An Unofficial Coast Guard Blog - Latest Comments

Re: The highest award for OSC Josue Mendez sparkles

nancieroman — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 11:22:08 -0000

I am so proud of you, people keep telling me when I tell them the story that there are few men that still have that romantic side. You both are very special and I thank God that he gave me such a special son.

Love MOM

Re: To Borrow A Line From Mark Twain

kamododragon — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:50:01 -0000

I thought I was linked on the Site. I guess I don't know what happened, other than it must be not linked. Even though I have this blog linked on my site as well.

Re: To Borrow A Line From Mark Twain

sea_spook — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:46:58 -0000

From where does this site link to yours Nicky? We are not seeing it.

Re: To Borrow A Line From Mark Twain

kamododragon — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:36:01 -0000

I'm linked to the site. I have it linked on my blog as well.

Re: To Borrow A Line From Mark Twain

sea_spook — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:31:11 -0000

Why r u no longer linked from this site anymore Nicky?

Re: The highest award for OSC Josue Mendez sparkles

kamododragon — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:11:28 -0000

Now that is so romantic and they should make a Romance novel staring the lovely couple.

Re: To Borrow A Line From Mark Twain

kamododragon — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 18:10:24 -0000

I guess they must me mistaking and thinking you went down. I wasn't worried and I knew no one can't take CGBlog Down.

Re: To Borrow A Line From Mark Twain

Dr Funk of Tahiti — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:42:43 -0000

Darn.

Re: The highest award for OSC Josue Mendez sparkles

elaina — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:31:08 -0000

That really is the highest honor any Coast Guard member could receive; the honor and award of serving and loving that one person, for the rest of your life. That is an absolutely wonderful and extremely touching story. I choked up a bit, and I don't even know OSC Mendez or the soon-to-be Mrs. Mendez. I just remember when Dave proposed to me. We were surrounded by friends and I had no idea that he had planned anything, until he got down on his knee. This is a great story and a memory I know they will both cherish.

Re: Not Your Father’s Coast Guard Is Available Now.

jdolbow — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 11:51:39 -0000

Thanks for bringing this book to our attention. Like Ryan, I am adding it to my reading pile. Grat job on the cover and promo as well!

Re: Not Your Father’s Coast Guard Is Available Now.

ryanerickson — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:46:46 -0000

I'm looking forward to reading it this winter. Thanks for the heads up and great job on the book cover and promo art Sean.

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

Arkangel99 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:04:02 -0000

Some like the Morenthau DID have fire problems.Not when i served on her, but at least three before. The CG has always done more with less and these tough ships have taken a lot of beatings in their 40 years of service. They are great ships. Having been on two. I can say that i loved serving on them. I did fly but never worried about the flight ops or my shipmates OR the stability and landing system on the flight deck. Semper Paratus!

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

arkangel99 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:56:32 -0000

OOps. late night...378 feet as in 378'.

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

Arkangel99 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:54:47 -0000

When I got my first billet on a 378" i was a little leery because the rumors were WHEC 722, the Morgenthau had had 3 serious engine room fires. One had fatalities or serious injuries. This was years before I was on board. She was comissioned in 1969 and served in Vietnam during Opertion Market Time. The ship never had any problems when I served on her, or heard about any other WHEC's having fire problems. My second WHEC was the Munro. Never any worries about fire.....

Re: Breaking News: U.S. Tracking North Korean Vessel

vessel sinks — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:51:57 -0000

The U.S is tracking the north korea vessel which is not good sign as the future is in problem.

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

Richard Ritz — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:28:23 -0000

I did 6 tours on 4 different 378’s. I was stationed aboard the Midgett as a FA right out of Boot Camp (1976) and retired off the Jarvis as a MKCS (also the CSC) in 2006.
On each tour the engineering crew was by far the tightest group. We normally worked longer hours then the rest of the crew, more so as the ships got older. And, as the ships got older and the op tempo increased, the ships were more prone to problems (Fires, flooding, systems failing, machinery OOC etc).
Bottom line; if I could go back for another tour, I’d be there in a heartbeat and I’m pretty sure most prior 378 snipes would be right behind me

