On January 27th, 2011, authorities responded to an oil sheen extending 14 miles on the Columbia River, quickly tracing it to an illegal scrap metal salvage near Camas, Wash. So much steel had been removed from the aging ship's hull that its back had broken and inner compartments were exposed to the river's currents. Davy Crockett Unified Response consisted of the Coast Guard, Wash. Dept. of Ecology (DOE) and Ore. Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ), a rehearsed and practiced Pacific Northwest partnership.

The 431-foot flat-deck barge Davy Crockett, a repurposed 1940s Navy liberty ship, was found leaking a cocktail of bunker fuel and other harmful substances into the environment, from compartments not readily accessible prior to the salvage operation. It was a sleeping giant of environmental blights, a WWII time capsule reminding us that our past maritime industrial practices are not gone and forgotten.    

The Davy Crockett was sold and refitted as a flat-deck barge for commercial use following its military service life. Changing owners repeatedly, it found its resting place near the bank of the Columbia River, a body of water that reaches the sea where it separates the Wash. and Ore. border.  

PORTLAND, Ore. - Petty Officer Michael Shannon, a marine science technician from Coast Guard Pacific Strike Team, stands safety watch over the 433-foot flat deck barge Davy Crockett as disassembly continues on the Columbia River, Wash., Ore., border on June 8, 2011. Metal is cut away from the floating stern section, transferred to a decontamination barge and then to a scrap barge to be hauled away. Meanwhile salvage divers prepare submerged areas for disassembly. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

"Due to the owners attempt to scrap the vessel in the Columbia River, we were left with a vessel who's keel was broken and who's inner tanks were open to the Columbia River," said Coast Guard Capt. Daniel LeBlanc, Commander of Marine Safety Unit Portland and Federal On Scene Coordinator (FOSC) of the Davy Crockett Unified Response.

As the Coast Guard moved forward with investigations and possible prosecutions, the disaster required immediate management and response. In situations where a responsible party has not been definitively or legally established, or a dispute would delay funding of a pollution response, the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund is used to fund a cleanup. This emergency fund is managed by the National Pollution Funds Center.

The cleanup effort began by ballasting the vessel. "Safety of workers was the main factor considered in the decision to ballast the stern section. After consulting with the Coast Guard Salvage and Environmental Response Team (SERT) and a contracted naval architect firm, the unified command concluded that the stress upon the hull/keel near the point where the stern and mid sections bent in opposite directions posed an unacceptable safety risk to divers," said LeBlanc.

He explained, "the fear was that the hull/keel would fracture at the stress points and cause catastrophic movement of the sections, thereby causing diver injuries or death. The stern section was ballasted to re-align it with the mid section, thus relieving the stress on the hull/keel." The ballasting lowered the strongly upward pointing stern by 17 feet.    

In February of 2011, Adm. Robert Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard, authorized the destruction of the Davy Crockett to address the threat of continued hazardous discharges into the river.

An initial plan was to return watertight integrity to both the bow and stern sections separately, and then refloat them for separate removal by tug boats. Later, a plan was adopted to build a new containment system and dismantle the vessel on site.

PORTLAND, Ore. - The 433-foot flat-deck barge Davy Crockett continues disassembly on the Columbia River, Wash., Ore., border on May 31, 2011. Metal is cut away from the floating stern section, transferred to a decontamination barge and then to a scrap barge to be hauled away. Meanwhile salvage divers prepare submerged areas for disassembly. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

The problem faced with this solution was that absorbent boom surrounding the vessel until now would not contain the potentially high volume of pollutants released as inner compartments became more exposed to water. A cofferdam was determined to be the most certain method for containment.

In essence, a cofferdam is a system of tall interlocking metal plates driven into the sea floor to encircle the vessel. The steel cofferdam was then lined with a protective material curtain that prevented oil, pollutants and silt from escaping and entering the river environment. The completion of the cofferdam successfully produced an area of total containment.

"The cofferdam is not a common solution used in response to pollution threats from vessels.  In this particular case, the responders were faced with a partially salvaged and structurally crippled vessel that was leaking oil and threatening to spill all of its oil into a pristine river environment.  When the options to utilize local drydocks became unattainable to the unified command, the cofferdam (and the impermeable barrier which lined the inside) became the best option to protect the environment during the in-situ deconstruction work," said LeBlanc.

"The failed salvage attempt by the owner left a vessel whose entire mid section was gone (above and below the waterline) and whose inner tanks were virtually open to the river.  Had the vessel's hull been intact below the waterline and structurally sound, there would have been no practical need to construct the cofferdam," said LeBlanc.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Luke Potter, a marine science technician assigned to the Davy Crockett Unified Response in Portland, Ore., maintains a safety watch over the 431-foot flat-deck barge Davy Crockett on the Columbia River, Ore./Wash. Border, Friday, Feb. 10, 2011. The Davy Crockett began leaking oil into the Columbia River during a civilian salvage operation on Jan. 27, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

Civilian contractors were employed to construct the cofferdam as well as conduct the dismantling work, this labor requiring a crew of very diverse specialists. The vessel was disassembled stern first, frame by frame. Welders cut the deck as teams of salvage divers spent two to three hour shifts rigging and cutting sections beneath the waterline and within flooded compartments. Coast Guard and civilian safety observers maintained a presence throughout the operation.

