United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District Breeze - USCGAUX ...

http://www.cgaux7.org/
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District
Breeze Volume LVIII Number 1 Spring 2012

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
District Commander
RADM William D. Baumgartner, USCG
Director of Auxiliary District 7
CDR Jose’ Quinones
Operaons Training Officer
CWO2 Ursula Walther
U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
District Commodore
COMO Walter Jaskiewicz
District Chief of Staff
John Tyson
Immediate Past District Commodore
COMO Donald L. Frasch
District Captain North
Robert Weskerna
District Captain West
Melvin Manning
District Captain East
Judith Hudson
BREEZE is the official and educaonal
tool of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th
District and is intended as a publicaon
to keep the membership apprised of the
acvies of the Auxiliary. All arcles and
photographs submied must be consistent
with the policies of the Coast Guard and
the Auxiliary and may not be returned.
Electronic submissions are encouraged.
Personal informaon 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.
Comments are encouraged and may be sent
to Dorothy Riley, Editor (District Officer-
Publicaons) at: doeriley1@verizon.net.
Arcles in the BREEZE may be reprinted
provided credit is given and a copy is sent to
the above Editor and Publicaons Officer.
Do not send changes of address to the
BREEZE. You can obtain a change of
member informaon report (7028) from
your Materials Officer and submit it
through channels.
Auxiliary Sector Coordinators
ASC Sector Charleston
Reginald B. Hollar
ASC Sector St. Petersburg
Donald C. Hoge
ASC Sector Jacksonville
David C. Cawton
ASC Sector Key West
R. Dewey Jackson
ASC Sector San Juan
Osvaldo M. Canchi
ASC Sector Miami
William V. Tejeiro
Division Commanders 2012
Division 1……...........…………………Angel Benero
Division 2….….......…..……....... Loren R. Emery II
Division 3….….........….……….. Samuel E. Duda
Division 4………..........William J. Sorrenno, Sr.
Division 5……….…............…….... Gary P. Barth
Division 6……...........……….……. Thomas R. Walker
Division 7…..............…..…...….. J. Michael Shea
Division 8……........................... Paulee Parent
Division 9……….....…….....….. David C. Crockwell
Division 10………….............…..Warren M. Wilson
Division 11……..............………….. Jimmy R. Ryder
Division 12…………............……….Vito W. Giardina
Division 13…………….............. Jeffery A. Bronsing
Division 14…….……....................……John Hadley
Division 15……….............……………….. Craig Elliot
Division 16……….......................…... Lee E. Elvins
Division 17……..............……....…..... Cal D. Motes
District 7 Directorate Chiefs
Logiscs
James Dennen, DDC-L
Prevenon
David M. Fuller, DDC-P
Response
Donald A. Zinner, DDC-R
Is the official publicaon of the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
7th District
hp://www.cgaux7.org/
Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012
District Staff Officers
Prevenon Department
Lyle E Leeer …….................................DSO-MS
Frank R. Lann ….………...................…..…DSO-MT
Ronald D. Foreman……………..............….DSO-PV
David M. Wall....……..……...............……..DSO-PE
William S. Griswold……..…..............…..…DSO-SL
Chuck Kelemen ……....................…………DSO-VE
Response
Department
David Cawton …………………....................DSO-NS
Cecil Christopher..…………..….................DSO-AV
Harry S. Reynolds…..…...…...............…..DSO-CM
Dudley Davis .......……………...............…...DSO-OP
Jerry Henderson.……............…..QE Coordinator
Logiscs
Department
David Hasngs....…...……...............……...DSO-CS
Susan Z. Hasngs……...……...…................DSO-IS
Constance O. Irvin...…………...............….DSO-PA
Dorothy J. Riley…. ……………................…DSO-PB
Angela Pomaro .…..…...….............….…..DSO-HR
Terry Barth ……………...…...............……..DSO-MA
Richard J. Leys………...............…………....DSO-DV
Other
Lillian G. GaNun …….……………................DSO-SR
James Roche .......…...….…..……..................DSSO
Richard Petrucci...………................……..….DFSO
Andrew Anderson………….............….…….DSO-LP
Phillip Poole ...........………….............….……....D-LL
James Mayer.......…………................…..…DSO-FN
Richard Leys………..….………....................PPDCPA
COMO Donald Frasch................Plan Coordinator
Thomas Brickey .......…District Materials Center
District Administrave Assistant & Aide
Carolyn R. Hooley ……...…..........................D-AD
Elaine J. Cornell ……………………..................D-AA
Barbara Jaskiewicz.....................................D-AA
Gwendolyn Leys ..............………............Advocate
hp://d7materials.org/index.php
The center is now open
Monday & Thursday 1000-1600
You can reach the center by phone
during these hours at:
(727) 535-2593

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 1
The official publication of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District
In this issue...
2 From the Bridge: Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz
3 From the Bridge: John Tyson, DCOS
4 From the Bridge: COMO Donald Frasch, IPDCO
5 Around District 7
6 District Captain North
Robert Weskerna, DCAPT-North
8 District Captain West
Melvin Manning, DCAPT-West
10 District Captain-East
Judith Hudson, DCAPT-East
11 U.S. Navy to St. Croix Auxiliary
Doug Armstrong
12 District Directorate Chief-Logiscs
James Dennen, DDC-L
R.I.P.: Is this the fate of Auxiliary Newsleers
Dorothy Riley
14 District Directorate Chief-Response
Donald A. Zinner, DDC-R
District 7 Operaons: Auxiliary Assists in 2012
Internaonal Associaon for Disabled
Sailing World Championship
Frank Wondolkowski and Larry Keller
15 District 7 Operaons: Teamwork
Brian Lichtenstein
16 District Directorate Chief-Prevenon
David M. Fuller, DDC-P
Think Green: Coast Guard’s 2011 Innovaon
Expo
18 Coast Guard Cuer Eagle’s 75th Anniversary
Cruise
Jerry Janaro
22 Patrol Puzzlements
Barbara Burchfield
24 Air Staon Miami Makes History
Diane Riggan
26 Guardians for the Angels
Kevin Koehl
27 Tiger-6: Auxiliary Air Coastal Patrol Assists
Downed Aircra in the Bahamas
Lourdes R. Oliveras
28 Remembering Pearl Harbor
Dorothy Riley Photos by Brian Lichtenstein
30 Keeping a Secret
Constance O. Irvin
31 Man Overboard!
Photos by Brian Lichtenstein
32 Auxiliary Assists in Annual “Paddle Florida” Event
Patricia Gross
34 USCG Staon Sand Key – Keys of Success Program
Karen L. Miller
35 Riding Along with a Breeze
Judith Hudson
36 Blackthorn Remembrance Ceremony
Dorothy Riley
17 Flolla 14-5 Proves that Effecve Innovaons Can
be Simple!
Helen Russee

2
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
From the Bridge
Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz
District Commodore D7
Uncommon Strength Unwavering Service
Although it is only a few
weeks into the new year,
it has been busy for all of
us. N-Train in Saint Louis
(Jan. 22-29, 2012) once again
provided great training in
many office positions.
On the subject of training, I recently returned from St.
Thomas, U.S Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico where
John Tyson, District Chief of Staff, and Dan Stewart
McIntyre, Assistant District Staff Officer-Member
Training instructed a full day of Leadership Training
to the recently elected leaders of Divisions One and
Sixteen. Attendees included staff officers as well
as other members who volunteered. Bringing this
training directly to each of our divisions has proved
to be extremely beneficial and has improved district
support to our members, which in turn increases our
credibility in executing our Coast Guard missions.
Last year I had the honor of attending two seventyyear
flotilla anniversaries. Two more are scheduled
this year. The history of these flotillas is something of
which we should all be extremely proud. I have a copy
of the first Auxiliary manual that is titled, “Information
and Advice for Coast Guard Auxiliarymen” (now
PUERTO RICO—The District 7 Flolla
Leadership Road Show was offered in
Puerto Rico Jan. 22, 2012. From le:
Commodore Walter R. Jaskiewicz,
District 7 Commodore; Angel M. Benero,
Division 1 Commander; Gregorio
Maysonet, Staff Officer-Navigaon
Systems, Division 1; Luis Irizarry, Staff
Officer-Operaons, Division 1; Jose
Rivera, Staff Officer-Communicaons
Division 1; John D. Tyson – District 7
Chief of Staff; and Lourdes R. Oliveras,
Assistant District Staff Officer-Public
Affairs- South D7, also from Puerto Rico.
U.S.C.G. Auxiliary photograph
members U.S. Coast Guard Reserve) that is nine pages
long. We have indeed come a long way as we are now
a separate entity and our current Auxiliary Manual is
700 pages long!
One thing that has not changed through all of these
years is the dedication and the spirit of our members
who continue to meet and accept the many changes
and day-to-day challenges. Our Coast Guard missions
offer increasing support opportunities such as the
outstanding Auxiliary Chef Program, the Interpreter
Corps, and Incident Command System Qualified
Responders to name just a few. District 7 is a leader
in thinking “out of the box” to conceive new support
missions. The numerous talents and skills of our
members are our greatest resource. Those talents and
skills are now being entered into a database using our
new Skill Set Software. This database will allow online
access to information about member’s skills, trade,
location, and availability in a timed response situation.
As I enter my second year at the bridge, every day I’m
amazed at the spirit of service our volunteers provide.
No words can describe my appreciation for all that you
do.Ω
Semper Paratus,
COMO Walter R. Jaskiewicz, DCO 7

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 3
John Tyson
District Chief of Staff
From the Bridge
Is Our District Making Progress
The answer to that question depends upon whom you
ask. Most of us would like to believe that the Seventh
District Auxiliary is making progress every day. After
all, doesn’t the District Gold Side leadership tell us that
we do an outstanding job of serving our two primary
customers, the Coast Guard and the recreational
boating public But do we really know we are “making
progress”
Commodore Jaskiewicz and members of the District
Executive Committee addressed that question early
last year. After carefully reviewing Auxdata entries
for missions during the previous several years, the
Executive Committee concluded that our district is in
danger of “standing still.” And as many of us know,
organizations that “stand still” are really falling behind.
Commodore Jaskiewicz responded quickly to that
assessment, however, by forming an Organizational
Performance Team (OPT) to consider ways to improve
the district’s performance and to recommend specific
actions for improvement.
He also directed the use of the “Are We Making Progress
as Leaders”(AWMPAL) survey tool to get input from
district and division leaders. The AWMPAL survey
is used by many organizations ons to measure workforce
perception of criteria impacting the organization’s
performance. Those criteria include leadership,
strategic planning, customer focus, measurement,
analysis, knowledge management, workforce focus,
operations focus, and results achieved. The Coast
Guard uses the AWMPAL survey to ensure its resources
are aligned correctly; to improve communication,
productivity and effectiveness; to achieve strategic
goals and to determine the winning units for the
Alexander Hamilton Award. Like the Seventh District
Auxiliary Commodore’s Cup, the Hamilton Award
recognizes the best performing Coast Guard units.
The tabulation of data from the district’s AWMPAL
survey confirmed the Executive Committee’s earlier
assessment that District Seven was in danger of
“standing still.” It also highlighted areas that require
urgent attention, including training unit leaders in
action planning skills, and greater use of measurement
and analysis to help units
evaluate progress against
goals.
To emphasize the
importance of leadership
practices in improving
the district’s performance,
Commodore Jaskiewicz is
presently leading a series
of workshops to help unit leaders develop skills in
strategic and action planning, team building, and
performance measurement. Workshops for officers in
Divisions 1, 7, 11, 15 and 17
were held in early February,
and six more workshops are scheduled for the coming
weeks. Although these workshops focus on the needs
of flotilla and division officers, they are, when space
permits, open to any members who aspire to hold
an elected or staff office in the future. Any member
who feels they can benefit from learning these skills
should contact their Flotilla Commander or Division
Commander for the date
and location of the nearest
workshop.
Although data from future AWMPAL surveys,
along with “dashboard data” provided to units in
measurement charts will
certainly help flotillas and
divisions to achieve effectiveness, the Seventh District
Auxiliary has a long way to
go to achieve a sustainable,
high level of leadership practices. Like the active duty
Coast Guard, our district’s objective is to ensure our
sustained dedication to performance excellence in all
our mission activities. So stay tuned; you will hear
lots more about these matters in the months and years
ahead. At the least, you will hear more about them
until we can say without hesitation, “Our district is
really making progress.”
Semper Paratus Ω

