Into the jaws of death: U.S. Coast Guard-manned landing craft at Normandy
Among the many historical items kept by the Coast Guard Historian’s Office is a copy of one of the most reproduced photographs to come out of June 6, 1944 – D-Day. The photograph was captured by Coast Guard Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert F. Sargent, and entitled “Into the jaws of death.” Sargent, a veteran of the invasions of Sicily and Salerno, took the photo from his landing craft at sector “Easy Red” of Omaha Beach around 7:40 a.m. local time.
Thinking outside the box
Drifting for five days 70 miles west of the Pacific atoll of Tarawa, three fishermen ate their last morsels of food and sipped the last drops of water; they were in trouble and they knew it. Suddenly an airplane from Coast Guard Air Station Barbers Point flew overhead. The fishermen were spotted. This rescue of three fishermen lost in the Pacific may not have happened at all were it not for the staff from Command, Control and Communications Engineering Center and contractors from Applied Science Associates some 7,000 miles away in Portsmouth, Va.
‘Prepare for the worst, hope for the best’
As Hurricane Isaac inched towards the Gulf Coast in August 2012, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Hockenberry was assigned to an aircrew tasked with relocating a Coast Guard helicopter outside of the storm’s path. Left behind were his wife and two boys. A flight mechanic at Air Station Orleans, Hockenberry’s duty to respond doesn’t stop when there is a storm on its way and he ensures his family is prepared well in advance of the storm first and foremost.
Adm. Papp testifies at Senate Armed Services Committee hearing
Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp along with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other service chiefs testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee today on sexual assault prevention and response in the military.
Welcome to the fleet Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell
She was a leader. She was a trailblazer. She was a lifesaver. She’s the namesake of the Coast Guard’s newest cutter – Margaret “Madge” Norvell. The Coast Guard welcomed their newest fast response cutter to the fleet this weekend as Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell was commissioned in New Orleans. The cutter is the first in its class to be named after a Coast Guard heroine.
Strengthening maritime governance partnerships in Norway
Strengthening our partnerships is more important than ever before. Our nation is making difficult but necessary decisions to put our fiscal house in order and we may be asked to do less with less, or at least do the same work with different means. But the need for maritime governance continues in order to achieve our shared goals of safe transportation, clean seas, and secure and efficient movement of commerce. Working as partners we will navigate “uncertain and stormy seas” together.
Shipmate of the Week – MST3 Jessica Evans
It was an exciting day at the Airman Leadership School. After five weeks of developing leadership aptitude and building effective communication skills, the future enlisted leaders of the U.S. Air Force gathered for graduation day. As awards and speeches were given, the graduates recited a creed unusual for an Air Force ceremony – the Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman. Amongst the graduating students and representing the Coast Guard along with many of our nation’s finest young leaders from the Air Force was Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Evans.
There to fix it
Three small parts made one big difference for the crew of GC 109 Orion, a Dominican Republic patrol boat that received the critical components fabricated by a damage controlman aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Oak in Saint Lucia during Tradewinds 2013. The replacement parts were a gift, custom-tailored for Orion by Petty Officer 3rd Class Marilyn A. Brammer, a damage controlman from Atwater, Calif. Brammer called upon nearly four years of training and experience to build these parts – three stainless steel, seawater strainers for Orion’s engine cooling system.
Brace for another active hurricane season
It may feel like Superstorm Sandy happened just yesterday, but this weekend already marks the first day of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts we’re in for an above-average season, which means there is an extremely high probability of at least one major hurricane making landfall in the Gulf Coast and East Coast.
First female rescue swimmer promoted to chief petty officer
Chief Petty Officer Karen Voorhees is the first woman to advance to chief petty officer in the rate of aviation survival technician since women were integrated into Coast Guard active duty service in 1973.