The larger stern section was refloated before it was taken apart, using the opposing weight of buoyant and flooded compartments to help break off large sections, which were then transferred to a decontamination barge. Carefully pressure washed sections were then moved to another barge to be hauled away and water was captured for treatment. Next, the bow was dismantled while it rest on the bottom, and processed through a similar decontamination.

Approximately 3.5 million pounds of steel were removed. Additionally, more than 38,397 gallons of bunker fuel, 4,850 pounds of asbestos and more than 1.6 million gallons of oily water were removed. It was an eight month pollution removal effort. The final section of the vessel was removed on August 25th, 2011.

"This project will affect the manner in which we deal with derelict vessels," said LeBlanc. The project was completed when the cofferdam was removed on December 8^th, with a final cost of approximately $22 million.

"From a technical perspective, the project has revealed several lessons learned that could be implemented during future responses.  From an overarching perspective the project led to the creation of a regional Derelict Vessel Task Force.  This task force meets regularly to discuss, plan, and establish protocols for a litany of issues related to vessels that pose an environmental risk," said LeBlanc.

Many aging ships have come to rest in American rivers and waterways. Some of these benign, others may harbor unknown threats. Owners purchase them with dreams of restoration or salvage, but end up placed on the permanent to-do list.

Like the Davy Crockett, some of these vessels contain too much pollution to salvage profitably, if done within federal and state environmental law. Forgotten and unmaintained, these vessels can become an instant emergency, sleeping giants difficult to identify amid genuine restoration projects and with the potential to cause millions of dollars in environmental damage. 

SEATTLE - Authorities respond to the illegal scrap metal salvage of the flat-deck Barge Davy Crockett on the Columbia River near Camas, Wash., on Jan. 27, 2011. This comprehensive summary depicts the efforts of the more than nine month response. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

ASTORIA, Ore. - Jennifer Bassett, founder of the Coast Guard Family Organization, stands beside a stack of toys and stockings donated to Operation Homefront's annual Christmas toy drive for the children of military families. The toys will be distributed to the children of enlisted servicemembers at Coast Guard units near Astoria and Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert

ASTORIA, Ore. - Jennifer Bassett, founder of the Coast Guard Family Organization, stuffs a stocking with toys donated to Operation Homefront's annual Christmas toy drive for the children of military families. The toys will be distributed to the children of enlisted servicemembers at Coast Guard units near Astoria and Camp Rilea in Warrenton, Ore. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Shawn Eggert

*This posting corrects The Coast Guard Family Organization phone number 978-400-6924* 

ASTORIA, Ore. — The morning sun’s rays fall upon a stack of coloring books, plush dolls and action figures within the niche of a bench window.  Felt stockings embroidered with messages of holiday cheer rest nearby, and each one is cheerfully stuffed with items from the small mountain of toys.  This isn’t Santa’s workshop but, for the children of some Coast Guard and Oregon Army National Guard families near the Columbia River, it’s pretty close.

The Coast Guard Family Organization, with help from Operation Homefront, Dollar Tree Inc. and generous donations from the community, has managed to collect approximately 50 boxes of toys for the children of enlisted service members at Coast Guard units and Camp Rilea near Warrenton, Ore.  Jennifer Bassett, a Marine Corps veteran and the spouse of Chief Joshua Bassett, an active duty Coast Guardsman serving aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Alert, founded The Coast Guard Family Organization in 2008 for situations just like this.

“The families of Coast Guard members aren’t eligible for all of the same benefits as the families of other military service members,” said Bassett.  “The goal of the Coast Guard Family Organization is to help Coast Guard families and one of the ways we’re doing that is by working with Operation Homefront to recognize the sacrifices and hardships of these children whose parents are often away from home for months to years at a time.”

Members of the local community helped the toy drive by making donations through Dollar Tree, which has partnered with Operation Homefront for three years.

"For the last three years, Dollar Tree and its customers have helped boost the morale of our nation's service members," said Operation Homefront Chief Executive Officer Jim Knotts. "Military families are not only dealing with the effects of the war, but also the economic recession. They've been hit especially hard over the last year. These donated toys will allow them to provide a happy holiday for their children."

The toys collected by Bassett and her volunteers will be distributed to the children of enlisted military members who receive the lowest pay and she estimates they’ve received enough toys for 400 kids.

Stocking-stuffing and toy distribution will continue through Dec. 31.  Bassett, who is still looking for volunteers to help stuff and deliver stockings to the units, can be reached at 978-400-6924.

A woman is yelling. I can't tell what she's saying. It sounds like German. Restaurant patrons look uncomfortable, her dialogue frantic and indecipherable. I look at her red mini-van in the parking lot, double parked with the passenger door opened. A road map falls from an opened door to the ground. Oh my god, her husband must have had a heart attack.  

The intuition of 21-year-old Nathaniel Ryma, a fireman at Coast Guard Station Yaquina Bay, in Newport, Ore., turned out to be correct. "Everyone just stared at her. I knew something was wrong, and somebody had to act," said Ryma. He approached and found a man in the vehicle and checked for vital signs. "He wasn't moving. He was dead." 

