Guardians of 2010: November

Written by: Christopher Lagan

Each week we honor members of the Coast Guard family as “Guardian of the Week” for their leadership, devotion to duty, and contributions to our service. As we close out 2010, we’re looking back over the year to celebrate the contributions of the Guardians of 2010. Today, we revisit those recognized in November 2010.

Auxiliary Commodore Nicholas Kerigan – November 5, 2010

We kicked off the month of November by looking back at the two-years Commodore Nicholas Kerigan led the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Kerigan oversaw a complete reorganization of the 31,000-plus volunteer force while supporting major operations including the Haiti earthquake response, Operation Arctic Crossroads, and the Deepwater Horizon Response.

Kerigan, a member of the Auxiliary since 1992, was busy leading from the top, but showed his constant dedication to all Auxiliary members by his wealth of qualifications. Kerigan maintained qualifications as coxswain, air observer, vessel examiner, instructor and a qualification examiner.

Ed Kruska – November 12, 2010

A recently retired Chief Warrant Officer, Ed Kruska spent a good portion of his career promoting our service and the memories of those who have worn the uniform. While serving as the editor of Coast Guard Reservist magazine, Kruska published a story about Coast Guard monuments across the United States urging Coast Guardsmen nationwide to pay their dues to those who served before them. That story was the inspiration for Coast Guard Flags Across America.

“It is an honor and privilege to commemorate the service of Coast Guard veterans that guarded our coasts in peace and defended our Nation in war,” said [Adm. Bob] Papp, adding, “With Flags Across America, Ed Kruska has established in our service a powerful way for us to observe these manners of our profession with dignity and admiration.”

Christine Greiner – November 19, 2010

As we headed into Thanksgiving Week, we found ourselves expressing our gratitude to Mrs. Christine Greiner, Ombudsman for the Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis homeported in Honolulu, Hawaii. As ombudsman, Greiner is quite literally the key link between the crew of the 378-foot cutter and the family members left behind when the ship deploys.

“Ombudsmen volunteer their time and talents to create a community for unit family members left behind,” said Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Michael Leavitt praising the efforts of all Ombudsmen. “Their hard work and dedication allows members of the Coast Guard to continue to focus on mission execution while being secure in the knowledge that things are running smoothly on the home front.”

LTJG Steven Lewis – November 26, 2010

The international response to the Carnival Splendor, the cruise ship left adrift more than 100 miles off the coast of California by an engine fire, made for great television news and some interesting challenges for Coast Guard responders, including one ensign whose training and ingenuity were put to the test by this unique rescue mission.

Landing a U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk helicopter on a Panamanian-flagged cruise ship presented unique challenges. Adding to the complexities of the operation was the need to communicate with multiple entities including the aircraft commander, supply chief and on scene commander. Lewis used his training and experience to assure the team that it could be done safely – besides, the Lido deck was at least twice the size of the VERTREP area on Morgenthau.

Congratulations to all of the Guardians of 2010! Come back tomorrow as we wrap up our tribute series with the Guardians of the Week for December 2010.

Guardians of 2010: August

Written by: Christopher Lagan

Each week Coast Guard Compass honors members of the Coast Guard family as “Guardian of the Week” for their leadership, devotion to duty, and contributions to our service. As we close out 2010, we’re looking back over the year to celebrate the contributions of the Guardians of 2010. Today, we revisit those recognized in August 2010.

LTjg Amanda Bazinet – August 9, 2010

Anyone who has spent time at sea knows that there are those who thrive above decks and those with a unique ability to keep the engines running. It is a rare occurrence for a military officer to succeed in both worlds given the demands of life afloat, but that is exactly what Lt. j.g. Bazinet did aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba.

One of the steepest learning curves for a junior officer on a cutter is watch qualification, usually as an engineer or deck watch. The former entails learning how to operate all of the mechanical components on board the ship, the latter places the officer in charge of the operation of the entire ship. Most officers qualify in one or the other. Bazinet did both.

“It’s not unheard of,” said Cdr. Edward Westfall, Escanaba commanding officer, “but it’s not very common either.”

The crew of CG 6565 – August 13, 2010

The designation “Guardian of the Week” is usually reserved for an individual, but sometimes a crew – in this case an aircrew, demonstrate such exceptional teamwork that we honor them all. The crew of Coast Guard rescue helicopter 6565 turned what could have been a fatal case into your typical Coast Guard rescue.