4
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
From the Bridge Commodore Donald Frasch
Immediate Past District Commodore
Deputy Naonal Commodore–Recreaonal
Boang Safety
I’d like to spend
a few minutes
updating you on
some of the significant
accomplishments that
came out of N-Train
this year. Although
St. Louis in January
isn’t exactly what
I’d consider a prime
venue for any event, it was sunny and 40 degrees on
Monday morning. That inspired my fellow Deputy
National Commodore from the Pacific area, COMO
Marie Scholle, to take advantage of the perceived “heat
wave” by sitting outside, soaking up the warm noon
sun in a short sleeve top and light slacks. Of course,
COMO Scholle is from Fairbanks, Alaska, where it was
-35 degrees when she left for St. Louis. The teasing was
endless!
Regardless of the weather, the Recreational Boating
Safety Board can look back on a couple of significant
accomplishments. First, the National Board voted to
approve a new Program Visitor Ribbon (PV) for our
members who participate in that program. The present
ribbon for a PV member consists of a Vessel Examiner
(VE) ribbon with a gold star attached. The original belief
was that one must first be a VE to become qualified as
a PV, which is simply not the case. In fact, a PV must
understand all of our Recreational Boating Safety (RBS)
programs and activities to effectively guide Marine
Dealers in delivering the right boating safety messages
to the boating public. Creating a new “identity” for
the PV program should encourage more members to
participate in this critical part of our overall RBS effort.
How about you
Secondly, the Board voted to separate State Liaison and
Legislative Liaison officers into two distinct groups.
The Legislative Liaison people will focus completely
on what is happening in State Legislatures related to
boating safety and will pass that information both up
through their Parallel Staffing Chain and directly to
the District Commodores and State Liaison officers.
The Parallel Staffing chain will now work through
the Department of the Chief Counsel and his team.
Selection for the legislative position will be made by
the Chief Counsel, the District Commodore and the
Director of Auxiliary. A strong legal background, with
the ability to understand fully the legislative process
and language will be a requirement for the position.
This action should insure that the Auxiliary knows the
direction of boating safety legislation being considered
by all states and that this information gets to the
appropriate Active Duty leadership.
State Liaison Officers (SLO) will now focus on the
Boating Law Administrators (BLA) of each state. When
anyone asks me what is the expectation for the State
Liaison Officer position, I respond that the SLOs best
friend should be their state’s BLA. The BLA is the one
responsible for implementing a state’s boating safety
laws and programs. These administrators are clearly
vital to the success of our RBS activities. We can not
afford to have anything other than a dedicated and
focused partnership effort with the BLAs if we intend
to save lives.
An additional benefit of this new direction is to improve
our partnerships with each Coast Guard District’s
“Boating Safety Specialists” (BSS). Each CG District has
only one BSS, who is also responsible for working with
the District’s BLAs. We can help these BSSs in their
efforts. As a case in point, District Eight includes twenty
five (25) states in its Area of Responsibility (AOR) —
an area in the center of the county that extends from
the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. Although
vacant for several months, the BSS position was just
filled this week, and our SLOs will significantly help
the new BSS as he develops his working relationships
with the BLAs. In this case, we can “bring the Coast
Guard” to the BLAs.
By developing effective relationships with the Coast
Guard and the states and working together as a team,
we should be able to have the best possible Recreational
Boating Safety activities.
From even this one example, I hope you can see the
importance of what we are doing and the advantage
of even seemingly minor changes. We absolutely
must look for every way possible to achieve Mission
Excellence in our primary mission – better Recreational
Boating Safety. Would you like to help
Semper Paratus Ω

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 5
Around District 7
FORT MYERS, Fla.─89 year old Dorothy
Kurtz, one of the first women enlisted
in the Coast Guard SPARs during
WWII, swaps stories with 97 year old
Marty Rowe, a Coast Guard Temporary
Reservist, who served on bulk carrier
ships in the Great Lakes during the same
war. Kurtz and Rowe are among the early
interviewees for a project, Oral History
Interviews, being conducted by the
Coast Guard Auxiliary Naonal History
Department under the leadership of Dr.
Richard Stephenson. Their videotaped
stories will become part of the vast
history of Coast Guardsmen who served
their country during the past 70 years.
Photograph: Constance O. Irvin, District
Staff Officer-Public Affairs, D7
TAMPA, Fla.— The Bonny Sea is ed off at th
e
dock in front of Sector St. Pe
tersbu
rg’s Preve
n
on
Department in Tampa on Jan. 28 during the
Gaspara illa Pir
ate Invasion. On the Bonny Sea are
Raymond Paysour, coxswain, Harryr
Kam
beris an
d
Dick Petrucci,
trainees;
and crewm
em
be
rs William
Beckee and Braxton Ezell, l, all from Flo
olla 81, and
Tom Johnson and Fred Kermode from Flo
lla 85.
Next to the Bonnie
Sea
is Miss
Marla fro
rom Fl
ollala
72, the Auxiliary Patrol Command ves
esse
se
l for the
event with coxswain Rick
Short and
cre
rewm
embe
rs
Nathaniel Hall from Flollala 72,
and
Cli
liffor
d Ma
r
n
and Tim Teahan from Flolla 79.
A Coa
oast
Gua
uard
Resp
onse Boat is ed off
besi
de the
hem.
Pho
to
by Fred Kermode. Backg
kgro
roun
d im
age by Geo
rge
Papabeis, Flolla 74

6
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
District Captain North
Robert Weskerna, DCAPT-North
LOOKING BACK
By this time, we’ve all
finished our Change
of Watch season. As
we look forward to
new initiatives and the
excitement that comes
with the calendar rolling
over, let me take a
moment to congratulate
all divisions on their
successes in 2011. In
particular, the northern
Divisions, 2, 4, 10, 12, 14, and 17, enjoyed a terrific and
district-leading 2011, with an overall performance increase
of 9 percent over their 2010 record. Of the six Sectors in D7,
that’s Sectors Charleston, Jacksonville, Key West, Miami,
St. Petersburg, and San Juan, the three divisions that serve
Sector Charleston had the greatest increase in service hours
over 2010. Congratulations to the members of Divisions 2,
10, and 12 for this effort. Of course, Thoreau said that “It’s
not enough to be busy. The question is, what are we busy
about” Considering what the records show, each of you
should feel proud of your contribution to District 7 in 2011.
The numbers were very close.
Just a little photo recognition before I take a look ahead. On
December 17, 2011, Division 14 held their Change of Watch
dinner.
LOOKING AHEAD
About six years ago, Philip Merrill, who then served as
Prevention Chief, arranged a workshop for a number
of us at a District Conference. The Coast Guard sent
an instructor to teach us the Franklin Covey Seven
Habits for Managers; concepts like “Begin with the End
in Mind,” and so forth. This pencil isn’t as sharp as
it used to be, but I recall three catchy quotations for
managers (from about a thousand) that came out of
that experience. These three actually mean more to me
now that I’ve been in this job and several others since
that workshop. Here is what I recall:
1. Trivial matters take up more time because we know more
about them than important matters. How true this is!
2. If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you
are really good, then you will get out of it. I’m thinking
of the definition of leadership…influencing others to
accomplish goals.
3. You get what you measure for. ‘Turns out number three
is the biggie, and starting this spring, you’ll have cause
to give some thought to this concept.
By the time you read this, many of you will have
experienced either Flotilla Leadership Training
version 2012 or have had a presentation by your local
District Captain (north, west, or east) on the Malcolm
Baldrige analysis and measurement of organizational
Continued on page 7
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The Division
14 Change of Watch. From le:
CDR Stephen Love, Commanding
Officer, Marime Force Protecon
Unit Sector Jacksonville; John
Tyson, District 7 Chief of Staff;
COMO Walter Jaskiewicz, District
7 Commodore; Tom Hayden,
Division Commander 14; and
CDR Jose‘ Quinones, Director
of Auxiliary D7. Photo by Kirk
Altman.

performance. Not to worry,
the concept is simple: Strive
for continuous improvement
and innovation. I won’t give
away too much here, but Frank
Lann, District Staff Officer-
Member Training, and his very
able assistant, Dan McIntyre,
Assistant District Staff Officer-
Member Training, both experts
on the Malcolm Baldrige (MB)
Criteria for Performance
Excellence, have put together
a show that you should find
useful in your world.
According to CDR John
Kennedy, United States Coast
Guard, an elite user of this
MB criteria and a winner
of the Hamilton Award for
Excellence: “It’s not about who
has the best trend or performance,
but about applying Best Practices
over a period.” You guessed it;
the concept is that applying
the MB criteria will assist
us in stepping up our game.
Utilizing the MB techniques
in 2012, we anticipate that you
will think about what you’ve
previously accomplished in
certain important areas and
attempt to focus on your
weak areas, continuously
improving. As Admiral Papp
might say, “We’re not asking
you to do what you cannot, just to
do what you can do, only better.”
Best of luck with your new
adventures in 2012. I’ll be
interested in hearing your
thoughts on all of this as the year
progresses. Ω
Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 7
Top: CHARLESTON, S.C.--Vito Giardina, Division Commander 12 and CAPT Michael White,
Commander, Sector Charleston present COMO Jay Dahlgren the Auxiliary Commendaon
Medal at the Division 12 Change of Watch Ceremony on Jan. 7, 2012. Photo by Robert
Weskerna
Boom: Loren Emery, Division 2 Commander, takes pointers from Dave Fuller, Immediate
Past Division Commander at the Change of Watch Ceremony on Feb. 8, 2012. Robert
Weskerna, District Captain-North noted that this was one of the best Change of Watch
Ceremony that he ever aended, and described the members as “most cordial”. Photo by
Robert Weskerna

8
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
District Captain West
Melving Manning, DCAPT-West
Team West commenced
2012 with three new
division commanders:
Mike Shea, Division 7
Commander; Paulette
Parent, Division 8
Commander; and Dave
Crockwell, Division
9 Commander. They,
along with Craig
Elliot, Division 15
Commander, and Jim
Ryder, Division 11
Commander, make up the outstanding elected bridge
of the Gulf Coast of Florida. The District Captain and
the Division Commanders, with their Division Vice
Commanders, the Auxiliary Sector Coordinator and
the Auxiliary Liaison Officers attended the first 2012
District Captain/Division Commander meeting at
Sector St. Petersburg in early January. The Commander
of Sector St. Petersburg, CAPT Sheryl Dickinson, joined
the meeting to give her perspective on both Sector
programs and Auxiliary participation. Several focus
topics were discussed, including the west region’s
and divisions’ main goals for the year and Auxiliary
preparation for the Republican National Convention,
as well as issues common to all the divisions.
The initial presentation of the Commandant’s
Performance Excellence Criteria, also known as the
Baldrige Award and Hamilton Award, was reviewed
at the meeting and will be presented at all divisions
early in the year. This program is designed to provide
a systematic way to improve management practices at
all unit levels.
The last weekend of January provided beautiful
weather for several events in the West that, in essence,
define our Auxiliary. First the Propeller Club of the
Port of Tampa sponsored a Salute to the Coast Guard.
Several Auxiliarists, representing three divisions,
attended the presentation of awards ceremony, which
included an inspiring keynote speech by Vice Admiral
Robert Parker, Commander Atlantic East/Commander,
Defense Force East.
Shortly thereafter, on January 27, Admiral Robert Papp,
Commandant, United States Coast Guard, formally
designated Clearwater, Florida, as a Coast Guard
Continued on page 9
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—The elected leaders of the divisions under Sector St. Petersburg and other officers aend the final planning
meeng of the year on November 11 at Sector. First row: Joe Blevins, Division 11 Vice Commander; Paulee Parent, Division 8
Vice Commander, Division 8 Commander (e); Captain Sheryl L. Dickinson, United States Coast Guard, Commander, Sector Saint
Petersburg; Lou Con, Division 9 Commander; Mike Shea, Division Vice Commander, Division 7 Commander(e); LT Crisano
DeDousa, USCG, Chaplain, Sector St.
Petersburg.
Second row: Dave Crockwell,
Division Vice Commander, Division
9 Commander (e); Braxton Ezell,
Division 8 Commander; Jim Ryder,
Division 11 Commander; Mel
Manning, District Captain -West,
Paul Pelleer, Division 15 Vice
Commander; LT Gino Sciorno,
United States Coast Guard ,
Auxiliary Liaison (AUXLO), Sector St.
Petersburg.
Third row: Craig Elliot, Division
15 Commander; Amos Johnson,
Division 7Commander; Don Hoge,
Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Sector
St. Petersburg; LTJG Benjamin Weber,
United States Coast Guard, AUXLO,
Sector St. Petersburg. US Coast Guard
photograph.