NEWPORT, Ore. - Fireman Nathaniel Ryma, a Coast Guardsman at Station Yaquina Bay, Newport, Ore., stands forward lookout on a 47 foot motor lifeboat during a first light sea assessment on Oct. 1, 2011. Coast Guardsman assess sea conditions at most major river entrances to set restrictions and better advise mariners. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

The man was too large to remove from the seat so Ryma climbed in and began chest compressions. There was no decision to make. He knew what needed to be done and continued CPR for more than 25 minutes. "A lady came out and began giving him breaths, and right before the police and ambulance arrived, he began gasping for air," said Ryma.  

Response crews and vehicles arrived in a flurry of emergency lights and noise, taking over CPR and setting up for defibrillation. Ryma went back into the restaurant to await his dinner. A few minutes later the scene was as quiet as it had been before, as if nothing had happened.

The entire incident would have gone forgotten if not noticed by Sergeant Tom Simpson of the Newport Police Dept. Once the ambulance crew revived the man, Simpson returned and told Ryma that his actions had saved a life. "He was very humble and had simply stepped away when more firefighters and medics arrived, going back to his meal at a nearby restaurant," said Simpson. Simpson later stopped by Ryma's station and described the young fireman's actions.    

With less than a year in service, it was the first time Ryma had administered CPR. "I felt calm. The Coast Guard has trained me to be in control of a situation and handle myself well in high stress. There were a lot of people standing around that didn't know what to do. You can't ever assume that someone else is going to do something," said Ryma.

On Sept. 23, 2011, In the first year of his career, Ryma saved a man's life. He was the pivotal force in a moment of life or death. The beginning of the first chapter of his life of service.

A few miles south, another Coast Guardsman was beginning a chapter. Chief Petty Officer Ward Halstead, a Boatswains mate and veteran surfman, held his retirement ceremony at Coast Guard Station Umpqua River, Winchester Bay, Ore. It wasn't his final unit, but the one he had been stationed at the longest, and the community he intended to live in retirement.

REEDSPORT, Ore. - Coast Guard Chief Boatswains Mate Ward Halstead is says some parting words at his retirement ceremony held at Station Umpqua River, Ore., Sept. 30, 2011. Halstead served over 30 years in the Coast Guard, and has participated in multiple lifesaving missions off of the Pacific Northwest Coast. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Eric J. Chandler.

Halstead is a search-and-rescue icon of the Pacific Northwest. With 30 years of professional lifesaving service, he is known for his experience and light-heartedness. Halstead has been involved in countless search and rescue cases, as well as credited for training some of the best rescue personnel in his field.

Halstead and his crew rescued three crewmembers of the ocean going tug Primo Brusco after hearing a distress call at 2:24 a.m., on Dec. 30, 2002. They crossed the Umpqua River entrance bar in a 47-foot motor lifeboat with 20-foot breaking waves and 80 mph. winds, conditions on the extreme side of the vessel's operable limitations. The tug capsized in the heavy seas. Halstead and crew searched a debris field for hours during the storm in the dark, and at dawn found three survivors in a life raft.

Years later, the charter vessel Sydney Mae attempted to cross the Umpqua River bar during inclement weather and capsized. Halstead once again got underway with a boat crew and rescued many of the passengers from the hazardous surf zone.

It isn't only the career of Halstead that made him unique. Like Ryma, it is the impulse of taking action to help others. He spent several years in volunteer fire departments where he continued his search and rescue passion while also teaching CPR and first aid in his community. All of these things he did while balancing his Coast Guard duty.

Many coastal stations in the Pacific Northwest are located in old fishing and lumber towns. The kind of place where everybody knows everybody. Out here, if you save a life, it's someone's brother, someone's husband or son, and you are probably going to run into them at the grocery store, diner and gas station.

So on Dec. 30th, Halstead departed lifesaving as his career. With the power of a will to act, the legend of Halstead will continue among the communities lining the Umpqua River, just as Ryma will likely grow in reputation as a Coast Guardsman.

A military service can take an individual and teach them many things, but a prevalence of heroes is more easily attributed to the character of those compelled to join in the first place. This good nature isn't an eight hour a day job, it's a life on a course. The one who acts, the one in a crowd who knows what to do and the one who is calm among chaos. For them there is no final chapter in a life of service.

ASTORIA, Ore. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Doniphan, a food service specialist aboard Cutter Alert in Astoria, Ore., poses for a photo in front of a Large Navigation Buoy on the Columbia River in Astoria. Doniphan swam to the aid of a young girl who was nearly swept underneath the buoy in September 2011. His actions most likely saved her life. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Doniphan swims to the aid of a girl in danger of being swept under a Large Navigation Buoy on the Columbia River in Astoria, Ore., Sept. 10, 2011. Doniphan's off-duty rescue effort most likely saved the girl's life. Photo courtesy of Rod Hallock

ASTORIA, Ore.- Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Doniphan clings to a chain after rescuing a girl in danger of being swept under a Large Navigation Buoy on the Columbia River in Astoria, Ore., Sept. 10, 2011. Doniphan was able to pull himself and the girl, hand-over-hand, back to shore despite the strong current. Photo courtesy of Rod Hallock

ASTORIA, Ore. - Seaman Hugh Dailey (right) extends a hand to a survivor in the Columbia River in Astoria, Ore., Sept. 10, 2011. The girl was in danger of being swept under a Large Navigation Buoy when Petty Officer 2nd Class Leon Doniphan (left) swam to her rescue. Photo courtesy of Lewis Nevel

Without hesitation

Coast Guard feature release by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. — Search and Rescue is perhaps the most well known of all the Coast Guard missions.

