Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Message

Today, 17 JAN 2021 our Nation celebrates and recognizes a National Hero and Change Agent, the Reverend Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. He like us grew up, lived through and managed some very difficult times where 100 years after our Nation's Civil War, we were a very much divided country. Rules, laws and opportunity which were proposed to have been available for ALL men absented itself from some classes of people in some areas particularly in the south. Segregation, shunning, disregarding, unfair treatment, disenfranchising, and unequal treatment ruled the day. It prevalent as it may have been in the south, persons of color were not a stranger to this treatment even in the north. It was the teachings of tolerance and acceptance given to us by Dr. King, the sharing of a dream he shared with us all as to how life could and should be by simply allowing Diversity and Inclusion (not his words but his idea) to take root. As ALL men were deemed created equal by our maker, said to be equal in the eyes of the law, having the same hopes, dreams and desires as anyone else with breath in their lungs, one would think that now 50 plus years later we would be further along and better off than we were then during King's I have a dream speech. Instead we walk amongst the lost, disappointed, let down, forgotten, down trodden and disenfranchised masses of all races within our great country who only want a chance to be safe and secure in their persons, have an equal chance to succeed and prosper, enjoy equal treatment under the law and enjoy equal opportunities in all they attempt to do. So where am I going with all of this? Well, in the sprit of the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., I would ask us all to remember all that has been fought for. Remember all who have died for the promise of equality. Celebrate all that unites us. Embrace our differences and acknowledge each of our talents while honoring all that unites and binds us not as northerners or southerners, blacks or whites, males or females, gay or straight. democrat or republican but as AMERICANS! This has always been our story in times of strife. Our country is currently conducting a stress test of these dreams, beliefs and promises. Like Dr. King, we too must be change agents. We must recognize that the same old way of doing things doesn't work and would still have us trying to figure out things like fire, electricity, travel and computing. Embracing tolerance, accepting new ideas, views and people are strengths that should be welcomed as it makes us all collectives stronger. As a single twig can easily bend and break, a bunch of them bound together is strong. During 2021 and for the years to come, let us all come together as one, recognize and embrace our differences and steel them against our commonality to make a better US Coast Guard and Auxiliary. This can be the way that we honor our selves, each other, our country, our flag and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s memory.

Respectfully Submitted,

COMO David G. Porter, ANACO

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

National Diversity & Inclusion Directorate

81st Anniversary of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary

R 221212 JUN 20 
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG// 
TO ALCOAST 
UNCLAS //N16790// 
ALCOAST 244/20 
COMDTNOTE 16790 
SUBJ:  81ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY
1. Congratulations to the Coast Guard Auxiliary on its 81st birthday. Since inception
in 1939, the men and women of the Auxiliary have been steadfast shipmates and invaluable
assets to our Service.
2. Our 23,000 uniformed volunteers are profound examples of selfless devotion to duty
who have not only embraced and exemplified my watchwords of "Ready, Relevant, and
Responsive," but have proudly added "Resilient" to that list. The Coast Guard has
always upheld a solemn promise to serve our Nation, conducting operations under the 
umbrella of eleven statutory missions, including responding to disasters, rescuing 
boaters in distress, and educating America's boating public. These missions were 
performed in exemplary fashion this past year, enabled by superlative Auxiliary 
involvement. Examples include two Auxiliarists with emergency management expertise 
providing expert support to the Coast Guard's Hurricane Dorian response center and 
briefing the White House; an Auxiliary boat crew in the Fifth District (Northern Region) 
saving the lives of six passengers on a small boat that capsized in the Delaware 
River; and Auxiliary flotillas across the Nation establishing specialized training 
and partnerships with Sea Scout youth under provisions of the new AUXSCOUT program. 
Even more impressively, against the unprecedented constraints imposed by the COVID-19 
pandemic, the Auxiliary supported myriad Coast Guard missions throughout the year while
remaining the vanguard for Recreational Boating Safety (RBS). Auxiliarists delivered 
over 2.4 million hours of support, performed more than 121,500 vessel safety checks 
and marine dealer visits, and taught over 6,800 boating safety classes, significantly 
enhancing safety on America's waterways.
3. The aforementioned accomplishments and characteristics reflect a highly dynamic, 
diverse and dedicated organization of servant leaders, experienced counselors, and 
true patriots. It is our privilege to include them on our Coast Guard Watch, Quarter, 
and Station Bill, and have them serve alongside for every mile we steam. On June 23, 
2020, I strongly encourage all Coast Guard units to hoist the Auxiliary colors in 
recognition of the exceptional Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty that are consistently 
displayed by our Coast Guard Auxiliarists. On the 81st anniversary, we thank them for 
their exemplary service.
4. ADM K. L. Schultz, Commandant, sends.
5. Internet release is authorized.

