Breeze
Issue 1 2018
Newsletter of District 7 • United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
2017 Hurricane Season:
Surviving the Storms Member photos and stories
Photo cap on on page 12
4 6 11 13 16 19 26
Wordss fo for the Members from the Helm he D7 He H Stars tars and an Legends
Dorothy JJoan Riley, DSO-PB
Lee Hudson COMO Judith Jud Ju Responding espondin spondin to the 2017 Hurriane Season: Seaso What District 7 cane members d did before, during and a er the hurricanes. h
Coast oast st Guard and Hu H Hurricanes rma and Maria Ma Irma Photos hotos os submi ed by b Stephen llerin, in, FL 82 Long Boat B Ellerin, Key
By Dorothy h Joan Riley, DSO-PB 7 Semper emper mper Paratus: Paratus
From rom m Our Cover... Dr. r. Mark Perni Leads Lead CG Mobile Medical ica Unit Byy Joee Perez, FL 1111-3 Madeira Beach each h
Admiral dmiral Brown to the Rescue at NACON ACON ON 2017. Byy COMO OMO Judith Lee Hudson
WHAT’S INSIDE....
5 10 12 15 18 20 27
Recognizi Recognizing ecogniz Our Members
Division ivision sion 11 Members Membe Provide Aid d to Evacuees A er e Hurricanes Irma ma and Maria. Byy Jesse sse Sco , DCDR 11
Flo o lla 61 Homeste Homestea Homestead Cleanup A er Hurricanes Irma Irm and Maria Photos hotos os submi ed by Albert Juliachs, Homestead chs, FL 61 Homeste
St.. Thomas homas Post Hur Hu Hurricane Acc vi es
Flo o lla 75 Apollo B Be Beach Damage Assessment ssessment
Byy James Kreglo, FL 16-3 mes “C.C.” Kreg St.. John hn
Auxiliary ons uxiliary iary Opera on Mul ul ple D7 Contrib Contributors
Light ghtt Lists: Where tto find them.
Be e a Leader and a M Mentor
n Funderburk, FL 10-2 By Don vannah na Savannah
Reprinted nted from fro Now ow Hear This, FL 82 Longboat Key
The he e Heroes of the Pe Pea Island Lifesaving fesaving Sta on
How ow Life Jackets Sav Save Lives Reprinted rinted from Now N Hear This, FLL 82 Long Boat Key
Byy William Carter, SOSO-PB 12
21 28
Member Ac vi es Around the District Mul ple Contributors
24 2 29 CGMA
Videos for you and the public
25 32 Admiral Paul F. Zukun Change of Watch
Recrea onal Boa ng Safety-Program Visitor Updates
St.. Augus ne Flo lla Marches in St. Patrick’ Patrick’s rade Day Parade.
AUXAIR UXAIR District 7 Flig Fl Flight and NewsOpera ons Safety Ne lee err
Barbara Burchfield, DSO-PV
Byy Georgia Young, FL 1 14-7 t Augus n ne St.
Hurricane Covera Coverage
Use Social Media to Help Spread the Boating Safely Message-Page 31 BREEZE
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BREEZE Volume LXV Spring 2018 Read the BREEZE online at: www.uscga-district-7.org/breeze.html
District Staff Officers
District 7 Staff Officers
Preven on Directorate Russell Dewey Jackson, DDC-P Edward E. Pra , DSO-MS Alberto Miguel Juliachs, DSO-MT Agnes K. Mical, DSO-NS Barbara D. Burchfield, DSO-PV Jules H. Moquin, DSO-PE William S. Griswold, DSO-SL Chuck Kelemen, DSO-VE
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD District Commander
Division Commanders
Rear Admiral Peter J. Brown
Division 1...........................Angel R. Rivera Division 2..........John D. Sprague-Williams Division 3 ...................Robert M. Sherman Division 4 ................Mar n S. Goodwin, Sr. Division 5.....................Gary R. Bowerman Division 6..................Alfredo M. Ventura Division 7...................Donald T. Hershman Division 8.........................Braxton R. Ezell Division 9................Thomas W. Bamford Division 10....................Donald L. Wellons Division 11.......................Jesse Aron Sco Division 12.................Joe L. Livingston, Sr. Division 13....................Robert W. Bencze Division 14.......................David L. Patrick Division 15...................Andrew J. Render Division 16....................Rosemarie Moscia Division 17....................James H. Parker III
Director of Auxiliary District 7
CDR Xaimara Vicencio-Roldan Opera ons Training Officer
CWO4 Charles (Bee) Perry U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
Response Directorate
District Commodore
Jonathan Ward Nicholls, DDC-R Thomas E. Powers, DSO-AVDonald L. Wellons, DSO-CMWilliam R. Becke , DSO-OPWilliam F. Hanlon III, DSO-IM
Commodore Judith Lee Hudson District Chief of Staff
Gary P. Barth Immediate Past District Commodore
Logis cs Directorate
Commodore Robert Weskerna Daniel C. Hess, DDC-L Craig R. De Toma, DSO-CS Thomas Allen Lane, DSO-DV Paule e R. Parent, DSO-FS Angela Pomaro, DSO-HR Susan Z. Has ngs, DSO-IS Salvatore Magro, DSO-MA Mary Barbara Pa on, DSO-PA Dorothy J. Riley, DSO-PB Diane Riggan, NSBW Coordinator
District Captain North
Patricia Ann McMenamin District Captain West
Frank A. Wondolkowski District Captain East
William E. Bartley Auxiliary Sector Coordinators
Others
ASC Sector Charleston
Jullianne Bouchard, DSO-SR Carl Dalton Motes, DSO-LP James F. Stone, DSO-FN Theresa Sweeney, PPCA
COMO Henry G. Pra III ASC Sector Jacksonville
Maxine Elizabeth Ra rie
District Administra ve Assistant & Aide Manuel Sosa Jr., D-AA Nicole R. Be erson,D-AD Teresa A. Barth, D-AD-P Carolyn R. Hooley, D-AD Alejandro M. De-Quesada, D-AD-H Gerald Randolph Pa on, D-AD Julianne Bouchard, D-AD Phillip T. Poole, D-AD-LL Robert Weskerna, D-AD Robert A. Fabich, Sr., D-AD-P
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ASC Sector Key West
Roger W. Bencze ASC Sector Miami
BREEZE is the official publica on of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 to provide ar cles of interest and informa on to its members. All ar cles and photographs submi ed must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. Electronic submissions are encouraged. Send high resolu on images as a achments not embedded within a document or email. BREEZE ar cles and photographs may be reprinted with proper a ribu on to BREEZE and the author/photographer. Send comments and submissions to: do eriley1@verizon.net or to senior editor John L. Quinn: editor.uscgaux. d7.breeze@gmail.com Personal informa on of members is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The use of these rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on any computer or online service including the Internet is prohibited by the Act.
Andrea J. Rutherfoord ASC Sector St. Petersburg
Submission deadlines: Apr. 15, June 30, Sept. 15, Nov. 30, 2018.