The idea of the rescue itself, the direct, firsthand lifesaving opportunity, is the reason many Coast Guardsmen sign up.  These individuals crave a chance to rise to the occasion; to be in a position to save a life.

While this desire is the driving force behind many successful Coast Guard rescues, it is something that exists independent of our service, within our men and women.

Nothing demonstrates this driving force better than the recent off-duty actions of Petty Officer 2^nd Class Leon Doniphan, a food service specialist (FS) aboard Cutter Alert, homeported in Astoria, Ore. Doniphan bravely, and without hesitation, swam to the aid of a young girl in immediate danger of drowning in the Columbia River. His actions most likely saved her life.

On the evening of Sept. 10, 2011, Doniphan finished his work on the cutter, changed out and crossed the brow to the pier.

“I noticed a group of individuals on the shore fixated on the river’s edge,” said Doniphan.  “I was unable to tell what had their attention at the moment.”

According to Rod Hallock, a California resident visiting Astoria, what had their attention was a young girl in a dire situation.

“My wife Shirley and I were discussing how fast the current of the Columbia was moving, when we noticed a young girl, about 11 or 12-years-old, swimming around the pilings under the dock,” remarked Hallock. “The girl swam to a large round structure. She tried unsuccessfully to swim against the current and quickly became panicked. She yelled that the current was taking her under the structure. The situation became grim quickly.”

The structure was a retired Large Navigation Buoy, 40 feet in diameter, chained to shore. The girl was nearly swept under the buoy, but managed to grab a hold of small piece of metal on the buoy’s edge. The piece of metal was the only available handhold, and she quickly began to lose her grip.

Washington resident Lewis Nevel, another witness to the event, suddenly realized how much trouble the girl was facing. “She was struggling against the current, fighting to keep her head and shoulders above the water. She was yelling that she couldn’t hold on,” explained Nevel.

Doniphan reached the group of onlookers, read the situation and sprang into action.

“The young sailor wasted no time,” Nevel said of Doniphan. “He dropped his backpack, pulled off his sweatshirt and called to the girl, ‘Hold on, keep your head up!’ He called out to another nearby sailor to go get a life preserver. He quickly skirted down some very slippery rocks on the jetty. It looked at one point that he slipped and fell against one of the rocks before entering the water. He kept talking to the girl, ‘You’ll be okay, hold on!’

Doniphan’s words of reassurance were backed by his actions as he lunged into the water and swam the approximate 40 feet to her aid. He was able to grab and hang on to the same small piece of metal the girl clung to.

“The current was very strong and was trying to pull me under the buoy also,” said Doniphan. “I had to exert a great deal of effort to keep myself right and face to face with the girl in the water. The water was very cold and I had jumped in wearing sweat pants which caused drag. I told her that I was going to get her off the buoy, but I told her first that she couldn’t panic. I explained to her how if she panicked she could drown us both.  As I calmed her I told her to trust me and to get onto my back.”

Doniphan was able to twist his body around despite the current. The girl clung to his shoulders. The crowd on shore held their breath as the next moments would determine the fate of both the young girl and her would be rescuer. Doniphan let go of the buoy and swam with all his might, clearing both he and the girl of the looming metal structure.

“I kicked as hard as humanly possible to get us away from that buoy,” stated Doniphan. “Once we were away from the buoy I realized we were still being swept downriver. I managed to swim just far enough to be able to grab a hold of the chain that helps secure the buoy to shore. With the girl still on my back, using the chain I was able to pull us, hand-over-hand, back to the rocks on shore.”

Seaman Hugh Dailey, one of Doniphan’s shipmates aboard Cutter Alert, met the two at the water’s edge and helped the exhausted girl up the rocks. The girl’s friends joined the small crowd that had gathered. The girl gave Doniphan a big hug and thanked him. Members of the crowd, including Hallock and Nevel, extended handshakes. Doniphan had put himself at risk and brought the girl to safety.

Doniphan’s actions inspired Hallock and Nevel to write letters to Cmdr. Daniel Pickles, Doniphan’s commanding officer. The detailed letters included photos of the rescue and commended Doniphan for his actions that day. 

Doniphan remains modest, despite the recognition. Like many lifesavers before him, he maintains that his rescue efforts were circumstantial.

“I have courage, but I don’t feel like a hero. I’m a regular guy, a cook. I was in the right place at the right time. I could never stand by and watch someone die if I thought there was something I could do.” “Besides,” he joked, “I wasn’t about to let someone drown next to a Coast Guard Cutter! The media would have a field day with that!”

Doniphan, who is married with two children, enjoys working as an FS in the Coast Guard.

