Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty: Lt. Marvin Peña
Lt. Marvin Peña and his family escaped a life of hardship in El Salvador during a time when civil war raged in South America. He enlisted in the Coast Guard and became a health services technician and worked his way up the ranks from seaman to lieutenant. Today he is the Health Safety and Work-Life Deputy Regional Practice Manager for the 17th Coast Guard District in Alaska and strives to educate his own children of their heritage and instill the same worth ethic he developed from his own parents.
Unsung Coast Guard hero’s daring Empire State Building rescue
Few people today know that on July 28, 1945, a large aircraft crashed into the Empire State Building. Fewer still know that the accident produced the world record for surviving an elevator fall and that the fall’s victim was rescued by a United States Coast Guardsman.
Onto the next challenge: Coast Guard recruit Dr. Angel Valles-Bravo
Dr. Angel Valles-Bravo traveled from Cuba to Venezuela and provided treatment for those who couldn’t afford access to medical care. Here’s his story.
Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty: HS1 K.P. El-Amin
Throughout his more than two decades serving in the military, first in the Army, then the Coast Guard, Petty Officer 1st Class K.P. El-Amin’s passion to help people has been mirrored in his personal life.
Week in the life of the Coast Guard 2015: Friday
On Friday’s edition of Week in the Life in the Coast Guard 2015, we feature training operations from Honolulu and the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., as well as oil response and Coast Guard administration in Columbia, Ore., and health services from Base Alameda Medical in Alameda, Calif.
Helping the helpless
“This place is a rescue,” Barrick said. “It’s a sanctuary and forever home for these animals. Once they come to live at the ranch they have a ‘furever’ home. I’m a corpsman; the weak, helpless and injured – those are who I serve and am drawn too. I feel the same way for these animals. When they’re weak, injured, or unwanted I want them; I want to help them.”
Shipmate of the Week – HS1 Richard Quintana
Sailing the Bering Sea is tough duty but these treacherous Alaskan waters are a day-to-day reality aboard Coast Guard Cutter SPAR, homeported in Kodiak, Alaska. As the crew carries out it’s role as “The Aleutian Keeper,” they often turns to “Q” – Petty Officer 1st Class Richard Quintana. As independent duty corpsman, Quintana is the only medical professional aboard. He is responsible for a myriad of duties including daily sickbay visits, vaccinations, monitoring crew medical readiness, conducting mandatory medical training, overseeing medical drills and enforcing sanitation standards.
Shipmate of the Week – FS1 Brittany Smith
Coast Guard Cutter SPAR is a sea-going buoy tender that sails the waters of the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea. The patrols are long, the work is hard and the days are cold. Keeping the crew motivated, not to mention their stomach’s full, is Petty Officer 1st Class Brittany Smith.
Shipmate of the Week – HS2 Jessica McLeod
The Coast Guard’s dedicated health services technicians provide healthcare services – both routine and emergency – for servicemembers and their families. From clinics and sick bays, to ashore or afloat, health services technicians keep Coast Guard men and women ready to perform their challenging maritime missions.
Shipmate of the Week – HS1 Brian Flor
If you’re looking for Alaskan adventure and gritty challenges, look no further than Coast Guard Cutter SPAR. Known as the “Aleutian Keeper,” the men and women aboard SPAR continuously brave every mission that comes their way – no easy feat while sailing the waters of the Aleutian Islands and Bering Sea.
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