Ronald R. Howington ASC Sector San Juan
Javier Bernabe
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Commodore Judith Lee Hudson
FROM THE DISTRICT 7 BRIDGE
TEAMS of STARS and LEGENDS “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain
It
has been a bumpy road for the last two or three years in the Auxiliary. Maybe a li le comfort can be taken from the fact that District 7 is not alone with the trials of bad weather, loss of membership, increased requirements, etc. It is a na onal picture. I do see a resilience among us that is heartening, and the volunteer spirit of sincerely wan ng to support the Coast Guard and prevent tragedies in our waterways is prevailing. So far this year I have visited Divisions 6, 9, 11, 7, 12 & 13, and flo llas 43, 69, 11-3, 86, and would have visited Flo lla 98 except for a nail in my car re. In all of these units, spirits are high, and plans abound for successful missions. You asked good ques ons too! When I first started this ar cle, I wanted to showcase how many members are contribu ng migh ly to every area where we have the opportunity to be ac ve. I wanted to give recogni on by being specific about the members who give so much. When iden fying individual members who could be described as a star and or a legend, it became obvious that I would run out of room. We have so many members who have earned the unofficial tle of a star or legend that it is impossible to list them all: officers, non-officers, single members, couples, fathers and sons, sisters, brothers, and on and on from every geographical area, from every walk of life, and for every mission. Then, it occurred to me that we more o en have teams of members who are doing much more than could be expected and astonish their ac ve duty patriots in the process. Teams have co-leaders, the idea person, the organizer, the morale builder, the behind-the-scenes contributor. All of you lead and contribute in your way.
nue to be imperfect, have ups and downs, have complica ons and obstacles. Please recognize and draw from the excellence in our missions, the purposes and the reasons we all joined the Auxiliary. Know your purpose(s), remember that standards do matter, trust and empower each other, take decisive ac on to contribute, connect with each other to be stronger and be er, and be innova ve, energe c and involved. Thank you for what you do. Please thank your fellow members for the Public Educa on class they teach, for the patrol they conduct, for the public affairs booth they staff, for helping that new member understand acronyms and for answering their ques ons, for helping the flo lla run its business, and for training their shipmates. “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” -Mark Twain (…and plan to a end NACON and D-Train.)
Judith Hudson, DCO-7 itth Hudson n DC COO-7
Because of Auxiliary stars and legends, because of our teams, and because of each of you, we have a lot to be hopeful about, a lot to be sa sfied with and of which to be proud. There is, however, always more to do and ways we can improve. Skilled, talented and contribu ng members surround each of us. Yes, we have areas where leadership is lacking, mes when missions don’t go well and plans that do not materialize. The Auxiliary will con-
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Dorothy Joan Riley, DSO-PB Recognizing Our Members
B ARTICLES OF INTEREST
reeze is the newsle er for District 7 Auxiliary. If you are a member of District 7, then this is your newsletter. We need your submissions to highlight and applaud our members and their ac vi es.
As volunteers, the only forms of payment we receive, what for many members is an astounding number of hours volunteered every month, are awards and cer ficates. These are much appreciated, but there is another form of recogni on—photos and ar cles in newsle ers. Photos and ar cles in newsle ers are a great way to recognize our members. They can be shared on social media with other members or with friends and family. This way, they serve another purpose as well: newsle ers are outstanding recruitment tools. While we strongly encourage members to write and submit ar cles, we recognize that most of us have li le me or inclina on to do so. Maybe you think you cannot write that well. (Never fear-we edit and make every contributor sound great!) It is hard enough to find the me to write monthly reports let alone ar cles. We try to make contribu ng as painless as possible. Follow these simple steps: 1. With smartphones, you no longer need to carry a camera with you to events. Use your smartphone to take pictures of your ac vi es! Send us your photographs or post the pictures on social media. •
Add my email to your contact list so that you can send the photos directly to me. do eriley@gmail.com
•
Tell me what kind of event this is, where it is and who is in the picture.
•
‘Friend’ me on social media (Facebook) and tag me when you post your photographs. (Note: on social media, remember to men on who took the photo.)
events in which their units par cipate. Breeze is also a great place to publish ar cles of interest to the members. 3. Publica ons officers publish some great ar cles. When you distribute your newsle ers, be sure to include me on the distribu on list (you should already be doing this). Add a note to draw my a en on to a specific ar cle. 4. We also encourage district appointed and elected officers to submit program updates or simply to crow about your members! We need to see more member content and less content of general interest. Breeze has ever been an award-winning publica on, but it relies upon your contribu ons to keep it great! Ω
2. Public Affairs officers should consider copying me with news releases about ac vi es and
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Responding to the 2017 Hurricane Season: What District 7 members did before, during and after the hurricanes. By Dorothy Joan Riley, DSO-PB D7
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
E
very district within the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary has its own weather quirks. The West Coast lies on a major fault line while central states cope with tornadoes and river floods. Winter weather is o en life-threatening near the Great Lakes and the New England states cope with hurricanes and nor’easters. The Gulf regions have hurricanes, and some seasons produce mul ple devasta ng storms. Such was the case in 2017 when first, Hurricane Harvey slammed through Texas followed by Hurricanes Irma and Maria thrashing through the U.S. Virgin Isles, Puerto Rico, Florida, and the coastlines of Georgia and the Carolinas. The 2017 hurricane season with some of the strongest hurricanes on record impacted almost every division within District 7 and le it reeling. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were so severely ravaged that some areas have no power six months a er the storm.
Before the Storm
Power companies from as far away as California and Canada lent line workers, equipment operators, mechanics, and other support personnel to an army of 50,000 workers to help u li es whose systems and equipment were devastated by hurricanes Irma and Maria. (Photo by Dorothy Riley, Flo lla 74 Brandon) Medical supplies are ready to serve pa ents at the Coast Guard Mobile Medical Unit at the DoubleTree Hotel in Orlando, Florida. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Joe Perez, Flo lla 11-3 Madeira Beach)
In addi on to their homes, members helped secure flo lla facili es, Auxiliary vessels and towering radio antennas. They helped store food and water and readied ham radios ‘just in case’ along with lamps, fuel to power generators, first aid supplies and ba eries. Seven million people evacuated Florida before Hurricane Irma. This writer was one. Florida highways were packed with evacuees and hotels were booked along the I10 corridor as far as the outskirts of New Orleans.