“My son Javon, daughter Nia, and wife Vanessa are why I stay motivated to achieve great things. My family is a big part of why I am who I am. Going FS made sense for me because of advancement opportunities, and there were openings right away.  I like the job because by working hard to feed everyone, you earn the admiration of the crew.”

Though Doniphan’s job in the Coast Guard does not routinely put him in life or death situations, his desire to step up and put himself on the line is why he joined, and a big part of who he is. He remains adamant that it was his obligation to enter the water that September day.

"As Coast Guardsman, we may be called to serve, to fight, to die anytime, any place. I keep myself in good physical condition and was glad that I could respond adequately."

Doniphan’s rescue did not involve an emergency call to a Coast Guard command center. Nobody ordered Doniphan to act. Though a Coast Guardsman, he performed the rescue as a civilian. People like Doniphan, however, are the reason the Coast Guard exists.

ASTORIA, Ore. - Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin, homeported in Bellingham, Wash., maintains a safety zone while airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., undergo Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist Training (SST) off the coast of Garibaldi, Ore., Sept. 14, 2011. The Coast Guard has been working with the Air Force to assist with the completion of the open-water portion of SST twice a year since September 1967. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. - A 47-foot motor lifeboat crew from Station Tillamook Bay, Ore., creates swells while airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., undergo Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist Training (SST) off the coast of Garibaldi, Ore., Sept. 14, 2011. The Coast Guard has been working with the Air Force to assist with the completion of the open-water portion of SST twice a year since September 1967. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

The Coast Guard & Air Force partnership: A tradition of training for more than 44 years

ASTORIA, Ore. — The success of United States Coast Guard missions depends largely on the experience and expertise of our members.  Sometimes, Coast Guard missions and missions of other U.S. armed services overlap, providing the opportunity to share our knowledge and capabilities. The United States Air Force has called upon the experience and expertise of the men and women at Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay, in Garibaldi, Ore., for 44 years.

Coast Guard Station Tillamook Bay and other 13^th  Coast Guard District assets have been working with the Air Force to train airmen from Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB), Wash., twice a year since September, 1967.

Airmen attending the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) Specialist Training (SST) School, come to Garibaldi to undergo the open water portion of the six month technical training program required of all potential SERE Specialists. Successful completion of the course prepares future SERE Specialists to instruct any Air Force SERE related program and be world-wide deployable.

The Air Force relies on the Coast Guard for expertise in open water transportation, recovery and overall safety.

Coast Guard motor lifeboat crews transport airmen and their instructors to the open ocean. They are required to jump overboard, wearing dry suits to maintain body temperature in the frigid water. Instructors deploy life rafts and airmen and instructors climb inside. They spend six hours afloat in the open ocean, learning first-hand the harsh realities of survival at sea.

Motor lifeboat crews generate wake in the absence of heavy natural swells, simulating the often tumultuous seas off the coast of the Pacific Northwest.

For the final stage of the open water portion of SST, Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crews hoist the airmen from the water, simulating an aerial rescue at sea.

On Sept. 14, 2011, Coast Guard Cutter Terrapin out of Bellingham, Wash., helped Station Tillamook Bay provide a suitable training environment for the Air Force by remaining on scene with the airmen as they floated in life rafts.

Motor lifeboat crews from Station Tillamook Bay transported airmen and trainers to and from the open ocean.

Lt. Col. Jeremiah Monk, Commander of the 66th Training Squadron responsible for running the SST school at Fairchild AFB was excited about not only the training that day, but the training tradition that the Air Force has shared with the Coast Guard.

“We had yet another excellent training experience, due in no small part to the United States Coast Guard support received from both Station Tillamook Bay and Cutter Terrapin,” stated Monk. “SERE has been working with Tillamook for 44 years. That duration stands testament to not only the consistently outstanding training conditions for SST, but also largely to the world-class support provided by the men and women of Station Tillamook Bay.”

As head of the SST school, Monk recognizes dangers posed by treacherous environments all over the world. He commends the Coast Guard’s ability to successfully operate in one of the most dangerous: the open ocean.

“Open water training is one of ten training periods in the course, but because of the inherently hostile environment, it is arguably our most complex and dangerous training phase.  We mitigate that risk by our close working relationship with the Coast Guard.”

Monk stated that in addition to the training, his airmen gain a valuable experience by watching Coast Guard crews operate assets in the field.

“As a side benefit, the partnership also allows us an opportunity to showcase the USCG to our young airmen, most of whom have no experience working with our sister services,” added Monk.  “Our trainees had the exceptional opportunity to be aboard as our Coast Guard Tillamook Bay partners were diverted to escort six civil vessels back to safe harbor amidst a quickly-developing weather situation.  After seeing the case first-hand, I speak for all my men in saying we have a new-found appreciation for all the Coast Guard does for our country and our citizens, day in and day out.”

Master Chief Petty Officer Michael Saindon, Commander of Station Tillamook Bay, is proud his station has played such a longstanding role in ensuring defense readiness in conjunction with the Air Force.

“We are extremely proud to be able to work with the Air Force in providing survival training for combat situations,” gleamed Saindon. "For 44 years Station Tillamook Bay has played a key role in the training, thus a critical role in national defense. Our location provides an excellent training environment and our personnel provide the expertise required to operate within it.”

