2011 Spring

Breeze Volume LVII Number 1 Spring 2011
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District

http://www.cgaux7.org/
Left: MIAMI Members of the Aux-12 Public Affairs C-School
conducted in Miami February 10-13, 2011 tour the hangars at
Air Station Miami. Photo by Christopher Todd

Below: ST. LOUIS, Mo.COMO Walter Jaskiewicz and RADM
William D. Baumgartner, USCG, at the National Training Con-
ference on January 14, 2011. Photo by Christopher Todd
Members of USCG Air
Station Savannah, Coast
Guard Auxiliary and Cita-
del personnel in front of
the Citadel during Coast
Guard Week February
2011. Photo by Barbara
Burchfield, SO-PA 2
Is the official publication of the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
7th District
Volume LVII Number 1 Spring 2011

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

District Commander:
RADM William D. Baumgartner,
USCG

Director of Auxiliary District 7:
CDR Donald L. Winfield
Operations Training Officer:
CWO 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
J. Pat Feighery, Jr.

BREEZE is the official and educational tool
of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District
and is intended as a publication to keep the
membership apprised of the activities of the
Auxiliary. All articles and photographs sub-
mitted must be consistent with the policies
of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary and
may not be returned. Electronic submissions
are encouraged.
Personal information of members is protect-
ed 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-
Publications) at: dottieriley1@verizon.net.
Articles in the BREEZE may be reprinted
provided credit is given and a copy is sent to
the above Editor and Publications Officer.
Do not send changes of address to the
BREEZE. You can obtain a change of
member information report (7028) from
your Materials Officer and submit it
through channels.
In this Issue:
From the Bridge
COMO Walter Jaskiewicz, DCO 7.......4
John Tyson, DCOS 7 ........5
Donald Frasch, IPDCOMO, DNACO-P...6
Robert Weskerna, District Captain North ..........8
Pat Feighery, District Captain East......9
Melvin Manning, District Captain West ....10

Departments
Bruce Lindsey, Directorate Chief of Prevention ..12
Richard Leys, Directorate Chief of Response .14
James Dennen, Directorate Chief of Logistics 16

Articles
Flotilla Builds Station New Outdoor Galley Janice Kittsmiller, FSO-PB 13-3....17
Auxiliarist Serves as Cadet Aboard USCGC Eagle Carol M. Bareuther....18
Auxiliarist Don Hoge Honored by ADM Papp Thomas Loughlin, DSO-PA ...21
D7 Takes FLC on the Road Barabara Burchfield, SO-PA2.....22
Silver and Gold in AUX-12 Public Affairs C-School
Felipe Pazos IPFC 6-11 and Jose Acosta BA-ASVC .....24
NACO Comes to D7 Dottie Riley, DSO-PB 25
End of an Era Christopher Todd, Deputy Director/Public Affairs 26
Honoring Those Who Served Diane Riggan, ADSO-PA-E ..28
Charlotte Harbor Regatta Support Frank Wondolkowski FSO-OP Flotilla 98 .30
Auxiliary Takes Boating Safety to Vieques Angel Rivera, FC Flotilla 11 ..32
Auxiliarist Aboard Cutter Mohawk Ken Bagge ...33
Auxiliarists Aid Five Boaters Thomas Loughlin, DSO-PA ....34
Station Yankeetown On Santas Route Morris Harvey, FSO-PA 15-1 ..35
Four Chaplains Brian Lichtenstein, FSO-PV 38 36
St. Croix AUXOP Recipients
Duane R. Minton, IPDCDR 16 and Paul D. Lordi, FC 16-1....37
Houses of Refuge Otto Spielbichler, FSO-MS 54 .38
Team Coast Guard Rescues Boater Geralyn Ryan, FSO-PA 15-8 ...40
Cutting Room Floor (Photos from throughout D7) 42

Cover photos:
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.Vickie Aponte aboard the HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air
Station Miami photographs the retirement of the last 41-foot Utility Boat (UTB) from
USCG Station Miami Beach on March 3, 2011. Aponte was one of many members of
Flotilla 6-11s Auxiliary Public Affairs Detachment Miami (AUXPADET) covering this
much publicized event. Her photograph of the parade of combined Coast Guard and
Auxiliary vessels that escorted UTB 41450 on its farewell voyage appears on the
back cover of this issue.

4 United States Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7

From the Bridge From the Bridge From the Bridge
As I stepped up to the bridge
in January, my first priority
was to ensure that all of our
newly elected Flotilla Com-
manders and Flotilla Vice
Commanders had the oppor-
tunity to attend the Flotilla
Leadership Course. This
class offers tremendous edu-
cational tools and assistance
in developing the many skills needed to properly handle the
responsibilities of an elected officer. Although the class is of-
fered on-line, I felt it in the best interest of our district to bring
the class directly to our members in person, with instructors
made up of current and past leadership staff who could answer
questions one-on-one, based upon their experiences.
John Tyson, Chief of Staff, joined me in instructing this nine-
hour class to the members of all seventeen divisions through-
out our district. Over 360 members attended including those
wanting to receive the Operational Auxiliary Program (AUXOP)
credit. We completed our last class at Division 13 in February.
My participation as an instructor provided me the opportunity to
meet the newly elected officers in person and discuss our com-
mon issues. This proved to be of tremendous benefit to all of
us.
Commodore Walter Jaskiewicz
One of biggest challenges we, as well as other agencies face
is funding. It is extremely important that we provide documen-
tation for the support that we provide to the Coast Guard that
they may substantiate their continued funding of our activities.
Let us remind everyone to commit to filling out the staff and
elected office reports and 7029 and 7030 forms in a timely
manner.
The Auxiliary offers many training opportunities to develop our
skills for Coast Guard support missions. Recently, I attended
an Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR) training class and I want to
acknowledge how impressed I am with their dedication. They
contribute their time, travel, and offer their air facilities to sup-
port the Coast Guard despite the recent Standard Auxiliary
Maintenance Allowance (SAMA) cuts. Our pilots stand firmly at
the controls of their aircraft and continue with unwavering sup-
port of air missions. I thank you AUXAIR for your service to the
Coast Guard and to your Country.
Lastly, please review our District Strategic Plan and the Organ-
izational Chart on our web site for guidance on where we need
to focus this year and whom within the chain of leadership to
contact when assistance is needed.
Semper Paratus
Walter R. Jaskiewicz
I
am Americas Maritime Guardian.
I serve the citizens of the United States.
I will protect them.
I will defend them.
I will save them.
I am their Shield.
For them I am Semper Paratus.
I live the Coast Guard Core Values.
I am a Guardian.
We are the United States Coast Guard.

Breeze, Volume LVII Spring 2011 5

Earlier this year, COMO Jaskiewicz and members of the Dis-
trict 7 leadership team provided the Flotilla Leadership Course
(FLC) to the newly elected and appointed flotilla leaders. Over
360 members attended those classes, which for the district
leadership team was a great opportunity to meet and welcome
the 2011 class of flotilla leaders. Not surprisingly, everyone
who helped conduct those sessions was duly impressed with
the skills, talents and knowledge they observed within this out-
standing group of flotilla leaders. The written feedback that
participants provided at the end of the course was extremely
positive, and many said they plan to use the Power Point slides
and materials they received to offer the FLC to the members of
their flotilla.
Although there were many excellent questions raised by the
participants at the FLC sessions, some that really stood out
had to do with our district goals and how they align with those
of the Auxiliary National leadership. One person who raised a
question on that clearly saw the importance of aligned goals
and strong member support, but several others showed a gap
in their understanding of district and national goals.
In actuality, there are few differences between National and
Seventh District goals. For example, our district goal of having
a strong Recreational Boating Safety program is aligned with
Nationals goal of steady incremental Mission Effectiveness. In
fact, all of District Sevens supporting strategies are highly fo-
cused on a goal of reducing boating casualties in District Seven
by five percent a year for the next five years through strategies
in public education, public affairs, expanding the Vessel Safety
Check program and increasing the number of recreational
boating safety Program Partners.
Our district also aligns well
with the National goal of
maintaining a Ready Volun-
teer Force. To achieve that
goal the district has innova-
tive strategies in place for
enhancing recruiting and
retention, increasing leader-
ship development, strength-
ening member training and
recognition, and diversifying
the organization.
The Seventh District and National Auxiliary are also aligned in
their goals for building Effective Partnerships. Our districts
strategies call for increased work with Coast Guard units to
ensure Joint Operational Planning, assist the Office of Boating
Safety and State Boating Law Administrators, support our
counterparts in other nations, and provide Interpreters whenev-
er needed by the Coast Guard.
Lastly, National and District 7 are aligned in leveraging new
technology for communicating with our various customers, and
many departments in our district are already leaders in the use
of new technologies.
That is a very short answer to the question of how our district
and national goals align. I hope everyone in District 7 under-
stands that our fundamental objective is to maintain an organi-
zation in which all members may participate in the activities of
their choosing, and be recognized for their contribution to
strengthening the Auxiliary as a force multiplier for the Coast
Guard. And, we will only meet that objective if we all work to-
gether to achieve our common goals and the strategies for se-
curing their accomplishment.
John Tyson
From the Bridge
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. Auxiliary and
Coast Guard vessels joined forces to
send o the last 41-foot Utility Boat
on March 3, 2011 from Station Miami
Beach in a much publicized
retirement ceremony. Photo by
Vickie Aponte

Immediate Past District Commodore Immediate Past District Commodore Immediate Past District Commodore
I cannot believe it is already
April, more than three months
since I handed the reins of
D7 over to COMO Jaskie-
wicz. I also cannot believe
how busy I have been in my
new job. Since taking over as
Deputy National Commodore,
Operations Policy and Atlan-
tic East, I've attended a Na-
tional Change of Watch, four District Training Conferences, a
National Executive Committee (NEXCOM) meeting, a District
Seven Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting, a three-day
meeting with the Atlantic (LANT) Area Commander and his
Deputy, and a LANT Area Commanding Officer & Command
Master Chief Conference. I am tired, but I have enjoyed it tre-
mendously.
The good part of all this is I get to experience how the other
four Districts in LANT East operate. I can tell you that D7 does
Commodore Donald L. Frasch, DNACO-P
not take a back seat to anyone. You are the best of the best!
I had the pleasure last weekend of attending the D7 Executive
Committee (EXCOM) meeting in Jacksonville. What impressed
me was how well your new Bridge has come together as a unit,
all pulling in the same direction. They have gotten over the
fright of putting together a new team and staff, have gotten to
know and trust each other, and are truly committed to your suc-
cess as a District. I have no question or hesitation that they,
with your support, will be wildly successful.
Moving forward, I ask you to do three things:
1. Always keep a positive attitude
2. Always do the right thing
3. Take care of each other.

I guarantee you that if you do these three things, your Auxiliary
experience will be fantastic.
Semper Paratus
MIAMI Capt. Scott A. Busman, Chief
of Sta, 7th District, USCG, introduces
RADM William Baumgartner,
Commander District 7 USCG, COMO
Donald L. Frasch, outgoing
Commander , District 7 USCG Auxiliary
and COMO Walter Jaskiewicz,
incoming Commander District 7 USCG
Auxiliary at the 7th District Auxiliary
Change of Watch held at USCG Air
Station Miami on January 15, 2011.
Photo by Christopher Todd, A DIR-Ad


The
is changing!
As members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, we have
grown accustomed to the word change. Over the past several
years, many of those changes resulted from our realignment with the
Coast Guard. We have a new leadership structure and office titles,
new uniforms and new training guidelines. While adapting to these
ongoing changes is sometimes difficult and often frustrating, we can-
not deny that we are more efficient, more effective and better able to
serve the Coast Guard in its missions.
Change has come to our
award-winning Breeze.
Budget constraints have
made it impossible to
continue the printed edi-
tion. We will however,
continue to publish
online in PDF format.
Like the Chinese char-
acter for crisis, this
change also presents a
great opportunity. The
Digital Age is upon us,
and digital, or electronic
edition of books, maga-
zines, newspapers and
other publications have
made it possible to
download hundreds of
publications and take them with us anywhere.
Starting with the summer 2011 edition of the Breeze, we can adapt
our layout so that the Breeze can be read online or downloaded and
read on Kindle, iPad, Nook Color, Sony Reader and other
electronic reading devices. All of these and other electronic readers
can read PDF files, however, the layout must be adapted so that they
will display properly.
We want to hear from you. With our print edition no longer available,
would you like to like to be able download and read the Breeze on
an electronic reader? Times are changing, and the Breeze is willing
to go the extra mile to meet the needs of our members. Contact the
editor at dottieriley1@verizon.net and let us know what you think.