During the Storm There is just no way to describe it other than to say one survives a hurricane as best as one can. People living in coastal areas and mobile homes o en seek shelter with friends, in public shelters, or in hotels as far away from the projected path of the hurricane as possible. Surpris-
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ingly, most stay home. More surprisingly, many Floridians hold hurricane par es, likely because the companionship of others (and the alcohol) are a distrac on from the wind and rain bea ng down on them. The drop in barometric pressure for those near the eye of the storm is another ma er. The physical response is likely the cause of persons suffering panic and heart a acks and the number of babies born prematurely (although the la er
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(Con nued from page 6)
and the Carolinas) power was restored within a ma er of is debated). What do people do during a hurricane? They days. Those who evacuated Florida and returned immediately a er the storm shared the highways with numerous stay safe! convoys of u lity crews, trucks carrying food and potable water, and various law enforcement teams with PALM BEACH, BROWARD COUNTY— Many residence who live in coastal arsmall boats to assist with eas and mobile homes take advantage of shelters set up in coun es along the rescues. Power compastorm’s predicted path. (Photo by Broward County/Palm Beach) nies from as far away as California and Canada lent line workers, equipment operators, mechanics, and other support personnel to an army of 50,000 workers to help u li es whose systems and equipment were devastated by the storm. In District 7, some things worked well. On the mainland, despite power outages and hazardous driving condi ons, nearly every member was accounted for within 72 hours a er the storms. FAJARDO, PUERTO RICO--Local salvage crews working in support of the Hurricane Maria ESF-10 Puerto Rico mission use a crane barge to remove a vessel Dec. 16, 2017, that partially obstructed a roadway. Note- this is three months after the storms. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Lara Davis)
A er the Storm O en hundreds of thousands and some mes millions are le without power. A er Irma and Maria, that figure reached eight million people and huge swaths of Puerto Rico con nue without consistent power six months a er the storm. For most on the mainland (Florida, Georgia
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The Coast Guard immediately deployed rescue teams and provided direct aid to thousands of hurricane vic ms. Auxiliary Avia on program immediately responded to air sta ons to assist in delivering food and aid to the islands. (See h p://www. uscga-district-7.org/auxair. html for coverage on their storm-related ac vi es. We imported some of the pages directly from their newsle er, AUXAIR District 7 Opera ons and Flight Safety, directly into the Breeze.) In direct assistance to the Coast Guard, boat crews verified aids to naviga on and private aids to naviga on, and members provided telecommunica ons assistance as well as comfort with evacuees from Puerto Rico. (See ar cle this issue by Jesse Sco , Division Commander 11 on page 13.) Members donated pallets of water and supplies for hur(Con nued on page 8)
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
ricane vic ms in southwest Florida and our island divisions even while their own homes were damaged and stood wai ng for repairs.
A coral reef damaged by a dropped anchor off the Florida Keys. It will take many decades to restore the coral reefs a er these storms The reefs are vital to sea life. (Photo by NOAA)
Much of the immediate post storm ac vi es in which members par cipated were to their communi es cleaning up debris, removing trees upended by the winds and making repairs to buildings manageable without a contractor. (See photos on page 15 for cleanup efforts in Homestead, Florida, submi ed by Albert Juliachs.) Most of this work was performed quietly and went largely unreported. There is no way to assess just how much members of District 7 contributed to post-hurricane ac vi es. Bravo Zulu to every member of District 7 who assisted both the Coast Guard and their local communi es in cleanup efforts.
Postscript Our island divisions face major challenges. How do they dispose of the large number of sunken and severely damaged boats clogging their docks and waterways? How can they rid themselves of debris from destroyed buildings and vegeta on without damaging their local environments further? Back-to-back hurricanes buried the Bovoni Landfill in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, under four stories of piles of sheared metal roofs, waterlogged appliances and crumpled mango and bay rum trees- and the trucks keep coming! Federal Emergency Management Agency and local ci zens are at a loss at how to get rid of the debris. They resist efforts to burn the waste due to the fear of hazardous chemicals released into the air. The situa on is even more dire in Puerto Rico where Maria has become the worst natural disaster in their history. By December 2017, scien st began to assess the damage to the coral reefs in the Caribbean waters that sourround the Virgin Islands. Much to their dismay, the damage was overwhelming and en re colonies of coral were swept away. Fish and other sea life depend upon coral reefs to lay eggs and raise their young. No doubt the impact will be felt by these islands for many years to come as they are largely sustained by both tourism and the fishing industry. While our lives have returned to ‘normal,’ let us not forget our shipmates in Puerto Rico and the US. Virgin Islands who con nue to need our support. Ω
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CLEARWATER, Fla.—The traffic light at the corner of Belleair Beach Causeway and Gulf Boulevard lies broken on a lawn. Trees, traffic lights and rooftops flew off in areas otherwise seemingly undamaged by the hurricanes. (Photo by Leslie Long, Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater)
Bravo Zulu and thank you to the many members of District 7 who helped the Coast Guard, each other and their communi es recover from these storms!
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A rainbow is a symbol of hope and is just what we needed a er the hurricanes to reassure us that things will right themselves again. This beau ful rainbow was photographed in the Intracoastal Waterway ICW west of Sta on Cortez. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Murray Price, Flo lla 84 Sarasota)
Coast Guard and Hurricanes Irma and Maria FT. MYERS, Fla.—President Donald Trump greets a group of Coast Guardians shortly a er arriving Sept. 14, 2017. The event was the first stop on a visit to thank first responders and meet with vic ms of Hurricane Irma. (Coast Guard photo by Pe y Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley.)
MEMBER FOCUS
(Photos submi ed by Stephen Ellerin, Flo lla 82 Long Boat Key)
ST. THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS— Coast Guard Cu er Valiant crewmembers bring a dog aboard the cu er a er evacua ng more than 95 people and 13 pets from St. Thomas as part of Hurricane Irma response and relief efforts, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2017. The Coast Guard and its partner agencies con nuously work closely together to bring post-storm relief through maintaining a mari me presence, bring supplies and equipment ashore along with other emergency responders to assist the vicms of Hurricane Irma in the U.S. Virgin Islands. (Coast Guard photo)
Correc on: The cover photo for Breeze, Fall-Winter 2017 was incorrectly a ributed to Mary Pa on. The correct a ribu on is Robert Fabich, Sr., the editor of AUXAIR, Opera ons and Flight Newsle er.
Thanks to every member who contributed to this issue of Breeze. Your submissions are what makes it truly your district newsle er. District newsle ers are shared with every other district and with the Na onal Commodores, so do not hesitate to ‘blow your horn’ and tell everyone in the Auxiliary about the great work we do in D7. Great photos of everyday and annual events are perfect for the Breeze and your shipmates will appreciate the recogni on. Thanks again, and we look forward to hearing from you!
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Semper Paratus: Admiral Brown to the Rescue at NACON 2017. By COMO Judith Lee Hudson
W
Guard officers began to disappear from the NACON venue leaving gaps in the schedule for presenta ons and speeches. Always Semper Paratus, the Na onal officers made changes “on the fly” to keep to the agenda as much as possible.
MEMBER FOCUS
hile Hurricane Harvey did not make landfall in Florida, District 7 suffered ‘side effects’ from the storm.
The impending landfall of Hurricane Harvey occurred while District 7 hosted the Auxiliary Na onal Conference (NACON) in Orlando, Well, guess who Florida, Aug. 24–27, saved the day? With 2017. As always, Adm. ease, a sense of Paul F. Zukun , Comhumor, and profesmandant, U.S. Coast sionalism that made Guard was scheduled all of us proud to to be the keynote be members of the speaker at the Awards Rear Adm. Peter Brown, Commander, 7th District U.S. Coast Guard stands in as keynote speaker for 7th District, our own Banquet Saturday Adm. Paul Zukun , Commandant at the Na onal night. Vice Adm. Karl Conference held Aug. 24-27, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. Rear Adm. Peter (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Robert Fabich Sr., Brown filled in for, as Schultz, CommandFlo lla 15-1 Crystal River) far as I could tell, all er, Atlan c Area was missing Coast Guard scheduled to a end admirals. His ability to take just a few and speak as were other Coast Guard notes le for him by his missing shipmates high-ranking officers and dignitaries and turn them into great speeches and Without wai ng for the proper growth his relaxed demeanor and smile were the and meandering me frame that most sunshine in an otherwise ominous weathhurricanes follow, on Aug. 25, Harvey er scene. made landfall along the middle Texas coast. Harvey had exploded rapidly from a Thank you, Adm. Brown for making all of tropical depression to a major hurricane in us proud! Bravo Zulu! Ω around 40 hours. In the mean me, both Auxiliary and Coast BREEZE
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From our cover...