ASTORIA, Ore. — Navy Capt. Lori Laraway provides Operational Stress Control Leader Training for Coast Guard Sector Columbia River leaders at Air Station Astoria, Ore., Aug. 23, 2011.

The course was designed to instill in leaders the ability to recognize personnel in the early stages of stress reactions and provide leaders with information on how to take appropriate action.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

Operational Stress Control Leader training to promote wellness in shipmates

ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard is learning from a Navy training model intended to improve the long-term psychological health of service members.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, Ore., leaders received Operational Stress Control (OSC) Leader training at Air Station Astoria, Ore., Station Tillamook Bay, Ore., and Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., Aug. 22-26.

The train-the-trainer course, led by Navy Capt. Lori Laraway, OSC coordinator, is designed to instill in leaders the ability to recognize personnel in the early stages of stress reactions and provide leaders with information on how to take appropriate action. The goal of OSC is to build resiliency in personnel and keep them mission-ready.

“Military life is stressful, no matter what uniform you or your family member wears,” said Laraway. “Because this curriculum enhances leadership capabilities and is not a "medical" course, it has been effective across a variety of Navy communities and hopefully will be useful to our Coast Guard brothers and sisters.”

The course emphasized the importance of five core leadership functions of OSC: strengthen your shipmates, mitigate and remove unnecessary stressors, identify shipmates with stress problems, treat and coordinate care and reintegrate back to unit.

The training included dialogue, case studies and personal stories discussing the impact of stress on individuals and their families and the application of tools and leadership intervention to build and maintain wellness.

John Reibling, Coast Guard Employee Assistance Program Manager, is confident the OSC training will help to reinforce current Coast Guard leadership policy.

"It's consistent with the Coast Guard's core values and 28 leadership competencies and adds important tools,” said Reibling. "When we see leaders responding to this training the way they have this week I'm very encouraged.  It just makes a lot of sense to do this."

By teaching our leaders techniques to identify stressed personnel and promote resilience in the face of stressful situations, Coast Guard personnel will be better equipped to meet their responsibilities at work and at home.

For more information on OSC, visit http://navynavstress.com/. 

ASTORIA, Ore. — Petty Officer 3rd Class Tyler Gaenzle, an aviation survival technician at Air Station Astoria, Ore., returns from a training flight aboard an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter, Aug. 22, 2011.

Gaenzle saved his first life in a daring cliff rescue near Archer Mountain in Skamania County, Wash., July 29, 2011.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

ASTORIA, Ore. — The Coast Guard rescues a 16-year-old climber who was injured after a 50-foot fall off a cliff side near Archer Mountain in Skamania County, Wash., July 29, 2011.

The individual was accompanied by another person of the same age who was not injured but also stranded on location.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Air Station Astoria, Ore.

Feature Release: Rising to the challenge

ASTORIA, Ore. — Some people are driven to perform dangerous, high-stress jobs. These unique individuals choose professions that put them in harm’s way, require impeccable split-second, decision-making skills and a knack for keeping their cool despite treacherous, life threatening conditions. For Petty Officer 3^rd Class Tyler Gaenzle, an aviation survival technician (AST) at Air Station Astoria, Ore., the sheer challenge of the job is what appeals to him.

“I wanted to do something challenging,” Gaenzle said. “The Coast Guard recruiter said this was the most challenging job in the Coast Guard. I told him to sign me up.”

Aviation survival technicians, better known as “rescue swimmers”, are lowered from Coast Guard helicopters to rescue people in distress. The nature of their job demands a set of strong personality traits.

“A rescue swimmer has to refuse to quit and have a good attitude,” stated Gaenzle.

Gaenzle’s refusal to quit, positive attitude and ability to remain composed and think clearly led to the successful rescue of an injured 16-year-old hiker and his companion, stranded on a cliff near Archer Mountain in Skamania County, Wash., July 29, 2011.

The harrowing situation, marking Gaenzle’s first search-and-rescue mission, provided more challenges than many far more experienced rescue swimmers have ever faced.  The unique area of responsibility for Sector Columbia River, Ore., provides a variety of missions and terrains.  Crews here perform rescues not only in and near the water but, as in this case, heavily forested, mountainous terrain.

An MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from Air Station Astoria responded when Skamania County cliff rescue and high angle teams were unable to reach the injured hiker that evening.

In the dark, the crew spotted the stranded teenagers on a steep cliff side. Hovering approximately 150 feet above the survivors, the crew found a small opening in the trees barely large enough to perform a hoist.

“When we arrived on scene, we didn’t know if a hoist was possible,” said Gaenzle. “We couldn’t see any openings through the trees large enough for a safe hoist. After a few minutes we found a small open spot and decided, as a crew, to lower me down there to check it out.”

After being lowered through the opening, Gaenzle saw conditions less than favorable for a successful rescue.

“I found the cliff was steep with no level areas. I saw both teenagers. I knew one of them had fallen over 50 feet, was seriously injured and in a lot of pain. I realized that there would be nobody else who could get him out of there.”

Gaenzle was unable to reach the survivors while remaining clipped into his harness.

“At that moment I decided to disconnect from the cable and start making my way over to the teenagers.”