District Captain North
North Star. I am sure there must
be a number of D7 members who
remember the 1920s. Just for the
record, Im not one who does- not
quite. For you youngsters, this
was the decade of Winnie the
Pooh, Lincoln Logs, the Yo-Yo,
Kleenex, and Readers Digest
magazine. I do remember Read-
ers Digest magazine, especially the feature My Most Unfor-
gettable Character. My focus in this article will be one Auxil-
iarist from the six divisions of the north who has impressed
me. I hope you will find his story interesting, if not inspiring. He
is a most unforgettable character, a true
North Star.
I cannot recall when I first heard Lyle Let-
teers name mentioned to me. As a regu-
lar visitor to Station Charleston, it could
have been any one of the active duty
members I worked with. It could also have
been either Bruce Lindsey or Dave Fuller
(Immediate Past Division Commander and
current Division Commander of Division 2)
at one of our Auxiliary Sector Coordinator
meetings in Charleston. What impressed
me then was that this Auxiliarist from the
Atlanta, Ga., was traveling to Charleston
on a monthly basis and spending a week
each month working on his Trident qualifi-
cation. A weeks worth of hotel bills and a
320 plus mile drive each way sounded like
a big commitment to me. Heres Lyles
story.
Lyle Letteer does in fact drive at least once
a month from Atlanta to spend a week working at Sector and
Station Charleston, and no, he is not reimbursed for these ex-
penses. His monthly quest is to assist the Coast Guard in its
Marine Safety Program. Letteer remarked, I cannot believe
how the Coast Guard goes out of its way to provide training for
their Auxiliary members.
Letteers point of view is that the Coast Guard has provided
him the opportunity for training. In 2010, that training included:
Hazardous Waste Operations (Hazwoper) Awareness Level
training, Hazwoper Operations Response Level training,
Shoreline Assessment Course, Personal Qualification Standard
training for Auxiliary Assistant License and Document Evalua-
tor, Auxiliary Assistant License and Document Examiner, As-
sistant Pollution Investigator, Commercial Fishing Vessel Ex-
aminer, Auxiliary Assistant Container Inspector, and more. Not
too bad for a grandfather of eight and a great-grandfather of
two!
A retired Delta Airlines L-1011 International Captain, Letteer
uses this background to the benefit of the Coast Guard. He
says, Having tracked Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)
and Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)
both on the ground and from aircraft for over twenty years, I am
now working with Mr. Greg Johnson, Sector Charlestons Chief
of Commercial Fishing Vessel Department, on the EPIRB pro-
gram. Letteer and Johnson are working jointly to improve the
time from when an EPIRB is first heard by
a satellite until it is found. According to
Letteer, Shortening this time could be the
difference between life and death for a
boater.
Because of an upcoming congressional
regulation requiring mandatory boating
safety decals for the fishing industry, Let-
teer has written checklists for the Coast
Guard boarding officers to use when they
inspect Commercial Fishing Vessels.
Also among his projects, Letteer is writing
a Microsoft Access database to track the
dollar amounts spent on EPIRB searches
each year. This will include EPIRB false
alerts. Letteer asserts that the Coast
Guard is presently receiving a high rate of
Digital Selective Calling and EPIRB false
alerts, and a very high percentage of the-
se units are either not registered or do not
have an updated registration.
With a great attitude, Lyle writes, I am proud to have the op-
portunity to give my time, resources, and experiences to Team
Coast Guard and to assist them in accomplishing their duties
and service to the people of the United States.
Dave Fuller, Division Commander 2 is proud of his members
accomplishments. Dave writes, It seems like the more he
does, the more they ask him to do. Say, that sounds familiar.
Im proud to serve with this North Star and many others like
him whom Ive met in the past few months while serving as Dis-
trict Captain North. I look forward to introducing some of these
amazing Auxiliarists to you down the road.
By the way, 7-UP, Wheaties, miniature golfyou guessed it-all
products of the 1920s.
Robert Weskerna, DCAPT-N
Lyle Letteer presents at the Flotilla
Leadership Course on Jan. 22,
2011 at Hunter Air Field. Photo by
B. J. Ferguson

out, and how to carry out that mission in a professional man-
ner that allows us to identify the value, worth and contribution
of each of our members in order for the mission to succeed.
All members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, as leaders, need to
take care of each other through education, mentoring and
building strong relationships within our flotillas and across
flotilla lines to leverage our strengths and overcome our chal-
lenges.
Semper Paratus

The divisions and flotillas of the
East area of responsibility (AOR)
have come out of the 2011 start-
ing gate at full throttle.
Flotilla Leadership Course (FLC)
training was held in four different
locations during the months of
January and February. My
thanks to the Division Bridges for
taking the time to organize these
sessions and for your support in insuring the success of each
class. Over 170 members in the east attended the training
and now have a better idea of what leadership at the flotilla
and division level entails and how to make their programs
successful.
Four Division Commanders have seen fit to reinforce the
training received in FLC by having the participants return for
some intense deck plate training for Flotilla Commanders,
Vice Commanders and Staff Officers to help them better un-
derstand the day to day working of Flotilla Leadership and
Management.
All of the above fits quite well with my vision for the East AOR
in 2011, which is to develop a better understanding of not
only the what, but the why and the how of the US Coast
Guard Auxiliary. All of us know the mission of the Auxiliary,
but it is important that all of us understand what makes up
that mission, why it is important that the mission be carried
District Captain East
Pat Feighery, DCAPT-E

The Eastern AOR dominates
this issue with articles from
Stuart, Fla., all the way south
through Miami, Key West,
Puerto Rico and the
U.S. Virgin Islands!
Lyle Letteer and Ronnie Merritt,
members of Division 2, earn the
Operational Auxiliarist Status
(AUXOP) on March 12, 2011. From
left are COMO Walter Jaskiewicz,
District Commodore D7, Lyle
Letteer, Division Sta Ocer-
Marine Safety 2, Ronnie Merritt,
Division Sta Ocer-Program
Visitor 2, David Fuller, Division
Commander 2 and John Tyson,
District Chief of Sta D7. Photo by
B.J. Ferguson

A preview of the type of year we
expect for Team West actually
occurred last October when the
newly elected National Commo-
dore, COMO Jim Vass visited
Tampa to attend the US Coast
Guard Innovation Expo in Tampa.
Two Auxiliary surface facilities from
Division 7 conducted a boat tour of
Tampa Bay with COMO Vass and several other Auxiliarist from
Division 7 and 11 on board.
The District 7 Executive Committee (EXCOM) held its first
meeting of the year the first week in January. Those in attend-
ance included COMO Walter Jaskiewicz, District Commodore,
John Tyson, District Chief of Staff (DCOS), CDR Donald Win-
field, DIRAUX, CWO Ursula Walther, OTO, Jim Mayer, District
Staff Officer-Finance and the three new District Captains
(DCAPT). The Division Commanders (DCDR) attended the first
DCAPT/DCDR meeting of the year a week later at Sector St.
Petersburg with CAPT Sheryl Dickinson, Commander Sector
St. Petersburg and members of her staff. The Division Com-
manders, Craig Elliot (15), Amos Johnson (7), Jim Ryder (11),
Braxton Ezell (8) and Lou Conti (9) along with Auxiliary Sector
Coordinator, Don Hoge, Chick Svoboda, Auxiliary Aviation Co-
ordinator and the Division Vice Commanders, are set to pro-
vide the leadership to the flotillas officers and members to ena-
ble Auxiliary support to Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater
(the largest single command in the Coast Guard), Sector St.
Petersburg and the Stations at Yankeetown, Sand Key, St.
Petersburg, Cortez and Fort Myers Beach.
The Flotilla Leadership Course for Flotilla Commanders, Oper-
ational Auxiliarist Status (AUXOP) candidates and those inter-
ested in seeking elected office was held at Coast Guard Air
Station Clearwater and in Punta Gorda with approximately 180
attendees. I attended the DCAPT Academy in St. Louis along
with the other District Captains in D7, Pat Feighery, DCAPT-E
and Bob Weskerna, DCAPT-N.
The divisions and flotillas have completed their staffing, set
their goals and are engaged in mission fulfillment for the Coast
Guard and the boating public. Preparations for conducting Aux-
iliary Chef (AUXCHEF), Incident Command System 210, and

District Captain West
Melvin Manning, DCAPT-W

Auxiliary Search Coordination and Execution (AUXSC&E) as
well as other member training courses are underway. Program
evaluation and training is ongoing to enhance Auxiliary opera-
tional capability and support at the Small Boat Stations and Air
Station Clearwater. Recreational Boating Safety programs are
off to a great start. Individual members continue to serve the
Coast Guard as Watchstanders, Officers of the Day, in galleys
as food service personnel, as Team Coordination Training Fa-
cilitators, first aid and CPR instructors among other specialties.
Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR) continues its role in Search and Res-
cue, Law Enforcement support and training missions. Coopera-
tion and support among the divisions and flotillas serves to
increase the potential of the Auxiliary in all our missions.
CAPT Dickinson has invited all Auxiliary members to attend the
monthly All Hands Muster at Sector St. Petersburg and more-
over, uses that event to present awards to Auxiliarist before
the assembled Regular, Reserve and Auxiliary members of
TEAM COAST GUARD. This area is especially proud of the
fact that one of our own was selected for special recognition by
Admiral Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard at the State of
the Coast Guard Speech and Ceremony in February in Wash-
ington. Don Hoge, a member of 11-10 in Dunedin, is Auxiliary
Sector Coordinator St. Petersburg, Florida.
The outlook for the rest of this year, while ambitious is realistic.
The talented team in the West is up to the task and will accom-
plish its missions.

RADM Baumgartner Honors
Member of Division 7

Photo left page: TAMPA, Fla.- Upon his arrival on October 31,
2010 for the U.S. Coast Guard 2010 Innovation Expo, COMO
James Vass, NACO, tours Tampa Bay aboard Auxiliary vessel
Miss Marla from Flotilla 72 in St. Petersburg. Aboard with him
are Richard Short, coxswain (FL 72), Marla Short, Flotilla 72,
and Loren Reuter, Flotilla 79, guests Veronique Koken, Flotilla
11-10, Courtney Blum, Flotilla 72, Amos Johnson, DCDR 7 and
photographer Mike Moore, Flotilla 15-2. COMO Vass took the
helm in Tampa's Seddon Channel. Photo by Dottie Riley

Photo above: Mel Manning, District Captain West 7 escorts
COMO James Vass, National Commodore from his hotel to the
waiting boats before the tour of Tampa Bay on October 31,
2010. Photo by Dottie Riley

Read more about COMO
Vass visit to District 7 on
page 25
Don Hoge honored by ADM
Robert Papp during the State
of the Coast Address
on page 21
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.- Cliff Martin, Staff Officer-
Member Training and Staff Officer-Operations Divi-
sion 7, and BMCS Sean Benton, USCG, Station St.
Petersburg, are presented awards by RADM William
Baumgartner, USCG District 7 Commander, and
CAPT Sheryl L. Dickinson, Commander, Sector St.
Petersburg, at the Windjammer Club in St. Peters-
burg on Nov. 5, 2010. While Martin was honored ear-
lier that morning by Admiral Robert Papp, Comman-
dant of the Coast Guard, for his contributions to the
USCG, on this occasion he accepted the Meritorious
Team Commendation on behalf of the Auxiliary for
support to the USCGC Eagle in June. Photo by Tim
Teahan

International Boating &
Water Safety Summit
Strategic Plan of the
National Recreational
Boating Safety
Program
Boating Safety
Initiatives

2011 Prevention
Directorate Staff

2011 Goals for the D7 RBS Plan

Greetings from the International Boating and Water Safety
Summit, in Savannah, Ga. where 2011 is looking like an excit-
ing year for recreational boating safety initiatives for several
reasons. First, will be some highlights from the International
Boating and Water Safety Summit that just concluded in Sa-
vannah, Ga. Next, is to introduce this years Prevention Di-
rectorate staff, with expansion of staff duties and finally, this
years plans for D7 Recreational Boating Safety.
The 15
th
Annual International Boating and Water Safety Sum-
mit started with the signing of the 2012-2016 Strategic Plan of
the National Recreational Boating Safety Program. The
USCG Office of Prevention Policy working with about two-
dozen law enforcement, boating safety and recreational boat-
ing manufacturers developed this five-year plan. The plan
was signed for the USCG by RADM Kevin Cook, followed by
the National Association of Boating Law Administrators
(NASBLA), Army Corps of Engineers, National Water Safety
Congress, National Safe Boating Council, the US Coast
Guard Auxiliary, US Power Squadron, Marine Manufacturers
Association, and many others. This plan has performance
goals to reduce recreational boating casualties and injuries.
The plan details 11 Objectives and 76 Strategies, with the
Auxiliary support needed for 18 of the Strategies supporting
six of the plan Objectives. Additional details on these will be
provided through the Public Education, Program Visitor and
Vessel Examinations Departments.
This leads to our second topic, introduction of Prevention Di-
rectorate staff. This year, all of the District Staff Officers have
Assistant District Staff Officers (ADSOs) with specific as-
signed duties, either functional, geographic, or both. The Pre-
vention Directorate staff are:

DSO- Marine Safety, John Sprague-Williams
ADSO-MS Joel Aberbach, South Florida, AWW & SP
ADSO-MS David Bird, North area, Trident & MSTR
ADSO-MS Marc Lang, East area & monthly MS Infogram
ADSO-MS Mike Shea, West area & Clean Marina
Programs

DSO-Member, Training Reggie Hollar
ADSO-MT Frank Lann, AUXOP Courses
ADSO-MT Bill Hanlon, ICS Courses

DSO-Public Education, John VanOsdol
ADSO-PE Charles Chirila, South Carolina
ADSO-PE Dave Wall, Georgia & AUXplusPE program
ADSO-PE Gretchen Bacon

DSO-Program Visitor, Bill Riley
ADSO-PV Charles Reiner, East area
ADSO-PV Festus Burchfield, North area
ADSO-PV Ann Bennett, West area

DSO-Vessel Examination, Chuck Kelemen
ADSO-VE Moe Ziadan, East area
ADSO-VE Eric Kozak, East area
ADSO-VE Phillip Talon, North area
ADSO-VE Ron Foreman, North area
ADSO-VE Richard Tome, West area

Prevention Directorate
Bruce Lindsey, DDC-P D7

Public Education System
Simplified
Dave Wall, ADSO-PE

The Coast Guard Auxiliary has a computerized system to auto-
mate, manage and record all aspects of the Flotilla Public Edu-
cation program. The AUXplusPE program has been available
for several years from the National E Department website and
has undergone extensive testing and development to become
the complete tool to support the Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Ed-
ucation (FSO-PE).
Major elements of the AUXplusPE program are:
Class Scheduling: location confirmation, instructor assign-
ments, student registration and welcome letter, directions
and instructions.
Course completion: attendance and instructor rosters,
course completion certificates and/or wallet card printing
and financial accounting.
Reporting: database management and search functions,
statistical reporting to the Coast Guard, data export to
state agencies for boat licensing or certification, import or
export to other programs and replacement of lost cards or
certificates. Course historical data can easily be passed
on to succeeding FSO-PEs.
The program is currently in use in over 300 flotil-
las nationwide. Additional information and train-
ing can be arranged through your Assistant Dis-
trict Staff Officer-Public Education and Division
Staff Officer-Public Education. The program and
tutorials on AUXplusPE, Introduction, Basic and
Optional are available at the web address pro-
vided below. Questions can be referred to AD-
SO-PE Dave Wall at: nq5e@bellsouth.net.
The AUXplusPE site is easy to navigate.
Enter the web address in your browser:

http://cgauxed.org/completecourses.html.

In addition to the tools available for Public
Education instructors, complete tutorials are
offered on the site.

Contact your SO-PE or ADSO-PE (Dave Wall)
for further questions.

Response Directorate
Richard Leys, DDC-R D7
The Response Department
consists of four District Staff
Positions:
Aviation: Cecil Christopher,
DSO-AV;
Operations: Janee Hender-
son, DSO-OP;
Communications: Joseph
Colee Jr., DSO-CM;
Navigation Services:
Michelle Orman, DSO-NS.