MEMBER FOCUS
Dr. Mark Perni, a member of Flo lla 17-10 Osceola, Florida, checks Lt. Cmdr. Robert Kuhl’s blood pressure at a Coast Guard Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) in Orlando, Florida, Sept. 14, 2017. The Coast Guard has two ac ve Mobile Medical Units (MMU), one on each coast of the U.S., used primarily as internal disaster response teams for ac ve duty members of the U.S. Coast Guard and their families. The units are made up of 12 to 15 health care providers and work seamlessly with the Health, Safety and Work-Life Program. In the a ermath of Hurricane Irma, the USCG MMU (East) showed their worth when over 200 displaced members of the service and their families were relocated to the DoubleTree Hotel, part of the Hilton chain at SeaWorld Orlando.
tant based out of Alameda, California., and USCG Auxiliary Member Dr. Mark Perni, General Medical Officer, from Air sta on Clearwater, Florida. Dr. Perni is the first USCG Auxiliarist to head the MMU’s clinical team.
The team consists of one doctor, one Ac vated immediately a er Hurricane physician assistant, one pharmacist Irma, the Coast Guard MMU convoy (Cmdr. Jus n Eubanks of Avia on arrived a er a two-day journey from Training Center Mobile), one pharmaElizabeth City, North Carolina, cy technician, four health services t and provided medical care (HS) technicians, two mechan( to 500 pa ents who were ics/ensigns and two chiefs. treated and released. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo The team leaders are Lt. by Joe Perez, Flo lla 11-3 MaCmdr. Robert Kuhl, an deira Beach) Avia on Physician AssisBREEZE
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Division 11 Members Provide Aid to Evacuees After Hurricanes Irma and Maria. Reprinted with edits from ‘Chip Log’, newsletter Division 11, October 2017 issue Article by Jesse Scott, DCDR
MEMBER FOCUS
S
eptember 2017 brought out a vast amount of compassion from Division 11 shipmates toward those affected by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. With minimal no ce, members prepared to deploy experienced communica ons specialists, vessels, crewmembers and food service specialists to Texas. If not for the threat of Hurricane Irma on the horizon, and the resultant a ermath that followed, we were ready for any request asked of us. Instead of deploying to Texas, we remained in a Semper Paratus state of mind, and for good reason.
CLEARWATER, Fla., Sept. 29, 2017--Leslie Long, Ed Kasper and Allen Leimbach ready supplies in prepara on for the arrival of the evacuees from Puerto Rico. (Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Joe Perez, Flo lla 11-3 Madeira Beach)
the storm; then, immediately following the storm and under difficult condi ons With all eyes on Hurricane Irma as the – dealing with loss of electricity, personstorm neared the Caribbean Island al property, families, limited gasoline, na ons, we turned our a en ons to water, food – we managed to obtain 100 self-preserva on as the track wobbled from veering up the Atlan c coast, to skirt- percent accountability within two days of the storm passing. Several of us made ing up the Gulf Coast. As this storm came personal visits, phone calls, and follow ups nearer to the U.S. mainland, we enacted Hurricane Condi on (HURCON) three, two to home addresses, emergency contacts, and work places to make sure nobody was and finally one, based on es mated wind le behind – all the while sacrificing me speeds, projected track and proximity to and fuel in this expenditure. To those who our area of responsibility (AOR). took ac on earlier this year in making sure Our Flo lla Commanders worked hard to your emergency contact informa on was account for each of our shipmates before (Con nued on page 14) BREEZE
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MEMBER FOCUS
(Con nued from page 13) up-to-date, and to those who took heed of the hurricane drills by means of the Everbridge mass no fica on system, Jesse Sco Division 11 Commander expressed deep gra tude.
porta on to Tampa Interna onal Airport, entertaining young children, walking dogs, and helping families transport their personal belongings, members helped make these families feel welcome to the best of their abili es. For many of these families, this was the first opportunity they had to In the a ernoon Sunday, Oct. 14 members communicate with their loved ones and once again stepped up to the challenge. friends back in Puerto Rico, here in the With less than five hours’ no ce, a team U.S. or overseas. of 13 Auxiliarists composed of Leslie Long, Bravo Zulu to every member of Division 11 Karen Miller, Don Hoge, Joan Gutek, Sam Walker, Dave Griffin, Allen Leimbach, Mike who responded to the call of this humanitarian service las ng into the early mornLloyd, Ed and Teresa Kasper, Joe Perez, Louis Miosi and Jesse Sco were request- ing hours the following day. Ω ed by USCG Sector St. Petersburg to provide humanitarian support to two C-130 flights with Coast Guard, Navy and Army personnel, and numerous dependent family members with their beloved pets, as they flew into Air Sta on Clearwater from Air Sta on Borinquen, Puerto Rico a er an arduous few days following Hurricane Maria. From impromptu Food Service support, government vehicle opera on and transLe : CLEARWATER, Fla., Sept. 29, 2017--Members of Division 11 provided assistance to Coast Guard, Navy and Army personnel who evacuated Puerto Rico a er Hurricanes Irma and Maria. From le : Sam Walker, Allen Leimbach, Ed Kasper, Karen Miller, Joan Gutek, Teresa Kasper, Jesse Sco and Lou Miosi. Above: An HC-130 Hercules aircra arrives at Air Sta on Clearwater with evacuees from Puerto Rico. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photographs by Joe Perez, Flo lla 11-3 Madeira Beach)
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Flotilla 61 Homestead Cleanup After Hurricanes Irma and Maria
MEMBER FOCUS
Photos submitted by Albert Juliachs, Flotilla 61 Homestead
HOMESTEAD, Fla.—When you live in the southernmost regions of Florida, tropical storms come with the territory, but some storms- like Hurricanes Irma and Maria have devasta ng impacts on the people, homes and the environment. Ci zens band together to clean up a er the storms including members of the Auxiliary. Top le : Al and Bill Juliachs cut up a downed tree. Top right: First row from le : Flo lla 61 members and their family James Russell, Billy Chong, Eric Chong, Ingrid Onate, Margaret Winsauer, Rhonwyn Ullmann, Ken Franz and John Hart. Back Row: Al Juliachs, Chris Johnson, Don Grimsley, Mike Hatley, A.J. Juliachs and Bill Juliachs. (Coat Guard Auxiliary photo by Michael Leslie, Flo lla 61 Homestead) Mid page le : Bill Johnson and Eric Chong sawing apart a tree. Mid-page right: Chris Johnson and Ingrid Onate haul o a huge branch. Bo om: Members pose for a group shot a er a hard day removing trees and debris. Front row: Mike Leslie, Al Juliachs, Chris Johnson, A.J. Juliachs and Ernie Roche. Back row: Tony Miyar, Warren Whisenant, Ed Dickson, Mark Chiappone, Rhonwyn Ullmann and Margaret Winsaur.
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St. Thomas Cleanup Efforts After Hurrican Irma Thwarted by Hurricane Maria.