COMO David G. Porter

Asst. National Commodore 

National Diversity Team

US Coast Guard Auxiliary

Reconstitution of AUX Activities

To: First Coast Guard District Auxiliary
Commander
First Coast Guard District
408 Atlantic Ave. Boston, MA 02110-3354 Staff Symbol: (dp) Phone: 617-223-8439 Fax: 617-223-8291
16790
15 Jun 2020
MEMORANDUM
From: R. J. Schultz, CAPT CGD ONE (dp)
Subj: UPDATE 2 - NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – D1 AUXILIARY AWARENESS AND GUIDANCE
Ref: (a) Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST M16790.1 (series) (b) My memo 16790 dated 04 Jun 2020
1. The First District will begin the second phase of reconstituting the Auxiliary into Coast Guard operations on June 15, 2020.
2. We remain focused on preparing for the safe return of our workforce and ensuring we make informed decisions about how and when we will reconstitute. First District Operational Commanders will continue lifting restrictions on staffing and unit activities by implementing sound risk assessment and mitigation strategies with concurrence from the chain of command. In the upcoming weeks and months we will implement measures that will allow us to gradually incorporate more Auxiliary personnel as we keep close watch on the local rates of infection and availability of community services.
3. Prior to any activity outside the home, Auxiliarists shall assess their personal ability to undertake the activity. This assessment will include the availability of proper personal protective equipment (PPE), their health history, the health of those in their household, the health of other members they may be interacting with, and the overall risk vs. gain of the activity.
4. Approving Auxiliary activities will be processed in a phased approach and determined by several factors. During this second phase of reconstituting Auxiliary activities the following factors apply:
a. People above 65 years of age as well as people (of any age) who have underlying medical conditions
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidance for the higher risk population is discussed on the following CDC
website: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk- complications.html. Members who fall in the CDC's higher risk category will be restricted to conducting Auxiliary activities through electronic means (e.g., in-home
like heart or lung disease or diabetes appear to be at higher risk for developing
more serious complications from COVID-19 illness. The

Subj: UPDATE 2 – NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – 16790
D1 AUXILIARY AWARENESS AND GUIDANCE 15 Jun 2020
online activities) and through orders approved by a Coast Guard Ordering Issue Authority (OIA), the cognizant unit CO/OIC, involving no physical interaction with the public.
b. Since locations throughout the District are experiencing varying levels of COVID-19 threats, the current State and local government's guidance on shelter in place and social and business restrictions shall be applied to determine if an Auxiliary activity can take place.
c. The current Coast Guard OIA unit or Parent Command guidance and posture shall also be applied to determine if Auxiliary activity can take place.
5. After assessing and abiding by the above factors, the cognizant OIA, who has determined a need for Auxiliary support, may request an Auxiliarist(s) to conduct a Coast Guard mission or Auxiliary activity. Auxiliarists are precluded from Coast Guard missions or Auxiliary activity with any moderate to high risk of exposure to COVID-19. Auxiliarists must have a cloth face covering of neutral solid coloring (e.g., navy blue, black, gray, or white) with them during any activity. The cloth face covering shall be worn when Auxiliarists cannot appropriately social distance themselves from others by maintaining six feet of physical separation.
6. During this second phase of First District Auxiliary reconstitution, the following activities are permitted:
a. Auxiliary operational activities in direct support of Coast Guard units (e.g. AUXFS, comms watchstander, AUXAIR, surface patrols, etc.) can be conducted on a case-by-case basis with the approval of the OIA (i.e., Sector Commander, Commanding Officer, or Officer in Charge).
b. Qualified Auxiliary Vessel Examiners (VEs) will be permitted to perform facility exams and vessel safety checks, in teams of 2, with the approval of the District Commodore, Operational Training Officer (OTO), and the DIRAUX. Requests to perform facility exams and vessel safety checks must be made at least 3 days prior to the scheduled event. The qualified VE, and VE team member, will interact with only one member of the public when conducting each vessel exam or vessel safety check. All social distancing guidelines shall be followed at all times. Proper PPE shall be worn to include face coverings and latex/nitrile gloves. Boat owners will be instructed to point out items on the vessel from a socially acceptable distance greater than six feet. All PPE will be sanitized or replaced after each exam. Upon completion of the VE mission each day, uniforms must be washed.
c. Auxiliary activities in support of Coast Guard clinics can be conducted by qualified Auxiliary Health Care Providers who have been specifically requested by name to assist a Coast Guard clinic in the First District. All requests for Coast Guard Auxiliary Health Care Providers must be coordinated with the Chief Medical Officer of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the HSWL Service Center Operational Medicine Division.
2

Subj: UPDATE 2 – NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) – 16790
D1 AUXILIARY AWARENESS AND GUIDANCE 15 Jun 2020
d. Limited activities in support of the Auxiliary Paddlecraft (AUXPAD) ashore mission. Primary focus will be on AUXPAD education and outreach efforts that can be performed virtually. The District Commodore will work with their Chain of Leadership to research possible marine dealer locations where AUXPAD outreach visits can be conducted safely. All AUXPAD marine dealer visits must be approved by the District Commodore, the DIRAUX, and the owner of the specific store where the event is scheduled. All social distancing guidelines shall be followed at all times. Proper PPE shall be worn to include face coverings and latex/nitrile gloves. Upon completion of the AUXPAD activities, uniforms must be washed.
7. During this second phase of First District Auxiliary reconstitution, the following in person activities are still prohibited and shall not be approved by the DIRAUX or cognizant unit or Sector:
a. In person training sessions or meetings/conferences. These activities shall continue to be conducted via electronic means (GoToMeeting, skype, WebEx, etc).
b. Auxiliary public affairs events (e.g. boat shows, air shows). Auxiliary public affairs activities that can be conducted electronically (e.g. in-home online activities) are authorized.
c. Auxiliary members are prohibited from attending meetings, conferences, training, or events in support of Coast Guard Auxiliary (e.g. National Auxiliary events, "C" Schools, etc.) outside the First District without the approval of the DIRAUX.
d. Auxiliary members returning from leisure travel via commercial means (airline, train, bus, etc) are prohibited from participating in Coast Guard or Auxiliary activities and/or visiting Coast Guard or Auxiliary units until 14 days have lapsed from the return date and they experience no symptoms of COVID-19 during this period. COVID-19 symptoms include cough, shortness of breath, fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, and loss of taste or smell.
8. For the most up to date status about COVID-19, the following link shows a CDC map of countries and territories affected: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/global-covid-19/world-map.html.
9. The uncertain nature and continued infections of COVID-19 still warrant heightened awareness in the course of any assignment to duty as well as everyday life. First Coast Guard District Auxiliarists must vigilantly maintain good hygiene to safeguard themselves from exposure risks in accordance with CDC guidance provided at the aforementioned web sites.
10. We must all realize and appreciate that COVID-19 has created a dynamic worldwide situation subject to policies and procedures that can rapidly and significantly change. Additional guidance will follow as the situation evolves.
# 3