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 9
Continued from page 8
City at a ceremony held in downtown Clearwater.
Clearwater is one of only twelve Coast Guard Cities
nationwide, and the only one in Florida. It’s also the
first city so designated by Admiral Papp since he was
appointed Commandant. Hundreds attended the event
at an outside pavilion, including civilians, veterans,
and Coast Guard, including Auxiliarists. Along with
Admiral Papp, Mayor Frank Hibbard and numerous
federal, state and local officials, as well as Coast
Guard dignitaries, participated in the event. The Coast
Guard City designation is authorized by Congress
to recognize the outstanding support a community
provides to Coast Guard personnel and their families.
The Coast Guard Band Brass Quintet, the Coast Guard
Honor Guard and the Coast Guard Silent Drill team
made the event exceptional.
January 28 witnessed the Gasparilla invasion of the
city of Tampa. Several Auxiliary facilities, with crews
from Divisions 7, 8 and 11, supported the Coast
Guard units that escorted the Jose´ Gaspar pirate ship
across Hillsborough Bay and up Seddon Channel to
downtown Tampa. Hundreds of boats and thousands
of people also participated in the annual event.
On land, after the “invasion,” a multi-float parade
provided “booty” of beads to throngs of revelers along
the parade route. Division 7 was the primary Auxiliary
support unit.
On a more somber note, also on January 28, the 32nd
Annual Service of Remembrance of the loss of 23 Coast
Guardsmen’s lives in Tampa Bay on January 28, 1980,
took place. The sinking of the United States Coast
Guard Cutter Blackthorn and attendant loss of life was
the greatest peacetime casualty in Coast Guard history.
Several Auxiliarists from throughout the west coast
of Florida attended the Memorial Service, along with
members of the Coast Guard, family members, and
guests, at the Blackthorn Memorial Park at the north
end of the Skyway Bridge. Vice Admiral Robert Parker
delivered the memorial address during the service,
which included a fly over by a C-130 and two MH-60s,
a three-gun salute by the Coast Guard Honor Guard,
and music by the Coast Guard Band Brass Quintet.
Looking ahead, the west region is expecting an
exceptionally busy and challenging year. Among our
primary challenges will be the Republican National
Convention, taking place in Tampa in August, which
will require extensive Auxiliary support. Ω
Melvin Manning, District Captain-West stands in front of the Blackthorn Memorial on January 28 with Vice Admiral Robert C.
Parker, Commander, Atlanc Area / Commander, Defense Force East. Photo by Auxiliary member, Deborah A. Mallory, Public
Affairs Officer, Air Staon Clearwater

10
District Captain-East
Judith Hudson, DCAPT-East
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
With the beginning of each new year, there is always
renewed energy and enthusiasm, fresh ideas, and
an increased desire to accomplish and achieve our
missions. It is a great time of the year, and I am
pleased to say that District 7 East is active with very
worthwhile events and activities. In addition, all
Changes of Watch have been completed, goals have
been drafted and officers are participating in the
District Leadership Training.
As I visit the different divisions within the East, I am
learning that there is a lot of variety in what we are
accomplishing. There is much more fresh thinking
about how we
conduct our business
and perform our
missions, a lot
less “We have
always done it this
way”, and much
more willingness
to share events
and information
among flotillas and
divisions. Change
and progress have
become the norm.
All divisions have
been oriented to Organizational atio al Performance with
the District 7 Performance Measures initiative. Well,
we already have a success story. When Division
3 used performance measures during 2011 and
received weekly reports from their Commander,
they exceeded their goals plus an additional 10%
achievement! That is certainly positive proof that
performance measures work. I think we will be
amazed at the improvement in our collective
performance at the end of 2012 now that we are
focused, know where we are going, how we are
going to get there, and can see our progress as we
go.
In most divisions, not only are members availing
themselves of the Leadership Training conducted by
our district leaders, but they are adding additional
training that divisions themselves have identified as
areas where we can improve. Division 5 held a daylong
training session in December to prepare all 2012
elected leaders for the year ahead. Division 3 has
several different modules of training at every division
meeting for attendees to choose the ones most relevant
Angel Benero, Commander Division 1 Puerto Rico provides a safety
zone for a Coast Guard search and rescue demonstraon at the
2012 Expo-Nauca Boat Show at the Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club in
Ponce, Puerto Rico. Photos by Jose F. Toro, member of the Division 1
Public Affairs team.
to their responsibilities. Division 13 holds training
sessions before or after their division meetings, with
some conducted by the active duty Coast Guard. All
are effective in keeping current with changes and
increasing our knowledge base.
We just finished the boat parade season with Auxiliary
facilities providing directions and security for these
events. St. Croix provided support for an Around the
Island sailboat regatta which lasted two days. Now
we are into the season for boat shows. Division 5
Continued on page 11

Continued from page 10
participated in the three-day Stuart Boat Show with
a static display. Division 6 is preparing to teach
abbreviated About Boating Safely and Suddenly in
Command programs at the Miami International Boat
Show, in addition to staffing a booth for five days.
The marine environment is also getting more attention
these days. In the Keys, Auxiliarists have adopted
a section of the main highway to ensure that trash
is picked up four times a year. There is a major
Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 11
thrust underway to train more Assistant Pollution
Investigators, and a creative program to retrieve a
part of lobster trap known as the “funnel” from the
ocean floor (thus reducing the debris) and recycling
them has been initiated. Puerto Rico flotilla members
support the Harbor Safety Committee, along with the
active duty Coast Guard. This committee is dedicated
to the safety, security, mobility, and environmental
protection of the community. Ω
U.S. Navy to St. Croix Auxiliary
By Doug Armstrong, Flolla Vice Commander, 16-1 Chrisansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands—
Three years ago, Doug Armstrong,
a member of Flotilla 16-1
Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands,
met Commander Daniel Kalal,
Commander Station Roosevelt
Roads (U.S. Naval Station in Ceiba,
Puerto Rico, the cornerstone of
the U.S. Navy’s operations in the
Caribbean and the logistical base
for fleet training exercises on the
island of Vieques). Over dinner,
Armstrong talked up the Coast
Guard and the Auxiliary. CDR
Kalal mentioned that as the base
was being decommissioned, they
had assets the Auxiliary might be
interested in, such as a patrol boat.
Armstrong went to Lee Elvins,
Division Commander 16, and
asked him to lead the project from
the division side once they got close
to the delivery date. Armstrong
kept the deal alive by frequently
reminding CDR Kalal of his offer,
scheduling the delivery, assisting
with keeping the process moving
forward at the highest levels, and
most importantly, by having Lee as a representative to
make the ‘behind-the-scenes’ works happen for both
the Navy and the Coast Guard.
Finally, CDR Kalal and his crew arrived in St. Croix
to make the delivery. They were met by Lee Elvins
and his greeting party, and CDR Kalal stayed at
Armstrong’s home for the weekend. Once the boat
reached St. Croix, Elvins was responsible for the paper
work, letters of thanks, and the many hours working
with Sector Borinquen to make this transfer happen
from the Coast Guard to the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
A conversaon three years ago
between en Doug Armstrong, Flolla lla Vice
Commander
ma 16-1 in the U.S. Virgin Islands and CDR Daniel Kalal, Commander, Staon Roosevelt
Roads, U.S. Navy, resulted in the transfer of this 27-foot Boston Whaler from the
Navy to Division 16 Coast Auxiliary via the Coast Guard. Photo provided by Lee Elvins,
Division 16 Commander
It’s actually a great story about how pride and a
professional attitude of representing the Coast
Guard Team can lead to opportunities that were
previously unknown – in this case the U.S. Navy
offering to help. By finding the right resources in
the Auxiliary to guide the process, what started
as a conversation turned into an $80,000 asset
transfer, a great public relations moment, and
recognition for those involved.Ω

12
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
District Directorate Chief-Logiscs
James Dennen, DDC-L
R.I.P.: Is this the fate of Auxiliary Newsleers
By Dorothy Riley, District Staff Officer-Publicaons, guest author
“Newsletters are outdated and a thing of the past.”
“Newsletters are obsolete.” “The future of news is webpages
and blogs.” “We should do away with newsletters altogether.”
Most of us have heard
statements like these.
Are newsletters obsolete
While the Auxiliary has
moved from printed to
electronically distributed
newsletters in PDF
(portable document
format) form, others
do not think that this
brings newsletters far
enough into the age of
digital media. The PDFs
resemble the printed
newsletters in layout and
content.
Within the Auxiliary,
the Public Affairs. or
‘A’ Department, has
forayed furthest into the
world of digital media
with ‘publications’ (used
loosely here) such as
“SITREP”, “Navigator
Express” and “Coast
Guard Auxiliary Live:
Official Blog of the U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary”.
Additionally, the A
Department has created both Twitter and Facebook
accounts. Thousands of Auxiliary members are on
Facebook and many individual Auxiliary units have
Facebook pages. Many also have Twitter accounts.
Do these digital media sites do a better job of delivering
news and information to Auxiliary members The last
‘tweet’ on Twitter on Jan. 27 (when this article was
written) linked members to the lead story on “Auxiliary
Live”, “Cold Water Survival – The 1-10-1 Rule”, a great
article about how to survive accidental immersion
in icy cold waters. The previous ‘tweet” linked to an
article on the District 1SR (New York) Facebook page,
“Coast Guard Auxiliary Chefs Prepare the Banquet”.
While both are newsworthy articles, they are not local
and have little to do with the members within our
district, divisions, or flotillas.
News can be found online in many forums, including
posting articles in news sections within the Auxiliary’s
WOW II pages, posting
news on Facebook and
other blog sites; creating
a free Wiki page — the
possibilities are endless.
The most recent focus in the
Auxiliary is to encourage
the use of Facebook and
Twitter. The appeal in this is
the immediacy of relaying
information.
There are drawbacks to this,
particularly as a method
of delivering news and
information to our members.
You must first “Friend” or
“Like” a Facebook page in
order to receive its content.
The same is true of Twitter;
a member must “Follow”
in order to receive alerts.
Other drawbacks:
• Once you “Friend”
your flotilla or division, the
updates posted compete
with the stream of updates
posted by other real and
virtual “Friends”. News
items can easily get buried
beneath your sister shrieking because she received
a bad haircut, Facebook game requests, comments
on last night’s ball game, and news from other parts
of the country that, again, lack local relevance.
• Auxiliary Facebook pages and Twitter accounts are
not presently monitored for content. Members can
post inappropriate or inaccurate content.
• John Q. Public is unlikely to learn about the
Auxiliary or our Recreational Boating Safety
programs on Facebook because comments are only
linked to those who “Like” or “Friend” us.
• Many members avoid Facebook links because they
Continued on page 13

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 13
do not wish to inadvertently download games and
applications built into many confirmations and
requests.
• Many of our members do not have Facebook and
Twitter accounts and don’t want one.
• News and information is fragmented. One must
follow links to various sites to read posts and
articles.
Pages like Facebook and Twitter may be the wave of the
future; but this is now, and who knows what the future
holds Remember “Myspace” Once the leading social
media/blog site, Myspace was the rage until Facebook
completely supplanted it. We cannot begin to guess
what will eventually replace Facebook, but given the
dynamic history of the Internet, eventually something
will.
Currently, most members have computers, but, make
no mistake, we still have a large number of members
without computers or email addresses. Our members’
computer proficiencies range from beginner to expert,
with most in the intermediate user range. These
members can read and respond to emails, create and
send simple documents, perform web searches and
open PDF files. That is advantageous for Auxiliary
newsletters, most of which are now published and
distributed as PDF files. A few are released as Word
files, but, both are delivered right into the members’
e-mailbox. There are other advantages to newsletters
published and distributed in PDF format:
• PDF is the preferred format worldwide because of
the ease with which it can be “ported” and read
anywhere, on any platform.
• The news published in unit newsletters is by and
about the members of those units, and has local
relevance. The names and faces are familiar. Staff
reports provide program updates, activity reports,
and schedules of future events, all within a single
document—no surfing the web to stay abreast of
your unit’s activities!
• Newsletters acknowledge the members’ efforts
and provide historical records.
Because newsletters are edited and laid out by
volunteer members, most of whom have no writing,
editing, graphic design, or publishing experience, the
negatives are as real as the positives:
• Newsletters are often edited and published by
members who use poor grammar and/or do not
adhere to Auxiliary guidelines as outlined in the
Publication Officer’s Guide and Auxiliary Manual.
• Newsletters can be so poorly designed that they
may be difficult to read or fail to hold the reader’s
attention.
• Months between publication dates can reduce
the relevance and worth of the articles published.
Newsletters published infrequently lack all
claims to immediacy and contribute strongly to the
argument that newsletters are obsolete.
The advantages and disadvantages of both web news
and PDF-based newsletters are numerous, even
without getting into related areas, such as software
requirements and costs, electronic reading devices, etc.
News via Facebook and Twitter For flotilla and
division news, it may be the future, but we are not
there yet. That does not relieve Publications officers
from learning, improving and publishing interesting,
relevant newsletters today. It also behooves us to learn
more about digital media, including social media pages
and blogs. Test the waters; publish occasional articles
of interest or schedules of upcoming Recreational
Boating Safety events on your flotilla’s Facebook or
other social media page. Ω
Oops!
The capon for the cover image our 2011
Fall issue was so completely wrong that we
must correct it. The member pictured on
the cover is Reynaldo (Rey) Rivera-Rosado
aboard the Auxiliary facility Kamstar1 owned
by Ken Morningstar. The photographer is
John Sanchez. All are members of Flolla 74
Brandon, Fla.