Each branch is proactive in their support to the Coast Guard
and ready to respond when needed in such diverse areas as
search and rescue, migrant interdiction support, weather relat-
ed emergencies, watchstanding or a public event, including
providing Auxiliary facilities on a stand-by status.
In this issue, we feature aviation operations with an article by
Lee Bertman.

Fly, Land, Live
By Lee Bertman

The mission of the Coast Guard Auxiliary air group is to sup-
port the four Air Stations in District 7 in fulfilling their mission by
flying Safety Patrols, Law Enforcement Support (migrants, drug
interdiction and fishery enforcement), Search and Rescue, Ar-
ea Familiarization, Transport and numerous other tasks.
For most of these missions, the Auxiliary pilot is accompanied
by his or her crew which typically consists of non-pilot Air Crew
or Observers. What happens if the pilot is incapacitated? Will
the crew be able to bring the aircraft to a safe landing? The sky
can be a busy place. Is the crew able to assist the pilot in the
landing, take-off and enroute phases of the mission? These
are issues of both safety and mission effectiveness.
To address these concerns, Mike Renuart, former District Staff
Officer-Aviation, along with a team of Auxiliary Air pilots and
crew from the Clearwater area led by Ed Smith, worked to de-
velop the course called Fly, Land, Live. The course is de-
signed to equip Air Crew and Observers with the skills and
confidence necessary to assist in the safe conclusion of a mis-
sion should the pilot become incapacitated. An additional ob-
jective is to give crews added skills to better support the pilot in
his or her responsibilities.
The program is computer based using three different screens
to depict the outside view, the instrument panel, and the GPS-
driven moving map, all typical of the equipment in Auxiliary
aircraft. Control of the aircraft is achieved through a yoke and
rudder pedals complete with throttles and other aircraft con-
trols.
The course consists of instruction on the elements of aircraft
control and flight maneuvers, use and interpretation of aircraft
instruments, radio procedures, basic navigation, and landing
the aircraft. Scenarios include taking control of the aircraft in
the event of pilot incapacitation and flying and navigating to a
safe landing at a near-by airport. Communication with air traffic
control (ATC) and the airport tower are critical aspects of the
exercise.
The course was taught at the January Savannah Aviation
Workshop by Mike Renuart, Flight Examiner, and Gary Ford,
Aircrew. Six students participated in this first course: Antonio
Quesada, Brian Cummings, Daniel Bridges, Jim Bertucci, Mark
Miller and Margaret Ellen Hill. All six attendees remarked that
they gained a better understanding of aviation procedures to
assist the pilot during the mission and were better equipped to
handle an emergency. Involving the Aircrew and Observers in
the conduct of the mission augments their participation and
deepens enthusiasm. Two of the participants expressed a re-
newed interest in taking flying lessons and pursuing a private
pilots license. A typical comment was from Jim Bertucci: I
very much appreciated the seminar that Mike and Gary con-
ducted. At one time I was thinking about obtaining a private
pilots license and your seminar has rekindled my thoughts of
doing so.
Too often Aircrew and Observers are not included in mission
planning and the conduct of the flight. Yet the demands on
their skills can suddenly materialize with a pop-up search and
rescue or another emergency. The pilot cannot be expected to
do everything: program the GPS, communicate with ATC and
the Coast Guard and fly the aircraft while searching for the TOI
(target of interest). Hence, there is need for trained crewmem-
bers able to function seamlessly with the pilot in the safe and
effective conduct of the mission. This kind of crew coordination
requires training both on the ground and in the air. According
to Cecil Christopher, District Staff Officer-Aviation, Renuarts
course is a critical component of enhancing those skills
Mike Renuart and Gary Ford have plans to offer their course to
more D7 aviators. I have been working on this course for a

number of years, periodically enhancing the equipment to pro-
vide a more realistic experience. Participants become very in-
volved to the point that they become convinced that they are
flying a real aircraft. If they can fly the simulator, they have a
much improved chance of safely landing a real aircraft should
that need occur. Time and resources permitting, this course will
be made available to aviators throughout D7, stated Mike
Renuart.
(Continued from page 14)
SAVANNAH Ga. Several
Auxiliary members tried
out the flight simulator at
the Auxiliary Air workshop
held in January at Air Sta-
tion Savannah. If air sup-
port crew can fly the simu-
lator, they have a much
improved chance of safely
landing a real aircraft
should that need occur.
Time and resources per-
mitting, Mike Renuart
hopes this course will be
made available to aviators
throughout D7.
Photo by Mike Renuart
More articles highlighting
Response Department
support to the Coast Guard
appear in this issue. See
Regatta Support on pages
30-31, Auxiliarists...Aid
Boaters on page 34.
TAMPA BAY Using a red light emitting diode (LED) , Joseph
Lamb, coxswain, Flotilla 74 Brandon, Fla., and Patrick Baldwin,
crewmember from Flotilla 79 Tampa, look up their current way-
point to call in their operational status and position to Station
St. Petersburg during a routine safety patrol on February 17,
2011. Photo by Flotilla 74 member, George Papabeis
OPS NORMAL

Logistics Directorate
James Dennen, DDC-L D7
The USCGC Duane
Revisited.
The Treasury-class Coast
Guard Cutters, also referred
to as Secretary-class, were
named for former secretaries
of the Treasury Department.
They were all 327-foot high
endurance vessels. This par-
ticular cutter was named after
William John Duane, Treas-
ury Secretary for President
Andrew Johnson. The cutter
Duane is considered the Queen of the Class. Her keel was
laid on May 1, 1935 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in Philadel-
phia, Pennsylvania.
After a storied career as a search and rescue and law enforce-
ment vessel with 15 citations or medals for gallantry through
several wars that included tours in the Pacific and in the waters
off Viet Nam, the cutter Duane was removed from service in
1985. The Duane, along with its sister ship, Coast Guard Cut-
ter Bibb, are now artificial reefs and very popular dive spots in
the waters off Key Largo, Florida, one mile south of Molasses
Reef. The U.S. Coast Guard Station Islamorada has the honor
of displaying both ships bells at its front entrance.
The Duane Association, consisting of Coast Guard men and
women who served on the Duane, meet yearly for a reunion in
various locations and publish a newsletter, The Helm http://
home.comcast.net/~whec33/. The associations president,
Stan Barnes, contacted me this past year and asked for photos
of the Duane Bell. He then decided to visit the bell and dive
the Duane reef with his son, Kevin.
Jeff Bronsing, Division Commander 13, Jim Dennen, Direc-
torate Chief for Logistics, and Boatswains Mate Second Class,
Chris Lino, USCG, met with Barnes and his son and gave them
a tour of U.S. Coast Guard Station Islamorada and its various
assets. They took photos with the Duane Bell that Barnes had
faithfully polished during his tour of duty. After the visit, Barnes
and his son headed off to Key Largo to dive her site for a first-
hand look at the cutter that he had not seen since he served
aboard her as a crewmember.
While aboard the Duane, Barnes wrote an interesting story
about two young men who in 1966 decided to row across the
Atlantic ocean with unfortunate consequences http://
home.comcast.net/~whec33/Puffin%20Story.rev.pdf

KEY LARGO, Fla.Stan
Barnes, former crew-
member of the Coast
Guard Cutter Duane,
visits Station Islamora-
da on March 6, 2011
with his son, Kevin
Barnes. Jeff Bronsing,
Division Commander 13,
and Jim Dennen, Direc-
torate Chief of Logistics
D7, pose with the father-
son team behind the
bells of two of the
Treasury-class cutters,
the cutter Duane and the
Coast Guard Cutter
Bibb. Both were sunk
and now form an artifi-
cial reef off the waters
of Key Largo, Florida.
Photo by BM 2nd Class
Chris Lino.

BIG PINE KEY, Fla.In June 2010,
FS1 Joseph Scott of Station Marathon
attempted without success to light the
barbecue grill in order to feed the
troops. Don Kittsmiller of Flotilla 13-3
Big Pine Key happened to walk by and
asked if there was anything that he
could do to help. Scott told him that
the grill needed several new parts, to
which Kittsmiller replied, Perhaps the
Auxiliary can help with this problem.
Scott thought that maybe the Auxiliary
might get some new parts or possibly
even a new grill. He never envisioned
getting an entire new outdoor galley.
Kittsmiller went back to his flotilla. A
few of their members were knowledge-
able about construction and were good
handymen, and Kittsmiller pitched the
idea of constructing a new outdoor grill
for Station Marathon. He presented the
idea to the entire flotilla, which voted
upon it as a worthy undertaking.
At that point, no one guessed that this
augmentation project would evolve into
such a large and long undertaking, or
would result in such a successful out-
come. Jan Kittsmiller said, Not to ring
our own dinner bell, but the process of
learning each and every job needed in
the building process made everyone
who participated in this project evolve.
We became a more cohesive team,
and each person expressed to me that
they learned new skills and discovered
talents that they did not realize they
possessed.
To express their appreciation, on No-
vember 12, 2010, Master Chief
Charles Lindsey and BMC William
Hillyer hosted a barbeque/picnic com-
plete with lobster, brats, juicy hamburgers and lots of donated
dishes. Most of the personnel of Station Marathon attended as
well as around 22 Auxiliary members. In addition, Commander
Tom Walsh, Chief of Response, Sector Key West attended.
They had a fantastic time socializing and enjoying the great
food prepared in the new galley.
Bravo Zulu to our augmentation team which consisted of Ted
Giesbrecht, Don Kittsmiller, Brad Miller, Martin Mara, Dan
Shtob, Nick McManus, and Luke Moore. Everyone at Station
Marathon is thrilled with the flotillas contribution, but no less
than the members who constructed the outdoor galley. Building
the galley gave them immense pleasure.
Above: Ted Giesbrecht and Luke Moore attach the roofing paper to the new outdoor gal-
ley at Station Marathon. Below: Station Marathons food service specialists show off the
new grills at the barbeque in November. Photos by Jan Kittsmiller

Flotilla Builds New Outdoor Galley for Coast Guard
Station. Article and photos by Jan Kittsmiller, Flotilla 13-3 Big Pine Key, Fla.

Young Auxiliarist
Serves as Cadet Aboard the Eagle
By Carol M. Bareuther, photos provided by Rian Bareuther
SAINT CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands- Cadet Rian Bareuther
joined Auxiliary Flotilla 16-1 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands after
his 17th birthday while a student at St. Croix Country Day
School. He was active with the Auxiliary and involved in
many community projects. Bareuther then applied and was
accepted to the US Coast Guard Academy where he is cur-
rently in his second year. The following article was prepared
by his proud mother, Carol M. Bareuther and appeared in
Caribbean Compass.
A Caribbean cruise might sound like an opportunity for non-
stop, rum-swizzling party time, but for cadets at the U.S.
Coast Guard Academy (CGA), based in New London, Con-
necticut, its serious training- albeit with some fun mixed in.
Rian Bareuther, a third class cadet and lifelong resident of St.
Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, was onboard the tall ship,
Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, for the first six-weeks of the ves-
sels summer training cruise which embarked from San Juan,
Puerto Rico, and stopped at ports in Cartagena, Curacao and
Cozumel .
When I learned the summer cruise would be to the Caribbe-
an, I thought great, itll be good to get back home where its
warm and maybe see some of my old friends, says Bareu-
ther, who had just completed his first year at the CGA.
The CGA is one of the U.S.s five federal service academies.
The other academies are the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapo-
lis, Md., U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., U.S. Air
Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Col., and Merchant Ma-
rine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Following four years
of study and military training, cadets graduate from the CGA
with a Bachelor of Science degree in majors ranging from
government to five areas of engineering and are commis-
sioned as ensigns into the U.S. Coast Guard. Five years of
obligatory duty is required after graduation from the tuition-
free Academy that only accepts some 300 candidates from a
pool of over 2,000 applications annually.
For Bareuther, along with over 100 of his fellow third class
cadets as well as an equal number of first class or senior
cadets, the cruise meant a nice break from classroom stud-
ies and a chance to learn hands-on from Eagles 50-plus
permanent enlisted and officer crew. The cadets on Eagles
first tour flew to San Juan the day after they finished Final
Exams.
We were handed a list with all the essential items we need-
ed to pack the night before we left, says Bareuther.
Everything had to be packed into one sea bag, plus a uni-
form bag. Once onboard Eagle, we went below decks,
stowed our gear in the racks and made our beds. There
were 18 bunks in our room, so it was close quarters.
Eagle is a 295-foot, three-masted tall ship. Its the seventh in
a line of same-named vessels that dates back to the Coast
Guard inception as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1792,
which was founded by Nevis-born U.S. Treasury Secretary,
Alexander Hamilton. The present day Eagle was built in
1936 at the Blohm & Voss Shipyard in Hamburg, Germany.
Adolf Hitler christened her the Horst Wessel and the vessel
was used to train German Naval Cadets. The U.S. took the
vessel as a war prize after World War II and commissioned
her into the U.S. Coast Guard in 1946. Eagle, which
homeports out of New London, has served as a sea-going
good will ambassador and cadet training ship ever since.
Training is no joke. For example, cadets handle more than
20,000-square-feet of sail and five miles of rigging. There
are over 200 lines that need to be handled during a major
18

ships maneuver and cadets are tasked with learning the
name and function of each and every line.
Years of sailing dinghies and bigger boats in regattas like
Rolex, BVI and Antigua Sailing Week helped me know what
to do, how to fill the sails, tack and jibe, says Bareuther, but
what I liked best, and what you really cant do on a dinghy,
was climbing up to the royals when something needed to be
fixed or adjusted. I like to be active and hands on, and Eagle
provided a lot of opportunities to do just that.
Hands-on training started the minute the cadets pulled out of
San Juan on May 10, 2010.
The first 24-hours we did several drills like basic damage
control, firefighting, manning lifeboat stations and man over-
board, says Bareuther.
Then came some fun couched in another lesson: anchoring.
We anchored off Cabo Rojo (Puerto Rico) and were all al-
lowed to go swimming, says Bareuther. Some kids dove for
conch, others just swam around. Even Capt. Jones (Captain
Eric C. Jones, commanding officer of the Eagle) jumped in for
a swim. It was pretty cool.
Afterwards, it was time to hoist the sails for a 10-day voyage
to Cartagena, Columbia.
A typical day at sea, Bareuther tells, meant waking at 6:30
a.m., followed by breakfast and morning muster on deck for
announcements and assignments. Training for the third class
cadets meant learning what the enlisted personnel did
onboard. (The first class cadets shadowed the officers, with
the goal being for cadets to have knowledge of all jobs ship-
board by the time they graduate and are in a command posi-
tion.) This meant anything from polishing the brass to learning
pipe patching, celestial navigation, basic rudder commands,
steering, scullery duty and cleaning the heads. Cadets could
be called anytime, day or night, to maneuver the sails during
progressive wears, which says Bareuther, is a fancy word for
a square rigger doing a jibe.
The training is all perfectly timed so that you are always busy
and always working towards finishing up all your sign-offs,
says Bareuther, who is majoring in electrical engineering.
Cadets all receive a sea training packet at the start of the
cruise with all the proficiencies they are to learn during their
time onboard.
Eagle, along with a dozen other majestic tall ships and fanfare
escort of official and private vessels, arrived to Cartagena on
the morning of May 19 as part of Vela Sudamerica. This was
a several-month-long South American Tall Ships regatta that
celebrated the bicentennial of the independence of many
South American nations.
There were official functions like representing the Coast
Guard at a concert, military parade and church service, and
then intercompany sports, says Bareuther. For example, we
played Panama and Uruguay in soccer on the beach. It was a
great time.
Eagle experienced its roughest weather of the trip during the
passage from Cartagena to Curacao.
Another cadet and I were on the Midnight to 4 a.m. watch
and all of a sudden it started pouring, just howling with wind
and rain, Bareuther says.
The two cadets clad in life jackets went to the front of the ves-
sel by the anchor chain, clipped on their safety harnesses,
and continued watch up by the bowsprit where it proved to be
(Continued on page 20)

Photo left page: Tall
ships are pictured in port
at Cartagena, Columbia
on May 23, 2010. From
left are the USCGC Ea-
gle, the ARC Gloria from
Columbia and Capitan
Miranda from Uruguay.