ANACO-DV David G. Porter
National Diversity Team
US Coast Guard Auxiliary

D Day Plus 75

As we take a moment to remember, reflect upon and pay homage to the Survivors of the Greatest Generation who 75 years ago gave of themselves and in too many people instances gave themselves in the fight against tyranny, hatred, nazism and imperialism let us not only honor them and their sacrifices but all those who have served before them and since them. Their service and answer to the call in every conflict served in in the hopes to make a society free, keep a nation safe and to safeguard our freedoms here and abroad is no small measure. To all of you who have, and continue to don a uniform, I, my staff and a grateful nation thank you!

ANACO-DV David G. Porter
National Diversity Team
US Coast Guard Auxiliary



ANACO-DV David G. Porter
National Diversity Team
US Coast Guard Auxiliary
646-523-1213 cell

The Long Blue Line: Warren Deyampert – African-American rescue swimmer of World War II

Posted by Diana Sherbs, Thursday, February 7, 2019

This blog is part of a series honoring the long blue line of Coast Guard men and women who served before us. Stay tuned as we highlight the customs, traditions, history and heritage of the Coast Guard.

William H. Thiesen
Coast Guard Atlantic Area Historian

Painting of the Escanaba rescue effort by an unknown artist. (U.S. Coast Guard)

. . . his courageous disregard for his own personal safety in a situation of grave peril was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Navy & Marine Corps Medal citation, Officer's Steward 2/c Warren T. Deyampert

Enlistment photograph of Warren Deyampert at the beginning of his brief but heroic Coast Guard career. (U.S. Coast Guard)

African-American Warren Traveous Deyampert served in the U.S. Coast Guard in early World War II. It was a time when the U.S. military barred African-Americans from the officer ranks and limited them to junior enlisted or food service ratings. Deyampert was a heroic Coast Guardsmen with great loyalty for his cutter and shipmates. This fact seems surprising given the second-class status African-Americans held in the service at the start of the war.

Born in Alabama, Deyampert moved to Pittsburgh while in high school and enlisted in the Coast Guard at age 19, five months before the attack on Pearl Harbor. During his time in the Coast Guard, Deyampert served on only one cutter, the Escanaba. He came aboard in August 1941 and, over the next two years, he advanced rapidly from a third class mess attendant to second class officer's steward.

With heavy seas and icy water, the North Atlantic seems an impossible place to save lives. Nevertheless, the challenge of rescuing as many men as possible motivated Escanaba's crew to develop a system of tethered rescue swimmers equipped with parachute harnesses and leash lines as well as rubber dry suits that insulated the swimmers from the cold water. Three of the cutter's crew volunteered to serve the hazardous duty of rescue swimmer, including Deyampert.

Deyampert and his fellow rescue swimmers drilled frequently, so they and their supporting deck crews could work in heavy seas and blackout conditions. In early February 1943, Deyampert and the others had a chance to put their skills to the test. At the time, Escanaba served as an escort for the three-ship convoy, SG-19, bound from St. Johns, Newfoundland, to southwest Greenland. Weather conditions during the convoy's first few days proved horrendous as they usually did in the North Atlantic winter. The average air temperature measured well below freezing, the seas were heavy and the wind-driven spray formed layers of ice on Escanaba's decks and superstructure.

U.S. Army Transport Dorchester before its ill-fated voyage to Greenland. (U.S. Coast Guard)

At 1 a.m., Feb. 3, the enemy submarine U-223 torpedoed the convoy vessel and U.S. Army transport, Dorchester, that carried over 900 troops, civilian contractors and crew. Within 20 minutes, the transport slipped beneath the waves sending surviving passengers and crew into lifeboats or the icy water. By the time Escanaba arrived on scene, Dorchester had already begun its descent into the abyss. The seas were smooth due to a heavy oil slick and the wind was light. Dorchester's life preservers were equipped with blinking red lights to help rescuers locate floating victims at night. These lights dotted the water's surface into the distant darkness.

A state-of-the-art military issue dry suit shown in 1943. (U.S. Coast Guard)

During the war, the service required cutters to observe blackout conditions during nighttime operations. Hence, Escanaba's crew began preparations to deploy the rescue swimmers in advance, to minimize confusion in the dark. As Escanaba steamed to the scene of Dorchester's sinking, the rescue swimmers donned their exposure suits and the deck crews made lines ready for hauling helpless survivors aboard. Sea ladders and heaving lines were made ready and a cargo net dropped over the side.