MEMBER FOCUS
Photos and details submitted by James “C.C.” Kreglo, Flotilla 16-3 St. John
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands--Jeffery Henderson from Flotilla 16-2 St. Thomas and Alejandro Sims, a Coast Guard marine investigator assess the damage to a harbor from Hurricane Irma Sept. 14. 2017. Assistance to the Islands was complicated due to the approach of Hurricane Maria days later. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photos by “C.C. Kreglo)
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embers of the Auxiliary were busy assis ng the Coast Guard in assessing the damage in the U.S. Virgin Islands from Hurricane Irma before Hurricane Maria made its approach. Coast Guardsmen from Sector San Juan had arrived to assess damages and assist wherever possible. They delivered crates of food and water and assisted in clearing smashed vessels from docks and
harbors. Sea-worthy Auxiliary vessels transported Coast Guardsmen to loca ons throughout the islands thereby ac ng as a ‘force mul plier’ by making more vessels -and manpower available to the Coast Guard. The addi onal manpower came in handy when on one such mission, Coast Guard and Auxiliary members helped a boater rescue his mast from the water. On another occasion, they helped a boater free her vessel from surrounding capsized and otherwise broken vessels. Hers was the only undamaged vessel in the harbor. Then Maria made its approach and all military and government personnel were ordered to evacuate the islands including the Coast Guard who le under protest. They were ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands—Auxiliary members share aid packages consisting of meals ready to eat (MRE), water, personal items, mosquito coils, flashlights, batteries, etc., with local residents. These two gentlemen are simply identified as Dennis and Dexter. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photos by “C.C. Kreglo)
(Con nued on page 17)
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(Con nued from page 16)
MEMBER FOCUS
keenly aware of the needs of the islands’ popula on. Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico including Sector San Juan. That complicated delivering aid to the islands but Auxiliary members did what they could. Many units within the Auxiliary and churches sent aid packages consis ng of meals ready to eat (MRE), water, personal items, mosquito coils, flashlights, ba eries, etc., which the members distributed to locals. Many boaters in the islands live on their boats and some are too sick or infirmed to pick up and carry aid packages back to their boats. Auxiliary members familiar with their circumstances delivered food, water and supplies directly to them.
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands—In addition to food, water and other needed supplies, Auxiliary members distributed flyers and leaflets advising local mariners whom to contact to remove derelict or abandoned vessels and where to seek assistance for boats destroyed by the hurricanes. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photos by “C.C. Kreglo)
We are proud of our members in the U.S. Virgin Islands who provided so much direct assistance to the Coast Guard and to residents of the islands! Ω
ST. THOMAS, U.S, Virgin Islands--Members of Resolve Marine Group transfer a boat identified as STT060 to the staging area near Red Hook, St. Thomas, Feb. 21, 2018. Placement of this vessel in the staging area completed Emergency Support Function 10 (ESF-10) operations. The Coast Guard led ESF-10 mission, in support and under the direction of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources, was established to mitigate pollution and remove hundreds of vessels displaced by Hurricanes Irma and Maria. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Gina Ruoti)
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Flotilla 75 Apollo Beach Damage Assessment
A er Hurricane Irma, Flo lla 75 Apollo Beach found their radio facility safe and dry but without power. All of their members were also safe and accounted for. Beer Can Island, a spoil island popular to recrea onal boaters did not fare as well. The sand along its beaches was greatly reduced, the surrounding water a deep brown, and many trees were downed and washed up. The spoil islands in Tampa Bay are cri cal to birds who make these their homes and breed there. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photos published on Flo lla 75 social media page.)
The Blue Angels pass over an Auxiliary vessel in the Intracoastal Waterway near Jacksonville Beach at the Air and Sea Spectacular. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Charlie Monroe, Flo lla 14-1 Amelia Island)
Members of Flo lla 52 Jupiter par cipate in towing training exercise with a Coast Guard crew assigned to Sta on Lake Worth in the Intracostal waterway near North Palm Beach. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Mark Cleveland, Flo lla 52 Jupiter)
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Light Lists: Where to find them. Reprinted from Now Hear This, newsletter for Flotilla 10-2 Savannah, “Navigator’s Corner” by Don Funderburk
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
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ith the revised NOAA and USCG Naviga on website changes, some members may have had trouble finding the latest Light List online. Here are the links. (Every Auxiliary facility is required to carry one.) The 2018 Light Lists are available on the USCG Naviga on Center’s website at: h p://www.navcen.uscg. gov/?pageName=lightLists Coast Guard Light Lists are a means for communica ng aids to naviga on informa on to the mari me public. The last government printed Light Lists were the 2014 edi ons. While the Light Lists will no longer be available in government printed form, commercial reproduc ons may be available for purchase from mari me service providers. Local No ce to Mariners will con nue to advise Light List correc ons and U.S. Coast Guard Naviga on Center (NAVCEN) will con nue to publish a compila on of correc ons. Complete versions of the 2018 Light Lists are updated weekly on the NAVCEN website and mariners should download applicable copies and updates as needed at: h p://www.navcen.uscg. gov/?pageName=lightListWeeklyUpdates
h p://www.dco.uscg.mil/Featured-Content/Mariners/ Marine-Safety-Informa on-Bulle ns-MSIB/ If the links above do not work, you should either copy and paste the links into your web browser or follow the local no ce to mariners (LNM) links from the Navigaon Center LNM page. The Local No ce to Mariners, Light List, and Summary of Correc ons are in Portable Document Format (PDF) and viewing them requires a PDF reader. PDF readers are readily available on the Internet, generally free of charge. Ω
A summary of 2017 Light List correc ons are available at: h p://www.navcen.uscg.gov/?pageName=lightList Weekly Updates Guidance for use of electronic navigaon publica ons onboard U.S. vessels can be found at:
Definitely me to get off the water! Murray Price, a member of Flo lla 84 Sarasota caught this omnious, cloudfilled night sky facing west from his flo lla.