Right: Cadet Rian Bareu-
ther disembarking a
Coast Guard C-130 flight
from Veracruz, Mexico in
June 2010.


a wild, or as Bareuther calls it, pretty cool ride.
He was also on daybreak duty when Eagle sailed into Cura-
cao for three days.
I was down working below decks when I got a call that there
were some folks looking for me, he says. When I came up,
there were about 20 Optimist sailors and their parents on
board from Curacao Youth Sailing. I gave them a tour and
then took them into the Mess for some juice. I knew a couple
of them and several of them knew my younger sister, Nikki,
from when she sailed in the Opti North Americans hosted in
Curacao two years ago. It was great to maintain that Caribbe-
an bond.
Eagle pulled out of Curacao on June 1, sailed north and then
west along the south coast of Haiti, past Jamaica, right
through the Caymans, and docked in Cozumel on June 11.
This is where Bareuthers group of cadets off-loaded onto a C
-130 aircraft for the flight back to Connecticut and the other
half of the third and first year classes boarded for their trip up
the Eastern seaboard.
The Coast Guard Academy isnt like a regular college where
you have all summer off and can party anytime, says Bareu-
ther. But, its a great place if you really want to learn a lot and
help people stay safe on the seas.
Left: Cadet Rian Bareuther looks back at the photographer as
cadets climb the rigging of the USCGC Eagle.

Above: Bareuther and other cadets on the main deck of the
USCGC Eagle.

Below: Cadet Rian Bareuther patches a pipe while serving
aboard the USCGC Eagle. Each rotation of cadets performs the
many tasks required to maintain the tall ship.


WASHINGTON-- Donald C. Hoge of New Port
Richey, Florida was honored on February 10,
201, during the State of the Coast Guard mes-
sage presented in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Hoge, a member of Flotilla 11-10 Dunedin,
Fla., was selected from over 30,000 members
to be recognized personally by US Coast
Guard Commandant, Admiral Robert Papp, for
his unselfish devotion to duty and for exempli-
fying the Coast Guard motto, Semper Para-
tus, which means, Always Ready.
During his 24-years as a US Navy aviator,
Hoge performed search and rescue helicopter
missions from aircraft carriers during the Viet
Nam conflict, served on the NATO staff in Bel-
gium, and was stationed world-wide in such
places as the Philippines, Denmark, Bahrain,
Egypt, Iraq, Japan, Kenya, Somalia and Ku-
wait. He brought this love of aviation to the
Coast Guard Auxiliary and is frequently in-
volved in the various Auxiliary Air (AUXAIR)
missions in support of the Coast Guard. Hoge
serves at US Coast Guard Air Station Clear-
water in the Operations Section and as the
Auxiliary Coordinator for Sector St. Peters-
burg, which is responsible for the entire west
coast of Florida. It was while he was on duty
one morning that the earthquake struck Haiti.
Hoge spent over 15 hours that first day help-
ing to arrange flights to support the rescue
efforts and was present almost continuously for the
following ten days sharing his Navy expertise in air-
craft logistics management.
Hoge is also very active with his personal boat in
support of Station Sand Key in their training efforts
and their search and rescue missions. His devotion
to duty is exemplified by his volunteering over 3,100
hours in 2010 in support of the US Coast Guard and
the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Hoge has received numerous awards and decora-
tions from the US Navy, the US Coast Guard and
the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In spite of all of these
recognitions, the one he is the proudest of is being a
member of a four-man team of local Auxiliary mem-
bers who won district and national championships to
earn the privilege to represent the United States in
the International Search and Rescue competition
held in Toronto, Canada in 2007. Hoges team was
the first American team to ever win this eight-year
old event. Since this was the last year of the compe-
tition, the very large and impressive trophy is now
permanently displayed at Coast Guard Station Sand
Key.

Local US Coast Guard Auxiliarist Honored by Coast
Guard Commandant. By Thomas Loughlin, DSO-PA 7
Don Hoge charts relief flights into Haiti on February 22, 2010 in the Operations
Section USCG Air Station Clearwater after the earthquake that devastated the
island nation . Photo by Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA

Below: Despite his many awards from the US Navy, the Coast Guard and the
Coast Guard Auxiliary, Don Hoge is most proud of capturing the 2007 Internation-
al Search and Rescue (ISAR) trophy. Don Hoge (second from right) is pictured
with fellow ISAR and Division 11 Auxiliary members Kevin McConn, Max Garri-
son, and Jim Ryder at the District 7 Conference in Jacksonville, Fla. in October
2008. Photo by Dottie Riley, DSO-PB


District 7 Takes Leadership Course on the Road.
Article and photos by Barbara Burchfield, SO-PA 12
Leadership and
learning are indispen-
sable to each other.
~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

SAVANNAH, Ga.Leadership is
defined as a position as a leader
of a group, organization, etc. in
the dictionary. If only it was as
simple as that, especially in an all-
volunteer organization.
The positions of leadership and
management are vitally important
to the entire framework and organi-
zational structure of the Coast
Guard Auxiliary to manage suc-
cessfully the citizen volunteers
who make up the organization. As
Auxiliarists, we all come from di-
verse backgrounds and geograph-
ic locations; yet somehow we all ended up in the Auxiliary for
one reason or another. It is an undisputed fact that Auxiliary
volunteers give an extraordinary amount of time and re-
sources in support of our country, the Coast Guard and the
Auxiliary.
In the Auxiliary we see frequent changes in leadership follow-
ing the annual Change of Watch ceremonies. The challenge
to get so many new leaders fully informed and equipped to
handle new leadership roles is very real and immediate.
District 7 Commodore Walter
Jaskiewicz took a strong leadership
role himself by hosting a series of
Flotilla Leadership Courses (FLC)
throughout District 7, beginning
January 15, 2011 through February
19, 2011. Training classes were
held for 107 flotillas in 17 divisions
covering Florida, Georgia, South
Carolina, Puerto Rico and the Vir-
gin Islands. The training course
was designed specifically for flotilla
leadership with twelve modules to
guide them in their role of responsi-
bility and management, and to give
a clear understanding of what Dis-
trict 7 expects of them.
Flotilla Commanders are tasked
with a great deal of responsibility.
It is at the flotilla level where sur-
face operations, member training,
public education classes, program
visits, and vessel safety checks
take place, just to name a few of
our many missions. It is a chal-
lenge to keep things going smooth-

ly with so many missions at task. In accepting the position of
Flotilla Commander, the FC becomes accountable for the du-
ties and responsibilities that come with the position. Leader-
ship and management must find ways to motivate the volun-
teer members to participate in operations, fellowship, public
education, and the other countless opportunities available to
them. Flotilla Commanders should manage, support and en-
courage members with positive leadership and management,
not necessarily by command as the title implies.
Commodore Jaskiewicz stressed the importance of planning,
setting goals, and careful management of human resources.
There is a web of wisdom and a wealth of information availa-
ble in the Coast Guard Auxiliary, said COMO Jaskiewicz as
he emphasized the benefits of putting member resources to
work, such as calling on Immediate Past Flotilla Commanders
for advice or getting help from members who have specific
qualifications. This is not a one man show, he stressed.
About seventy Flotilla Commanders (FCs) and Flotilla Vice
Commanders (VFCs), representing Divisions 2, 10, and 12 in
Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, attended the January
22, 2011, training course at Air Station Savannah, Georgia.
With the key words, Failing to plan is planning to fail hanging
in the room, everyone listened carefully to sessions on duties
and responsibilities, staffing, new member development, flotil-
la goals, communication, time management, meetings, con-
flicts, and leadership. Uniforms, awards, courtesy and proto-
col rounded off a full day of training. Even members who
have been in the Auxiliary for many years were surprised to
see things they never knew existed, like the new Members
Help Desk at www.auxhelp.com.
The FLC topics were carefully chosen and delivered by senior
leadership in an effort to give FCs and VFCs the tools they
need to do their job. Having already experienced the position
of Flotilla Commander, senior leadership was able to pass
along valuable and sometimes quite candid information. A
point repeated more than once was that all leaders should
acknowledge emails and reply to emails within 24 hours as a
courtesy, and acknowledge the email even if an issue is still
pending. Throughout the day, respect and appreciation were
consistently woven into the organizational objectives to devel-
op knowledgeable and effective flotilla leadership.
One day of training can really make a difference. The ad-
vantage goes to those who attended the training sessions;
they come away with new information, vital resources, a net-
work of other Auxiliary leaders, a collective think tank of ideas,
and positive ways to achieve success in their flotilla. The Flo-
tilla Leadership Course set the stage for a year of challenges
and ways to meet them. Well done.
SAVANNAH, Ga. Ap-
proximately 70 mem-
bers from District 7
northern area of respon-
sibility attended the
Flotilla Leadership
Course presented at Air
Station Savannah in
January, and more than
360 members from Dis-
trict 7 attended the
training conducted at
various locations
throughout the district
January through Febru-
ary this year. Taking the
training on location to
our newly elected offic-
ers sends the clear mes-
sage that our current
District Bridge takes a
genuine interest in de-
veloping competent
elected officers from the
flotilla level up.

Left page top: COMO
Walter Jaskiewicz, Dis-
trict Commodore 7
facilitated several of the Flotilla Leadership Courses present-
ed between January 15 and February 19 of this year. Behind
him (from right) are Reginald Hollar, District Staff Officer-
Member Training, John Tyson Chief of Staff D7, and Robert
Weskerna, District Captain North D7.

Left page bottom: John Tyson, District Chief of Staff D7, pre-
sents Goal Setting at the Flotilla Leadership Course on Janu-
ary 22, 2011, in Savannah. The key words, Failing to plan is
planning to fail hanging prominently in the room emphasized
the need to set goals and to establish a plan on reaching
those goals.
Need to deeply desire the Goal.
Visualize yourself achieving the Goal.
Plan the path to follow.
Commit to a Goal by pung it in wring.
Set calendar dates for checking progress.
GOAL SETTING STEPS

Silver and Gold at AUX-12 Public Affairs C-School
By Felipe Pazos IPFC 6-11 and Jose Acosta BA-ASVC
US Coast Guard Active Duty
and Coast Guard Auxiliary Un-
dergo J oint Public Affairs
Training in Miami

MIAMI The Coast Guard Auxiliary Pub-
lic Affairs Department has charted a new
track as both active duty and Auxiliary
members joined for the AUX-12 Public
Affairs Course C-School at Air Station
Miami from February 10-13, 2011.
This marked the first time that members
from both organizations participated in
the new joint course recently accredited
as equivalent to the Coast Guard Public
Affairs course offered via the Defense
Information School at Fort Meade, Mary-
land.
Aux-12 is an intense three-day course
designed to teach writing, public speak-
ing, media relations and photography to
members of Team Coast Guard in an
effort to help them become Public Affairs
Specialists. Public Affairs Specialists per-
form many duties ranging from writing
articles and news releases to assisting at
Joint Information Centers. The course
leader was Manny Romero, Division
Chief Auxiliary Public Affairs (AUXPA)
Training, who routinely travels across
the U.S. to teach AUX-12 courses.
We can now enroll active duty and re-
serve Coast Guard personnel in AUX-12
thanks to the hard work of Thomas
Nunes, Director of Auxiliary Public Af-
fairs and CWO3 Adam Wine of the
Coast Guard Public Affairs Program
Division in Washington, D.C., said
Romero. I'm very proud of the entire
Auxiliary public affairs training team for
this outstanding accomplishment. We
will continue to improve and refine AUX-
12 to meet the public affairs needs of
both Auxiliary and active duty.
BM2 Lance Buchanan and Ens. Kevin
Curry were the first two active duty can-
didates selected to participate in the
Miami C-School. For them it was an
invaluable experience since they will be
able to use their public affairs training
while serving in their individual units.
BM2 Buchanan plans on using his new
skills to shoot morale videos for Station
Miami Beach. Ens. Curry is looking to
make a difference while stationed
onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Vigi-
lant. He is planning on taking pictures to
keep his shipmates informed of day-to-
day activities and accomplishments.
Auxiliary Public Affairs Detachment Mi-
ami (AUXPADET) hosted a welcoming
reception at the Miami Yacht Club on
Thursday February 10 for instructors and
students. In attendance at the reception
was Lt. Joseph Abeyta, Commanding
Officer, Coast Guard Station Miami
Beach, who wished the group good luck
in their training mission.
This group was not one of his standard
Coast Guard boat crews. Armed with
cameras, computers, pens and notepads
instead of high caliber machine guns, the
group embarked into unchartered waters -
a joint active duty and Auxiliary three day
Public Affairs Boot Camp.
Public Affairs C-School is an excellent
way to learn how to tell the Auxiliary story
whether it is through print, broadcast or
social media. Moreover, if there is a sin-
gle message that should be taken away
from this training, it is that Public Affairs is
the responsibility of everyone wearing the
Coast Guard uniform.