Once on scene, Escanaba located its first group of floating survivors, stopped and drifted toward them. Some of the men were clinging to doughnut rafts, while others remained afloat using life preservers. The victims suffered from severe shock and hypothermia and could not climb the sea ladders or the cargo net. In fact, they were incapable of grasping a line used to haul them on board the cutter. Clad in his dry suit and secured to Escanaba by a line, Deyampert swam out to the floating victims and life rafts. He checked for signs of life and secured victims to a line, so the deck crews could pull the survivors up to the cutter. Even though many victims appeared frozen to death, 38 out of 50 that appeared dead were frozen but still alive. The swimmers got the floating victims to the cutter immediately saving time and saving more lives. Thus, Escanaba could reach more victims before exposure froze them to death.

Selflessly, Deyampert remained in the icy water nearly four hours. Pulling rafts in close to the cutter and securing them with lines from Escanaba, the officers' steward was often in danger of being crushed between life rafts and the cutter's side. He kept helpless survivors afloat until they could be secured with a line and hauled aboard the cutter. He also swam under the fantail of the maneuvering cutter to keep floating victims away from the suction of Escanaba's propeller. All the while, he disregarded the danger to himself trying to save as many lives as possible.

Cutter Escanaba shown in camouflage paint scheme during its deployment with the Greenland Patrol. (U.S. Coast Guard)

In the end, Escanaba's tethered rescue swimmer system proved more effective in recovering survivors than any other method. After eight hours of rescue operations, the cutter had saved 133 lives. However, the glow of success proved short-lived. In June, Escanaba joined cutters Storis and Raritan to escort a convoy bound from Greenland to Newfoundland. At 5 a.m., Sunday, June 13, Escanaba fell victim to a catastrophic explosion, believed by many the result of a torpedo. The cutter sank in minutes, taking Deyampert and 100 of his shipmates down with it. Only two Coast Guardsmen survived the sinking.

Despite his secondary status in a segregated service, Deyampert placed the needs of others before his own and played a key role in the rescue of well over 100 Dorchester survivors. For his heroic service, Deyampert posthumously received the Navy & Marine Corps Medal and Purple Heart Medal. Soon, the U.S. Coast Guard will name a Fast Response Cutter in his honor. Deyampert was a selfless and courageous Coast Guardsman who embodied the service's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.

Deyampert's father, Joseph Deyampert, receives the Navy & Marine Corps Medal from a Coast Guard officer near Mobile, Ala. (U.S. Coast Guard)

The Long Blue Line: Gun captain and African-American war hero Louis Etheridge

Posted by Diana Sherbs, Thursday, February 14, 2019

This blog is part of a series honoring the long blue line of Coast Guard men and women who served before us. Stay tuned as we highlight the customs, traditions, history and heritage of the Coast Guard.

Written by William H. Thiesen
U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Historian

. . . . Etheridge coolly directed the rapid and accurate firing of his gun, remaining steadfast at his post and scoring direct hits throughout a vigorous engagement in which the captain [sic] of the U-boat was killed and other officers prevented from assuming tactical control.
Bronze Star Medal citation, Chief Steward Louis Etheridge, 1952

Faded photograph of Louis Etheridge early in his career as a third class mess attendant. (U.S. Coast Guard)

African-American Louis Cullen Etheridge, Jr., enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1935. It was a time when the U.S. military barred African-Americans from the officer ranks and limited them to junior enlisted or food service rates. Nevertheless, Etheridge was a loyal Coast Guardsman devoted to his cutter, shipmates and his service.

Etheridge was born in 1916 in the eastern North Carolina town of Edenton. He graduated high school there then moved to New York City. Two years later, he enlisted in the Coast Guard as a mess attendant. Over the next five years, he served aboard the cutters Electra, Mendota and Dione before transferring to the new 327-foot cutter Taney in Honolulu. In early 1938, he received orders to Taney's sister cutter Campbell (WPG-32), serving out of Stapleton, New York.

In February 1943, under the direction of Cmdr. James Hirshfield, Coast Guard Cutter Campbell joined its sister cutter Spencer and other warships to escort Convoy ON-166 steaming from Ireland to the U.S. On Sunday, February 21, a "wolf pack" of over a dozen German U-boats pounced on the convoy. With a wartime rating of chief steward, Louis Etheridge commanded an 11-man African-American gun crew of stewards, mess attendants and stewards mates. They served the cutter's Number 3 gun, a 3-inch/.50 caliber cannon located aft of the cutter's superstructure and smoke stack.

Late in the day, the convoy's command dispatched Campbell to assist a torpedoed tanker left behind by the fast moving convoy. When it arrived on scene, Campbell found the ship still afloat with its 50 crew members in lifeboats. Meanwhile, the German submarine U-753 sent a torpedo toward the cutter and crippled tanker. Campbell dodged the torpedo, chased down the U-boat, and damaged it so badly the sub had to withdraw from the fight. The cutter returned to the tanker, picked-up its crew and shelled the ship's bridge to destroy classified documents left behind in the rush to abandon ship.

"Queen of the Fleet," cutter Campbell, in camouflage paint scheme early in the war. (U.S. Coast Guard)

On that day of days, Campbell would steam through U-boat infested waters engaging several Nazi subs sighted on the surface and lurking underwater. By the end of Sunday, Campbell had singlehandedly damaged or driven-off half-a-dozen U-boats. Serving at battle stations and running on adrenaline, Etheridge and his crew fought their deck-gun during this running battle with the wolf pack's U-boats. As evening turned to early morning on Monday, February 22, Campbell closed the 40 miles separating it from the convoy steaming west.

