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My Coast Guard
Commentary | Feb. 6, 2023

Part 2 Here are more 2023 New Year’s Logs!

By Zach Shapiro, MyCG Writer

We hope you enjoyed the submissions from LANT Area! Here are PAC Area’s submissions for 2023.

From Ensign Zane Miagany, aboard Cutter Healy:

There on Mare Island, entombed in dry dock #3. 
At Vallejo, CA: comatose, receiving IVs of power, water, sewage, and phones from the pier.
Over the bridge, COMPACAREA holds Healy’s TACON, OPCON, and ADCON each.
Healy lies in Yoke, exceptions to operate on its insides, per the DC closure log.
the cutter’s triplets split up: the CG38251 sits cradled, wanting to stay home;
The CG26321 found a nice trailer nearby at MIDD;
And the CG26325 moved across town to Sta Vallejo.

Hibernation for one long night: 
Dreaming of another summer up there, on top of the world.
Of European parlors
For once an actual Dutch harbor,
Caribbean breeze,
Mango that hasn’t dried over,
And even harder to believe…
Maybe, just maybe, a port call in Seattle.
No green dancers around the Arctic sky, 
It is only the cutter’s own lights to illuminate its side:
Deck, mooring, and aircraft warning;
All burning fastly by.
Sunny California, under flood advisory,
Healy flies the SOPA flag,
High enough for the Navy to see.
With a cherry red paint job,
It'll spring to life again.
Ready to crash over the top,
Ready to bash and to crack,
Ready to get her roar back.

From Petty Officer Third Class Mikhail Kuyuzov, a maritime enforcement specialist aboard Cutter Munro:

Time is stamped with a vessel leading the hour.
The hour is marked by the watchman’s hand,
while salty sailors prepare for what is most sour.
Where getting underway say they,
farewells we stare with tears and say,
“for we part to Poseidon’s plain today
and we’ll see each other another day.
I will be mellow once I am retrieved at port,
and in your hands that I may lay.”

The horn blows…

It is time, for we must depart to sea.
Please do not cry, we’re brave, can’t you see.
This boat is of steel and not of a tree!
I will return with great pride instilled in me.
Be braver, young one, for we face no defeat.
We’re always ready they say, Semper P.

But sorrow is one that still haunts us all,
and with every day we dream of its fall.
So please do not cry my loved one, stand tall!
I’m sorry I cannot hold you or call...

The trail of your sorrows will follow with tears,
that trail left behind will propose many fears.
We will be strong and silence all ghosts we may hear.
Our fight shall be won in months but may feel like years.
Time may feel like its lost but we deliver
ourselves from the trembles of the water.
No more shall we sail under the helm of the ocean’s daughter, 
it is time to lead home so we may see 
how much our loved ones may differ.
And begin telling sea tales with laughter.
And though this not a whole book, 
but merely just a chapter.
We are forever ready to fight and prevent any disaster.

From Ensign Johnathan Kattnig and Seaman Christopher Sapper, Cutter Polar Star:

Lonely vessel of red, naught but ice ahead, hears the New Year’s toll. The small boats are griped, taps is piped, and the cutter aims toward the austral pole. Mt. Beauford stands 13 nautical miless distant, yoke is set at this very instant, below in a 2-t-2 the engines shake and roll. JTF-SFA has TACON, COMPACAREA, the ADCON and OPCON, but they’re not here in the icy stillness. Seaman Sappey charts the Sea of Ross, ‘neath the Southern cross, Lt. Cmdr. Rudnickas holds her true as CONN, while BM2 Mathis has the ice pilot guideth us through this bright night long. Solemn she crosses this last frontier, a land of awe and fear, honor those who perished to this land witness. 

From Petty Officer Third Class Andrew Ferris, operations specialist, Sector Juneau, Alaska:

While little Juneau, Alaska sleeps 
OS3 A.T. Ferris all night shall creep 
there’s a laundry list of hi-sites for whom we must pray 
Ripinski, Fanshaw, Manley, Zarembo, Duke and Mudbay 
none of these radios will we see through the day 
for each of them bleed from two-two to one-six 
Tatitlek, we need you at once to please fix 
Fanshaw, Deception, the fed building too 
a ticket for two-tree b/o to one-six we shall glue 
Cape Fanshaw that problem child, it’s guard and its mar 
for nearly three months they’ve been acting bizarre 
fed building and Ripinski, their le no transmit 
with all of these outages, I’m throwing a fit 
Cape Fanshaw and Deception’s weather’s inop 
it’s amazing our SAR teams’ responses don’t flop 
DSC down for Althorp, Fanshaw, Deception and Zarembo what’s more 
readiness for these sites has hit the floor 
thank goodness we have no ZKP
if I had to type more, I think I might scream 
a miracle on New Year’s is something we never hope to need 
yet vessel Solstraal’s call we now heed 
will the stalwart Leconte make it in time 
sit there, we’ll tell you, eventually through rhyme 
passdown’s now concluded, except for one more thing 
the watch-to-watch items’re present, says my accounting 
yes! Leconte will make it in time 
an escort to Juneau for our stricken sailors seems sublime 
the 45662 is loosed from its slip 
led by BM2 Fishler with an iron grip 
BM2 Dubow and Seaman Rodriguez man the tow lines 
while MK3 Wolffis keeps the engines thumping in time 
with these four souls on board and the gar in the yellow 
we leave it to these brave guardians to go save their fellow 
VSL Sostraal appreciates the escort gesture 
but the stricken engines can’t continue on with this venture 
wait here for the Coast Guard we will on this night 
we know when they’re on scene we shall all be alright 
the Leconte will keep eye over the Solstraal then 
the small boats response time: one hour less ten 
six-six-two’s mighty crew arrives on the scene 
visibility naught due to fog unforeseen 
we’re all strapped up and ready to head home 
the tows underway, winds picking up along with the foam 
with the tow in effect and the people just fine 
the time for my pan-pan has reached the end of its line 
I send out my prelim, it goes just like this: 
Mariners, I have a broadcast you won’t want to miss 
first comes the national weather service broadcast 
I put the outside water areas storms on a blast 
I have some BNM’s I must as well send 
after 176 and 175, that part can end 
OS3 AT Ferris on watch as before 
not before I pass CBNM zero-tree-zero 
can I return to my role as the silent hero the first equipment check is not much of a thriller 
I have no new outages to report to my OU, OS1 Buchmiller 
time for the half hour check in with the six-six-two 
just towing from the stern, nothing else left to do 
six-six-two is on the comms radio again 
just towing along their newfound friends 
once more the response boat checks in on the air
deliver this disabled boat, be done with this affair 
my second equipment check passes much the same way 
to my SU OS2 Valadez, I have nothing more to say 
the weather service BCST goes out with aplomb 
this storm headed in can felt out by Sector Guam 
still the six-six-two carries its load 
the wind doing its part, northbound it now flowed 
at 11 Alaska standard, some partiers grow restless 
we hear happy new year on 16, and no its not distress 
that poor small boat all alone in the night 
but hearing that SAR alarm is the reason we all fight
chugging along at a solid four knots they’ll be home eventually 
each boat crewman knows they’re performing essentially
it’s midnight in here, time to spread some holiday cheer 
from the watch standers at Sector Juneau Command Center: 
have a happy new year! 
We’ve reached shelter island says the coxswain 
just a couple hours left till we can head in 
another check in has come by and gone 
I’m amazed by the endurance; this small boat has gone on! 
the storm continues its treacherous assault 
all mariners in outside waters take heed and full halt 
those braving Cape Decision 
your plans need revision 
on Capes Suckling and Edgecumbe, fairweather and icy 
winds are blowing & waves a crashing it’s getting quite dicey 
that small boat ever onward is an hour from safe harbor 
the crew, exhausted ready to retire to their quarters 
nearing the end, the goal is in sight 
prepare the outboards for the last leg of this flight  
limping into Auke Bay ready to be done with their tow 
make all possible haste to statter, regardless the snow 
a quarter mile out, the post SAR complete 
put the Solstaar in the break wall, this has been no mean feat 
my final equipment check of the night, 
thank goodness, I won’t wake Mr. Layman in a fright. 
that hearty station boat checks in anew 
to report that statter has come into view! 
and just like that, evolution complete 
no shortness of effort, even as energies deplete
Solstaar’s tied up safe right to the break wall 
OS3 A.T. Ferris on watch as before 
to Auke Bay and your racks, the six-six-two can now craw
in the two hours since last, the weather’s remained unaffected 
go out willingly into this squall? The seas must be respected
the night settles down, now only weather broadcasts remain 
My twelve hours is up but before I sign off the watch 
I’m lucky the broadcast from earlier will still match 
well finally I get to the subsequent dawn 
I pass down my mission to the oncoming brawn 
OS3 T.D. Richardson is now on the case 
at one sign of trouble all assets shall race 
god willing our SAR and med will stay: none 
though if we are needed, out we go on the run 
the equipment is watching much the same as it began 
hopefully, vessels in the area will hear our pan-pan 
I leave you and the year twenty-twenty-two, no medical or SAR 
till next year I leave you; till then you’ll go far. 

From Capt. Edward Hernaez, Base Kodiak, Alaska:

Editor’s note: Hernaez wrote this entry using AABBA rhyming style; it was his last entry as commanding officer at Base Kodiak.

2022 was a doozy of a year and it started on a Saturday. 
Like the two previous years, we began with more COVID calamites.
The high school started with learning remote,
With Omicron and rising inflation it was tough to keep the nation afloat,  
We saw many “Firsts” this year impacting us in a variety of ways.