Many (search and rescue) responders describe trying to find a person in the water at altitude like trying to find a needle in a haystack. And the conditions that day made the case even tougher – no position certainty and no information on what, or who was in the water if anything or anyone. All the crew knew was they needed to go check it out.

The persistence, dedication and excellent local area knowledge of the aircrew paid off. In only the first pass, flying at 200 feet or about 20 stories up, Lt. (Jeff) Jacobs inexplicably, spotted a woman in the water.

SKC Dave Curran – August 20, 2010

A shared love of fly fishing led Chief Petty Officer Curran to honor the loss of his brother Carl, an Army National Guardsman killed by an IED in Iraq, by sharing the sport that meant so much to both of them with disabled veterans returning from war.

“My time spent sharing my hobby is like giving the trip I had promised to my brother,” said Curran.

Curran worked tirelessly with Project Healing Waters to plan a weeklong fly-fishing excursion on the American River near Kodiak for five disabled military members and veterans.

Master Chief Steven Hearn – August 27, 2010

Over the past 220 years, the Coast Guard has evolved to face new threats to our national security and advanced the way the world protects people at sea. Yet, in all that time, one thing hasn’t changed – Coast Guardsmen have always battled the sea to save lives and prove their mettle. With more than 22 years spent serving at sea, Master Chief Hearn is considered the Coast Guard’s Silver Ancient Mariner, a designation held only by the “saltiest” of those to go to sea as a member of our service.

The Gold and Silver Ancient Mariner awards, established in 1978, honor the officer and enlisted member who personifies the dedication and professionalism associated with long service at sea and has the distinction of being called a “Cutterman” longer than any other active duty member.

Congratulations to all of the Guardians of 2010! Come back tomorrow as we pay tribute to the Guardians of the Week for September 2010.

Guardian of the Week – Auxiliary Commodore Nicholas Kerigan

Friday, November 5, 2010

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

Nicholas Kerigan served honorably as National Commodore of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the all-volunteer force that continues to set the standard for the resiliency that is so necessary for our service. Kerigan’s commitment to the force resonated through every volunteer member as they forged ahead in keeping the nation’s waterways safer and more secure.

“I have had many great experiences,” said Kerigan reflecting on his two years leading America’s 31,000 auxiliarists. “But the most valuable for me are those occasions when I traveled to visit our districts and had the opportunity to hear directly from members regarding how we could make the changes to make their membership experience better.”

Kerigan’s term as Auxiliary Commodore coincided with a nationwide reorganization for the Auxiliary as well as an increase in membership across local chapters. In fact, during Kerigan’s term as Commodore over 8 million hours occurred in member activity in which they contributed to pivotal events in our service.

Auxiliary members deployed in the after hours of the earthquake in Haiti and revamped response efforts by creating an innovative system in finding those who needed help and where they were stranded. The highly skilled Auxiliary teams used various communication sources to pass information to command centers where rescuers were dispatched.

A team of auxiliary members volunteered to deploy to the northern reaches of the United States as they provided their expertise as part of Operation Arctic Crossroads. The auxiliary crews, with other humanitarian responders, visited Northern Alaskan villages over a period of 20 days and taught imperative boating safety and survival skills.

Auxiliary members also served, and continue to serve, in a range of capacities that support Deepwater Horizon spill operations. Their efforts include over 5,000 hours of work to monitor the readiness of vessels participating in clean-up operations, checking deployed boom, supporting the area command center and augmenting public affairs.

“Commodore Kerigan has done an exceptional job as the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Commodore,” said Admiral Bob Papp, Commandant of the Coast Guard. “He has brilliantly guided this volunteer force in promoting recreational boating safety, enhancing the security of U.S. waters, and supporting disaster responses like the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.”

Kerigan, a member of the Auxiliary since 1992, was busy leading from the top, but showed his constant dedication to all Auxiliary members by his wealth of qualifications. Kerigan maintained qualifications as coxswain, air observer, vessel examiner, instructor and a qualification examiner.

“The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is the finest organization of volunteers in the world,” said Kerigan. “Incoming auxiliarists have many choices in the types of programs they wish to participate and my advice to them is to choose the programs they find interesting, become proficient in that program and most importantly have fun.”