14
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
District Directorate Chief-Response
Donald A. Zinner, DDC-R
District 7 Operaons: Auxiliary Assists in 2012 Internaonal Associaon for Disabled Sailing
World Championship By Frank Wondolkowski and Larry Keller, Photos by Dick Carl Flolla 98 Charloe Harbor, Fla.
CHARLOTTE HARBOR, Fla.—The first two weeks of
January saw approximately 100 sailors from 13 countries
come to compete in the International Association
for Disabled Sailing 2012 World Championship in
Charlotte Harbor. The actual racing took place between
Jan. 7-15, 2012, and 35 members from two flotillas
(Flotilla 98 and 99) participated by providing safety
zones. The regatta was completed successfully with
no mishaps. and many of the sailors will be competing
in the Paralympic Games to be held off the coast of
Weymouth, England later this summer.
Continued on page 15
Regatta Participating
Members:
Flotilla 98
Bareither, W.
Harden, R.
Bingley, G.
Johnson, K.
Bolton, P.
Kavanaugh, F.
Bolton, T.
Keller, L.
Brown, D.
Kinsman, M.
Bryant, V.
Kirkpatrick, G.
Carl, R.
Knabe, R.
Counter, F.
LeBlanc, P.
Donovan, D.
Muenz, J.
Donovan, P.
Smith, D.
Ebert, E.
Wilhelm, D.
Ehmann, J.
Wippel, F.
Flores, A.
Wondolkowski, G.
Ghougasian, J.
Wondolkowski, F.
Flotilla 99
Abbot, L.
Reiner, C.
Reiner, P.
Robert, R.
Sabourin, M.
Sleichert, J.
Willis, R.

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 15
Continued from page 14
The 28 members from Flotilla 98, together with seven
members from Flotilla 99 logged 405 man-hours
assisting this event. Impressed with the sailor’s skills
and determination, the members got to know some of
them, and Larry Keller (Flotilla 98) appeared to have a
favorite, contestant Joseph (Jody) Hill from Seabrook,
Texas (pictured at left.) Jody, paralyzed from the chest
down, races a sloop called Positive. He has been racing
since 2008 and has already earned second place in the
2011 North American Challenge Cup, and third place
in the 2011 U.S. Disabled Sailing Championships.
Given the sailors’ courage, it is no wonder that so
many members were willing to dedicate so much time
to this race Ω
District 7 Operaons: Teamwork
By Brian Lichtenstein, Flolla 38 Plantaon, Fla.
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.-Teamwork
is essential. Each person has a job
to do, and on this HC 144A Ocean
Sentry aircraft drop and recovery
mission, the members work well
together. On board the Heartbeat on
Dec. 6, 2011, are Dave Cox (pictured
at the helm) and crewmembers
Mike Sokasits and George Kozel,
members of Flotilla 37 Lighthouse
Point, Fla.; Don Banas, Flotilla 34
Pompano, Beach, Fla., and Brian
Lichtenstein, Flotilla 38 Plantation
Fla. Of Course, spend enough time
on the water, and you can see just
about anything (below)! Photos by
Brian Lichtenstein

16
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
District Directorate Chief-Prevention
David M. Fuller, DDC-P
Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) is at the very heart
of what we do for our nation, our states and territories,
and our local communities. It is our primary mission
and the reason for our existence as an organization.
When you first became a member of the Auxiliary,
you probably joined because you wanted to make a
difference. We all have various interests that influence
what specific function we wish to perform, but the glue
that binds us together is that we all want somehow to
make a difference.
RBS is an area where you can have a dramatic impact
on people’s lives, both immediate and long term.
Your efforts probably will not make the headlines or
be featured on your local TV news broadcast. Every
time you teach a Public Education class, perform a
Vessel Safety Check, report a missing or damaged
Aid to Navigation, visit our partners and give them
information and literature, facilitate Member Training,
or perform Marine Safety duties, you are having an
immediate and lasting impact on people’s lives. Our
State Liaison Officers also have a direct impact, working
behind the scenes and out of the headlines.
Once you have the initial training to earn one of these
qualifications, you have the tools necessary to begin
to make a difference. Begin
practicing your craft and seek
a mentor to help you improve
and sharpen your skills. Just
as in anything you do, regular
participation is one of the keys
to keeping your skill set sharp.
You have heard it said many
times that “if you don’t use it,
you lose it,” and I could not agree
more. You need to do more than
the minimums to retain the skill
set, so regular participation is
critical. Make every effort to
attend annual workshops when
they are offered. They will help
to keep you up to date and even
sharpen your skill set. One key
difference between an amateur
and a professional is that the
amateur practices until they get
it right while the professional
practices until they can’t get it
wrong. Strive for excellence in
everything you do, and aspire
to become a professional.
In order to accomplish our goals, we must work
together as a team. No individual can do it alone. Just
ask Eli Manning of the New York Giants. While he is
undoubtedly a great quarterback and leader, his team
won the Super Bowl. The same concept applies to the
Auxiliary.
Each of our areas of responsibility requires interaction
and help from others. As an example, to put students
in the seats of our Public Education Classes, every
member should be a recruiter and help spread the
word. Vessel Examiners can spread the word and
hand out class schedules to boat owners during an
inspection, and our Program Visitors can stock their
partner racks with class schedules. I am certain you
can think of unique ways to reach out to the public.
Please share these ideas with your Flotilla Staff Officers
and the leadership of your flotilla.
You can make a dramatic and lasting difference in
people’s lives by regular participation in Recreational
Boating Safety programs. It is very satisfying to know
that you have made a difference, so go get that feeling!
It is the real reason you joined the Auxiliary. Ω
TAMPA, Fla.- Helen Russee shows how Vessel Safety Check data can yield Boang Safety
Taccal Informaon at the 2011 Coast Guard Innovaon Expo in Tampa in October 2011.
With the Auxiliary shi in focus to effecveness measures, John and Helen Russee from
Flolla 14-5 Green Cove Springs, Fla., are ahead of the pack with a simple tool designed
to improve recreaonal boang safety by idenfying and addressing the areas of greatest
need to recreaonal boaters. Photo provided by John and Helen Russee

TAMPA, Fla.—Think Green was the theme of the
Coast Guard‘s 2011 Innovation Expo held October
25-27 in Tampa, Florida. USCG, USCG Auxiliary, and
industry exhibitors showcased practices, initiatives
and products to reduce carbon footprints by decreasing
energy needs or dependence on carbon emitting fuels.
As Auxiliarists, that means using minimal resources to
do things better and more efficiently. About eighty
total exhibits were on display, with a dozen coming
from the Auxiliary, nationwide. Of those twelve,
an impressive 25% (three innovations) hailed from
District 7, Division 14.
David Cawton and Walt Reppenhagen of Flotilla14-4
presented NAMS, Navigational Aids Management
System. With assistance from fellow Auxiliarists
Elaine Cornell and Chuck Farmer, they developed
a computerized tool to manage Aids to Navigation
(ATONS) and Private Aids to Navigation (PATONS)
within the Area of Responsibility of the Aids to
Navigation Team at Tybee Island, Georgia. The
system facilitates identification and documentation of
deviations, and submits Aids to Navigation Reports
(Form 7054) in real time. It is time-saving, practical
and highly accurate.
Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 17
Think Green: Coast Guard’s 2011 Innovaon Expo
Flolla 14-5 proves that effecve innovaons can be simple!
By Helen Russee
A Portable Multi-Modal Communications System
(PMMCS), informally called radio-in-a-box, was crafted
and demonstrated by John Russette and Willem
Loupatty of Flotilla 14-5. The box is an inexpensive
ice chest equipped with power converter and antenna
tuner, and the radio is a multi-modal device, consisting
of a digital marine and a 2-meter VHF radio. Once
mounted on its platform – a sprinkler stand from the
local hardware store – the (home-made) external,
tunable antenna extends to a height of 26 feet, giving
the operator access to the nationwide emergency VHF
repeater network. The apparatus is designed to expand
the scope of telecommunications operators (AUX
TCOs) during emergency conditions by giving them
multi-modal access to the nationwide VHF emergency
radio network that links public safety agencies.
Applying Vessel Safety Check data to yield Boating
Safety Tactical Information was the third proposal,
originated by John Russette and Helen Russette of
Flotilla 14-5. Both the source (Vessel Safety Check
data), and the instrument for compilation and analysis
(computer software) are readily available, so no
additional material resources are needed to implement
the program. Outcomes include: 1.) Identification
of recreational boater behaviors and vessel
deficiencies to help Public Education programs
focus on areas of highest non-compliance and
risk, and 2.) Report generation to support
annual follow up in the Vessel Safety Check
program. The ultimate goal is to improve
recreational boating safety by identifying
and addressing the areas of greatest need to
recreational boaters.
The 2011 Coast Guard Innovation Expo
provided an opportunity for Auxiliarists
to
demonstrate their creativity and
resourcefulness and gain immediate feedback
on new ideas. Considerable attention and
interest came from members of the USCG, other
Auxiliarists, and even industry professionals.
This is an annual event, so if you have a good
idea that might offer widespread benefits,
consider participating in next year’s Coast
Guard Innovation Expo.Ω
TAMPA, Fla.- John Russee explains to COMO Walter Jaskiewicz how data
obtained from Vessel Safety Checks can be used to idenfy areas of greatest
concern to recreaonal boaters at the Coast Guard Innovaon Expo October
25-27, 2011. Photo provided by John and Helen Russee

18
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
NEW YORK HARBOR—
This summer marked the
75 th anniversary of the
christening of America’s Tall
Ship, USCGC Eagle. To mark
this historic anniversary,
Eagle sailed across the
Atlantic and made port calls
in Ireland and England before
arriving at her birthplace
in Hamburg, Germany. On
her way back to the United
States, she made port calls
in Iceland and Nova Scotia
before arriving in Boston.
Eagle was originally
christened Horst Wessel by
Adolph Hitler and served
as a German Navy training
vessel. After the war, it was
taken as reparation by the
Coast Guard and used as a
Coast Guard training vessel
for all academy cadets and
many Officer Candidate
School trainees since.
I was fortunate to be invited
aboard Eagle by my son, LT Jeff Janaro, Operations
Officer and Navigator, for a one week training cruise
between New Bedford, Mass., and New York City. Jeff
was the Flotilla 34 Coast Guard Academy Introduction
Mission candidate in 1999 and attended the academy from
2000 to 2004. To this day, he asks how flotilla 34 is doing.
Spending time at sea aboard Eagle was a wonderful
experience. Being able to observe ship operations
from my unique perspective as the father of the “OPS
BOSS” (operational boat outfit and systems support)
was extra special. I was invited to attend all navigation
briefs, classes and training sessions for cadets, climb the
rigging (which I respectfully declined) and generally
had no restrictions anywhere on board. As a training
vessel, Eagle and her crew reinforce to cadets many of
the classroom lessons taught during the academic year
at the academy. I was impressed by the rapport between
the crew and the fourth class cadets, as these future
officers learned lessons of the sea from well qualified
enlisted men and women. After a very tough swab
summer, the fourth class cadets were very happy to be
aboard and to actually begin their nautical education.
They all have four very difficult years ahead of them.
NEW YORK HARBOR--The author, Jerry Janaro, and his son, LT Jeff Janaro, Operaons Officer
Officer, Coast Guard Cuer Eagle, celebrate as the ship enters New York Harbor in August,
2011. Photo by 1st Class Nyxolyno Cangemi, Public Affairs Officer, United States Coast Guard.
Next page: Statue of Liberty raises high the torch of promise behind the rigging of the Coast
Guard Cuer Eagle. Photo by Jerry Janaro
Once I was indoctrinated to life aboard and informed
about on board traditions, I got very comfortable in my
surroundings. Life in the wardroom, where the officers
eat and have meetings, is a very special place on Eagle.
The room is filled with museum quality artifacts and
pictures of its early life, as well as gifts from the many
countries it has visited around the world. Meals were
delicious and plentiful, with good conversation led by
the Captain, Executive Officer, and Operations Officer.
On our fifth day at sea, Eagle sailed within two
miles of the Long Island coast and picked up Janet
Napolitano, Secretary of the Department of Homeland
Security. She and her entourage of six staff members
and six Secret Service detail spent the next two days
on board. The Secretary had never before been aboard
Eagle and was visibly impressed by the majesty
of the vessel and the professionalism of her crew.
From the moment that she came aboard, Secretary
Napolitano actively engaged in asking questions and
talking to officers and crew alike. The Secretary’s
senior aide said to me, “The Coast Guard really hit a
home run with this.”
Continued on page 18