En route to the convoy, the cutter encountered more Nazi subs, including a U-boat later identified as U-606. The U-606 had already sunk two convoy vessels and damaged a third. In the process, it received damage from depth charging. After sustaining the damage, U-606's captain surfaced hoping to inflict more losses through a daring surface attack. After sighting U-606 on the surface, Hirshfield ordered his cutter to ram the sub. Meanwhile, Campbell's crew brought to bear searchlights and deck guns.

Campbell quickly closed the distance and the cutter struck a glancing blow to the sub before loosing two depth charges beside it. The explosives lifted the U-boat out of the water. Meanwhile, the only guns with a clear shot at U-606 were Etheridge's Number 3 gun and a .50 caliber machine gun jury-rigged on the flying bridge. Already skilled and experienced as a gun captain, Etheridge directed his crew to fire as many rounds at U-606 as possible. During these decisive minutes of the battle, Etheridge's 3-inch gun fired 32 shells into U-606's deck and conning tower decimating the sub's crew and rendering the U-boat defenseless.

A type VII U-boat similar to U-606 on display at the Laboe Naval Memorial near Kiel, Germany. (Courtesy of Wikipedia)

While Etheridge's Number 3 gun crew battled U-606, the cutter's damage control team raced against time to staunch flooding in Campbell's engine room. When the cutter rammed the U-boat, it also sustained a gash in its hull below the waterline and Campbell's engine room began taking on water. The cold seawater reached Campbell's electrical system shorting the ship's circuits and dowsing its searchlights. Luckily, by the time Campbell had lost power, the German submarine's crew had abandoned ship and the cutter's guns ceased fire. The disabled cutter lowered its boats and rescued five of the surviving German submariners.

Louis Etheridge as a senior enlisted man later in his career. (U.S. Coast Guard)

After the battle, Campbell's crew continued the struggle, only this time it was for the very survival of their cutter. Hirshfield believed he might lose his ship, so he transferred to another vessel the German prisoners, the 50 tanker crew members and all non-essential crew. The cutter sat powerless in the open ocean while the convoy pressed on to the U.S. Meanwhile, a skeleton crew, including Etheridge, stemmed the flow of water into the cutter's engine room. Finally, after wallowing in the North Atlantic for four days, Campbell received a tow to St. John's, Newfoundland, and returned to duty after repairs.

On February 21 and 22, Etheridge played a key role in battling the Nazi wolf pack that attacked Convoy ON-166. Moreover, his gun was largely responsible for destroying German submarine U-606. For his heroic service, Etheridge received commendations from Hirshfield and the Navy task force commander. However, after the war, his rating reverted from wartime chief to a first-class steward. Within five years of the war's conclusion, members of Campbell's command learned that Etheridge's valor and leadership had been overlooked and brought his case to the attention of the Coast Guard Awards Board. As a result, he was reinstated as a chief steward in 1952 and awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Etheridge's Bronze Star was the first military medal bestowed on an African-American Coast Guardsman for combat heroism. In 1959, he retired from the Coast Guard with nearly 20 years of distinguished service. Louis Cullen Etheridge, Jr., was a selfless and courageous Coast Guardsman who embodied the service's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.

 

Reposted by:

ANACO David G. Porter

National Diversity Directorate

USCG Auxiliary

Commandant’s Message

Greetings USCGA Admissions Partners,

Below is a response from the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Schultz, regarding the recent arrest of a Coast Guard Lieutenant at D.C. Headquarters.


To the Men and Women of the United States Coast Guard,

As has been reported, an active-duty Coast Guard member stationed at Headquarters was arrested last Friday on drug and weapons charges. The ongoing investigation also revealed correspondence attributed to him that promoted extremist views and discussed potentially committing violent acts. The proactive efforts and professionalism of the Coast Guard Investigative Service, the Coast Guard Counterintelligence Service, and FBI prevented a potentially dangerous situation from escalating.

Extremism, hate, bigotry, and advocacy of violence have no place in our Service. Any individual espousing these behaviors and failing to live by the Coast Guard's Core Values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty will be held accountable. Through combined vigilance, we will do everything in our power to ensure our Coast Guard is the safest possible environment. We owe nothing less to ourselves and our Nation.

Semper Paratus,
Admiral Karl Schultz
Commandant

Reposted by
ANACO-DV David G. Porter
National Diversity Team
US Coast Guard Auxiliary

HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

To Jim Plackis, Our Most Valuable Veteran from The Greatest Generation -

James Plackis is a World War II Veteran, starting in 1943, having volunteered

to join the U.S. Air Corps at age 18.   By age 19, he was placed in command of the

largest bomber, the B-24 "Liberator", with ten crew members, and with whom he 

successfully completed 40 combat missions against the Japanese in the Pacific

over the next 12 months.

     Following his 16th mission, conducted on Christmas Day 1944, he was awarded

the most prestigious Aviation award:  the "Distinguished Flying Cross", while he

was still a  19 year old teenager.  The Air Corps commended him for his heroism,

courage and skill in how he conducted an emergency landing on an unprepared

strip in the Philippines, saving his wounded crew, and their badly damaged bomber.

