Comments on: Ranger Down: The Coast Guard’s most extreme mission

By: twofoot

twofoot — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 01:20:49 +0000

Hey why do you have to be at least 5’10″ to join the Coast Guard? So you can walk to shore if your boat sinks.

Seriously, as my fellow Marines-and everyone else as well-have pointed out, the Coasties are essentially the forgotton in most peoples minds. Few understand what they do. Fewer still realize that even in times of “peace”, these fine young men and women put it on the line every day. From cargo inspections to boarding ships at sea to daring rescues.

My only complaint with the Coast Guard was how they used to ruin a good nights sleep at wonderful MCRD San Diego by flying those annoying loud helicopters overhead.

By: bilgerat

bilgerat — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 10:34:30 +0000

The Coast Guard is also very active in local marine environmental issues such as organizing clean up crews for the beaches and public education regarding environmental issues.

The public doesn’t realize just how much the CG does to ensure boating safety, port and vessel security, vessel manning and management, to name a few. So much of their job is done “behind the scenes” with little or no credit given to them.

It’s great to see some good PR for the Coasties, they deserve it.

Semper Paratus

By: CJrun

CJrun — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 03:34:22 +0000

I have a soft spot for Coasties, but I disliked the title of the article. This was March and look at those seas, they’re practically flat. For the Berring Sea, that’s fine weather. This could never be described as the Coastie’s most extreme rescue.

This is modern PR, plus standard foolishness. The Japanese call a vessel-loss like that, in the Berring, Ni Roku, a 26. And a 26 doesn’t happen in March. Killing all 26 people on board with poor decision making usually happens in Winter, and it’s considered poor-Captaining on the part of the fishing vessel.

Now, I’ve seen Coasties come in and get guys in high seas and bad weather, but they didn’t have camcorders and a voice-over. That was the most extreme effort ever made in the presence of flat seas, nice lighting, and a nice, warm, dry studio.

By: Mr Michael

Mr Michael — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 01:59:13 +0000

The CG’s work is not done in this episode. In the past, all personnel onboard the fishing vessels had to don the Survival Suit as a Safety exercise, sure… but were never trained on what to do once they were in the water. This Spring, the Coast Guard is supervising and operating training in Seattle. Once in the suits, the employees from the fishing vessels have to jump off the boat into cold water, crawl into a raft, and float unassisted for a specified period of time before they are qualified to work up in the Alaskan waters. I don’t know if it’s mandatory for all companies, but at least ONE is making all of their crews (including the Ship’s Officers) go through this training.

The UNglamorous stuff done by the USCG is just as impressive as the big screen type stuff…

By: AlohaGuy

AlohaGuy — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:52:11 +0000

Dumb question from a Brit, but do they wear them red outfits like on Baywatch?

Yes, and at the Coast Guard Academy they spend four years learning to run in slow motion.

By: Mooseman

Mooseman — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 00:35:41 +0000

My father was an HM1 in the USCGR, I know he will love this article. I’ll have to pick up the magazine and give it to him.

Semper Paratus and Bravo Zulu from this sailor!

Mooseman

By: jimg

jimg — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 23:21:07 +0000

Saw a Discovery (or was it History) Channel special on this mission.

I’m not aware of any footage related to this disaster, and I’ve been following it closely since it happened. I believe you’re confusing it with another, smaller rescue that was shown on Deadliest Catch two weeks ago.

This event happened at night, involved dozens of people and five fatalities. There’s been no footage on TV as far as I know.

By: graysonret

graysonret — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:52:10 +0000

I remember as a little kid that being in Coast Guard Rescue would be the “coolest thing”. I even had a poster of a USCG helicopter on my wall. Well, times change and one moves on to other things, but I still have the deepest respect for those guys who risk their own lives, to save others. They are a fantastic bunch of heroes.

By: wrcnossen

wrcnossen — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:35:21 +0000

I have spent alot of time on both coasts and Hawaii, and I have always been amaized at the increadable rescues these men do under the worst conditions. They have great big brass ones, and they do not get the respect they deserve.

By: Uncle Ralph

Uncle Ralph — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 22:05:17 +0000

Got any pictures of your USCG? Want to see some? Go to Flickr: Semper Paratus -- The U.S. Coast Guard

By: zorro

zorro — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:41:54 +0000

On June 19th, 2008 at 1:14 pm, Boomer said:
Thanks for sharing this story Michelle the members of the US Coast Guard that perform the dangerous search and rescue remind me a lot of a small known group of elite Airmen that live by the motto “so other’s may live.”

That would be our USAF Special Operators from Ft. Walton Beach.

By: Die Hippie, Die

Die Hippie, Die — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:35:53 +0000

Saw a Discovery (or was it History) Channel special on this mission. Those gents have The Right Stuff.

By: WLBCO

WLBCO — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 21:25:15 +0000

Try serving on the rolling deck of a sea going buoy tender sometime, with several tons of steel rolling and swinging around a slippery deck. These unsung heroes perform this dirty and unsafe duty daily to keep the waterways properly marked to facilitate the safe transit of all vessels into our ports thus keeping the economy strong.

By: ezupirate75

ezupirate75 — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:52:31 +0000

Hats off to the Hip-boot Navy, they have some of the toughest assignments around.

By: chapoutier

chapoutier — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 20:02:31 +0000

Please remember that the Coast Guard was just about the only ones actually rescuing people after Katrina hit the NO region.

WHAT ABOUT SEAN PENN!!!!