Volume
LVIII I
Issue 1
Spring 2012 19
Continued from page18
As OPS, Jeff’s responsibilities
include all deck activities, so, as
Eagle sailed along, the Captain
gave him the responsibility of
explaining to the Secretary all that
was going on operationally as the
crew went through their various drills
and sailing evolutions.
As we finally neared lower New York
Harbor, the captain decided that we had
just the right tide and wind conditions
to allow us to sail up the Hudson River
to our anchorage area, 400 yards off the
Statue of Liberty. What are the odds of that
happening, especially with the Secretary on
board Eagle made a beautiful sight as she
sailed under the Verrazano Bridge and made
her way to her anchorage for the night. The
next morning, as we travelled to our berth in
Brooklyn, we were accompanied by Coast Guard
helos overhead, a multitude of Coast Guard
surface vessels, and the biggest New York City
fireboat anyone had ever seen pumping thousands
of gallons of water into the air in tribute to our
wonderful Eagle. It was truly a great end to a trip of a
lifetime! Ω
Jerry Janaro has the opportunity to meet Janet Napolitano, Secretary of
the Department of Homeland Security aboard the Coast Guard Cuer
Eagle in New York Harbor. Photo by 1st class Nyxolyno Cangemi, Public
Affairs Officer, United States Coast Guard.

20
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
By Constance O. Irvin, District Staff Officer-Public Affairs, D7
T he placing of poinsettia-adorned wreaths on the
graves of thousands of fallen service men and women at
Arlington National Cemetery first caught the attention
of the media and the public when a photo of those
wreaths, covered with snow, appeared on the Internet.
That photo appeared in 2005, but the project really
started in 1992 when a small company in Maine, the
Worcester Wreath Company, donated 5,000 wreaths
to Arlington for placement on Veterans’ graves. It
was a gesture that eventually caught the imagination
of thousands of
volunteers who
wanted to place
wreaths in cemeteries
all across the United
States and in foreign
countries; anywhere
American Veterans
were laid to rest.
Eventually, Congress
designated December
as the month to
recognize Veterans
with “Wreaths
Across America.”
Many of our Coast
Guard Team members
are involved in
Wreaths Across America (WAA), but Pat McCarn, a
member of Flotilla 9-10 Ft. Myers/ Cape Coral Fla.,
has the distinction of having established the first
“floating” location for a WAA ceremony on water.
McCarn and his wife, Nancy, have a boat charter
business, Rainbow Memorials at Sea. They provide a
service, scattering ashes at sea. That business led them
to the Auxiliary and to the WAA ceremony in 2009. In
November of that year, they arranged a Veterans Day
tribute at sea with local marine law enforcement and
asked Flotilla 9-10 to escort the vessels. Unfortunately,
Tropical Storm Ida forced the cancelation of that event.
A phone call to the offices of WAA confirmed that
there were no ceremonies held at sea. McCarn and his
wife decided to change that and turned their efforts
toward the WAA event in December. McCarn also
made the decision to join the Auxiliary because of
the courtesy and professionalism Auxiliary members
showed when helping to set up November’s cancelled
ceremony. He asked the flotilla if they would help
with the WAA ceremony in the Gulf of Mexico just
off Sanibel Island and it was a resounding, “Yes.”
The first service at sea in 2009 involved 19 boats and
about 40 participants. Local law enforcement vessels,
Auxiliary vessels and a Coast Guard 33-foot Special
Purpose Craft-Law Enforcement boat made their
way from the Cape Coral Veterans’ Bridge, down the
Caloosahatchee and out into the turquoise waters,
just three miles off shore from the Sanibel lighthouse.
Nancy placed seven wreaths — representing the five
military branches, one for prisoners of war and those
missing in action
(POW-MIA), and the
Merchant Marines —
into the water while
a bagpiper played
“Amazing
Grace,”
followed by a bugler
sounding
“Taps.”
Newspaper accounts
of the event resulted
in WAA declaring
Rainbow Memorials
at Sea, the first floating
WAA
ceremony.
In 2010, the event took
another turn with
the involvement of
Connie Irvin, Division
9, Staff Officer-Public Affairs. She made contact with
the LTJG Michael Mastrianni, Commanding Officer of
the Coast Guard Cutter Marlin, moored at Station Fort
Myers Beach, and asked if they could involve the Marlin
and have some local dignitaries aboard for inclusion
in the ceremony. One special guest aboard was 89
year old Dorothy Kurtz from North Port, who served
as a Coast Guard SPAR from 1943-1946. Mastrianni
not only secured the vessel for the ceremony, but
also had a special Marlin cap embroidered with
Dorothy Kurtz’s name, which he gave to her as
she prepared to board the boat. Newspaper and
television media, as well as the young crewmembers
of the Marlin, were fascinated with Dorothy’s stories
about being one of the first Coast Guard SPARS and
smiled when she told them how delighted she was
with “being paid $21.00 a month for her service.”
The 2010 event almost didn’t happen. Fog rolled in
off the Gulf and, for a time, it was doubtful that the
ceremony would occur. The Marlin made its way
Continued on page21

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 21
Photographs: FORT MYERS, Fla., December 2010—Eighty-nine year old Dorothy Kurtz, a former Coast Guard SPAR (1943-1946),
stands at the rail of the Coast Guard Cuer Marlin and watches the Wreaths Across America tribute at sea unfold. In the
foreground is the ceremonial boat surrounded by three Auxiliary facilies from Flolla 9-10 Ft. Myers/Cape Coral, Fla. Photos by
Constance O. Irvin, District Staff Officer-Public Affairs D7
Continued from page20
cautiously out to the designated site and lay anchor.
Dorothy Kurtz hung on the rail, eyes searching for
the approaching vessels which would be part of the
Tribute at Sea. Suddenly the fog lifted, and a guest
aboard the Marlin remarked, “Look at that. It’s like
something out of a movie!” Over 30 vessels carrying
over 140 participants appeared out of the fog and into
the brilliant Florida sunlight. Coast Guard Auxiliary
facilities from Flotilla 9-10 led the way, followed
by vessels from Homeland Security, the Sheriff’s
Department, local police, Florida Fish and Wildlife,
Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and various other agencies.
The ceremony began at noon with a minute of silence
to remember the fallen. Following opening remarks by
retired Army Colonel Chaplain Larry Agers, Nancy
McCarn scattered the ashes of Dennis C. Sander,
a fallen veteran who had stood watch at President
John F. Kennedy’s casket in Washington and acted
as a pallbearer for General Douglas MacArthur at
his funeral. The laying of the seven wreaths followed
the burial at sea for Sander, with the bagpipes
playing, and concluded with Taps resounding
across the water. On board the Marlin, CG SPAR
Dorothy Kurtz was overwhelmed with emotion.
2011’s Tribute at Sea again involved the Marlin and, this
time, an honor guard and a group of bagpipers crowded
the rails to watch the noon-time ceremony. Members
of a local VFW stood on the deck, waiting for the signal
to perform a 21 gun salute. Close to 30 vessels carrying
veterans, law enforcement, Coast Guard and Coast
Guard Auxiliary members, handicapped veterans, and
Sea Scouts, circled as the seven wreaths were placed in
the Gulf in remembrance of those who gave their lives
on the high seas to protect and honor their country.
The small gesture of laying 5,000 wreaths at Arlington
in 1992 continues to grow. In 2011, over 100,000 wreaths
were laid by volunteers on grave sites all across our
nation and in over thirty foreign countries. But for
Pat and Nancy McCarn, “the Coast Guard Auxiliary
involvement has aided in helping us continue to honor
those who lost their lives at sea during military conflicts.
We are honored to be the first Floating ceremony.”
The message of Wreaths Across America is
simple: Remember, Honor and Teach. As Wreaths
Across America goes to sea, it does just that. Ω

22 U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
would not have been an unusual sight, except for the
pairs of shoes that were e nailed to the buoy.
Apparently, it is a rite of passage for Citadel cadets to
swim from the Citadel shoreline to the buoy, leave a
pair of shoes, and swim back. It is not a casual swim.
However, the high-heel shoes
tacked to the buoy
are clear evidence of the ladies’ presence in the male
dominated military college - Go Girls!
We radioed Coast Guard Station Charleston and
reported the sighting. No action was required, and we
continued on our way down the river.
CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Festus Burchfield, coxswain, and
crewmembers Ann Graham, Flolla 12-6 East Cooper SC, and
Tommy Timberlake, Flolla 12-4 Central Grand Strand SC, make
a stop at Cooper River Marina to check out the facilies and
observe local area infrastructure.
What is warm and delightful in November
That would be the South Carolina sun, defying all
weather forecasts for the day. Getting underway
at River’s Edge Marina, on the Ashley River, was
almost magical this winter morning November 20,
2011, as coxswain Festus Burchfield and crew Barbara
Burchfield, Ann Graham and Tommy Timberlake
prepared for the day’s safety patrol and training
aboard “Voyager.” At slack tide, the river was calm
and the sun was already warming up past the point of
Personal Protective Equipment (jacket) use.
Rotating duty positions of stern watch, bow watch,
radio watch and time at the helm gave each person
the opportunity to sharpen their skills and maintain
proficiency. Operational facility “Voyager” has a
new Garmin GPS, which was used for training and
familiarization in the use of man overboard, waypoints,
and routes. Using the navigation tools quickly and
correctly is a big advantage when called out for search
and rescue missions, for example.
This glorious, warm, winter morning, we happily went
our way down the Ashley River to Charleston Harbor.
What is abandoned, broken and should not be tied
to a buoy
We didn’t get far before we came upon an odd sight.
Before us was a derelict jon-boat tied to the 6A buoy. It
A derelict jon-boat is ed to Buoy 6A in the Ashley River. Pairs
of shoes are nailed to the buoy, reportedly by South Carolina
Citadel Cadets who swim from the Citadel shoreline to the
buoy and back.
What is orange and makes you look up
A now familiar sight, our Coast Guard aviator friends
fly directly over us. We wave hello. Coast Guard Air
Station Savannah patrols the South Carolina coastline
and provides search and rescue missions with HH-65
Dolphin helicopters.

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 23
We were still on the Ashley River, keeping a sharp
lookout for anything unusual. On this beautiful,
calm, warm day there were lots of boaters and many
fishermen on the water. Not many life jackets were
visible however, upping the odds for danger and
increasing our vigilance.
What is large and floats, but can’t and won’t
That would be those unfortunate sailboats that sank
last month in a terrible storm and remain sunken near
the channel almost directly across from Coast Guard
Station Charleston.
What is convenient and has ice cream
Our familiarization training of the local area and
facilities included a visit to Cooper River Marina,
college.cgauxnet.us/program/training, is a good place
to start learning about the effects of pollution on marine
environments.
Our report to Station Charleston Operations Officer of
the Day (OOD) included photos sent using Graham’s
‘smart phone.’ It is a distinct advantage to the Coast
Guard when they can receive and evaluate photos
immediately during an incident or investigation.
The pollutant did not appear to contain oil or other
oily substance, just lots of bubbles adrift in the river.
Station Charleston advised us that the foam was indeed
a biodegradable detergent used by a local dredging
company to clean the pipes. Station told us that no
further action was required, so Voyager departed for
River’s Edge Marina and wrapped up the day’s patrol.
The six-hour patrol went by very fast.
It
was a very interesting and rewarding day
on Auxiliary patrol in the South Carolina
coastal waters. Auxiliary members
interested in becoming Boat Crew qualified
can get started by contacting their Flotilla
Commander or Flotilla Staff Officer-
Member Training. You never know what
you will see!Ω
Le: Cooper River Marina offers many services
and conveniences for the boang public and is a
good place for Auxiliary comfort stops. It also has
ice cream!
operated by the Charleston County Park & Recreation
Commission. The marina is open daily (except major
holidays), has a well-equipped store, pleasant staff,
rest rooms, a lounge area, and a covered deck outside.
Winter hours, from Oct. 1 – Mar. 31, are 9 A.M.
to 5 P.M., and summer hours, Apr. 1 – Sep. 30,
are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What is white, foamy, and found floating
in the river
Detergent! (Detergent) We came upon a
large floating substance that resembled dish
detergent. It stretched clear across the Cooper
River channel and could be seen from as far
away as the Ravenel Bridge, a mile away. The
presence of dolphins in the area heightened
our concerns about pollution and its effects.
Clearly unusual, we investigated further and
found the source - two pipes coming out of
the ground at Drum Island. Auxiliary online
training course Good Mate, available at http://
Below: A foamy white substance resembling detergent is
discharged into the Cooper River from two pipes located at
Drum Island.