    For his 40th and final mission,  the target was the Jap Battleship "Haruna", at the

Kure Naval Base in Kyushu, which is only 10 miles from Hiroshima.  This took place

on August 5, 1945, which was just the day before the U.S. dropped the first Atomic

Bomb on Hiroshima, on August 6th.

     Following WW-II, he became a Fighter Pilot with the Air National Guard for 4 years,

as he was earning his Bachelor's and Masters college degrees, under the G.I. Bill.

Then came the 38 year Test Pilot career with the Federal Aviation Administration,, 

of which the final 29 years included his being the Chief of FAA Flight Test for the

Eastern Region.   In 1962 the FAA identified him as their "Air Force-One" Test Pilot, for

testing the Presidential fleet.  Two such airplanes that he flight tested included President 

Kennedy's Boeing 707 Jet and Vice President Hubert Humphrie's Lockheed Jetstar, 

shortly after Kennedy's assassination.

     At age 93, with 75 years and 14,000 flight hours of piloting experience, he is still

actively flying as a Pilot and Flight Instructor locally.  The FAA  considers him qualified

to fly over 150 types of Landplanes, Seaplanes, Helicopters, Gliders and Hot air

Balloons.  He also performs flight tests internationally, selectively, as an FAA

Engineering Designee.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -- John F. Kennedy 

Thank you for your service!

And... thanks to all who have gone before us, are serving now, and will take up the call in the future to provide for us all that we enjoy... Freedom and all of our righteous pursuits!

ANACO-DV David G. Porter

US Coast Guard Auxiliary- 1SR

Memorial Day Weekend at The American AirPower Museum

 

          

The American Airpower Museum - Where History Flies!

1230 New Highway

Farmingdale, NY 11735

Phone: 631-293-6398

            Email: info@americanairpowermuseum.com

Visit Us At: www.americanairpowermuseum.org

Copyright © American Airpower Museum. All Rights Reserved.

ANACO-DVd David G. Porter

US Coast Guard Auxiliary- 1SR

Asst. District Investigator, DSO-MS

ANACO-DVd David G. Porter

US Coast Guard Auxiliary- 1SR

Asst. District Investigator, DSO-MS

646-523-1213 cell

HELP RESTORE A PIECE OF AVIATION HISTORY AT THE USS INTREPID AIR & SPACE MUSEUM

 

The Museum's Avenger needs your help! The Avenger, one of the oldest planes at the Museum, fought in World War II. Now it needs conservation to prevent it from rusting and preserve it for future generations. That's where you come in! Tune in on Facebook tomorrow at 10:30am for a live stream with Eric Boehm, curator of aviation, and Dina Ingersole, aircraft restoration specialist. They'll show you why the Avenger needs restoration and what you can do to help! Watch us live tomorrow at 10:30am! Follow us on Facebook Click here to make a gift today to support the Avenger.

 

 

ANACO-DVd David G. Porter DSO-MS
Assistant District Investigator
US Coast Guard Auxiliary, 1SR

 

THE HISTORY AND MILITARY SERVICE of 12-07's AUX Member JAMES PLACKIS

I FROM THE BEGINNING
Born in New York City, 1925, to immigrant parents from Sitia, Crete; a widower
in good health, with four children and five grandchildren

II EDUCATION
A graduate of: Virginia Polytechnic Institute (B.S. Degree, 1949);
University of Richmond (M.A. Degree, 1951); first year McGill University Medical School, (1952);
C.A.A. Test Pilot School , (1957)

III MILITARY
A WW-II Combat Pilot and Senior Pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps/U. S. Air Force/Air National Guard, (1943-1951)

IV GOVERNMENT EMPLOYMENT
An FAA career as the Chief Test Pilot, Aerospace Engineer and Manager of
the Eastern Region's Flight Test Branch, (1956-1995)

V PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
A. The FAA, (as a retiree, from 1995 to the present): Safety Counselor; Test Pilot and Aerospace Engineer
"Designee"; Flight Instructor; and Airline Transport Pilot,
B. The National Transportation Safety Board Association, active Member
C. The International Society of Air Safety Investigators, active Member
D. The Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association, active Member
E. The Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Lifetime Member
F. The Society of Aviation Flight Educators, Charter Member
G. Former Adjunct Professor, State University of N.Y., Aviation Dept.
H. U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Auxiliary, Staff Member
I. USAF Civil Air Patrol, former Chief Check-Pilot
J. The American Legion Aviators Post 743, Member/Chaplain

VI HONORS, AWARDS AND RATINGS
A. The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), (the highest military aviation award), earned in 1944,
for heroism, courage and resourcefulness in saving his crew and their heavily damaged
B-24 "Liberator" bomber, following aerial combat over the Phillipines. This was his 16th
combat mission out of the 40 that he conducted in the Pacific Theater, bombing the Japanese.
As the Crew Commander and Pilot, he was still a "skinny, scared" 19 year old "teenager".
B. The U.S. Air Force Air Medal, with six Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, earned during his other
combat missions.
C. The FAA Airline Transport Pilot Rating (ATP), with 24 "Type Ratings" as Pilot In Command of
jet transport airplanes and helicopters, such as four different Boeing Transports and four
different Gulfstream Business Jets; the Jetstar; the Sabreliner; the Citation; and Bombardier's
CL-600 and CL-601.
Nine of these Ratings are in helicopters, such as the Boeing CH-47 Chinook and the CH-46
Sky-Knight; the Sikorsky S-64 Skycrane, the S-61 Sky-King, the S-61R Green Giant, and
the SK-76 Spirit; plus the Bell 412, the 212 and the 206. He has flown and tested over 150 types
of Landplanes, Seaplanes, Helicopters, Gliders and Hot Air Balloons over the past 74 years as a
Professional Pilot.
D. He was awarded FAA's coveted "Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award", following 50 years of piloting.
E. He was honored by the FAA in the 1960's when he was selected as the FAA-Designated "Air-Force-One" Test
Pilot, for the conduct of Flight Test Programs on President Lyndon Johnson's Boeing 707, (AF-1 # 26000),
and on Vice President Hubert Humphrey's "Air-Force-Two" Jetstar, which he always completed expeditiously.