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Be a Leader and a Mentor Reprinted from Now Hear This, newsletter for Flotilla 82 Longboat Key, Florida
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
One day, a small child named Tom Edison came home from school and gave a paper to his mother… He said to her, “Mom, my teacher gave me this paper and told me only you are to read it. What does it say?” Her eyes filled with tears as she read that le er out loud to her child: “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have good enough teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself.” His mother did just that, un l she fell ill and passed away. Many years a er his mother died, as he was going through some of her things, he found the folded a le er that his old teacher wrote to his mother that day. He opened it… The message wri en on the le er was, “Your son is mentally deficient. We cannot let him a end our school anymore. He is expelled.” Edison became emo onal reading it... And, then, wrote in his diary: “ Thomas A. Edison was a mentally deficient child whose mother turned him into the genius of the century.” A posi ve word of encouragement can change someone’s life. Be a real mentor to someone today and then pass on this inspira on. – Anonymous
Image by Louis Bachrach, Bachrach Studios, restored by Michel Vuijlsteke [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
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Around the District
CLEARWATER PASS, Fla.--Auxiliary vessel Broad on the Bow en route a capsized sailboat with two people in the water. Karen Miller, coxswain and crew are from Division 11. While this photo may be a bit dated, it is simply too beau ful to pass up. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Teresa Kasper, Flo lla 11-1 Clearwater)
Public Affairs: Public Education and Recruitment ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—Dave Rockwell, Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg and Robert Martellucci, Flo lla 75 Apollo Beach, members Team Coast Guard staff an informa on booth Oct. 21, 2017, at MarineQuest at Sector St. Petersburg. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Patricia Prado, Flo lla 79 Tampa)
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Around the District
MEMBER FOCUS
We Appreciate our Recreational Boating Safety Program Partners! CLEARWATER, Fla.— Members of Flo lla 11-1 Clearwater present a Recrea onal Boating Safety Partner Cer ficate of Apprecia on to Ron Bi aker from ‘Paws in Paradise’ pet resort Jan. 24, 2018. From le are Michael Lloyd, Bi aker, Ann Benne and Kathleen Lloyd. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo provided by Karen Miller, Staff Officer-Publica ons Division 11)
We Particpate in Local Community Events. APOLLO BEACH, Fla.— “Is that you?” Heleyde Aponte, Flo lla 79 Tampa finds George Papabeis, a member of Flo lla 74 Brandon at a dock as the members ready their vessels to par cipate in the annual Holiday Boat Parade Dec. 9, 2017. Papabeis served as crew on an Auxiliary vessel from Flo lla 75 Apollo Beach, Patricia Stone coxswain. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Heleyde Aponte)
We Reach Out to Educate Boaters Wherever We Can! ATLANTA, Ga.— Chuck Kelemen and Dan Vanhise, members of Flo lla 29 Lake Lanier staff an informa on booth at the Atlanta Boat Show. Boat shows are a great, non-threatening place to meet recrea onal boaters as we are one of the few booths were merchants are not trying to get folks to part with their money. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photo)
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Around the District: District 7 Member Training
Member Training is the key to both learning new skills and competencies and to hone skills already acquired. Above: Members of Division 11 who already have a basic understanding of marine naviga on and wanted a refresher and the ability to move their training up another notch a ended a “Plo ng 2.0” course March 1 and 6 at Flo lla 11-1 Clearwater. The course is also ideal for members who have a Qualifica on Examiner (QE) mission scheduled for this year which requires solving a plo ng problem before the candidate may demonstrate their underway skills. Le : Also on their calendar was a four-hour Team Coordina on Training Feb. 18. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photos by Karen Miller, Flo lla 11-1 Clearwater) Below: Boat crew members of Division 7 prac ce towing evoluons in Tampa Bay Feb.2. Pictured are Lady E with Gene Keller, coxswain and Tony Hooper from Flo lla 72 St. Petersburg and George Papabeis from Flo lla 74 Brandon, crew. The second vessel included Tony Novellino and David Perillo, both from Flo lla 72 and Val Fernandes from Flo lla 78 Passa-Grille. (Photos by George Papabeis)
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CGMA faithfully serves the Coast Guard community. When you give to CGMA, you provide a vital safety net and help restore financial stability for shipmates facing tough situa ons.
MEMBER FOCUS
CGMA provides essen al financial aid to assist the Coast Guard family, chiefly through interest-free loans, grants and financial counseling. CGMA is an independent nonprofit charitable organiza on, established and operated by Coast Guard people for Coast Guard people. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is devoted to providing mely financial assistance for Coast Guard families. Looking out for your shipmates is a meless Coast Guard tradi on. Your contribu ons serve as a powerful tool to meet their emergency financial needs each year. Donate to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance. Use this link to donate directly online: h ps://www.cgmahq.org/dona on/dona onGeneral.html
Videos
1. Commodore’s Message to the members of District 7 2. Public Service Announcements you can loop at your next Public Affairs event. (Click on the image or copy text link into your browser.)
http://www.uscga-district-7.org/videopage.html
http://vdept.cgaux.org/video/Grigsby_PSA_GetOneToo_07a(1).mp4
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http://vdept.cgaux.org/video/Grigsby_PSA_Wear_It_07.mp4
http://vdept.cgaux.org/video/Grigsby_PSA_ ATON_07(1).mp4
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Other News The members of District 7 Coast Guard Auxiliarywish a fond farewell to Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant of the Coast Guard, who will be relieved by Admiral Karl Schultz June 1, 2018, in a Change of Command ceremony at the Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Admiral Zukunft was a friend to the Auxiliary and we were proud to serve the Coast Guard under his command. He will be missed by many. Fair winds and following seas.
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft delivers the 2017 State of the Coast Guard Address at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., March 16, 2017. During the address, Zukunft discussed the Coast Guard’s unique role as an instrument of national security and prosperity. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley)
BAYAMON, PUERTO RICO-- Coast Guard crews from Miami, District 7 deliver relief supplies to victims of Hurricane Maria Oct. 4, 2017. A grateful survivor hugs a Coast Guardsmen for the much needed aid. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lally)
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The Heroes of the Pea Island Lifesaving Station
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
William Carter, Staff Officer-Publications (Reprinted with edits from Pelorus, Newsletter Division 12, Winter 2017) Theodore Meekins, a surfman, spo ed a distress signal coming from the Newman. Using the help of a mule team, the crew of Pea Island brought rescue equipment and a sur oat in the direc on of the distress signal. When the storm proved to be too great to launch a surfboat, two surfmen volunteered to swim into the waves to reach the vessel. They went into the water nine mes, facing high winds and waves and rescued all passengers and crew. For their heroism, the captain of the Newman presented them with a piece of the ship’s side which held the name of the vessel. Meekins kept this on display at his home on Roanoke Island.
Keeper Richard Etheridge (on left) and the Pea Island Life-Saving crew in front of their station, circa 1896 (Coast Guard photo)
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onoring February as African-American history month, we offer a brief history of Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island Life Saving Sta on. Both Pea Island and Richard Etheridge represent milestones in the history of African-Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard. Pea Island was the first Life-Saving Sta on with an allblack crew, and the first to have a black man, Richard Etheridge, as Commander. Etheridge was born a slave on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, and, like most of that area, learned how to fish, pilot boats, and comb the beaches for the refuse of wrecks. By late summer of 1863, he enlisted in the Union Army where he fought both on the front lines of the war, and behind Union, lines to end the mistreatment of black soldiers. Later in the war, and now promoted to Regimental Commissary Sergeant, was sent to Texas, where his men and those of Captain James from Roanoke Island were regrouped into the Ninth and 10th Calvary. These men became known as “Buffalo Soldiers.”
Etheridge con nued to serve on Pea Island for more than 20 years. In January 1900, as Orville and Wilbur Wright were planning their voyage to Ki y Hawk to experiment with human flight, Etheridge, at the age of 58, became ill and died while at the sta on. Pea Island con nued to operate with an all-black crew and con nued opera ons throughout the Second World War un l decommissioned in 1947. William Charles Bowser, who was one of the last surviving surfmen to serve at the sta on, died at the age of 91 in 2006. Herbert Collins, who served in the 1940s and put the locks on the sta on when it was closed, died Sunday, March 14, 2010. In 1996, the Coast Guard awarded the Gold Life-Saving Medal posthumously to the keeper and crew of the Pea Island sta on for the rescue of those on board the E.S. Newman. Etheridge and his family are buried at the Pea Island Life Saving Sta on memorial on the grounds of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island. If you ever happen to be in the area of the Outer Banks, I would recommend that you visit Pea Island and experience this amazing piece of history.Ω
Later in his career, Richard Etheridge was the first African-American to hold the rank of a keeper of a Life-Saving Sta on. Etheridge held his men to the highest standards and made sure they were well-trained and prepared. On the night of Oct. 11, 1896, the schooner E.S. Newman became grounded south of Pea Island. The Outer Banks were being hit by a hurricane so severe that Etheridge had suspended beach patrols.