24
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
Air Staon Miami Makes History
Transporng the U.S. Army Special ‘Ops’ Parachute
Demonstraon Team
Arcle and photos by Diane Riggan, Assistant District Staff Officer–Public Affairs-East D7
STUART, Fla.—On a windy November day in 2011, straps, got into position, and opened ed the cargo ramp.
it took just 19 seconds for the HC-144A Ocean
Sentry to get airborne. LTJG Dan Feirman and LTJG
The Ocean Sentry circled the airport and surrounding
Hans de Groot from Coast Guard Air Station Miami
area to gain altitude while the jump team evaluated the
guided the medium range aircraft into the partly
winds. The airfield reported winds at 12 knots, gusting
cloudy sky and headed for an altitude of 10,000 feet.
to 16; the limit for a safe jump was not more than 17 knots.
That day the cargo
SGT Kelly Becker prepared to jump first. SGT First Class
was light. Onboard
Gordy
Horvath,
was the Coast
SSG
Travis
Guard crew, and,
Weathers,
and
for the first time as
SSG Jeffrey Inman
a commercial venue,
would
follow
a special operations
her. Three large
parachute team
rolls of streamers
from the U.S. Army.
were tossed out
The performance
at 2,000 feet to
by the Black
check the winds.
Daggers Parachute
The team member
Demonstration Team
maneuvered
a few days later
around on the
would be historic
edge of the open
– not for them, but
cargo ramp to
for the Coast Guard.
get the best view
Today was practice.
for
watching
the
wind’s
AMT 3rd Class
effects on the
Stephen Basset and AMT 3rd Class Kareem el
colorful
l
streamers.
Cherbini, United States Coast Guard, talked about
how significant this day was. It was the first time the
SGT Becker rechecked her gear and began to make her
Ocean Sentry would serve as a platform for a jump
move out to the edge. Becker made history by being the
team for an air show. They were excited about the
first female chaplain’s assistant to become a member
opportunity to be part of it. Also on board were Diane
of the Black Dagger’s team. She knelt down, looking
Riggan and her husband, Wilson Riggan, Chief of
intently focused, and, in a blink of an eye, stood up and
Aviation, both members of Flotilla 59 in Stuart. They
stepped off the ramp, just as though she were stepping
assisted the Coast Guard with the arrangements for
off a curb to cross the street. The brilliant red smoke
this particular community event and were thrilled to
trailing from her boots may have been visible for miles.
learn that they would be going along for the practice
run. Bassett gave them the safety briefing before
boarding while waiting for the parachute team.
Soon the flight deck checklist was complete, the jump
team was onboard, and the cameras were ready to
photograph the demonstration team. There would
be just one chance to capture this event. Feirman
and DeGroot received their clearance to taxi from
the tower, brought the power up and rolled into
take off position. After the initial climb out, AMT el
Cherbini stretched a safety line mid-fuselage, from
side to side, separating the area for the jump team
from the rest of the cabin. He then attached his safety
The team’s jumpmaster focused on communicating
with the cockpit crew, however time was getting close
for the others to depart the airplane. They rechecked
each other’s safety gear as the plane approached 10,000
feet. SSG Inman gave “thumbs up” to the unofficial
photography team, and the three made their way onto
the edge of the ramp. In less than 20 seconds, Horvath
stepped off backwards into thin air, followed by
Inman and Weathers, and they all spread their arms
to fly. Each jumper pulled on a thin cord that stretched
from their wrist to the canisters on their heels. As they
did so, red smoke streamed out and blazed across
Continued on page 25

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 25
the clear blue sky, as they parachuted back to earth.
Once the entire team was away, the aircraft turned and
banked, and AMT el Cherbini activated the controls to close
the cargo ramp. In just a few minutes, the aircraft was back
on the ground and their day was over.
On Sunday, November 13, 2011, with nearly 20,000 people
waiting for the opening ceremonies to begin, the jump team
finished their walk-thru in a grassy area away from the crowd.
They then boarded the Ocean Sentry and, within minutes,
the public address announcer drew the crowd’s attention to
the Coast Guard HC-144A circling above.
Thousands of faces looked skyward, at the gleaming white
and orange Coast Guard airplane as it climbed higher and
higher. Cameras caught the cargo ramp opening. and soon
one jumper was away, highlighted against the beautiful South
Florida sky. With smoke streaming from the jumper’s boots,
the American flag stretched out behind them in the wind, and
the National Anthem playing over the public address system,
the team made for an impressive start.
The announcer told the audience that the Black Daggers
would be presenting the flag they had just carried to the
family of one of our nation’s fallen military members. It
was presented to Mrs. Elizabeth Jenkins, of Stuart, Fla., to
honor her late husband, Navy Second Class Petty Officer
Robert Boyd Jenkins, who was killed in Iraq in May 2004.
Meanwhile, in the skies above, the Coast Guard crew
Page 24: Wilson Riggan, Auxiliary Chief of Aviaon, looks out
the window of the HC-144A Ocean Sentry from Coast Guard
Staon Miami during the Coast Guard’s pracce run with the
U.S. Army Black Daggers Parachute Team.
Above: SGT Kelly Becker, a member of the U.S. Army’s
Black Dagger Parachute Team boards the Coast Guard’s
Ocean Sentry before the November pracce jump. In the
background is the Ocean Sentry. The cargo ramp is open and
a jumper is visible just beyond the tail.
maneuvered the plane to perform a low pass fly-by, in a final
tribute to Jenkins. The crowd cheered and clapped as the
Ocean Sentry flew by.
At the close of the air show, the Black Daggers presented the
Coast Guard crew with a team photo, nicely mounted, with
the signatures of the entire team. This day would be noted
in Coast Guard aviation history as the first time the Coast
Guard transported a parachute demonstration team for an air
show in an HC-144A. It was done with the highest degree of
skill and professionalism.Ω

26
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—Most people
watching the 2011 Naval Air Station
Jacksonville Air Show on November 4, 5, and
6 had their eyes on the sky, anticipating the
performance of the Navy’s precision flight
team, the Blue Angels. Team Coast Guard,
however, had eyes on the sky and eyes on the
water. The Coast Guard led the “on the water”
team of Navy, local law enforcement, and
Auxiliary vessels enforcing the security zone
on the St. Johns River for the flight path of the
Angels as they approached the air station’s
runway and its cheering crowds.
Jacksonville is a boating community, with the
St. Johns River, the Atlantic Ocean, and the
Intracoastal Waterway nearby. Watching the
air show from the water is a boating tradition.
For precision flying, the Blue Angels require
a flight path approaching the runway free of
visual distractions. Therefore the Navy asked
the Coast Guard to place enough buoys to
create an approximately two mile by twomile
security zone in front of the runway.
During both the Friday practice day and the
two public show days, private boats were to
be kept out of this zone. While it sounds like a
simple task, the security zone restricts boater
access to about 20 percent of the width of
river, including the side opposite the fly zone,
where boaters like to anchor to watch the air
show. The most direct route to where boaters
want to be is, of course, through the security
zone; therefore, Team Coast Guard and local
law enforcement stayed busy rerouting
boating traffic around the security zone.
The duty was not without its perks, however,
as the edge of the security zone was also
the direct flight path for the approach of the Blue
Angels’ precision maneuvers. It may have been our
imaginations, but those of us who work on the security
patrols always feel that the Blue Angels show their
appreciation by flying over our patrol vessels.
Team Coast Guard vessels supporting the show
included a 25-foot Response Boat from Station
Mayport and Auxiliary facilities from Jacksonville
Flotilla 14-8 and St. Augustine Flotilla 14-7. In addition
to supporting the security zone, Team Coast Guard
created a boating safety display at the Air Show. Coast
Guard recruiters and members from Jacksonville 14-
8, Arlington 14-2, St. Augustine 14-7 and Green Cove
Springs 14-5 staffed the display.Ω
Auxiliary support for the Jacksonville Airshow included
d
maintaining safety zones under the Blue Angels’ flight path,
as well as staffing a Recreaonal Boang Safety booth at the
show.
Top: Kyle George and
Whit Vick
from 14-8
aboard ard the Auxiliary
facility Carly II helped ed maintain safety
zones. Photo o by Cris
Vonderheide.
Boom: (From le) John Hadley 14-8, Kevin Koehl 14-8, HSC
Thomson, USCG, Bob
Strong 14-8, ET1 Bound,
USCG, in front
of the Recreaonal Boang Safety booth at the Jacksonville Air
Show. Photo by
Marlene Koehl

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 27
WEST ANDROS ISLAND, Bahamas – On January 7,
2012 at 12:10 PM, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarists, Robert
“Marvin” Dailey, Pilot, and Daniel Ochsenschlager, Aircrew,
were conducting a Maritime Observation Mission over the
Cay Sal bank south of Anguilla Cay when they overheard a
distress call from aircraft Cirrus N273EA reporting an inflight
emergency. The pilot reported losing oil pressure and
engine power on their single engine plane and approximately
2 miles west of Andros Island in the Bahamas.
Tiger 6 Auxiliarists requested the position of the Cirrus
plane, ascertained their problem as well as the number of
persons and what type of safety equipment they carried. The
pilot reported two persons, himself and one passenger, and
reported having lifejackets and a raft on board.
The Auxiliarists immediately
relayed all this information
to the Seventh Coast Guard
District command center
in Miami and a Search and
Rescue was launched. An
MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
crew from Coast Guard Air
Station Clearwater, Fla. and a
HC-144 Ocean Sentry fixedwing
aircraft crew from Coast
Guard Air Station Miami were
deployed. The Navy’s Atlantic
Undersea Test and Evaluation
Center (AUTEC) also assisted
in the search for the downed
aircraft.
At approximately 12:30 p.m.,
the fixed-wing aircraft crew located the downed aircraft
and its two passengers in an inflatable raft. Tiger 6
proceeded to the plane crash area and arrived at about the
same time as the Coast Guard Jayhawk helicopter and
the Ocean Sentry aircraft. The Auxiliarists were assured
that their assistance was not needed and returned back
to their original assigned patrol. The rescue helicopter
crew arrived on scene at 12:58 p.m. and safely hoisted
the two survivors onto the aircraft and transferred them
to Odyssey Airport in Nassau, Bahamas for further
transport to Emergency Medical Services crew for
medical evaluation. The couple, from Birmingham,
Alabama, were not injured in the crash.
Thanks to the assistance of Robert “Marvin” Dailey and
Daniel Ochsenschlager, members of the Auxiliary Air
Program (AUXAIR) who relayed the downed aircraft
information to the District 7 Coast Guard Command
Center in Miami, these two lives were saved. Ω
Above: The occupants of the downed aircra await rescue in
the ra. The open chute no doubt aided in locang the couple
in a vast sea of blue.
Below: Robert “Marvin” Dailey and Daniel Ochsenschlager,
members of the Auxiliary Air Program (AUXAIR) pose next to
Tiger-6.
The author thanks Auxiliarist J.J. Samuelson, AAC, Air Staon
Miami for his assistance in providing the Incident Report as
well as the Tiger-6 crew photo and related informaon.