Despite the steep cliff face, Gaenzle was able to reach the boys. He checked the one who had fallen for injuries, and realized it was serious.

“I did a rapid trauma assessment. He had broken bones in his legs and serious back injuries to say the least.”

Gaenzle quickly summoned the courage of the injured hiker’s friend.

“Your buddy’s only chance of getting out of here is for us to work together and carry him up to the litter.”

They were able to get him onto a backboard, and after several close calls, made their way to where the injured hiker could be placed in the rescue litter and hoisted to the helicopter.

Soon everyone, including Gaenzle, was in the safety of the helicopter heading to the hospital.

Gaenzle’s thirst for challenge may be the driving force behind his motivation to perform the duties of a rescue swimmer, but that isn’t enough to ensure success.

He credits education, efforts of all flight crewmembers, and the mentorship of other swimmers with providing him the foundation required to perform successfully.

“School prepares you for the pressures and stresses that come with the job. They put you in a ton of situations where you’re tired and have nothing left. They put pressure on you and you have to perform and rise to the occasion. The guys in the swimmer shop in Port Angeles, where I started the Airman Program, were great mentors. My current chief and first class have prepared me very well and obviously I couldn’t have done my part of the rescue without the rest of the flight crew.”

“Tyler is one of the most energetic, motivated and motivating individuals I have ever met,” boasted Chief Petty Officer Jason Schelin, lead AST at Air Station Astoria.

“His drive and positive attitude are infectious. He has worked at a blistering pace to get qualified as an MH-60 Jayhawk rescue swimmer.  Gaenzle’s ability to take on the arduous task of getting qualified in such an efficient manner is a true testament to his dedication and outstanding work ethic.”

Schelin notes that Gaenzle’s desire to learn and meet challenges led to the successful rescue on the cliff that night.

“Gaenzle took all the skills, techniques, and advice we gave him and put it all together on his first case as a qualified rescue swimmer,” he said. “This case would have been a challenge for even the most experienced of rescue swimmers.”

“I remember watching the hoist footage, listening to the audio and commenting to the other ASTs as to how calm, cool, and collected Gaenzle came across during his radio communications with the helicopter. He sounded as if he was a seasoned operator and had been doing this for years.”

Gaenzle hasn’t been doing this for years, but after his performance on the cliff that July night, we hope he will keep it up for years to come. 

ASTORIA, Ore. — Chief Petty Officer Nathan Davis, lead Vessel Boarding Safety Team (VBST) petty officer, briefs Oregon National Guard and Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, Ore., members before boarding the motor vessel Pan Pac Spirit Friday, Apr. 8, 2011.

The Coast Guard joined forces with Oregon National Guard to conduct a boarding of the vessel that had passed within the vicinity of Fukushima, Japan.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Sergeant 1st Class Rowena Simshaw

ASTORIA, Ore. – Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, Ore., and Oregon National Guard 102nd Civil Support Team (CST) conduct an offshore boarding of the Pan Pac Spirit Apr. 8, 2011.

The collaborative efforts of Station Cape Disappointment, Wash., Air Station Astoria, Ore., Marine Safety Unit Portland, Ore., and Oregon National Guard 102nd CST provided a skilled and thorough risk assessment to help ensure the health and safety of the populace within the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone.

The freight vessel Pan Pac Spirit had transited through potentially contaminated waters in the vicinity of Fukushima, Japan. The vessel passed radiation screening and was cleared to enter port.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nate Littlejohn

Joint agency boarding first of its kind

Planning, preparation and practice are three key ingredients to any successful maritime mission.

When agencies work together to execute missions, extensive communication and collaborative efforts must be made to plan, prepare and practice for real world situations.

That’s exactly what Coast Guard Sector Columbia River, Ore., and Oregon National Guard 102^nd  Civil Support Team (CST) have worked together to do over the past two years.

On Friday, April 8, 2011, a real world situation presented itself, and both agencies executed as a team.

On that day, Sector Columbia River and CST combined forces to conduct a joint boarding of the motor vessel Pan Pac Spirit. Two years worth of planning, preparation and practice were the driving force behind their collaborative efforts and successful mission execution.

The goal was simple: determine if the Pan Pac Spirit posed any radiological risks to the health and safety of the people living in the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone as the vessel had transited within the vicinity of Fukushima, Japan.

The Sector Columbia River Vessel Boarding Security Team (VBST) has the equipment and capability of locating a point source of radiation, but not to determine if a vessel has become contaminated by radiation from a source emanating elsewhere. The CST, however, does. The VBST, while equipped with and trained to use radiation pagers, radiation backpacks and a radiation identifier, specialize in the boarding of vessels. The CST, on the other hand, specialize in detecting radiation contamination regardless of whether the source is aboard the vessel.

“We were on board with the Civil Support Team due to our experience on these large commercial vessels,” explained Chief Petty Officer Nathan Davis, lead VBST petty officer. “These vessels are as dangerous as any industrial site, a risk that is compounded by their unforgiving steel construction and constant motion in the maritime realm. With our presence on board, the CST was able to focus on their equipment while we looked out for their safety. Since we had trained together so much, the coordination on board was effortless and I believe we both felt at ease”.