VII IN CLOSING
At age 92, James Plackis still maintains currency as a Pilot and Test Pilot, actively performing
test flights for the Federal Aviation Administration as a DER ("Designated Engineering Representative"),
whenever they are unavailable to handle programs. He has been piloting for 74 years, and
has accumulated over 13,600 flight hours, mostly as a test pilot His most recent project for the FAA was in
performing the flight test evaluation of a Russian passenger jet, ("Roussiya Airlines"), in Shannon, Ireland, last April,
2017. This was a Boeing 737-800, the same plane that he had previously evaluated in the Czech Republic during
December, 2016, for transporting U.S. passengers, and which he declined to approve at that time.

ANACO-DVd David G. Porter
USCG Auxiliary, 1SR

African Americans in the US Coast Guard

The Long Blue Line: African-Americans in the U.S. Coast Guard (Part 1)

Posted by PA2 Diana Honings, Thursday, February 2, 2017

This blog is part of a series honoring the long blue line of Coast Guard men and women who served before us. Stay tuned as we highlight the customs, traditions, history and heritage of the Coast Guard. 

The all African-American Life-Saving Service crew at Pea Island. For decades, the station served as a singular success story in a service with few other examples of racial progress. Coast Guard Collection.

Written by William H. Thiesen
Coast Guard Atlantic Area historian

The history of African-American participation in the Coast Guard and its predecessor services dates back to the very founding of the service in 1790. In over 225 years of Coast Guard history, African-Americans have been the first minority group to serve, first to fight and the first to sacrifice. In fact, the first known service death in the line of duty was a black cutterman lost off Revenue Cutter South Carolina in 1795.

During the early years of the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, many African-American cuttermen were slaves as well as free men of color. Regardless of their status, blacks served side-by-side with their white shipmates. In the Quasi-War with France of the 1790s and the War of 1812, African-American cuttermen were among the first to fight against Royal Navy warships. The youngest prisoner-of-war in Coast Guard history was a black 15-year-old cutterman who was captured off Revenue Cutter James Madison during the War of 1812. In 1836, the service experienced its first African-American combat loss when assistant keeper and freedman Aaron Carter died defending the Cape Florida Lighthouseagainst a Seminole Indian attack.

The Cape Florida Light, where slaves helped stand the watch in the early 1800s and the first African-American Coast Guardsman died in combat during the Seminole Wars. Coast Guard Collection.

War often serves as a catalyst for cultural change and it did for African-Americans in Coast Guard predecessor services. During the Civil War, blacks comprised 5 to 10 percent of the crewmembers aboard Revenue cutters. Given the small size of cutter crews, this proved a de facto form of integration. As the status of countless African-Americans changed from slave to freedman, the U.S. Lighthouse Service began hiring former slaves, or "contrabands," to work at southern installations. For example, in 1863, a contraband crew operated the Fishing Rip Lightship, near the captured city of Port Royal, South Carolina. Soon after the war, the Lighthouse Service hired African-Americans to operate lighthouses in the southeast and, by the late-1870s, black keepers supervised some lighthouses while all-black crews manned other lights.

In the 1870s, the newly-formed U.S. Life-Saving Service hired African-American watermen along the southeast coast who were known for their boathandling skills in shallow water and heavy surf. As a result, the service assembled interracial "checkerboard" crews of white and black surfmen. In 1875, five out of six surfmen in the crew at the Cape Henry Station were black. In 1876, African-American Jeremiah Munden was among the service's first surfmen to die in the line of duty. By 1880, the service appointed African-American surfman Richard Etheridge as station keeper of the all-black Pea Island Life-Saving Station. In 1896, this Pea Island crew performed the Gold Life-Saving Medal rescue of survivors from the wrecked schooner E.S. Newman.

Capt. Michael Healy, Revenue Cutter Service captain, skipper of the Bear and the first African-American to command a federal sea service vessel of any kind. Coast Guard Collection.

The late-1800s saw other opportunities for African-Americans. Receiving a Revenue Cutter Service commission in 1865, "Hell Roaring" Mike Healy was the first commissioned officer and ship's captain of African-American heritage in the history of the nation's sea services; he became famous in the 1880s and 1890s as the captain of the Arctic Revenue Cutter Bear. The Spanish-American War also served as a minority highlight of the late-1890s. The Cutter Hudson's steward, Moses Jones, and cook Henry Savage received specially-struck Congressional Bronze Medals along with rest of the enlisted crew for heroic service in the hard-fought Battle of Cardenas Bay, Cuba. It was the first such recognition of African-Americans in U.S. history.

African-Americans continued to break barriers, becoming the first of many different roles within the Coast Guard. Check back next week to continue learning about the many achievements and firsts African-American Coast Guardsmen and women have accomplished.