28 U. Volume S. Coast LVIII Guard Auxiliary Issue 1 District Spring 7 2012 Breeze
28
Background photo: U.S. Navy Archives
By Dorothy Riley. Photos by Brian Lichtenstein
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—In the early morning
hours of December 7, 1941, 353 Japanese fighters,
bombers, and torpedo planes launched in two
waves from six aircraft carriers of the Japanese
Imperial Navy and attacked Pearl Harbor. This
event thrust the United States into World War II.
Pearl Harbor Day commemorates the sacrifices
of U.S. servicemen killed and wounded during
the attack on Pearl Harbor. As in previous years,
Broward Navy Days and the Naval Sea Cadets held
a Pearl Harbor Day ceremony hosted by Station Fort
Lauderdale. The 2011 ceremony was special in that
it was both the 70 th Anniversary of that infamous
event and the final year of the Pearl Harbor Survivors
Association. The number of survivors grows fewer
every year as its members succumb to age. All are
now well over eighty and most over ninety years old.
Two survivors, John Zurli and Abe Stein, attended
the ceremony at Station Fort Lauderdale. Also
in attendance were members of the Coast Guard
Station Fort Lauderdale and Division 3 Coast
Guard Auxiliary. Broward County Commissioner
Chip LaMarca was the keynote speaker.
The ceremony included several touching tributes
including the playing of Taps, participation by
a contingent of the Coast Guard Pipe Band, and
a wreath laying in honor of those who did not
survive that day. LT Paul Turner, Commanding
Officer, Station Ft. Lauderdale, United States Coast
Guard, and Commissioner LaMarca jointly tossed
the wreath into the waters of Port Everglades.
The memory of the attack on Pearl Harbor should
not be erased by time. In 1941, war raged on both the
European and Asian continents, and despite pleas for
military assistance from the Allied Forces, our nation
avoided direct involvement. While the Axis Powers,
Germany, Italy, and Japan invaded their neighbors,
the United States, officially neutral, provided supplies
to our European partners. All claims to neutrality
evaporated on December 7, 1941, with the attack
on Pearl Harbor. Days later, Hitler declared war
against our nation and we found ourselves engaged
in wars across both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
In the attack on Pearl Harbor alone, all eight U.S.
Navy battleships in port were damaged, four of which
were sunk. The Japanese also sank or damaged three
cruisers, three destroyers, an anti-aircraft training ship,
and one minelayer. One hundred eighty-eight U.S.
Continued on page 29

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 29
Continued from page 28
aircraft were destroyed; 2,402 Americans were killed,
and 1,282 wounded, and that was all on a single day!
World War II involved most of the world’s nations
and is the deadliest conflict in human history. It
resulted in fifty to seventy million fatalities and
ushered in the nuclear era. For these reasons,
Americans must never forget December 7, 1941.Ω
Top and boom le: A Guardsman plays Taps to honor the lives
lost during the aack on Pearl Harbor. Sea Cadets prepare to
present the colors During the 2011 Pearl Harbor Remembrance
ceremony.
Top right: Pearl Harbor survivors John Zurli and Abe Stein are
escorted to the water’s edge by Sea Cadet Commander Alan
Starr and Mary Anne Gray from Broward Navy Days.
Right: Auxiliary members (from right) Marie Duda (38),
Pat Feighery (36), Ed Duda (38), Marvin Merrit (34), Steve
Petrozella (34), Ma Rubin (37), and Paul Dala (37) were among
the members who aended the Pearl Harbor Remembrance
ceremony. All photos by Brian Lichtenstein

30
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.—When Station Fort
Myers Beach commanding officer BOSN4 Jeffery
Kerner requested that Connie Irvin, Assistant District
Staff Officer-Public Affairs, handle the media for the
station’s presentation of their third Kimball Award,
Kerner had no idea that Irvin would also work behind
his back on a special project. After all, this was a simple
request; develop a media strategy to get coverage of
the event and maintain control of the media while
they were on site. Rear Admiral William Baumgartner,
Commander District 7, United States Coast Guard, and
Capt. Sheryl Dickinson,
Commander, Sector St.
Petersburg United States
Coast Guard, were to be
among the invited guests.
Irvin set about handling
the media request,
but she also planned a
“covert operation” which
no one at the station
knew about.
So, what is this Kimball
Award and why would
earning three consecutive
such awards merit
both RADM William
Baumgartner and
Sector St. Petersburg’s
Commander, Capt. Sheryl
Dickinson’s presence at
the ceremony
The Kimball Award was
named after Sumner
I. Kimball and was
established by the Coast Guard in 2001. Kimball
served in the Life-Saving Service from 1878-1915. He is
credited with organizing separate life-saving stations
into unified, mission-capable teams. These stations
became a part of the Coast Guard in 1951. Kimball’s
skill in organization is credited with putting the Coast
Guard on the road to professionalism. These awards
are given every two years to small boat stations, and
only after rigorous inspections of vessel conditions,
observation of survival systems, performance of
underway drills and examination of unit training
programs. Only about 10 percent of U.S Coast
Guard shore-based boat force units are awarded the
prestigious Kimball Award each year.
The event went off as planned. Irvin enlisted the help
of Coast Guard Auxiliary member Mike Ludwig to
help her take photos, while she aided the media in
gaining access to BOSN4 Kerner and Rear Admiral
Baumgartner. After the ceremony, the station’s crew
and visiting dignitaries were in the mess deck, enjoying
lunch, while a local television station aired the event.
Normally, that would have ended the affair, had not
Irvin launched her covert plan.
On past photo shoots at the station, Irvin was
bombarded with requests for copies of the photos she
had taken by station personnel. Irvin knew the Kimball
ceremony would require hundreds of printed photos
to hand out to those who
received the award. Her
covert plan was simple:
get a commemorative
booklet printed and
give each member a
Constance Irvin presents BOSN4 Jeffery Kerner one of the photo
booklets published for the individual members of Staon Fort
Myers Beach who received the Kimball Award on November 16.
The booklet was presented at the Division 9 meeng on December
3. Photo provided by Constance Irvin
copy. Irvin contacted
a local print shop, and,
after learning that they
could print the booklet
at a reasonable price, she
contacted all nine flotilla
commanders in Division
9 and asked if they
would chip in to fund the
project. All agreed and
even Division 9 chipped
in some funds. She made
the commanders promise
they would not let “the
cat out of the bag.”
The Kimball ceremony
took place on November
16. Irvin determined to
have the booklet ready to
hand over to BOSN4 Kerner at the Division meeting on
December 3. Laying out a 24-page, full color booklet and
making sure that all names and ranks of the station’s
crew were correct took some doing. It also required a
promise of secrecy from one member of Station Fort
Myers Beach– and it wasn’t the commanding officer!
Thanksgiving weekend, although a happy occasion for
most, proved a stressful time for Irvin because of the
downtime at the print shop.
The print shop agreed to print each individual
recipient’s name on the cover of the booklet, but the
list of names was slow in coming. After much hand
wringing and lost sleep, Irvin picked up the finished
booklets at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2–A close call,
indeed!
Continued on page 31

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 31
Cintinued from page 30
At the meeting of Division 9 on Dec. 3,
Irvin presented the booklets. BOSN4
Kerner was visibly overwhelmed by the
thoughtfulness of the division members
in giving such a keepsake to station
personnel. Booklets also went to all local
flotillas and up the line to Sector St. Pete.
Upon receiving a copy, Deputy Sector
Commander Peter Martin said, “I’ve
never seen anything done like this before.
Those kids at the station will not forget
this and they won’t forget the Auxiliary.”
Sometimes, keeping a secret is a good
thing.Ω
The members of Staon Fort Meyers Beach, United States Coast Guard who
earned the coveed Kimball Award for the third me in 2011. Photo by
Constance Irvin
Photos by Brian Lichtenstein, Flolla 38, Plantaon, Fla.
This is a drill. This is only a drill. In the event this were a real emergency, Oscar would not be a dummy!
While there is humor in the subtle, the Coast Guard Auxiliary takes training seriously. Sll we hear, “Have fun out
there,” and many of us unabashedly enjoy our training acvies.
Background image: So Shell with Bob Hackney, coxswain, and crewmembers Ed Duda, Joe Aleba and Pam Charles,
all members of Flolla 38 Plantaon on patrol November 12, 2011.
Filmstrip images: Flolla 38 members Joe Aleba, Bill Hanlon, Dennis Georgia, and Brian Lichtenstein conduct man
overboard drills in the Port Everglades turning basin on January 28, 2012.

Auxiliary Assists in Annual “Paddle Florida” Event
Arcle and photos by Patricia Gross
UPPER KEYS, Fla.— “The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
is our steadfast volunteer corps. Our Auxiliary
Shipmates assist the Coast Guard with performing our
many challenging maritime missions, with boating
safety remaining as their core function.”
These words are taken from the U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary Policy Statement. However, we often overlook
paddle craft (kayaks) as part of that safeguarding.
Back in September, I was contacted by Bill Richards, of
Paddle Florida, regarding their yearly “Paddle Florida:
The Keys Challenge,” scheduled for January 12-22,
2012. Being a kayaker myself, I jumped at the chance
to show off the dedication and skills of my new Coast
Guard Auxiliary family. Without hesitation (which in
retrospect might have been putting the horse before
the cart), I volunteered the Coast Guard Auxiliary
services to provide a safety patrol boat to accompany
them throughout the 120-mile journey. Being a new
Vessel Examiner, however, I also offered to conduct
Vessel Examinations, as well a safety briefing by Joe
Penar, Flotilla Staff Officer-Vessel Examination.
Bill Richard explained that, with all of the festivities
celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Flagler
Train, the goal of Paddle Florida was to have
100 paddlers, paddling 100 miles in 10 days,
arriving in Key West on the 100th anniversary of
the arrival of Mr. Flagler and his infamous train.
For more information, their website, paddleflorida.org,
has a great detailed description of each leg of the trip.
I never dreamt of the complexities involved in
coordinating such an event. Thank goodness for
Flotilla 13-8 member Conrad Sankpill! He rose to this
challenge with ease, grace and professionalism at
every turn. He never questioned my offer of support
to this group; he just took control of the reins. Sankpill
contacted the two other flotillas in the Keys needed to
provide the safety patrol for the entire length of the
Keys and coordinated their assistance.
Paddle Florida provided us with the GPS coordinates
for every stop, including their lunch stops. One day,
we even delivered their lunch to a remote location and
then returned to base with the coordinator and their
trash.
Due to some unforeseen circumstances, the route
had to be modified, but I worked with Richard until
we had a workable schedule and made all necessary
modifications, prior to their departure. The Group
Coordinator advised that the Paddlers would only
have cellphones. The Auxiliary knew it was much safer
to use radios, and the Paddlers soon purchased marine
radios to communicate with our safety patrol boats,
and designated three key boats — the lead boat, the
roaming “safety/medical” boat, and the chase boat —
and provided the new radios to these three.
Prior to Day One, Sankpill issued instructions to all of
the participating flotilla members: Bob Hoffman, David
Gross, Patti Gross, Ed Miller and Conrad Sankpill.
Again, at the end of each day, he issued a report, and
included the other flotillas, giving everyone an idea
of any issues that arose that day. I also learned that
nothing like this had been performed in the Keys, and,
secretly, I was thrilled to be a part of this truly historic
event.
Day One, was the most amazingly picture-perfect
day for paddling. Fifty-seven paddlers launched their
ocean kayaks, loaded with safety equipment and gear
(oh, I forgot to mention, they camped all along the
Continued on page 33

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 33
had no idea how many would want to participate.
Thanks to Pat Fincannon, David Gross, Patti Gross, Jim
Marcott, Ed Miller, and Al Zelinsky, the group issued
25 Vessel Safety Check decals. Many Paddlers wanted
us to check their equipment but didn’t want a sticker
affixed to their kayaks.
The group was incredibly well prepared. Most had
more safety equipment than many of us would have
imagined: extra life jackets onboard, extra paddles,
marine radios, GPS, multiple signaling devices and
more. The gratitude towards the Coast Guard Auxiliary
that was expressed by the paddlers was overwhelming!
They appreciated our watchful eyes, and they had a
higher sense of security knowing we were nearby.
Day Three was from the Sea Base to Long Key, and the
weather had taken a vicious turn. Winds were high,
seas were building and small craft advisories had been
issued. The group was determined to move forward.
Continued from page 32
way). The mood was fabulous, as this experienced
group of paddlers knew what a rare treat the perfect
weather provided. This fabulous weather was truly
needed, as Day One was a long, 20-mile paddle. On
this day, the Safety Boat was only required to provide
them with guidance for a safe passage in shallow areas
during low tide.
Day Two, Safety Vessel Examiners met the group at the
Florida Boy Scout Sea Base to provide a Safety Briefing
and perform to Vessel Safety Check of their paddle
crafts and their safety equipment. Joe Penar was
amazing in securing a sufficient number of Examiners.
We were limited by the daylight hours and really
On this day, the crew did provide an assist. One kayak
got caught in the trough of a wave and was flipped. The
chase boat arrived very quickly to lend assistance, but
it was obvious that both the cold and force of the water
had startled the paddler. The Auxiliary vessel quickly
got the paddler aboard the boat, along with his kayak.
They managed to drain the water from the kayak, and,
after the paddler warmed up, they launched him back,
and he was able to safely continue with the group to
Long Key.
From the daily updates received by the Marathon and
Key West Flotillas, the group arrived at Fort Zachary
State Park on time and without further incident.
The number of Auxiliary members who participated
was extraordinary! This complicated and complex
effort came off smoothly and efficiently. The dedication
of the men and women who serve in the Coast Guard
Auxiliary is exceptional and I am proud to be a
part of this amazing and supportive group. Ω
Capons: Facing Page: The paddlers enter John
Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo, Fla.
This page: Pat Fincannon (top) and Ed Miller (below)
perform Vessel Safety Checks on the kayaks making
the 100-mile journey down through the Florida Keys in
January 2012. Photo by Patricia Gross
Click to Watch Video

