Volume LVI Number 2

Summer 2010
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District United States Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District
http://www.cgaux7.org/ http://www.cgaux7.org/
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Division Commanders 2010
Division 1... Osvaldo Manuel Catinchi
Division 2......... David Fuller
Division 3.... J . P. Feighery, J r.
Division 4........... Frederick Hill
Division 5..... Wilson Riggan
Division 6...... J udith Hudson
Division 7........ Amos J ohnson
Division 8........... Braxton Ezell
Division 9....... Louis Conti
Division 10......... William Capitan
Division 11..... Melvin Manning
Division 12.. Robert Weskerna
Division 13.... Russell (Dewey) J ackson
Division 14....... J esse Stevens
Division 15. Lawrence Berman
Division 16...... J ames CC Kreglo
Division 17... Nevin Lantry
BREEZE is the official and educational tool of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 7th District and is intended as a publication to keep the member-
ship apprised of the activities of the Auxiliary. All articles and photographs submitted must be consistent with the policies of the Coast Guard and
the Auxiliary and may not be returned.
Personal information of members is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. The use of these rosters, addresses and telephone numbers on any
computer or online service including the Internet is prohibited by the Act.
Comments are encouraged and may be sent to the above named Publication Officer. Articles in the BREEZE may be reprinted provided credit is
given and a copy is sent to the above Editor and Publications Officer.
Do not send changes of address to the BREEZE. You can obtain a change of member information report (7028) from your Materials
Officer and submit it through channels.
Editor & Publications Officer
Dorothy Joan Riley
dottieriley1@verizon.net


The D7 PB Team (ADSO-PB Staff Officers):

J ames Dennen, Content Editor
Gary Barth, ADSO-E
Susan Carty, ADSO-N
Karen Miller, ADSO-W
T. J . Kerbs, Pre-Press & Printing
UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
District Commander:
RADM William D. Baumgartner, USCG

Director of Auxiliary District 7:
CDR Donald L. Winfield
Operations Training Officer:
CWO Ursula Walther


U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

Logistics
James E. Dennen, Directorate Chief
Email: dennen@bellsouth.net
Prevention
Bruce Lindsey, Directorate Chief
Email: blind21414@aol.com
Response
Richard Leys, Directorate Chief
Email: rjleys@bellsouth.net

Is the official publication of the
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
7th District
Volume LVI Number 2 Summer 2010
District Commodore
COMO Donald L. Frasch
Email: d7dco@aol.com
District Chief of Staff
Walter Jaskiewicz
Email: captwrj@aol.com
Immediate Past
District Commodore
COMO Allen Brown
Email: allenbrown902@aol.com
District Captain - North (DCAPT-N)
Reginald Hollar
Email: snoopy@sccc.tv
District Captain - East (DCAPT-E)
Dan Jacquish
Email: djacquish@aol.com
District Captain - West (DCAPT-W)
John Tyson
Email: jtyson0906@aol.com
The Publications Department is as always, a mixed bag.
We have flotillas that are publishing newsletters monthly or
for the first time in years, and too many that never publish at
all. We have divisions that do not have Staff Officers-
Publications and many of the communications that travel
down the Publications chain may or may not reach the in-
tended recipients.

Publications are an important tool for building and maintain-
ing member morale and for conveying a sense of apprecia-
tion for our volunteer members efforts. While none of us
volunteer for this great organization in order to be rewarded,
it can sometimes be disheartening when our hard work is
not acknowledged.

Recognition of our contributions may come via a mention
from a Flotilla Commander or other member at a meeting,
but the more tangible acknowledgements take the form of
awards and published accounts in our newsletters. Now,
here is something that members can share with family and
friends or print to use as recruitment tools. Besides serving
as effective tools for morale building, newsletters chronicle
our activities and serve as important historical records.

As our annual elections approach, I implore the incoming
elected officers to appoint Publications Officers at both divi-
sion and flotilla levels. There is that great line in the movie,
Field of Dreams: If you build it, he will come! With apolo-
gies to the script writers of that great movie, allow us to re-
word that: If you appoint them (publications officers), we will
train!

One more thought: newsletters are a big job! Why not ap-
point a publications team? This will help spread the load.
Some of our best newsletters use this approach to publica-
tion.