Both teams, working in conjunction, provided a necessary and unprecedented service to the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone.

“As far as I know, this is the first time the USCG and CST have ever executed a joint operational mission together. I could not be happier with the successful outcome of the mission and the synergy demonstrated between the VBST and the CST,” remarked Cmdr. Ryan Griffin, incident commander for the operation. “It was evident both teams had a mutual respect for one another and fed off of each others' strengths. I attribute the success of this mission to the extended effort both teams have put into joint training and the cohesiveness gained over the past two years of working together. The VBST and the CST both bring a unique operational skill set to the mission and this was essential in the flawless execution of this specialized response. I look forward to working with them again, as both organizations proved themselves as true professionals and established a solid foundation for future operational success.”

The planning, preparation and practice of the two organizations led to familiarity with each other, individual roles and mission success.

“It was a pleasure to work with the extremely knowledgeable members of the Civil Support Team. We had trained with them on multiple occasions and knew them to be committed professionals. I was impressed with their professionalism and easy competence when we worked on our first real-world mission together,” Davis offered.

The vessel inspection found no threatening levels of radiation, and Pan Pac Spirit was cleared to enter port.

Coast Guard Sector Columbia River will continue to collaborate and train with the Oregon National Guard to provide for the safety of the people living in the Sector Columbia River Captain of the Port Zone. 

SEATTLE - Joyce Gilliam, administrative assistant for 13th Coast Guard District Prevention & Waterways Branch, pauses from her busy workday for an environmental portrait. In celebration of Administrative Professionals Week, 13th District is celebrating Gilliam's 43 plus years of service. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bradshaw

SEATTLE - Joyce Gilliam, administrative assistant for 13th Coast Guard District Prevention & Waterways Branch, checks her e-mail at her desk. Gilliam, a D13 employee for more than 43 consecutive years, can remember when only one computer was utilized for the entire district. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nathan Bradshaw

Celebrating more than 43 years of service

It is not uncommon to encounter individuals in the workplace who embrace their jobs with enthusiasm. The success of any work environment depends largely on the attitudes of the individuals who operate within it. Without hardworking folks who care about their jobs, our quality of life simply would not exist.

Every now and again, however, we come across a rare individual in the workplace who demonstrates a loyalty to their employer and passion for their job that far exceed the standard.

Meet Joyce Gilliam, administrative assistant for 13^th Coast Guard District Prevention & Waterways Branch, and a truly rare example of dedication and adaptability. Humble, professional and consistent, she has worked in the district for more than 43 consecutive years.

A Seattleite since birth, Gilliam graduated from Pacific High School and then Aurswald Business School, both located in Seattle. On July 13, 1967, Gilliam began her career at the 13^th District as a clerk typist for the Aids to Navigation Branch.

Through more than four decades of change, Gilliam’s efforts have remained constant. Her ability and willingness to adapt have led to her success. These changes have ranged from advances in technology to the ebb and flow of Guardians who have worked around her.

“I began my career using an RC Allen manual typewriter. After that came a Smith-Corona electric typewriter. Then came the IBM Selectric 3, which was in my opinion the best typewriter. I was sorry to see it go,” she said.

Gilliam can remember the days when only one computer was utilized for the entire District. Now her job revolves largely around her familiarity with the one at her desk.

Technology isn’t the only thing Gilliam has adapted to over the decades.  With personnel transfers each spring, Gilliam has had to adjust to hundreds Coast Guard men and women entering and exiting her work environment.

“You miss people, but you make new friends,” said Gilliam. “If I have to work with someone who isn’t my favorite for a few years, I don’t let it bother me,” she joked. I know they’ll be headed someplace else before too long.”

Meanwhile, Gilliam has remained where she is; a rock in a sea of change.

She likes the Coast Guard, her job and where she lives.

“I like the honor and prestige that comes with working for the Coast Guard. It gives me a feeling of importance. That’s why I’ve stayed for so long, because I like it so much. I keep saying I will retire in another five years. Then another five go by and I decide I’m not ready for retirement. I guess you can say I love my job.”

"Joyce is a great asset to the office. She’s like our historian,” boasted Cmdr. Daryl Peloquin, Gilliam’s supervisor. “I’m always asking her questions to tap into her corporate knowledge. She has a great attitude and work ethic. She is incredibly reliable."

Love for her job is not the only reason behind Gilliam’s 43 plus years in the district. She loves the city of Seattle.

“I love the waterfront, fisherman’s wharf, the seafood, the familiarity of it all. Seattle is my home.”

Gilliam, who lives with her sister and great-niece, even enjoys a day at home now and again.

“The best part about having the day off is not having to get up early,” she said. “When I finally do decide to retire, I suppose I will sleep later, do some traveling, and try to keep busy. I will miss work!”

The entire staff at the 13^th District appreciates Gilliam’s loyalty to the Coast Guard and passion for her job. When she is ready to go, the 13^th District will miss her.

CAPE MAY, N.J. - Breaking down that barrier and creating history is exactly what happened on March 1, 2011, in a small ceremony held at the Ida Lewis Auditorium aboard Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, N.J., when Petty Officer 1^st Class Kristin Werner, a Seattle native, accepted her anchors and the title as, the first female chief gunner’s mate.