34
U. S. Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7 Breeze
SAND KEY, Fla.—Chief Warrant Officer Morgan
Dudley, Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Station
Sand Key, initiated a unique program to reward and
motivate Coast Guard Auxiliarists who successfully
accomplish a Search and Rescue incident for the Coast
Guard. Station Sand Key executed approximately
200 Search and Rescue cases in fiscal year 2011, and
Division 11 Coast Guard Auxiliary members performed
an unprecedented 30% of them.
The two-part program is dubbed Keys of Success.
Every member on an authorized patrol in the local
waters who participates in a Search and Rescue case is
awarded a key painted blue and white and a specially
designed key ring on which to place the Keys of
Success. In addition, the Auxiliary facility that the crew
was embarked on when they performed the Search and
Rescue case is awarded a special decal, with a life ring
and Coast Guard Auxiliary emblem.
When asked if the Keys of Success were responsible for
the high numbers of rescues performed by the Coast
Guard Auxiliary, Dudley responded, “Regardless of
the reason, the Auxiliarists in Division 11 saved lives
that were in danger on our seas and assisted numerous
boaters in distress. The Keys of Success is one way the
men and women of Coast Guard Station Sand Key can
recognize the Auxiliary’s outstanding efforts.”
The Search and Rescue cases in Sand Key’s area of
responsibility can be as simple as towing a disabled
boat to its home port or boat ramp, or as complex
as executing hours of specialized search patterns
specifically designed to assist in detecting the boaters
in distress after the sighting of a flare. Often the Search
and Rescue cases result in helping boaters who are in
the water because their vessel has capsized or sunk
and who are in danger of losing their lives.
The Keys of Success program has spurred some
healthy competition among certain members – each of
them earning eight keys and decals for the period from
May 1 through December 31, 2011. In reality, what the
program has done is to put all members on patrol on
high alert, to encourage them to respond quickly to
calls-outs for Search and Rescue cases initiated by the
Coast Guard, and to keep a good lookout while on the
water for the more routine disabled vessel cases.
Captain Sheryl Dickinson, Commander Sector St.
Petersburg, has been pleased with the results of the
Keys of Success program. She recently visited Station
Sand Key and held a special ceremony to place the first
decals on two of the Auxiliary facilities: Ed and Teresa
Kasper’s Ghost and Karen Miller’s Broad on the Bow.
CWO Dudley followed suit the next week and placed
the Keys of Success decals on Louis Davis’ Sea Bear.
Division 11 members cover the waterways on the
central west coast of Florida from Aripeka in the north
to John’s Pass in the south; the
same area protected by USCG
Station Sand Key. There are
local Auxiliary units in Hudson,
New Port Richey, Tarpon
Springs, Dunedin, Clearwater
and Madeira Beach. Ω
Captain Sheryl Dickinson,
Commander, Sector St.
Petersburg, places the
Keys of Success decals on
Auxiliary Facility Ghost.
with Ed and Teresa Kasper
and Station Sand Key
Commanding Officer CWO
Morgan Dudley in the
background. Photo by Jim
Ryder, Division Commander
11

Riding Along with a Breeze
By Judith Hudson, District Captain-East D7
EVERGLADES NATIONAL
PARK, Fla.—Every year for
the past four years, a group
of about 25 civilian, Auxiliary,
and active duty members of
Team Coast Guard gather with
their bicycles west of Miami
to take a fifteen-mile ride into
Everglades National Park,
known as the Shark Valley
Bike Ride. Why To see this
primitive environment in its
most natural and serene state,
enjoy great fellowship, make
new friends, and get some (and
in some cases much needed)
exercise. Because the ride takes
place in a national park, a Park
Ranger gives a briefing about
the terrain and its inhabitants,
and a few do’s and don’ts
before the ride starts.
In past years, this ride was
scheduled during a full moon
starting at the Park entrance just
before sunset. The timing took
advantage of the scenery while
at its most beautiful; riding to an observation tower
about halfway along the 15-mile loop at sunset, and
riding back by moonlight – after the alligators have
gone to spend the night in the watery swamps.
This year, the ride was scheduled three days prior
to the full moon, and everyone participating agreed
that it actually was the best lighting condition to see
Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 35
Bikers move to the side as a tram passes, but even this proves to be yet
another opportunity to see and photograph the wildlife along the Everglade’s
Shark Valley Bike Trail on Feb. 4, 2012. Photo by Judith Hudson
everything. At night, various birds and creatures
awaken and come to greet these strange-looking
cyclists, so participants get an atypical view of the
Everglades.
At the end of the trail, the riders stop at a barbeque joint
to replenish their bodies with calories and some welldeserved
liquid refreshments. This is such an enjoyable
and educational event that many participants take this
journey every year even though a couple
of times, someone has almost run over an
alligator on the first leg of the ride while
it
is still light.
There is nothing like learning about our
environment and having fun! Ω
A Park Ranger from Everglades Naonal
Park briefs the riders on the terrain and
offers some necessary do’s and don’ts to
keep everyone safe and make the ride more
enjoyable. Photo by Judith Hudson

36
U. S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary
District ict t7
Breeze
By Doe Riley, District Staff Officer-Publicaons D7
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—On the evening of January
28, 1980, the USCGC Blackthorn left Tampa Shipyard
to return to her homeport in Galveston, Texas. The
Blackthorn never made it home. At 7:21 p.m., the ship
collided with the tanker SS Capricorn just beyond the
Skyway Bridge and quickly sank. The Coast Guard
responded immediately to rescue the survivors, as
did members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Divisions
Seven, Eight and Eleven, who kept the channel clear
and set up safety and security zones around the wreck.
Every year, on January 28, both Sector St. Petersburg
and Sector Houston-Galveston hold a remembrance
ceremony to honor the 23 Coastguardsmen who
lost their lives that day. The annual ceremony in St.
Petersburg is held at the Blackthorn Memorial, located
at the northern approach to the Skyway Bridge. This
year’s guests included Vice Admiral Robert C. Parker,
Commander, Atlantic Area / Commander, Defense
Force East; and Rear Admiral William D. Baumgartner,
Commander, Seventh Coast Guard District. Several
members of the Auxiliary also attended, including
Melvin Manning, District Captain-West; Casey
Jankowski, former Rear Commodore-West (now
called District Captain-West); Jimmy Ryder, Division
11 Commander; and Paulette Parent, Division 8
Commander.
Vice Admiral Parker delivered a poignant address. He
is one of 90 members of the Coast Guard remaining
who served at the time of the tragedy and vividly
recalled his personal whereabouts and response when
he first heard about the collision. As the Admiral
pointed out, the average age of today’s member of the
Coast Guard is thirty years old, which means that most
where not born when this tragedy occurred. Since the
average age of Auxiliarists is considerably higher, even
fewer Auxiliarists survive who remember first-hand
the events of that day. It is an event that should be
remembered. Not only did it constitute the greatest
loss of life in a single event by the Coast Guard in
peacetime, but also it changed how the Coast Guard
trained its command level officers and senior enlisted
members for command duty afloat.
The Blackthorn tragedy sent shockwaves throughout
the Coast Guard. It was unthinkable that a sturdy buoy
tender would sink within minutes, and even more
disturbing that nearly half of its crew would drown.
Subsequent investigations by the United States Coast
Guard Marine Board of Investigation concluded that,
while the captains of both the Blackthorn and the
Capricorn were at fault, primary responsibility rested
with the captain of the Blackthorn.
“The board determined that the cause of the casualty was
the failure of both vessels to keep well to that side of the
channel which lay on their starboard (right) side.” While
concurring with the marine board’s determination
of the cause, the Commandant emphasized, in his
“Action,” that the failure of the persons in charge of both
vessels to ascertain the intentions of the other through
the exchange of appropriate whistle signals was the
primary contributing cause. Additionally, Admiral
Continued on page 36

Volume LVIII Issue 1 Spring 2012 37
Continued from page 36
Hayes pointed out that attempts to establish a passing
agreement using only radiotelephone communications
failed as an adequate substitute for exchanging proper
whistle signals.
“The collision occurred in the evening of January 28,
1980, near the junction of Mullet Key and Cut “A”
Channels approximately three-quarters of a mile
from the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay. The
vessels collided nearly head on, and as a result, the
port anchor of Capricorn became embedded in the
port side of the Blackthorn. The momentum of the two
vessels caused the Capricorn’s anchor chain to become
taut which resulted in the capsizing of the Blackthorn.
The Capricorn subsequently ran aground north of
the channel and the Blackthorn sank in the channel.
Twenty-seven of the 50 Blackthorn crew members
were rescued.”
The sinking of the Blackthorn and the subsequent
investigative report provided the impetus for
establishing the Command and Operations School
at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
Commanding officers are now required to assess risks,
such as transiting an unfamiliar port at night; are given
full discretion; and are encouraged to say no if they feel
the risks involved are unnecessary. Additionally, the
Coast Guard developed new training requirements,
spent more money on safety equipment and made
changes to the navigational aids in and around Tampa
Bay. Ω
Capons
Facing page: A Guardsmen from Sector St. Petrsburg places a
single rose bearing the name of one of the cuermen who died
in the tragic collision of the USCGC Blackthorn thirty-two years
ago this day, Jan. 28, 2012, at the foot of the memorial. Photo
by D. Riley
Above le: Jimmy Ryder, Division Commander 11; Jon Nicholls,
(Flolla 11-7); Melvin Manning, District Captain-West; and
Frank Sposato, (Flolla 11-1) at the Blackthorn Memorial
Remembrance Ceremony on Jan. 28, 2012 in St. Petersburg.
Photo by D. Riley
Above right: Sector St. Petersburg Honor Guard fire a salute to
their fallen shipmates. Photo by Auxiliary member, Deborah A.
Mallory, Public Affairs Officer, Air Staon Clearwater
Right: Members of the Coast Guard Pipe Band play Amazing
Grace at the conclusion of the Blackthorn Remembrance
ceremony. They are Stephen and Bey Rogers, members of
Flolla 36, Boca Raton, Fla. Photo by D. Riley

Top: TAMPA, Fla.—Members of the Coast Guard and Coast
Guard Auxiliary aended the Annual Salute to the Coast Guard
on January 26 at the Propeller Club, Port of Tampa. Three
Coast Guard units received the presgious awards, the USCGC
Vise, Coast Guard Staon Sand Key, and Coast Guard Staon
Fort Myers Beach. Vice Admiral Robert Parker, Commander
Atlanc Area/Commander, Defense Force East is in the center,
with CAPT Sheryl Dickinson, Commander Sector St. Petersburg
on the le. Also shown are CAPT John Turner, Commanding
Officer, CG Air Staon Clearwater; CWO4 Morgan Dudley,
Commander, Staon Sand Key; CWO J. Kerner, Commanding
Officer, Staon Fort Myers Beach; and the Commanders of
each unit receiving the award, except for the commander of
the USCGC HAWK who was on duty. CWO4 Morgan Dudley
included Auxiliarists as part of the Staon Sand Key conngent.
They are Mel Manning, District Captain-West; Don Hoge,
Auxiliary Sector Coordinator St. Petersburg; and Jim Ryder,
Division 11 Commander. Photo by Auxiliarist Deborah Mallory,
POA Air Staon Clearwater
Right: CLEARWATER, Fla.—COMO Walter Jaskiewicz, District
7 Commodore, presents the “Flolla Leadership Pracces”
module of the District 7 Flolla Leadership Road Show on
Saturday, Feb. 11, at Clearwater Air Staon. The Road Show
introduces leaders to performance measures and shows them
how to create flolla acon plans. The concepts presented
are not the typical flolla management fare and should be of
interest to all elected and staff officers at every level. Photo by Doe Riley