Re: Coast Guard Forgotten History: A Tsarist Officer in the US Coast Guard

Mike Walling — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:48:35 -0000

Thanks for the info. A quick search showed he published "Growth of the Red Army" (Princton University Press, 1944). However, accordind to "List oof Regular and Reserve Commissioned and Warrent Officerson Active Duty in Order ofPrecedence and Temporary Members of the Reserve" (NAVCG 111) dated June 30, 1944, it does not appear as though he was a Coast Guard Officer. Too bad we'll probably never know if the 2 men knew each other. Mike

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

Kennebec_Captain — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:11:48 -0000

I joined the Gallatin in June of 1975 in the shipyard in Curtis Bay straight from boot camp. It was impressive to see the rooster tail at full speed. It was an impressive ship. We had a few minor engine room fires while I was there from fuel leaks onto the hot exhaust parts. The standards of seamanship was high, from time to time we passed a line to a fishing vessel and towed it in in bad weather, that, for me, was the high point. Quality of life wasn't a priority then, the food was awful, if helo or boat ops occurred during meal times you were out of luck, no late meals, you had to hope the helo didn't return during he next meal or you'd miss that one to. The cold weather gear I was issued had seen hard use. I'd say overall, nice ship, poor treatment of this E-3 who was seeking a career at sea.

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

Surface_Force — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:50:03 -0000

" jdolbow [Moderator]
surface force you were warned and are now banned from commenting."

Oh really? I guess you could say I warned you as well youngster...several times now, in fact.

The Coast Guard does not haphazardly endanger its personnel nor does it operate "floating fire traps" as your novice self dishonestly tries to imply to those who may read this site not familiar with the Coast Guard, our policies or our approach to operational performance while mitigating risk whenever possible. Furthermore, strategic decisions on the core construct, maintenance cycles and recapitalization for our operational forces (to include major cutter decom and transition) are done after detailed and independently verified - through the chain of command - studies taking into consideration a full appreciation of the current state of readiness and future impact. Such decisions are also proposed, vetted and made by professionals in the Office of the Assistant Commandant for Capability (CG-7) in conjunction with the recommendations of the respective Operational (Area) Commanders...all with years more experience and technical knowledge man for man each self than you will ever have driving your desk on the beach. It is also readily apparent to the rest of us here from the sensationalist bilge you are peddling that you are not one. I guess then it is understandable that you would deny others the ability to challenge your simplistic and amateurish writings on this topic - which are based on nothing but hyperbole - by having them "banned from commenting".

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

jdolbow — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:14:27 -0000

surface force you were warned and are now banned from commenting.

Re: Coast Guard Court of Criminal Appeals rules in favor of Coastie

crystalmoser — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:10:23 -0000

Can you please tell me where and what has become of Julian Yanger? My sister and I were good friends of his when we were younger and have tried to find out where he is located. We have read all court documents and looked for him through several people searches. If he is still in jail can you please let us know where, we would really like to contact him. Thank you very much

Re: Remembering the USS Cole DDG-67

Anne C. — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:30:11 -0000

We have not forgotten.

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

Anon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:47:50 -0000

I think what Surface_Force was referring to was the inference that fire had gutted or destroyed an engine-room. Engines of that vintage and size, run at those durations, well-maintained or not, are going to have failures. Failures tend to cause things to break. Breakage can cause fire to sprout where it's not supposed to.

I'd guess that the fire protection system and DC planning / prep / training prevented any fire breakout from getting out of hand or seriously threatening life or ship during your turb failure. The crews of those ships are competent and trained - I was on one. Even during an alarm I never wandered into 'what if' territory that would consider abandon ship as an option (I saved those thoughts for a couple of hairy situ's in the Arabian Gulf:))

Fires onboard ship happen. That's why built in systems are in place, that's why people train for the contingency regularly, and because of that shipboard fires rarely claim lives or cost ships.

SF's comment was to reply to the 'fire gutted' comment. I'm not sure any WHEC has ever been towed back to port.

The newer ships are going to have fires as well. Mechanical systems are imperfect. Things fail. Things happen. Shipboard pers. are always ready for that, so it's always under control.

Re: Coast Guard Forgotten History: A Tsarist Officer in the US Coast Guard

pastinson — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:35:45 -0000

Interesting... one of the founders of the Coast Guard's port security program, Dimitri Fedotoff White, was also a Tsarist. He died in 1950 and is buried in Valley Forge, PA.

Re: APB for 378 Sailors Past and Present

julietecho — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 02:15:04 -0000

I was also there for the record breaking drug bust