Sincerely,
Dorothy J oan Riley
DSO-PB D7
Bridge and Staff A Word From the Editor:
District Commodore ....................................................3
District Chief of Staff....................................................4
Immediate Past District Commodore .5
District Captain North ..............................................6
District Captain West ...............................................8
ASC Sector Charleston .....9
District Captain East ..............................................10

Directorartes

Logistics, DDC-L... .........12
Prevention, DDC-P.............14
Response, DDC-R ............18

Articles
A Memorable Good-bye to a Shipmate ...20
Loss of A Patriot: Tom Phelps. .22
Deepwater Horizon..24
Flotilla 11-1 60th Anniversary.26
Ready-Set-Inflate!......................................................28
NSBW Activities ..30
Never a Dull Moment...32
Division 14 Memorial Wall......34
Division 3 Helo Ops. 35
Use of E-Mail in the Auxiliary.36
Looking Out for the Sailors.38
CC Kreglo: Volunteer Leader Award Nominee.39
Betty Riddle: 30 Years of Service..40
Write Your Flotilla Number Correctly!.........................41
D7 Sector Changes of Watch.42
Trimming a Boat...44
Flare and Fire Safety Expo.46
DCON.48
Summer Reading Program.49
Volume LVI Number 2 Summer 2010


Page 3
From the Bridge
Commodore Donald Frasch
I cant believe how fast the last eighteen months have flown by. It must be because we
have been so very busy that we have not even had the time to notice. Our first quarter this
year was a bit slow. I think it was because of a weak economic condition plus being the
second coldest winter on record for just about every part of the district. We had an EXCOM
meeting in J anuary in Orlando and one night it snowed.
Despite that slow quarter, we bounced back with a fury in all missions including our core
mission of Recreational Boating Safety (RBS). Our second quarter versus first quarter per-
formance was up for Vessel Safety Checks by 202%. Our RBS Program Visits were up
165% and our Public Education classes were also up by 163%. There were several factors
contributing to that success, but I believe the largest single contributor was the creation of
our Team RBS program. It is truly amazing what a team can accomplish when they work
together rather than as individuals. My challenge for everyone is to find new ways to work with your
shipmates as a team and leverage everyones success into an even larger flotilla, division or district
effort. (Integration, Innovation & Integrity)
One of our goals moving forward is to increase our Marine Safety support including a new Unin-
spected Vessel Program (UVP) being driven by Coast Guard Headquarters for the Auxiliary. Our
DSO-MS is working diligently on these to bring them up to full speed throughout the District. Both of
these will be featured training events at our Conference in September in Orlando. Dont miss the
opportunity to get involved.
The mere mention of Marine Safety triggers thinking about the oil
spill in the Gulf known as Deepwater Horizon. Our District has re-
sponded unbelievably well to requests for help. We have already
had several members on site working in the Incident Command
System (ICS) Command Centers, providing Public Affairs assis-
tance, and providing over flights of the spill area with our Auxiliary
Air teams. I expect these efforts to continue at least to the end of
the year. If you want to volunteer to deploy to the spill area, please
be sure you complete the application form and send it up through
the Chain of Leadership.
Our District Conference will take place the last week in September
at the Florida Mall Hotel in Orlando. It will be packed with training
and information as well as elections for all District Officers. Again
this year, Admiral Baumgartner will hold his Commanding Officer
Conference right along with us. It is an excellent opportunity to meet
and talk to the Commanding Officers of the Sectors and Air Stations
in a more relaxed social setting. I hope you all take advantage of it,
including meeting Admiral Baumgartner. He is an avid supporter of
the Auxiliary.
Thanks for all you do!!
CLEARWATER, Fla.COMO Donald Frasch and his wife, Sandy, at the
Clearwater Yacht Club on May 22, 2010 for the Flotilla 11-1 60th
Anniversary celebration. Photo by Deb Mallory
Page 4



The last several months have been extremely busy for all of us. The Coast Guard
Changes of Command throughout the Seventh District bring to the table new command
officers at many levels from Sectors to small boat stations. The departing command has
passed on the value of our service with praise to their incoming command. One of our hid-
den advantages now becomes of greater value, and that is that the majority of our mem-
bers remain year after year in the same area of responsibility, and our knowledge of the
local water is needed for area familiarization for incoming personnel. Auxiliary Aircraft are
an important asset in this.
We must not take for granted the relationships we earned with the outgoing command. We
need to stand proudly by our past commitments as we step forward to present our talents,
skills and resources to assist the Coast Guard with their increasing needs. Our Auxiliary Sector Co-
ordinators are at the front lines of Sectors and are our representatives at their planning sessions to
present our organizational resilience and continued support.
The Deepwater Horizon oil spill has brought a call for Auxiliary assistance. Those members holding
personal qualification standards for Incident Command System (ICS) at USCG Command Posts
have been called up to serve. Special Hazardous Work Operations (Hazwoper) and IPI Training is
required and many members have been attending the courses provided by approved agencies. Re-
sponse commitments on site can last two weeks to thirty days. So far, we have provided members
to check the readiness of response vessels, monitor deployed booms, and participate in clean-up
operations and public affairs.
Our September Conference not only offers great training classes, we will be holding our new bridge
elections as well. Our nominees this year include a field of members who all have the professional
talents, skills and experience to step up to the bridge, who are ready to serve, and who exemplify
our core values.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary celebrated seventy-one years of service on J une 23, 2010. The Auxiliary
has come through many changes these past years and the continued desire to improve our service
has brought modernization to our national organization. The Auxiliary organization is now parallel to
that of the Coast Guard in operations, training, mission support and policy development.
To the exceptional men and women who serve in the Auxiliary, I am confident that we and our future
members will continue to serve the United States Coast Guard and our nation with all of the pride
and honor that we have shown since 1939.
Semper Paratus,
Walter Jaskiewicz, District Chief of Staff
From the Bridge
The Auxiliary
organization is
now parallel to that
of the Coast Guard
in operations,
training, mission
support and policy
development.