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How Life Jackets Save Lives Reprinted from Now Hear This, Newsletter Flotilla 82 Long Boat Key, March 2018
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
merica’s Boa ng Channel™ announces the debut of its streaming media video “How Life Jackets Save Lives” at americasboa ngchannel.com and as a free mobile app available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play. The new “How Life Jackets Save Lives” video shows what life jackets are required on recrea onal vessels to meet U.S. Coast Guard requirements. Viewers will also learn how life jackets are designed to save lives and how buoyancy is a key to their effecveness. Also featured are valuable ps on circumstances when life jackets are most helpful in saving lives. The “How Life Jackets Save Lives” video is also being distributed by America’s Boating Channel through popular social media including Facebook, Twi er and YouTube. America’s Boa ng Channel will launch a new tle each week through April, as most Americans prepare for the 2018 recrea onal boa ng season. All video programming
on the channel is offered at no charge. America’s Boa ng Channel is produced under a grant from the Sport Fish Restora on and Boa ng Trust Fund administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Ω
Recreational Boating Safety is what our RBS Programs are all about! In 2016, the USCG counted 4,463 accidents, 701 deaths, 2,903 injuries and $49 million in damage to property as a result of recrea onal boa ng accidents. 1. The fatality rate for recrea onal vessels is up 11.1 percent. 2. 80 percent of fatal boa ng accident vic ms drowned. 3. 83 percent of drowning vic ms were not wearing a life jacket. 4. 8 out of 10 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length. 5. Alcohol use is the leading contribu ng factor in fatal boa ng accidents 15 percent. 6. 77 percent of deaths occurred on boats where operator had no safety instruc on. 7. Top five reasons for accidents: Operator ina en on, inexperience, poor lookout, speed and machinery failure.
Life jackets save lives! (Photo by h p://www.uscgboating.org) open motorboats (47 percent). Florida has the most hulls in the U.S. (905,298) with 684 casual es and 70 deaths. There is always a need for more boater educa on! Ω
8. The vessel type with the highest percentage of deaths:
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Recreational Boating Safety-Program Visitor Updates Barbara Burchfield, District Staff Officer-Program Visitor
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ARTICLES OF INTEREST
e are happy to add new Program Visitor (PV) resources to the D7 Program Visitor website. Click here to see the newly renovated PV webpage and to download documents: h p://www.uscga-district-7. org/pvnews.html
• Introduc on to Recrea onal Boa ng Safety-Program Visitor (RBSVP). This is a presenta on available in PDF format or PowerPoint slideshow. “Introduc on to RBSVP” can be presented at flo lla and division mee ngs for informa on to members and as a recruitment tool. •
How to Earn the Auxiliary RBS Insignia. Many of you are almost there – here’s what you need to know.
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Uninspected Passenger Vessels (UPV) No ce to Boaters. This is a printable poster that can be given to partners or as a handout; brush up on Uninspected Passenger Vessels at the Na onal Prevenon website here. Thank you to Bill Cox, Flo lla 17-6, for sugges ng this one!
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USCG Boa ng Mobile app. Printable poster for Program Partners or as a handout at community events. Ω
District 7 Virtual Library Help us preserve our history! Send newsle ers, flo lla records, histories, etc. in digital format to the District 7 Virtual Library. h p://d7virtuallibrary.com/ Flight Ready- This pooch is as ready as his owner for his next mission. Coast Guard photo submi ed by Stephen Ellerin, Flo lla 82 Longboat Key
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St. Augustine Flotilla Marches in St. Patrick’s Day Parade Photos submitted by Georgia Young, Flotilla 14-7 St. Augustine
MEMBER FOCUS
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.— Auxiliarists and Coast Guard members from Coast Guard Station Mayport march in the city’s St. Patrick’s Day parade March 10. Members from Flotilla 14-7 St. Augustine participating include: Steven Barry Rich (in the facility), Henry M. Seiden, Hans Guenter Schroeder, William D Candeletti, Georgia B. Young, Charles Norris Judice and Carolyn Michel McClelland. The Color Guard was represented by a combination of Auxiliarists from Flotilla 14-7 and Coast Guard members from Station Mayport. (Coast Guard Auxiliary photos by Georgia Young, Flotilla 14-7 St. Augustine)
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n St. Patrick’s Day it ma ers not whether your family name is Schneider, Rossi or Patel. Everyone celebrates the Irish for a single day, especially those who can trace a smidgeon of ancestry back to the island’s Celts.
While the day is named a er an Irish saint, that is o en lost in the celebra on of everything Irish from pots of corned beef and cabbage served at dinner tables, green beer poured freely in restaurants and pubs, to ci es dumping tons of green dye into rivers and waterways to celebrate the day. Then, there are the parades-lots of them in nearly every major city in America. Oddly enough, un l recent years, the day was no big deal in Ireland. Irish folk pinned shamrocks to their lapels and went to Mass and sang “Hail Glorious Saint Patrick.” The parades were imported within this last decade by Irish ex-patriots, especially those living in America. Now, the Irish hold parades as we do- but they cannot imagine drinking green beer or wearing silly green hats. That they gladly leave to their American cousins! Ω
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Get Ready for the 2018 Hurricane Season
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
June 1-Nov. 30
Visit h ps://www.nhc.noaa.gov/prepare/ready.php for more informa on.
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Use Social Media to Help Spread the Boating Safely Message Auxiliary Social Media
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
Auxiliary social media pages are a good source of informa on and ideas as well as a great way to spread the recrea onal boa ng safely message and recruit new members. But…yes, there is a caveat… to help spread the boa ng safely message you must do three things: 1. LIKE the page so that its posts appear in your newsfeed. 2. LIKE posts that appeal to you, and 3. SHARE these posts on your page so that your friends can see these messages.
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Seventh District on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uscg.auxd7/
Everyone has their own newsfeed so your friends do not see the contents of yours unless you SHARE on your meline. Spreading the word is not all that difficult. LIKE and SHARE!
United Staes Coast Guard Auxiliary Seventh District
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary on Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/uscgauxiliary/
While you are online, check out all of the new features on the District 7 Web page. Between the links on the sidebar and the ones within the table, it could not be any easier to find what you need including access to AUXINFO! h p://www.uscga-district-7.org/
U.S.C.G Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RecreationalBoatingSafety/ Please remember to LIKE and SHARE!