ANACOd David G. Porter

USCG Auxiliary, 1SR

646-523-1213 cell

New DNACO LANT Area East

2015 DIVISION 12 FLOTILLA of the YEAR

Joe Costanzo VFC and Frank Hippel FC at Mystic Marriott, CT receive for the Flotilla, the 2015 Division 12 Flotilla of the Year Award! Great work ALL of you!

WELCOME ABOARD!

Erik Podszus is sworn in as a new member of Flotilla 12-07. Welcome Aboard Erik!

Coast Guard Auxiliary Rescues Endangered, Cold-Stunned Turtles from Cape Cod shores

A recently rescued Kemp's ridley turtle swims in a tank before being taken out and flown to Florida Thursday, Jan. 7, 2016. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Ross Ruddell)

Boston – Kemp's Ridley turtles come up to northeast waters in summer and become trapped in the elbow of the Cape's arm as water cools in the fall. These cold-blooded reptiles experience a hypothermic reaction to the cold temperatures with slowed breathing and heart rates, lethargy, thinning, and oftentimes pneumonia.

Without intervention many of these rare turtles would die.

"It is extremely helpful to the turtle population as well as the rehabilitation organizations trying to manage this critical event," said Kate Sampson a sea turtle stranding and disentanglement coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. "Larger turtles are stranding now and creating a crisis of space at the New England Aquarium."

A Coast Guard Auxiliary flight crew from the 1st District Southern Region, flying out of Marshfield Airport, plan to fly about 25 of the turtles to Orlando, Florida, where they can be released into warmer water.

During transport, the turtles will be loaded into the airplane in special boxes with insulation to keep them warm. While in flight the turtles have to be kept between 68 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

"We're honored to work with our partners at NOAA and the New England Aquarium to ensure these turtles arrive safely in Florida," said Coast Guard Auxiliary pilot Steve Trupkin.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the voluntary, un-paid, uniformed component of the Coast Guard. Congress established the Auxiliary June 23, 1939. The Auxiliary exists to support all Coast Guard missions except roles that require direct law enforcement or military engagement. As of 2015, there were approximately 32,000 members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Collectively, the Auxiliary contributes more than 4.5 million hours of service each year and complete nearly 500,000 missions in service to support the Coast Guard. Every year, Auxiliarists help save approximately 500 lives, assist 15,000 distressed boaters, conduct more than 150,000 safety examinations of recreational vessels, and provide boater safety instruction to more than 500,000 students. In total, the Coast Guard Auxiliary saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

D1SR Aviators Visit Air Station Atlantic City

Article and photos by Eric Arango FSO-PA 12-07

 

IPDCAPT David G. Porter, DDC-SP
1st Southern Region

Fighters, Bombers and Face Painting... A Weekend at The American Airpower Museum

   

          

American Airpower Museum honors our WWII POWs with an exhibit dedication on Saturday the 5th at 10:30AM  and 11:30AM on Sunday. A number of surviving POWs will be on hand. They will be flown on our C-47 after the ceremony on Saturday.       

The American Airpower Museum - Where History Flies!

1230 New Highway
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Phone: 631-293-6398
            Email: info@americanairpowermuseum.com
Visit Us At: www.americanairpowermuseum.org

Copyright © American Airpower Museum. All Rights Reserved.

---

Special Movie Screening at American Airpower Museum

  

          

The American Airpower Museum - Where History Flies!

1230 New Highway
Farmingdale, NY 11735

Phone: 631-293-6398
            Email: info@americanairpowermuseum.com
Visit Us At: www.americanairpowermuseum.org

 

Posted by:

IPDCAPT David G. Porter, DDC-SP
1st Southern Region

Potential Government Shutdown and Auxiliary Operations

Good Evening,

If a funding lapse occurs, the Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual (COMDTINST M16790.1G) Chapter 2, paragraph B.25 require the Auxiliary to cease all activities where individual members depart home, unless supporting one of the exempt functions identified in law & policy.  An Active Duty Order Issuing Authority must SPECIFICALLY call for Auxiliary assistance to support an above mission.  The message MAY be relayed through the Chain of Leadership.  Any orders will be the exception.  To be clear, the Auxiliary is specifically prohibited from travel for training, meetings (including Change of Watch), all RBS activities, or any other authorized activity until funding is restored.  Auxiliary members are encouraged to complete tasks from home, including online training modules.

If there is a lapse in DHS funding for FY2015, no further financial obligations may be incurred by DHS, except for those related to the orderly suspension of DHS operations or performance of exempted activities as defined in Chapter 6.4.2 of the Financial Resource Management Manual (FRMM), COMDTINST M7100.3E. Exempt functions include distress phase search and rescue, significant [federal] aids to navigation outage affecting the safe flow of commerce, or domestic ice operations to move critical energy supplies or prevent flooding.

Please contact me immediately if you have any questions or concerns regarding whether an activity is exempt or non-exempt.  I am working closely with the Order Issuing Authorities to identify their expectation for Auxiliary support of exempted missions.

I understand that this is a frustrating period.  These guidelines are solely based on appropriation law and this is in NO WAY a reflection of the value of the Auxiliary to the Coast Guard or the American people. Thank you for your patience and perseverance as  we move forward together.

Very Respectfully,
CDR Laura Moose, USCGR
Director of Auxiliary, First District Southern Region
Auxiliary Specialist Karen Wagner
1 South Street
New York, NY 10004

DDC-SP David G. Porter, IPDCAPT
1st Southern Region - Sends...