spare time?

Being serious for a moment - I'm honored to know you Tonk.

[mountaineer]

Thanks for all you do, Tonk!

[Tennessee_Bob]

This is where I stand my Radio Watches.

Doesn't look like you're standing in that picture...

Congrats!

[Ace's Dad]

As we say in the navy: Bravo Zulu!

Regards, Avery

DTOM

[redhead]

Congratulations, Tonk! That's wonderful! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Bless you!

TO THE TROOPS:

God bless each and every one of you who serve so proudly. We who wait are honored to have your patriotic example. I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful, that you were all able to connect with family, even if only for a few minutes. May God richly bless you and bring you home victorious and safe. Love and hugs,

(well, I don't really look like THIS....but, almost...heh)

[Jen]

OUTSTANDING! Thank you for your continuing service to our country.

[Diver Dave]

Congratulations Brian. Ya done good!

[uglybiker]

Waytago Tonk!!

[exit82]

Tonk, you served our country once, and you continue to do so. Thank you so very much. There's no substitue for experience, and you bring a tremendous amount of it to the table. Best wishes to you and the rest of "your" crew!

[Spunky]

Congratulations Tonkin.

[Semper911]

As a former boat coxwain and OOD of a USCG small boat station on the east coast, I can safely say that no one is more important than the person standing radio watch. He/she is the first on the case and sets the stage for the entire operation.

Here is a probable sampling of tonk's typical 4 hour watch: monitoring (what sounds like) hundreds of radio frequencies, answering phones, typing sitreps, taking crap from stressed OODs, keeping track of boats underway, and all the while, typing his every move into the station log. Even though everyone assigned to a small boat station must be qualified as a watchstander, few can do it well.

I trust that you are one of those few, tonk, and I am proud of you. We had many auxillary members at my station, and they really made a difference for us. Keep up the good work. Semper911 out.

[Iscool]

Good Job......But man, how do you keep your dinner down while ridin' in that boat???

[lodwick]

Big bump to the very top.

Thanks, Tonk!

[Bob J]

WTG TONK!

[TopQuark]

Congratulations! It is a great achivement, and thank you for everything you do for us.

[Militiaman7]

Way to go, Tonk

Congratulation!!!!!

[freedumb2003]

That is Soo coool! Waytago Tonk! :))

[JoeSixPack1]

Congrats Tonk!

Semper Fi !

[Arioch7]

Very cool post and thanks for the pics!

[Doctor Raoul]

Congradulations on your accomplishments.