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This and the subsequent four pages are reprinted directly from AUXAIR District 7 Operations and Flight Safety Newsletter, December 2017. (It is unthinkable to destroy the editor’s stunning layout and his hurricane coverage is outstanding.) As such, no edits are possible.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST
My sincerest congratulations to Robert A. Fabich Sr., editor for his creativity and many thanks for permitting us to reprint pages. We urge you to read the entire issue located at: http://www.uscga-district-7. org/newsletter/auxair/D7%20AUXAIR%20Operations%20December%202017. pdf
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Auxiliary Aviators Support Coast Guard efforts for hurricane harvey by robert a. fabich, sr. adso-av-p
On the morning of August 26, 2017 Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Savannah launched a MH-65D helicopter and a full crew to CGAS Houston to support Hurricane Harvey rescue efforts. Concurrently, Auxiliary Aviation (AUXAIR) in District 7 was activated. Auxiliary aircraft support lasted nine days and included 20 missions totaling 25.8 flight hours.
The Scramble
On Saturday, August 26, an Air Station Savannah call from CDR Drew Behnke, Operations Officer, for transport missions to Aviation Training Center Mobile, found Aircraft Commander Doug Armstrong in Augusta, GA, with his flight gear in Asheville, NC, and his aircraft in Morganton, NC. A series of prepositioning flights in Aircraft Commander Ken Plesser’s facility along with additional road miles resulted in Armstrong’s Citation Mustang twin-turbojet facility, Armstrong as pilot-in-command, and Plesser second-in-command, all in Columbia, SC by nightfall for an early morning launch. (3.5 flight hours)
First Transport success leads to more requests On Sunday, August 27, Armstrong and Plesser flew to SavannahHilton Head Airport to meet two USCG pilots, LT Sam Pemberton and LT Nate Brock and (Continued on page 5)
Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Doug Armstrong 4
Operations and Flight Safety Newsletter December 2017
A Day In AUXAIR
(Continued from page 4) two maintainers, AET2 Brett Eisenberger and AMT3 Melanie Carter. The mission was to transport these four personnel to ATC Mobile, AL for further transport downrange, before returning to Columbia. Upon landing, the Air Station requested Armstrong and Plesser for two more flights the next day. The AUXAIR pilots, determining that doing so would exceed limitations of the duty-day if begun in Columbia, flew back to Savannah to remain overnight (RON). (5.0 flight hours)
More missions catch attention of the media On Monday, August 28, Armstrong and Plesser met one rescue swimmer, AST2 Wesley Price, and three flight mechanics, AMT2 Robert Reddit, AET3 Taylor Wolf, and AMT3 Lorenzo Leon in Savannah and transported them to ATC Mobile. After a quick fuel turnaround, they returned to Air Station Savannah (Hunter Army Airfield) to pick up more USCG crew for transport. WTOC-TV, Channel 11, was on the ramp for their arrival and the relaunch. Video about the mission, AUXAIR, and an interview with Captain Marshall Branch, Commanding Officer was aired on the evening news in Savannah. Captain Branch personally expressed his appreciation to AUXAIR. “Ken, can’t thank you and Doug enough for your support of getting our aircrew and support personnel to the fight in D8. They’ve been incredibly busy since arriving and there is much more work to be done. AUXAIR providing personnel lift capability point-to-point is a real game changer.” Armstrong and Plesser were next asked to transport USCG MH-65 pilots, LT Tim Mosher and LT Nate Rhodes to CGAS Houston. This request was declined by AUXAIR because of the length of the duty day and an uncertain fuel situation on-scene. Therefore, Armstrong and Plesser transported the two pilots to ATC Mobile, as originally planned then returned to Columbia to disembark Plesser, then to Morganton, NC. (7.8 flight hours) (Continued on page 6)
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Coast Guard Air Station Houston, Ellington Field: Air Force One shares the tarmac with all the military branches. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Doug Armstrong.
Left to right: Doug Armstrong, Auxiliary Aircraft Commander, AMT2 Brent Ellis, LT Eric Barnett, LCDR Jim Mazel and Ken Plesser, Auxiliary Aircraft Commander
(Continued from page 5)
Air support is not over yet
Left: AUXAIR standby while USCG Savannah flight crew conducts a pre-flight departure procedure prior to departure. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Doug Armstrong.
EFFORTS FOR HURRICANE HARVEY
Four days later, on Friday, September 1, Air Station Savannah called for additional downrange transport missions in support of Hurricane Harvey crew swaps. Armstrong flew from Morganton, NC to Columbia, SC in the afternoon to pick up Plesser. Both flew to Savannah, GA to RON for an early morning launch. (1.8 flight hours)
AUXAIR shares tarmac with the President and garners more media attention Since incident de-mobilizing had begun, the mission on Saturday, September 2, was to take one flight mechanic, AMT2 Alan Smith, to CGAS Houston, and meet four personnel there for the return to Savannah: one pilot, LT Jon Magin, two rescue swimmers, AST2 Wesley Price and AST2 Jason Flynt, and one flight mechanic, AMT2 Josue Valentin. Armstrong and Plesser arrived at 10:30AM local time, just prior to the closing of Ellington Field for the arrival of President Trump. The President’s meeting with survivors and greeting of responders at CGAS Houston took longer than expected, and the field was under a Temporary Flight Restriction closure the entire time. Finally, with active duty loaded, AUXAIR launched at 5:00PM, returning to CGAS Savannah at 7:30PM. There they were met by media from three Savannah area TV stations: WTOC, WSAV-TV, Channel 3 (NBC), and WJCL-TV, Channel 22 (ABC). WTOC reported that some of the crews were delayed due to the President’s visit in Houston. WSAV interviewed active duty, showing Armstrong and Plesser in the coverage. WJCL focused on the rescues performed by active duty returned by AUXAIR. (5.6 flight hours) (continued on page 7) 6
Operations and Flight Safety Newsletter December 2017
Click the above pictures to view Air Station Savannah Hurricane Harvey local TV news broadcast. (Continued from page 6)
An MH-65D makes precautionary landing and receives help from AUXAIR The day-before’s de-mobilization activity included the return of Savannah’s deployed MH-65D and a full crew. That helicopter travelled as far as Vidalia, GA when a report of possible contaminated fuel demanded a precautionary landing; the crew completed their return to the Air Station by rental car. On Sunday, September 3, Armstrong and Plesser were tasked to bring a fresh crew consisting of LCDR Jim Masel, LT Eric Barnett and AMT2 Brent Ellis from the Air Station to the Vidalia airport to recover the aircraft. Having completed this assignment, AUXAIR returned to Columbia, SC, thence to Morganton, NC. (2.1 flight hours)
Gold side appreciation Air Station Savannah had much to say about the activities of AUXAIR. Captain Marshall Branch, Commanding Officer of Air Station Savannah was grateful: “You guys were AMAZING and we are in your debt for your incredible support. Thank you both for your professionalism and dedication to the mission!” CDR Tim Eason, Executive Officer, Air Station Savannah wrote: “Great job Ken and Doug! Thanks for the tremendous support that expedited getting our folks directly into and out of theatre!” LT Crystal A. Barnett, Administration officer, Savannah Air Station said, “Awesome Guys.” Throughout the 9-day period, the coordination provided by Auxiliary Liaison Officer (AUXLO) LTJG Rob Mineo was essential to the success of District 7. This period of intense flight activity demonstrates the seamless response that AUXAIR can offer when there is a strong bond of respect and trust, coupled with demonstrated superior airmanship, between the AUXAIR cadre and the parent Air Station. This is the operational model that the Seventh District has implemented and which it continues to nurture. Operations and Flight Safety Newsletter December 2017
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