MIAMI - Ensign Kevin Curry of
the CG Cutter Vigilant (top left)
and BM2 Lance Buchannan of
USCG Station Miami Beach (top
right) celebrate the completion of
the AUX-12 Public Affairs C-
School with Audri Amoro, Jose
Acosta, Nichole Betterson, and
Felipe Pazos of Miami Flotilla 6-
11. The course was held at
USCG Air Station Miami from
February 10-13, 2011 and was the
first time that active duty and
Auxiliary members trained to-
gether in the public affairs C-
School. Photo by Christopher
Todd

NACO at the Helm
By Dottie Riley, DSO-PB 7
Commodore Vass Tours
Tampa Bay During Visit to
Tampa

TAMPA, Fla.The Coast Guard 2010
Innovation Expo took place in Tampa
November 2-4, 2010, and on October
31, COMO James Vass, U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary National Commodore
(NACO), arrived to attend this major
event.
Within hours of checking into his hotel,
COMO Vass was aboard Miss Marla, an
Auxiliary vessel from Flotilla 72, St. Pe-
tersburg, Fla., touring Tampa Bay. Divi-
sion 7 provided two vessels, coxswains
and crew for the Commodore and
guests for a Public Affairs mission that
brought national attention to District 7.
Planning boats, crew and guests for the
Commodores tour of Tampas ports
required considerable pre-planning from
members of both Divisions 7 and 11.
Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA D7 and member
of Flotilla 11-10 Dunedin, took the lead
in planning this event. Cliff Martin, Staff
Officer-Operations, Division 7, secured
vessels and crew, and of course, ob-
tained the orders from Sector St. Peters-
burg for this all-important mission.
Selecting members for this patrol was a
careful balancing act. The two Auxiliary
facilities left few seats to spread out be-
tween qualified and competent crew- the
first consideration, important guests,
event photographers, and a few well-
chosen new members from both divi-
sions.
On board with COMO Vass were Rich-
ard Short, coxswain, Vice Commander
Flotilla 72, Marla Short, Flotilla 72, and
Loren Reuter, Flotilla 79, guests Ve-
ronique Koken, Flotilla 11-10, Courtney
Blum, Flotilla 72, Amos Johnson, Com-
mander Division 7, and photographer
Mike Moore, Flotilla 15-2.
A second vessel, Lucky Dog II from Flo-
tilla 79 acted as chase vessel and pro-
vided a platform for a second photogra-
pher. On board the chase vessel were
J. Michael Shea, Vice Commander Divi-
sion 7 and coxswain, David Langdon,
Flotilla 72, crew, Dottie Riley, Flotilla 79,
crew and photographer, Frank Toal from
Flotilla 11-1 new member, and VIP
guest Melvin Manning, District Captain
West DCAPT-W (then elect).
One of the principal purposes of this
mission was to capture images of the
National Commodore interacting with
Auxiliary members in an operational en-
vironment. The photographs taken on
October 31 are for use across a wide
variety of publications and media, and
are stored within the Coast Guard Visual
Imagery (CGVI) library. Every member
involved was eager to present our dis-
trict in the most professional light. It is,
after all, not every day that an Auxiliary
vessel has a National Commodore on
board!
COMO Vass is extremely flotilla oriented
and thoroughly enjoys meeting the peo-
ple that make the Auxiliary the organiza-
tion that it is. This was evident in his
easy manner and the interest he ex-
pressed when meeting our newer mem-
bers.
The Commodore did not flinch when
asked to take the helm of Miss Marla.
On the contrary, he smiled broadly and
appeared to enjoy steering up the chan-
nel.
It is good to know that our leaders at the
top take such great interest in support-
ing our flotillas and our members. Meet-
ing him was an honor, but more than
that, we may feel confident that with CO-
MO Vass at the helm of the U.S. Coast
Guard Auxiliary, we are in great hands
no matter where the course leads.
TAMPA, Fla. COMO James Vass, National Commodore tours Tampa Bay aboard the
Miss Marla, an Auxiliary facility from Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg, Fla., on October 31,
2010, while attending the Coast Guard Innovation Expo. Behind COMO Vass are Amos
Johnson, DCDR 7, Loren Reuter, crew Flotilla 79, Veronique Koken, Flotilla 11-10,
Courtney Blum, Flotilla 72, Marla Short, Flotilla 72 and Richard Short, Vice Commander
Flotilla 72 and coxswain. Photo by Mike Moore, Flotilla 15-2.

The End of an Era
By Christopher Todd, Deputy Director, Public Affairs
Auxiliarist Pilots
Coast Guard Forty
-One Foot Utility
Boat in Farewell
Mission

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- For
the better part of the last four
decades, forty-one foot Utili-
ty Boats (41 UTBs) re-
mained the workhorse sur-
face asset at Coast Guard
Station Miami Beach tow-
ing boats, battling drug and
migrant smugglers, and con-
ducting the vast array of as-
signed Coast Guard mis-
sions. With the recent mod-
ernization effort well under-
way, time became the new
enemy that the 41 UTBs
would have to face.
With the delivery of the sta-
tions second new forty-five
foot Response Boat Medium
(45 RB/M) in mid-February,
that enemy also arrived.
The last remaining 41 UTB
at the station, Coast Guard 41450, was
no longer needed. They planned a fit-
ting farewell.
During the 1970s, Auxiliarist Cal Gordon
of Flotilla 67 Coral Gables served as a
Boatswains Mate 1st Class at Station
Miami Beach. Gordon, certified as an
Auxiliary coxswain and Qualification Ex-
aminer, was one of the first coxswains to
skipper a 41 UTBs upon their arrival in
Miami. It seemed only fitting that he
would also be one of the last.
On the morning of March 3, Lt. Joe
Abeyta, Commanding Officer of Station
Miami Beach, assembled all-hands on
the stations docks for an unprecedented
mission: all surface assets including sev-
eral Auxiliary vessels would be deployed
simultaneously to take a station photo-
graph and bid 41450 farewell. At the
helm of 41450 would be Gordon as the
honored guest.
Gordon boarded 41450 accompanied by
fellow Auxiliarist and good friend Joel
Aberbach of Flotilla 6-10 North Bay who
can be found many days operating the
stations communications equipment.
Also on board were three station mem-
bers to serve as the official coxswain
and crew of record.
Settling into the helm station and firing
up the diesel engines, Gordon barked
out commands to the crew without miss-
ing a beat. Soon, 41450 was underway
accompanied by the full array of station
assets. The smile across Gordons face
was literally from ear to ear as the smell
of diesel fuel invoked memories of years
gone by.
The parade of boats made its way
through Government Cut and down Fish-
ermans Channel on the south side of the
Port of Miami. The vessels gathered in
the turning basin and moved into a pre-
determined formation for the photograph
coordinated by Boatswains Mate 2
nd

Class Lance Buchanan.
Soon a HH-65 Dolphin helicopter ar-
rived from Air Station Miami with Miami
Flotilla 6-11 member Vickie Aponte seat-
ed in the open side door shooting pho-
tos. Aponte was one of many members
of Flotilla 6-11s Auxiliary Public Affairs
Detachment Miami (AUXPADET) cov-
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.Auxiliarist Cal Gordon, member of Flotilla 67 Coral Gables, was one of the first
skippers of the 41-foot Utility Boat while serving in the Coast Guard as Boatswain Mate 1st Class
stationed in Miami. On March 3, 2011, Gordon was privileged to skipper the final 41-foot Utility Boat,
Coast Guard 41450, on its farewell voyage amid much fanfare and a parade of Coast Guard and Aux-
iliary vessels. A HH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station Miami flew over in a parting salute. The
final voyage was well coordinated between the Coast Guard and Flotilla 6-11 Public Affairs Detach-
ment and was well covered by major media outlets in the Miami area. Photos (this and top of next
page) by Christopher Todd, Deputy Director, Public Affairs

ering the event. AUXPADET detach-
ment leader Nichole Betterson coordi-
nated the public affairs coverage with
Abeyta and Buchanan.
After circling for several shots, the Dol-
phin took its place in the center rear of
the formation. A photojournalist from
The Miami Herald then started taking
photographs from Auxiliary vessel Julie
Marie positioned ahead of the formation
with Jim Shea of Flotilla 6-10 serving as
coxswain. AUXPADET member Bill
Swank, Assistant District Staff Officer
Special Projects, arranged the Heralds
participation in the project.
Julie Marie then headed toward the for-
mation to join Auxiliary vessels Double
Time with Bob Bartley of Flotilla 6-10 as
coxswain, Sea P. A. with Silvio Rodri-
guez of Flotilla 6-11 as coxswain, and
Cowboy Four with Felipe Pazos of Flotil-
la 6-11 as PWC operator.
A Miami-Dade (County) Police helicopter
arrived on-scene carrying AUXPADET
members Jose Acosta and Miles Cyr.
Acosta shot video of the assets while
Cyr took still photographs of the for-
mation.
After several passes, the moment came
for 41450 to take the spotlight. As the
formation proceeded on an easterly
course at about five knots, Buchanan
called out over the VHF radio for all as-
sets except the 41450 to hold posi-
tion.
Piloted by Gordon with Aberbach next to
him, Coast Guard 41450 pulled away
from the pack -- including the two new
RB/Ms flanking each side -- and pro-
ceeded down the channel in a symbolic
moment emulating the hero in an old
western movie riding off into the sunset.
The end of an era had come for the 41
UTBs at Station Miami Beach, but the
memories will live on through time.
SIDENOTE: The Miami Herald pub-
lished a large, three-column, above-the-
fold photograph of the formation on the
front page of the Local News section of
the March, 4, 2011 issue.
CG New 45-foot RB/M Arrives in Miami
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Members of Flotilla 6-11's AUXPADET were treated to a ride
aboard USCG Station Miami Beach's new 45-foot Response Boat - Medium (RB/M)
during a public affairs workshop conducted by the detachment in early Decem-
ber. Lieutenant Joe Abeyta, station commanding officer, was coxswain on the
RB/M. An impromptu fly-over by an Air Station Opa Locka HM-65 Dolphin heli-
copter added to the experience and gave PADET photographers an extra special
photo op.

The arrival of the 45-foot RB/M spelled doom for the 41-foot Utility Boat (UTB).
The last 41 UTB was retired on March 3, 2011, amid much fanfare and farewell
celebration. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Bill Swank.

A Family Affair
Article and photos by Diane Riggan ADSO-PA E
Auxiliarist Gary Bower-
man and Wife Ann,
Honor Those Who
Served.

STUART, Fla. Over a hundred people
came to honor the veterans at the South
River community center in February.
This was the first year the organizers
worked to bring together and honor
those who had served their country.
Gary Bowerman, a member of Flotilla
59 in Stuart and his wife Ann were very
excited to be part of this day because at
the end of the tribute, one veteran
would be selected to receive a hand-
crafted walking stick.
Criteria is very high to qualify for this
special honor; the first requirement is to
have earned a Purple Heart. Paul Hor-
bal, Jim Quinn and William Blois, all
Auxiliarists and residents, were looking
over the photos, notes and displays that
their neighbors brought in. It is just
overwhelming to see what our neigh-
bors have done, commented the trio.
For the ceremony this day, Mr. Gunner
Christensen was selected as the recipi-
ent for the walking
stick. He was
wounded while
serving in Pattons
Army during World
War II. Another veter-
an had as many as
four Purple Hearts,
but the decision this
year was to award the
oldest living eligible
recipient the walking
stick.
Like other wood carvers
around the country, the
Bowermans carve the
patriotic canes that are
distinctively white and pur-
ple with a bald eagle for the grip. In
some cases, the American flag in red,
white and blue emblazes the cane as
well. Gary turns the shafts and Ann
carves the cane tops with care and
patience, My dad would be really
happy I am doing this. He served
in the Navy in World War II, Ann
remarked.
She was inspired to take on the
challenge when someone came
into their woodcarving club
years ago asking if anyone
would carve a cane for a veter-
an they knew who had served
aboard the USS Guadalcanal.
Anns father had served
aboard the Guadalcanal and
when no one else volun-
teered, she stepped up.
Gary, a member for just over a year,
first talked to his Auxiliary unit, Flotilla
59 in Stuart, Fla, to see if any of the
members were veterans. While several
were, none spoke about being Purple
Heart recipients. His search continued
in the community. He and Ann went
north for the summer and when they
returned in the fall, plans to honor the
many who had served were already
underway. They learned that multiple
neighbors were veterans and in fact,
several were Purple Heart recipients.
Ann had seen photos of her dad when
he was young and covered in freckles.
She wondered why in his adult life he
had none. His first ship was the USS
Hornet and he was in the boiler room
where their ship was attacked. He was
badly burned and they didnt even think
he was alive. They had him in the dead
line for burial at sea. One soldier was
giving everyone one last nudge and my
dad let out a groan. He was pulled out
of the line and treated.
Her father received the Purple Heart
and while he was in the hospital, his
mother reached out to everyone she
STUART, Fla.Gary Bowerman, member of Flotilla 59 Stuart, Fla., along with his wife
Ann, present the hand carved patriotic walking stick that the couple made to Gunner
Christensen. On February 19, 2011, members of the South River condominiums in Stu-
art arranged a ceremony to honor their veterans. Mr. Christensen served during World
War II as a member of "Patton's Army" and was subsequently wounded and awarded
the Purple Heart. The hand carved canes are presented by carvers to Purple Heart vet-
erans all over the country in a nationwide effort to recognize those who were prepared
to give all to save others.

Photo inset: A Bronze Star awarded to Staff Sergeant Vincent Locurcio looks like new
nestled in its original case.