Admiral Linda Fagan became the first female commandant, hip-hip-hurray!
The first flying car prototype was launched by Volkswagen, 
The US quarter depicted Maya Angelou, the first black woman,
And we viewed the first images of Sagittarius A, a black hole in the Milky Way. 

We’ve seen some “Whoa!” moments resulting in awe and mild disorder.
Kilauea Volcano erupted in the Hawaii Islands,
And after 21 years, Apple ended production of the iPod music player.  

From the world and geopolitical view, there was much going on.
The Earth’s population of humans increased to over eight billion,
Russia invaded Ukraine in one of the largest armed conflicts,
Beijing, China hosted the world’s Winter Olympics,
And on the western front, US Coast Guard disrupted China naval excursions.

Like with every year, we said goodbye to so many that we will miss.
Those who have died include: Queen Elizabeth II, Sidney Poitier, Jerry Lee Lewis, 
Olivia Newton-John, Pelé, Barbara Walters, Meat Loaf the singer, 
Ray Liotta, Loretta Lynn, and Coolio the rapper.
And Serena Williams and Roger Federer retired from professional tennis.

Sadly, this is my last New Year’s log entry as Base Kodiak CO.
It’s been the greatest assignment of my career and it will be difficult for me to go.
You are the hardest working crew with such great unity.
You’re all Mission Support professionals and put the “A” in QUALITY.
You all are heroes to me! You deserve the best that the world can bestow.  

2022! Sayonara…Goodbye…See you never!
The new year has been rung in and we feel the pleasure,
Of new hope and enthusiasm stirring in the air,
New beginnings and fresh starts we can prepare.  
May 2023 bring you all good health, fortune, and successes to treasure.  

By Chief Petty Officer Alan Veach, a boatswain’s mate at Station Golden Gate, California:

Here where the gale winds are blowing off shore, 
we stand the watch with a boat crew of four.
If a crabber is stricken and the swells are ‘a tossin’ her, 
we’ll ring Chief Hunter, the command duty officer.
If the boat and her crew shall be put out to sea, 
it’ll be ‘pon the orders of our OOD.
Chief Veach be his name, and there’s MK2 Taylor,
the engineer ‘o watch and one hell of a sailor.
Rodriguez-Ayala, the seaman on the horn
will stand in comms if a SAR case is born.

There’s more to be writing, 
though it be less exciting,
like advisories from DHS to D-11.
Worry not, old friend, soon we’ll talk Forty Sevens.
INFOCON’s Zero, BRAVO’s the FPCON
Sector SF’s commander runs what’s going on.

Now on to topics so much more nautical, 
like the ATON that watches in the regions aquatical.
They all watch quite properly, nothing seems strange,
in spite of the one fathom swing of the day’s tidal range.
Currents at max flood are three point one eight,
a person adrift would be sure tempting fate.

I’ll now speak of lifeboats, proud and tired though they be.
This hard-working crew have made two FMC.
Ready are the boats ‘267 and ‘245,
but fear not, lost sailor, the third’s still alive.
NMCM is the ‘292, but it can still save,
requires but a haircut; its stern needs a shave. 

Our three RB-S II’s are like a litter of pups:
Two are down hard and one is still up.
The ‘127 is NMCM, stuck on a trailer,
the ‘154’s cracked at KKMI with the Bertrams and Whalers,
the ‘157 is splashed and ready for sea, 
half drowned in rain but still FMC.

So that is the status at this Life Boat Station.
The cooks will soon be here with rations and bacon.
For a new day is dawning and the sea is still free
at STA Golden Gate in Twenty Twenty Three.

Seaman Dylyn J. Gonzales Coast Guard Cutter Oliver Henry

Consider this; a night on the open sea. Humans scratch and claw to get a taste of its glory and bounty. To both brave its harshness and enjoy its splendid serenity. But tonight, some of our crew sleep soundly, cradled in the warm arms of a blue lagoon named Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. Many remain up, staring at the sky as fireworks light up the beautiful island.

Tonight, We ring in the new year with the kind words of our protector, our vessel, our muse, good ol' Cutter Oliver Henry. No one but the man above and the righteous powers that be — Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam — know where. Our hatches battened to the tune of yoke, and our lights, shine true. The cutter sleeps now…as soundly as our small boat, its trusty ward, nestled softly in the notch.

I sit in silent reverence and reflection on the year that passed. A year that saw us travel throughout the vast Pacific bringing the ship to new horizons. A year of building relationships, some old and some new, for which we are stronger. A year that tested the constitution of these weathered warriors, whimsical poets, and staunch leaders who reside aboard. Lesser men and women may have faltered in the face of this, at times, arduous journey, but with apt fortitude, WE still stand.

Tonight, I am proud to hold my post in their stead. Tonight, I am their representative. Some call me Dylyn Jai. Some call me Gonzo, but tonight, I am no more than a humble sentry accompanying our intrepid vessel through the starry dead of night and into the new year.

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