A Family Affair, continued
knew to write to her son. Ann added,
One of those who wrote him letters
eventually became my mom.
Spread on multiple folding tables, mem-
orabilia brought in for that day summa-
rized the sense of patriotism in this
room. A framed yellowing document
dated June 3, 1944 sent to the troops
about to embark on the invasion of Nor-
mandy read:
You are about to embark upon the
Great Crusade, toward which we have
striven these many months. The eyes
of the world are upon you. The hopes
and prayers of liberty loving people
everywhere march with you. In compa-
ny with our brave Allies and brothers-in-
arms on other Fronts, you will bring
about the destruction of the German
war machine, the elimination of Nazi
tyranny over the oppressed peoples of
Europe, and security for ourselves in a
free world...
Dwight D. Eisenhower
The display case from one soldier who
had not one or two, but four Purple
Hearts sat on the table next to a letter
signed by President Harry S. Truman
on White House stationary, To you
who answered the call of your country
and served in its Armed Forces to bring
about the total defeat of the enemy.
Off to the side and still in its case was a
Bronze Star awarded to Staff Sergeant
Vincent Locurcio for his heroic
achievement in connection with military
operations against the enemy at Lu-
zonwith complete disregard for his
own safety, Sergeant Locurio coura-
geously crawled to within 20 yards
under enemy fireknocked the gun
position out with a hand grenade....
The moderator summarized by saying
there were millions of service members
who enlisted or were drafted in World
War II, and hundreds of thousands of
them were wounded and killed. The
numbers for those who served in Korea
were smaller but no less tragic. As for
the Vietnam War, its impact is still felt
today. The average age of a Vietnam
vet is 64 and we are losing nearly 400 a
day.
A slideshow began with the names and
faces of many of the veterans present
including Gary Bowerman and Jim
Quinn. Nearly a dozen more had shown
up unannounced. When their photo
appeared on the screen that soldier,
sailor or Marine stood up and told the
audience when they entered the ser-
vice, their branch and in some cases, a
sentence or two describing what they
did.
In the midst of the photographs and
medals and service ribbons and Purple
Hearts there was an unassuming piece
of paper on which was typed
A veteran is someone who, at one
point in his life, wrote a blank check
made payable to The United States of
America for an amount up to and in-
cluding his life.
These friends and neighbors share something more in common. Besides being war
veterans, Gary Bowerman, Jim Quinn and Paul Horbal are members of Flotilla 59 Stu-
art, Fla., and often perform Vessel Safety Checks together.

Photo left: President Harry Trumans letter to the troops at the conclusion of the Kore-
an War (1950-53). Truman was President from 1945-1953.

Division 9 Flotillas Combine Resources To Support The 2011
Charlotte Harbor Regatta. By Frank Wondolkowski, FSO-OP Flotilla 98
2011 Charlotte Harbor Regatta
Participants

Flotilla 92
John Souder

Flotilla 98
George Bingley
Pat Bolton
Tom Bolton
Ted Brady
Dennis Brown
Dick Carl
Fred Counter
David Crockwell
Doug Donovan
Ed Ebert
John Ehmann
John Ghougasian
Ken Johnson
Richard Kanabe
Frank Kavanaugh
Dick Kenyon
Jeanne LaFrantz
Denise LeBlanc
Paul LeBlanc
Wolfgang Nieft
Ed Rhea
Wayne Sharp
Dave Smith
Chuck Thomas
Dennis Wilhelm
Frank Wondolkowski
Georgieann Wondolkowski

Flotilla 99
Lloyd Abbot
Hazen Bradshaw
Kenneth Brumley
Patrick Carter
Lillian GaNun
Stephen GaNun
Norman Gornall
Hugh Kelly
Kenneth Keyser
Paul Memmer
Dick Metzler
Carl Reiner
Phyllis Reiner
Richard Robert
Maurice Sabourin
Dominick Stabile
Ron Willis

Flotilla 9-10
Dan Godfrey

CHARLOTTE HARBOR, Fla.--The se-
cond annual Charlotte Harbor Regatta
was February 4-6, 2011, in the northern
area of the harbor. The 270 square mile
harbor is located in southwestern Flori-
da between Sarasota and Fort Myers.
Charlotte Harbor Flotilla 98 and Rotun-
da Flotilla 99 combined labor and facili-
ties to support regatta participants by
assigning five operational facilities
(OPFAC) on Friday and six on both Sat-
urday and Sunday. The flotillas had an
OPFAC at each of the three race cir-
cles, two picket line boats utilizing con-
trol signs to warn boaters of the regatta
ahead, and one back-up OPFAC on the
water each day. Approximately 380
hours were required for on-the-water
support with another 100 hours during
the planning phase. Forty-six members
participated in the event.
More than eighty boats in eleven differ-
ent classes registered for the three-day
race. Over 200 racing participants
came from as far away as Nova Scotia,
British Columbia and Ontario Canada,
Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio, New
York, New Jersey, California and Flori-
da to compete in this regatta of national
significance. The different classes of
boats raced through courses laid out in
two separate circles on Friday and three
separate circles on both Saturday and
Sunday. Some of the courses had legs
that were close to two miles in length.
All three days were windy with moder-
ately choppy seas. Numerous Sailfish
and Hobie Cat boats capsized, however
most of the participants were able to
right their boats and continue racing.
Racing committee safety boats removed
several damaged boats from the course
but there were no serious incidents.
For those unfamiliar with Coast Guard
Auxiliary regatta support, the event
sponsor has complete responsibility for
the safety of the racers and our mission
is to stand by until requested by the
race committee for assistance and to
keep spectator boats off the course.
To assist the committee as much as
possible, Flotilla 98 conducted a half-
day training session two weeks prior to
the race for crews staffing the race com-
mittee safety boats. Approximately thir-
ty committee members attended the
session. Topics covered included ex-
traction of persons from the water, hy-
pothermia, towing techniques and the
appropriate equipment to have on
board.
Looking forward to next year, the Inter-
national Federation for Disabled Sailing
(IFDS) announced the 2012 IFDS World

Championships in Charlotte Harbor
Jan.7-15, 2012. The third annual Char-
lotte Harbor Regatta is scheduled dur-
ing the first week of February. We will
be busy and the planning process has
already started.
Supporting an event of this size is a
very difficult task for one flotilla to ac-
complish without help from neighboring
flotillas. Our sincere thanks for offers of
help and participation go out to our
neighbors: North Port Flotilla 92, Rotun-
da Flotilla 99, and Cape Coral Flotilla 9-
10. We look forward to another oppor-
tunity to work together again in 2012.
Photo page 26: The crew of Toys R Me keep a watchful
lookout. Ed Rhea, coxswain with crew members John Eh-
mann and David Crockwell, all from Charlotte Harbor Flo-
tilla 98. Photo by Dick Carl, Flotilla 98

Photos this page:
Above: The crew of Aquaholic stands watch over the re-
gatta, Kenneth Keyser, coxswain with crew members Ha-
zen Bradshaw and Lloyd Abbot, Rotunda Flotilla 99. Photo
by Dick Carl, Flotilla 98

Mid page: Dennis Brown, Paul LeBlanc, coxswain (partially
hidden), and Dennis Willhelm warn recreational boaters
that the regatta is ahead. Photo taken by John
Ghougasian, Flotilla 98

Left: The more than 200 racing participants of the 2011
Charlotte Harbor Regatta coped with both considerable
wind and chop this year. Charlotte Harbor Regatta photo
by Sharie Derrickson/sharie@the-write-resource.com.


US Coast Guard Auxiliary Takes Boating Safety to
Vieques Island. Article and photos by Angel Rivera, FC Flotilla 11 Fajardo, Puerto Rico
VIEQUES, Puerto RicoEducating boaters on a remote and
hard to reach island can be a challenge, but the members of
Flotilla 11 Fajardo, Puerto Rico overcame these and other
obstacles.
On Saturday February 12, 2011, Flotilla 11 Fajardo Puerto
Rico presented the Boating Skills and Seamanship course in
Vieques, Puerto Rico with 73 students in attendance. This
was the result of an initiative between Wilfredo Garcia, a na-
tive of Vieques and member of the Fajardo flotilla, along with
the collaboration of and support of Mayor Evelyn Delerme-
Camacho, Vieques. Members from Flotilla 17 Aguadilla, Flotil-
la 13 Ponce, and Flotilla 1-10 San Juan assisted in presenting
the first Boating Skills and Seamanship course offered by the
Auxiliary in Vieques.
Vieques is located eight miles east of the Puerto Rican main-
land and measures 21 miles long by four miles wide and has
a population of approximately 10,000. The only way to reach
the island is by ferry, a 45 minute trip, or by small propeller
driven airplanes. Last year, during a visit to his
hometown, Flotilla 11 member Wilfredo Garcia
contacted Vieques Municipal Secretary Esteban
Carle and offered to teach a boating course to
Vieques residents. In the past, residents had to
attend courses offered by the Auxiliary on the
Puerto Rican mainland. After several trips to
coordinate with Municipal personnel and the
Mayor, registration for the course opened. This
time, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
traveled to Vieques, no small feat given the is-
lands history with United States military agen-
cies.
At the beginning of the 20
th
century, the Vieques
economy depended totally upon the sugar in-
dustry and fishing. In the 1940s, the US Navy
acquired about two thirds of the island and used
its pristine beaches as bombing ranges and test-
ing grounds. After years of protests by Vieques residents, the
Navy withdrew in 2003.
Since the Navys withdrawal, the government has redirected
its efforts towards developing tourism to take advantage of
the islands many crystal clear beaches. Because of its nu-
merous near-shore islets, rocks and natural bays, Vieques
attracts boating and sailing enthusiasts. The island is the larg-
est wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean and is currently under
the protection of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
Vieques has the worlds largest and brightest bioluminescent
bay. The luminescence is caused by micro-organisms in the
water that glow neon blue when the water is disturbed.
Kayaking and swimming in the bay are the main activities.
Above: VIEQUES, Puerto RicoResidents of Vieques attend the
Boating Skills and Seamanship course on Feb. 12, 2011, taught
on the island, the largest wildlife sanctuary in the Caribbean.
Below: One view of Vieques, the island paradise.


KEY WEST, Fla.It is a moonless night in the Florida Straits
about 30 miles off Key West. The seas are moderate. The
winds are 20 mph from the northeast as the Coast Guard HH-
60 Jayhawk helicopter, running without lights, approaches the
darkened Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk.
First, one sees a hovering spot darker than the night sky.
Then one hears the roar of the Jayhawk's twin gas turbine
engines as it moves closer to the cutter's dark flight deck.
Soon, the 270-foot Mohawk rocks from the copter's down
wash. Then one feels it--the ship shuddering from the 21,000-
pound Jayhawk's pinpoint landing within the small painted
circle on the flight deck. Another successful Coast Guard
night vision landing.
Thirty seconds later the Jayhawk lifts off to do it all over
again. This goes on until midnight. These are dangerous evo-
lutions. A single misstep could end with tragic consequences.
This Jayhawk's landing was just one of the more than 400
landings conducted over three days on the Mohawk. Coast
Guard pilots and their aircrews from Air Stations around the
country are in the Florida Keys for training and to maintain
their flight qualifications. Aircraft flew in from Air Stations De-
troit, Traverse City, New Orleans, Houston, Cape Cod, Miami,
Mobile and others.
Auxiliarist Ken Bagge was privileged to go to sea with the
crew of the Mohawk and to experience firsthand the extensive
training and teamwork that goes into the successful comple-
tion of the varied missions of a
Coast Guard cutter. Bagge
spent time on the bridge, in the
combat operations center, in the
engine room, and as a member
of one of the Mohawk's two flight
deck fire teams.
The highlight of his week aboard
the ship was three days of in-
tense day and night cutter/helo
training. Decked out in fire re-
sistant clothing, goggles, helmet,
gloves and ear protection, the
two fire teams aboard the Mohawk are trained to react to a
fire on the flight deck. When this happens, each three-
member fire team moves in to fight the fire as the signal offic-
ers in yellow, and the aircraft tie-down crews in blue, jump
overboard into the sea. Yes, that is what they are trained to
do: jump overboard if there is a fire on the flight deck! It
makes one wonder if the rest of the fire team volunteered for
this duty just as Bagge had.
Most have seen pictures of military aircraft refueling in flight.
Did you know the Coast Guard trains its helo pilots to refuel
while flying alongside an underway cutter? It is called HIFR,
Helicopter In-Flight Refueling. It is necessary to train for this
type of refueling in case the cutter's flight deck is unusable
due to high seas or an accident. It is an experience to behold
and it takes teamwork, trainingand lots of
both.
The Mohawk's Commanding Officer, CDR
Robert Hendrickson, is a twenty-nine year vet-
eran of the Coast Guard who worked his way
up through the ranks. He has seen it all and
understands the importance of training. His
crew of 86 enlisted and 14 officers train every day. It is ongo-
ing because if there is a shipboard emergency, the crew of the
Mohawk must be ready. Semper Paratus
Note: Ken Bagge is Immediate Past Flotilla Commander of
Flotilla 13-1 Key West, Florida. His daughter, Brooke Millard,
is Commanding Officer of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Grand
Isle.

Photo mid page: Ken Bagge wears the protective gear required
on the flight deck of a cutter as a Jayhawk lands behind him.
Air Operations Aboard The Medium Endurance Cutter
Mohawk. Article and photos by Ken Bagge
A Jayhawk refuels in flight while the USCGC
Mohawk is underway.

Auxiliarists Come to the Aid of Five Boaters
By Tom Loughlin, DSO-PA 7
Two different life saving
incidents test the Auxiliarists
mettle.

DUNEDIN, Fla.Saturday, January 22,
2011, brought high winds and dropping
temperatures to the Tampa Bay area.
Since a small craft advisory was issued
for boaters, the crew of Resolute II, a
patrol boat from the Dunedin United
States Coast Guard Auxiliary, knew that
this was when boaters were most in
danger.
Resolute II left the Dunedin Marina late
morning and headed for Caladesi Island
to see if anyone there needed assis-
tance. Gary Gray, the owner of Resolute
II, is not only an Auxiliarist but also a
licensed USCG captain. His crew was a
mix of two flotillas: Tom Loughlin, John
Tassinaro, Howard Lewis from Flotilla
11-10 Dunedin and Jonathan Nicholls
from Flotilla 11-6 New Port Richey. Al-
most immediately, the crew spotted a
small twin-hull sailboat beached on a
spoil island. Gray maneuvered his 31-
foot Camaro trawler near the island to
check on the two men. They responded
that there were no problems, and Gray
proceeded on to Caladesi Island.
The crew was docked at Caladesi Island
no more than 10 minutes when they re-
ceived a call from Coast Guard Station
Sand Key reporting three persons in
kayaks who appeared to be in distress
just south of the Dunedin Causeway.
Gray notified his crew and they got un-
derway. Within ten minutes, they spot-
ted the kayakers who had apparently
launched from the causeway beach, a
popular spot with canoeists, kayakers
and jet skiers. The two to three-foot
seas formed menacing white caps and
the rapidly dropping temperatures with
winds from the north gusting to 25 mph,
were obviously taking a heavy toll on
them. Gray maneuvered his boat in front
of the kayakers to act as a windbreak
while a crewmember updated Station
Sand Key. One kayaker said she was all
right and started paddling toward the
beach with Resolute IIs crew keeping a
close watch on her progress. A man in
the one of the remaining kayaks was
attempting to help the woman in the
third kayak, which resulted in them
both being blown farther from shore,
becoming more exhausted and appar-
ently hypothermic.
Displaying masterful seamanship skills
in adverse weather conditions, Gray
maneuvered Resolute II close to the
kayakers. They helped the woman
aboard, led her into the enclosed cabin,
and offered her a blanket. She seemed
exhausted and on the verge of hypo-
thermia but warmed up quickly. The
crew tied her kayak to the boat and
brought the man aboard. They took him
to the cabin and offered him a warm
blanket as well. After tying the second
kayak to the boat, Gray brought Reso-
lute II closer to the island. Once the
kayakers were rested and no longer in
danger, the crew helped them board
their kayaks for the short trip to shore.
There, people were waiting to help.
Resolute II, however, was not done this
day. As the crew assisted the kayakers
off the boat, Station Sand Key called with
yet another emergency. As soon as the
kayakers cleared, Gray hurried south to
respond to a report of an overturned sail-
boat. It turned out to be the two men they
had seen earlier. Their control tiller had
broken and turned their sailboat against
the wind. As a result, the two men were
thrown into the cold water and the sail-
boat capsized. After ensuring that the
boaters were uninjured, the crew noticed
one of the sailors had lost his life jacket.
While the crew passed one over to him,
Gray called Station Sand Key with a re-
port on the situation with the sailboat.
Due to the seas and the winds, the sail-
ors were unable to right the boat. Gray
determined the safest move would be to
DUNEDIN, Fla. The crew of Resolute II help right a sailboat after towing the capsized
vessel 1 1/2 miles to the dock in rough water on January 22, 2011. They are Auxiliary
members Gary Gray, coxswain, Tom Loughlin, John Tassinaro and Howard Lewis from
Flotilla 11-10 Dunedin, and Jonathan Nicholls from Flotilla 11-6 New Port Richey. Also
assisting is Walter Murray, also a member of Flotilla 11-10 Dunedin. The bent tops of
the palm trees in the background evidence why a small craft advisory was in effect on
this day.

Photo bottom of page 31: Two kayakers struggle against high winds and choppy seas.
Photos by Jon Nicholls

Coast Guard Station Yankeetown On Santas
Sleigh Route By Morris Harvey, FSO-PA 15-1 Crystal River, Fla.
tow the overturned sailboat to the near-
est marina. With exceptional skill, not
only did Gray bring the sailboat to the
Dunedin Marina, a distance of nearly 1
miles in adverse seas, he also made
two difficult 90 degree turns in a re-
stricted area in order to bring the cap-
sized sailboat up to the launch ramp.
The crew, utilizing their Auxiliary train-
ing in teamwork and communication,
were more than able to assist Gray in
these difficult maneuvers.
They brought the sailboat up to the
boat ramp and then righted it with the
assistance of marina personnel and a
fellow Auxiliary member, Walter Mur-
ray. Murray went even further to help
by volunteering to take the two very
cold and wet sailors back to retrieve
their truck and trailer on Dunedin
Causeway. He said that they kept ex-
pressing their thanks during the drive.
The crew of Resolute II was cold and
wind-burned, but ever so happy that
they went out this day. They were able
to give aid to four boaters whose lives
were in jeopardy. That is what the US
Coast Guard and the US Coast Guard
Auxiliary is all about.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus,
and last Christmas (December 2010),
he visited Coast Guard Station Yan-
keetown, Florida.
Santa Claus came in the form of Flotil-
la 15-1 Crystal River members Linda
Jones, Flotilla Vice Commander and
Don Jones, Flotilla Staff Officer-Vessel
Examinations, who delivered Christ-
mas stockings to 35 young men and
women at the station. The stockings
were stuffed with a variety of items
including home baked cookies.
Since many of these Coast Guard
members are a long way from their
families, the flotilla wanted to make
them feel a little more at home. Station
Yankeetown and Auxiliary members of
Flotilla 15-1 work to promote boating
safety. Together, we are Team Coast
Guard.
Santa visits USCG Station Yankeetown. Guard members unable to go home for the
holidays receive a visit and stockings from Santa, members of Flotilla 15-1 Crys-
tal River. Top row from left are Don and Linda Jones, members of the Crystal River
Flotilla, MK3 Mezger, FS2 Woitt, BM2 Standridge, BM3 Hart. Front row from left are
MK2 Howell, SNBM Javier, ME2 Feeser, FN Bryant, MK2 Minadeo, BM2 Morelli
More Guardians assigned
to USCG Station Yankee-
town pose with the stock-
ings delivered by the
Santas from Flotilla 15-1.
Top row from left are FN
Hawkins, BMC Hinote,
MK3 Wells, ME3 Woods.
Front row from left are
BM3 Wurges, BMC Pul-
len, FN Garland, SK2
Dishman, May Day, SN
Ray, FS2 Shepard

The Four Chaplains
By Brian Lichtenstein
FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.Every year,
the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Aux-
iliary, and veteran service agencies in
the Ft. Lauderdale area unite to honor
The Four Chaplains.
The Immortal Four, as they are some-
times called, were four United States
Army chaplains who gave up their lives
to save others when a torpedo sank the
United States Army Transport Dorches-
ter on February 3, 1943. They helped
soldiers board lifeboats and gave up
their own life jackets when the supply
ran out. The chaplains joined arms, said
prayers, and sang hymns as they went
down with the ship.
The Coast Guard Cutters Escambia and
Mohawk arrived in time to save about
200 persons from the icy waters of the
North Atlantic, but over 600 soldiers and
sailors were lost.
While February 3 is set aside as the offi-
cial day to commemorate the Four
Chaplains, this year the ceremony in
their honor was held January 30, 2011
at Port Everglades. Members of several
Veterans of Foreign War Posts (VFW),
Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary
Division 3, Naval Sea Cadets Corps,
and pipe and drum corps from several
police and fire departments along with a
VFW band told the story of that long ago
day. Four Sea Cadets accepted lifejack-
ets from members of the service agen-
cies representing the Four Chaplains as
part of the ceremony. At the conclusion,
wreaths were tossed into the
water at Port Everglades, a
time honored tradition com-
memorating those lost at
sea.

Above: Members of veter-
an service agencies, Na-
val Sea Cadets Corps, the
Coast Guard and Coast
Guard Auxiliary gather at
Port Everglades on Jan.
30, 2011, to honor the
Four Chaplains.

Mid page: The Naval Sea
Cadets arrive bearing the
national and Coast Guard
ensigns.

Right: LT Megan Naugh-
ton, Executive Officer,
Station Ft. Lauderdale,
USCG, and James
Glowczynski from Flotilla
34 watch the Four Chap-
lains ceremony. Photos
by Brian Lichtenstein

New AUXOP Recipients Revitalize Auxiliary in St. Croix
By Duane R. Minton and Paul D. Lordi
ST. CROIX, U.S. Virgin Islands
Flotilla 16-1 St. Croix celebrated the
successful completion of all require-
ments for Operational Auxiliarist Status
(AUXOP) for five members with COMO
Walter Jaskiewicz, District Commodore
7 presenting the coveted devices. The
recipients were Arthur P. Wollenweber,
Lee E. Elvins, John B. Harrison, Paul D.
Lordi and Kelli A. Barton.
Kelli Barton and her husband, Arthur
Wollenweber, moved to St. Croix from
Colorado in 2007. In January 2008, they
joined the Auxiliary to increase their
boating knowledge in order to operate
their fifty-foot sailboat. They quickly,
however, became enthused with all the
available training courses and complet-
ed them in a little over a year. Kelli is
believed to be the first woman to earn
this distinction in Division 16. She is a
local real estate agent and her motto is,
Selling Dreams, One Door at a Time.
Barton is very proud to have achieved
this milestone. I think its a great honor
to be the first woman in our division to
have earned this award, and I hope to
honor all the hard working and contrib-
uting women members who set an ex-
ample for me to follow.
In the last several years, member train-
ing has become an important part of this
flotilla. Most of the AUXOP recipients
are relatively new members, and the
ongoing training has developed their
enthusiasm for all missions of the Auxil-
iary, and several have assumed im-
portant flotilla leadership positions in-
cluding Art Wollenweber (now outgoing
Flotilla Commander), Paul Lordi (newly
elected Flotilla Commander), and John
Harrison (newly elected Flotilla Vice
Commander). This change in leader-
ship has brought new energy and pas-
sion to the group, and re-energized old-
er members.
Operational Auxiliarist Status (AUXOP) recipients pose for a photo with COMO Jaskie-
wicz. From left, they are William Dunne, Division 16 Commander, Lee Elvins, Division
Vice Commander 16, John Harrison, Flotilla Vice Commander 16-1, COMO Walter
Jaskiewicz, District Commodore 7, Art Wollenweber, Immediate Past Flotilla Com-
mander 16-1, Kelli Barton, and Paul Lordi, Flotilla Commander 16-1. Photo provided by
Duane Minton
A sick or injured turtle was spotted near the bow of Coast Guard Cutter Gannet.
The animal was covered with barnacles and worms but had no apparent injuries.
MK3 Clark Rambin (in red dry suit) of the cutter Gannet and members of Station
Fort Lauderdale along with the crew of the Auxiliary vessel Heartbeat carefully
removed the turtle from the water and waited for a team of turtle rescuers to ar-
rive from a nearby rescue center. Auxiliary members who assisted in the rescue
included Ben Patterson from McLean, Va., Bill Hanlon, Brian Lichtenstein and Joe
Aleba, all from Flotilla 38 Plantation. Photo by Brian Lichtenstein
Jan. 23, 2011 Jan. 23, 2011 Jan. 23, 2011
Station Station Station
Fort Fort Fort
Lauderdale Lauderdale Lauderdale

Houses of Refuge: Past and Present
By Otto Spielbichler, Flotilla 54 Delray Beach, Fla.
T
here was a time when a person
could walk for days on the
beaches of South Florida without
meeting anyone else. During the 1700
and 1800s, Floridas coastal areas were
populated by tribes of Native Americans
and a few pioneer fishermen and farm-
ers. It was a way of life that many chose,
but it was a problem for shipwrecked
mariners whose sailing ships were blown
off course during a tropical storm or hurri-
cane. Survivors often found themselves
looking for help that sometimes arrived
too late.
The United States government recog-
nized the problem. They dealt with it by
funding the building of a few sheds along
the coast of Florida and stocking them
with food and supplies. A few years later,
volunteer crews,
equipped with life
saving equipment,
used the sheds and
equipment to rescue
shipwrecked sailors.
As the nation grew,
ships and lives were
lost in increasing
numbers. Insurance
companies, ship
owners and con-
cerned citizens pres-
sured the govern-
ment to do more to
rescue mariners and
to make sailing safer.
Navigational equip-
ment was improved, charts became
more accurate, and lighthouses were
built along the coast. These changes re-
sulted in the loss of fewer ships and more
House of Refuge Gilberts Bar circa 1914. From the collection
of the Historical Society of Martin County, Stuart, Florida
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lives of stranded sailors saved.
Not everyone, however, was pleased
with the changes. Some residents of
coastal areas were accustomed to sup-
plementing their livelihoods by salvaging
the cargos of wrecked ships. Henry M.
Field visited Jupiter in the 1880s. He
met a group of residents known as
Wreckers. Field described them as, a
rough set of men(who) set decoy
lights to mislead seaman in dark nights
and draw them to their destruction (and
then) pounced on the helpless crew
as vultures sweep down on a camel that
has fallen on the desert . Field add-
ed, Old wreckers look very sullenly at
this (improvements in safety and naviga-
tion) interference of Government with
their legitimate business. (Henry M.
Field, Bright Skies and Dark Shadows,
Scribners and Sons, 1890, pps. 74-75)
Shipwrecked mariners once again bene-
fited when the Federal Governments
Treasury Department formed The United
States Life Saving Service and appoint-
ed Sumner I. Kimball, director. Kimball
authorized and funded the construction
of Houses of Rescue. Ten Houses were
built at intervals along Floridas coast
and others were eventually built along
the entire East Coast of the United
States. Years later, the houses were
turned over to The Life Saving Service.
Volunteer crews occupied them. The
crews practiced weekly with life saving
equipment till they were proficient and
professional in their rescue opera-
tions. (LifeSavingService.org) In 1915,
the volunteers of the Life Saving Service
were replaced by an organization of full
time rescue personnel: the United
States Coast Guard.
With the advent of steam-powered ves-
sels in the 1900s, the number of ship-
wrecks was drastically reduced. The
careers of Wreckers came to an end.
Houses of Refuge fell into a state of dis-
repair.
Of the ten houses built along Floridas
East Coast between 1876 and 1885,
Gilberts Bar, located in Stuart Florida, is
the only house left in existence.
(Thurlow and Thurlow, Gilberts Bar
House of Refuge, Southwestern Printing
Company, Stuart, Fla.)
It was constructed in 1876 and was des-
ignated, House of Refuge No. 2. Today,
it is listed on the National Register of
Historic Places and is maintained by
Martin County. The restored house, the
countys oldest building, is now a muse-
um. The main floor contains a bedroom,
living room, office, dining area and kitch-
en. The top floor, not open to visitors, is
a bunkroom once used for stranded
mariners. The lower floor contains
equipment used in rescues. In addition,
there are records and photographs of its
use by the Navy during WWII as a look-
out station for submarines, and finally,
as a Coast Guard Station.
When the war ended, the station be-
came surplus government property. On
June 11, 1952, Martin County Commis-
sioners bought the property and re-
stored the House.
Gilberts Bar is a present day reminder
of the Coast Guards heritage and that
of another volunteer organization that
practices with life saving equipment and
demonstrates proficiency and profes-
sionalism in its operations: the Coast
Guard Auxiliary.
Gilberts Bar is located at 301 SE Mac-
Arthur Blvd., Hutchinson Island, Stuart,
Florida. Jim McCormick is the present
day Keeper. He and a staff of docents
conduct tours of the site daily. Call 772
225 1875 for exact times. Enjoy the pic-
tures. Better yet, visit the site and expe-
rience part of your heritage.

President Grover Cleveland visits with Hurbert and Susan
Bessley, former keepers of House of Refuge #2 Gilberts Bar.
From the collection of the Historical Society of Martin County,
Stuart, Florida
Wendy Moore, a friend of the author, and the current Keeper,
Jim McCormick, in the gift shop located in House of Refuge #2
Gilberts Bar. Photo by Otto Spielbichler


Team Coast Guard Rescues Stranded Boater
By Geralyn Ryan, FSO-PA Flotilla 15-8 Hernando Beach
er draft boat was needed, the USCG called upon
members of the USCGAUX at Hernando Beach.
Paul Pelletier, a member of Flotilla 15-8 Hernando
Beach, Fla., was looking forward to an evening with
his family when he received the call. After agreeing
to join the rescue mission, he spoke to flotilla mem-
ber Craig Elliot, who had just been notified by
USCG Station Yankeetown. Elliot and his wife had
been out Christmas shopping, but returned home
immediately so that he could begin preparing his
vessel, the Sea Mouse, for the mission. Elliot and
Pelletier were joined by flotilla member Thomas P.
Cannariato, who acted as crew and navigator.
Another flotilla member, Raymond O'Connell was
about to leave for a Christmas party when he
learned of the emergency. Forgoing the holiday
celebration, OConnell drove to the Auxiliarys train-
ing facility in Hernando Beach. He spent the even-
ing as the radio watchstander facilitating communi-
cation between the Sea Mouse, the Motor Lifeboat
and the Coast Guard Stations at Sand Key and
Yankeetown.
At 7:35 p.m., the Sea Mouse left the dock for the
night mission. Elliot said that the full moon and
calm seas made it a beautiful evening on the water,
despite the 50-degree temperature. Pelletier report-
ed that once the Sea Mouse was out on the Gulf of
Mexico her crew had no trouble locating the well-lit
Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat. It was visible from
miles away.
By 8:20 p.m., the Sea Mouse rendezvoused with the Coast
Guard Motor Lifeboat. They transferred the tow to the Sea
Mouse, which continued to tow the 18.5-foot vessel and its
owner to shore. The shallow water and numerous crab traps
made for a treacherous two and a half hour night journey back
to Hernando Beach.
Both vessels arrived safely at the Hernando Beach boat ramp
at approximately 11:30 p.m. O'Connell had contacted the boat-
er's wife and she was on hand to welcome him home.
The boaters wife was happy to see her husband. Earlier in the
evening, when he had not returned as scheduled, she tried to
call his cell phone but was unable to reach him. As nighttime
approached, she became concerned and went to Bayport to
look for him. When she arrived, she saw his car and boat trail-
er, but there was no sign of the missing boater. Her husband,
an experienced mariner, was now several hours late and fear-
Hernando Beach, Fla.: One Tampa area family is very grateful
to Team Coast Guard after the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAUX) responded to a
distress call from a boater who was stranded approximately 20
miles off the coast of Hernando Beach, Fla.
On the morning of December 21, 2010, prior to setting off from
Bayport, Fla. for a day of fishing, the boater filed a float plan
with his wife, telling her he would be back by 5 p.m. It was a
sunny day on the Gulf of Mexico, clear skies, low wind and the
fish were biting. As he was about to head for home, a bracket
on the boat's starter motor fell off, disabling the motor and leav-
ing him stranded.
Using his VFH radio, the boater requested assistance from the
Coast Guard. In response, USCG Sector St. Petersburg di-
rected Station Sand Key to dispatch a 47-foot Motor Lifeboat.
The Motor Lifeboat began to tow the disabled vessel but could
not bring it all the way to shore due to its 4.6-foot draft and the
shallowness of the coastal waters. Recognizing that a shallow-
HERNANDO BEACH, Fla. Auxiliarists Paul Pelletier, Craig Elliot and Thom-
as P. Cannariato prepare to leave dock. The three assisted USCG Station
Yankeetown on Dec. 21, 2010, in towing a disabled vessel to shore in water
that was too shallow for the 47-foot Motor Life Boat that responded to a call
for assistance from a disabled vessel. The photograph of the three Auxiliar-
ists was taken in January 2011 by Geralyn Ryan, Flotilla Staff Officer-Public
Affairs of the Hernando Beach flotilla.


ing for his safety, she contacted the Sheriffs Department. She
was greatly relieved when OConnell called to tell her that her
husband had been rescued by Team Coast Guard and was on
his way home.
The boater was unharmed and in good spirits. He grew up on
the water, had taken the Coast Guard Auxiliarys About Boat-
ing Safely class and was well prepared. He had filed a float
plan. His boat was equipped with a VHF radio, a waterproof
emergency kit, four hand-held flares, a flare gun, air horn, whis-
tle and a distress flag. He had attached the orange and black
distress flag to the boat's radio antenna. He stated that six
boats passed before the Coast Guard arrived. As the other
boats sailed by, he tried to alert them by firing his flares, sound-
ing his air horn and using hand signals. In spite of all his at-
tempts to attract attention, no one stopped to help him. In fact,
some people on board a boat that passed close by waved back
to him, not realizing he was in distress and needed assistance.
The boater did everything right, but it was still a long night on
the water.
Fortunately, this story has a happy conclusion. Working togeth-
er, active duty personnel at Sector St. Petersburg, Stations
Sand Key and Yankeetown and members of the Hernando
Beach Auxiliary successfully completed the Search and Res-
cue mission of December 21, 2010. Team Coast Guard and a
prepared, educated boater helped make it a happy holiday sea-
son for everyone.

Flotilla 15-8 member, Raymond O'Connell, was about to leave
for a Christmas party when he learned of the emergency on the
evening of Dec. 21, 2010. Forgoing the holiday celebration,
OConnell drove to the Auxiliarys training facility in Hernando
Beach. He spent the evening as the radio watchstander facili-
tating communication between the Sea Mouse, the Motor Life-
boat and the Coast Guard Stations at Sand Key and Yankee-
town. Photo by Geralyn Ryan
Craig Elliot, newly elected
Division 15 Commander and Paul
Pelletier, Vice Commander
Division 15 were invited to
Station Yankeetown on Nov. 9,
2010, for the visit of USCG Master
Chief Michael P. Leavitt. Leavitt
presented both with his personal
USCG challenge coin and
expressed his appreciation for all
of the work done by the Auxiliary.
Photo by Executive Petty Officer
Lucas Pullen, USCG, Station
Yankeetown


When newspapers were assembled manually, text and photos cut to make the material fit the available page space often ended
up on the floor of the layout or cutting room. While newspapers and other publications are no longer assembled manually,
space restrictions still apply. On these pages appear some of the photographs recovered from the Breeze cutting room floor.
MARIETTA, Ga.USCG Pipe Band At-
lanta Detachment salutes the flag at the
USCG Auxiliary Division 2 Change of
Watch on Jan. 29, 2011 at Dobbins Air
Reserve Base in Marietta. Pipers shown
are Pipe Major M.L. Loudermilk and
pipers Mike Grest, John Quinn, B.J.
Ferguson, Jack Pierce and Bob Miller.
All pipers shown are members of Divi-
sion 2. Also from left to right are Loren
Emery II, Vice Commander 2 and David
Fuller, Division Commander 2. Photo
provided by David Fuller
CHARLESTON, S.C.U.S. Coast Guard
personnel and Reservists from USCG
Station Charleston, U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary, and Auxiliary Citadel Detach-
ment members assemble for joint opera-
tional safety patrols on December 4,
2010, for the annual Charleston Harbor
Holiday Parade of Boats.
Photo by Barbara Burchfield, SO-PA 2


Top left: FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.- The Auxiliary vessel Soft Shell Too as-
sists in transporting 350-400 Boy Scouts across Port Everglades on Feb.
5, 2011, in the annual reenactment of the Barefoot Mailman. Early mailmen
crossed the marsh were Port Everglades is presently located either by
small boat or by taking off their boots and wading across the marshes.
Photo by Brian Lichtenstein

Top right: MIAMI BEACH, Fla.-Penny Bailey, Division Chief Media Rela-
tions and Bill Swank, Branch Chief News Bureau East, review instruc-
tional materials before presenting to students at the Public Affairs C-
School in Miami Feb. 10-13, 2011. Photo by Audri Amoro, SO-PA 6

Mid right: MIAMI BEACH, Fla. - Miami Flotilla 6-11 members (left to right)
James Simpson, Fabio Tomasello, Audri Amoro, and Matthew Paulini lis-
ten to a pre-underway briefing at USCG Station Miami Beach prior to get-
ting underway aboard the new Response Boat-Medium. Photo by Christo-
pher Todd, Deputy Director, Public Affairs

Bottom Right: TAMPA BAY, Fla. - U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary National
Commodore (NACO) Jim Vass (r) with Amos Johnson, Division 7 Com-
mander, look at dry-docking facilities during a harbor patrol on October
31, 2010 in Tampa Bay. COMO Vass was visiting Tampa Bay for the 2011
Coast Guard Innovation Expo and while there, took the time to visit the
Port of Tampa's features. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by Mike Moore
Past District 7 Commodores

2009-10.Donald L. Frasch
2007-08..Allen Brown
2005-06.Peter Fernandez
2003-04 ..Jay Dahlgren
2001-02........Mary Larsen
1999-00..........Helmut Hertle
1997-98.....E.W. Edgerton
1995-96.....George E. Jeandheur
1993-94.............Joseph E. Norman
1991-92.......Walter W. Bock
1989-90.Guy R. Markley, Jr.
1987-88...Rene E. Dubois
1985-86...Robert B. Waggoner
1983-84..John C. King, Jr.
1981-82...William J. Callerame
1979-80...Bolling Douglas
1977-78..James Titus
1975-76..Newton Baker
1973-74Lawrence G. Danneman
1971-72.Dr. Elbert C. Prince
1969-70George B.M. Loden
1967-68...Ernest A. Baldine
1965-66....Roland Birnn
1963-64....Miguel A. Colorado
1961-62....E. E. Vanderveer
1959-60.....Richard L. Smith
1957-58.Herbert L. Lutz
1956.....A. Harlow Merryday
1954-55........Stanley W. Hand
1952-53........N.J.M. McLean
1951-52........Fred T. Youngs, Jr.
1950.........Guersey Curran, Jr.
1948-49.....Charley E. Sanford
1946-47......W. N. Mansfield
1939-45...no DCOs yet, DCPs gov-
erned
Division Commanders 2011
Division 1 Nestor J. Tacaronte
Division 2............... David M. Fuller
Division 3......... Samuel E. Duda
Division 4........William J. Sorrentino, Sr.
Division 5.......... Gary P. Barth
Division 6..... Judith L. Hudson
Division 7........... Amos N. Johnson
Division 8.......... Braxton R. Ezell
Division 9...... Louis H. Conti
Division 10........ Warren M. Wilson
Division 11.....Jimmy R. Ryder
Division 12.Vito W. Giardina
Division 13... Jeffery A. Bronsing
Division 14....Henry T. Hayden
Division 15.. Craig Elliot
Division 16...... James CC Kreglo
Division 17.....George S. Peek
District Staff Officers
Prevention Department
Bruce Lindsey....DDC-P
John Sprague-Williams ..........DSO-MS
Reginald B. Hollar .DSO-MT
William B. Riley ....DSO-PV
John L. Van Osdol..DSO-PE
William S. Griswold..DSO-SL
Chuck Kelemen .......DSO-VE

Response Department
Richard Leys......DDC-R
Michelle Orman.....DSO-NS
Cecil Christopher......DSO-AV
Joe Colee, Jr.......DSO-CM
Janee Henderson.DSO-OP
Jerry Henderson..QE Coordinator

Logistics Department
James Dennen....DDC-L
Nestor Tacoronte.........DSO-CS
Susan Z. Hastings.........DSO-IS
Thomas A. Loughlin ..DSO-PA
Dorothy J. Riley. ...DSO-PB
Angela Pomaro ........DSO-HR
Terry Barth ...DSO-MA
Nestor Tacoronte ... Webmaster

Lillian G. GaNun ..DSO-SR
Doug Hansen. ......DFSP/DSSO
Andrew Anderson..DSO-LP
Antoinette Borman......D-LL
James Mayer .....DSO-FN
Gwendolyn S. Leys..PPDCPA
Karen L. Miller...Grants
Peter Fernandez.....Plan Coordinator
Thomas Brickey District Materials Center

District Administrative Assistant &
Aides
Carolyn R. Hooley ...................D-AD
Ronald Goldenberg.......D-AA
Elaine J. Cornell ...D-AA

Gwendolyn S. Leys.........Advocate

http://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
Give generously to
the Coast Guard
Mutual Assistance
Program.
http://www.cgmahq.org/index.htm
Guard Your Own Guard Your Own
U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
District 7 Fall Conference

September 22-25, 2011
Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront
1201 Riverplace Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida
904.398.8800

For room reservations call direct, ask for in house
reservation
$82.00 per diem room rate
Auxiliary Sector Coordinators
Ronald Goldenberg
ASC Sector Charleston

Donald C. Hoge
ASC Sector St. Petersburg

Jessie Stevens
ASC Sector Jacksonville

R. Dewey Jackson
ASC Sector Key West

Osvaldo M. Catinchi
ASC Sector San Juan

William V. Tejeiro
ASC Sector Miami
District 7 Virtual Library
The District 7 Virtual Library is an effort to
archive and make available the vast amount
of historical documents and photographs that
exist in the USCG Auxiliary and the US Coast
Guard within our district.
To see what is already available or to find out
how to contribute your division or flotilla
newsletters and other historical documents,
visit the library at:
http://d7virtuallibrary.org/index.html
WASHINGTON, D.C.Don Hoge,
Auxiliary Sector Coordinator Sector
St. Petersburg with US Coast Guard
Commandant, Admiral Robert Papp
on Feb. 10, 2011. US Coast Guard
Photograph
KEY WEST, Fla. Members of Coast
Guard Station Marathon and Auxiliary
Division 13 celebrate the new outdoor
barbeque completely renovated by
division members for the station. The
celebration was held on November 12,
2011. Photo by Jan Kittsmiller
MIAMI BEACH, Fla.Ed Duda,
Division Commander 3, Dan Hess,
Vice Commander Division 3 and Pat
Feighery, District Captain East at the
annual Guardians Gala October 22,
2010. Photo by Brian Lichtenstein
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300

PRSRT STD
POSTAGE AND FEES
PAID
Homeland Security
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
DSO-PB D7
1630 Wakefield Drive
Brandon, FL 33511-2325

2011 Spring

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2011 Spring

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Breeze Volume LVII Number 1 Spring 2011

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District

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