Guard Your Own Guard Your Own Guard Your Own
Give generously to the Coast Guard
Mutual Assistance Program.
http://www.cgmahq.org/index.htm


Page 5
Greetings to all members of the Great Seventh District.
This evening I am in the process of rereading an article in one of my favorite maga-
zines, an unusual and far from normal periodical. I would recommend this particular
publication to all members who are involved in the maritime environment and earnestly
seeking to enhance their knowledge and nautical background. What is this magazine
that will surely help you in following the calling to which we all responded when we
took our oath as Coast Guard Auxiliarists? The U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings which
has benefitted the naval services well over the years.
As Auxiliarists we are called to further our training and education in order that we
might better serve the Coast Guard, the boating public and our shipmates. It is essential that we as
blue shirts do not let down any of those who have put their trust in us.
During my tenure as your commodore, I had as a theme the three Is: Integration, Innovation, and
Integrity. It is the last I wish to address for a few moments as this is demanded by the ethos of the
Coast Guard. Integrity does not come with graying hair nor with chronological age but through those
who have gone before us. J ohn Paul J ones put it well when he noted in his qualifications of a naval
officer: Every commander should keep constantly before him (or her) this great truth, that to be well
obeyed, he/she must be perfectly esteemed.
J ust around the corner is our opportunity as Auxiliary members to enhance our knowledge and to
share with others what
we have brought to
the Auxiliary and
Coast Guard table.
Take advantage of the
district conference this
September. Learn,
share and communi-
cate the knowledge
gained with those who
for whatever reason,
could not attend.
Always stay Semper
Paratus. It is not al-
ways easy, but it is
always worthwhile.

COMO Allen Brown, IPDCO
From the Bridge
Every commander
should keep
constantly before
him (or her) this
great truth, that to
be well obeyed, he/
she must be
perfectly
esteemed.
John Paul Jones
WIGGINS PASS, Fla.COMO Allen Brown
presents Betty Riddle with an Auxiliary Member
Service Award at the May 2010 meeting of
Flotilla 96 in Wiggins Pass. Riddles service to
the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary
is featured in this issue of the Breeze, page 40.
Page 6


District Captain North
With half of 2010 now history, District 7 North can report that goals and expectations that
were set are being met or have been exceeded. After a record cold winter, lost ground has
been recovered and in most cases, we exceeded in operational activities.
National Safe Boating Week resulted in numerous events and some first time programs. Bill
Griswold, District Staff Officer State Liaison and his aides are to be commended for the very
first Life J acket For Life Tour 2010. The tour was a joint effort between the Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the U.S. Coast Guard District 7, and all local
partners. Local partners included the Coast Guard Auxiliary, U.S. Power Squadrons, mari-
time law enforcement agencies, and marine vendors. The event was scheduled Sunday, May 23 to
Friday, May 28, 2010. The concept was to begin in J acksonville, Fla. and run a tour boat down the
Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to Miami. The tour boat was a Wear it Florida jet boat accompanied
by a marked FWC boat. At various stops along the way, partnering vessels accompanied the boat
and media events were scheduled. Auxiliarists at local stops were selected to be Port Captains
and helped organize events highlighting the tour and the Wear It message. A shore contingent was
also formed around the Seventh District BAT-PAK life jacket display trailer including both mainte-
nance and relief personnel.
It is estimated that 40,000 people saw the BAT-PAK as it was towed from J acksonville to Miami. On
the initial media event in J acksonville, about 500 boaters saw the displays at Sisters Creek Marina
and Auxiliarists and Power Squadron members conducted 55 vessel safety checks. Along the way
down the ICW, stops were made at Daytona Beach with CG Station Ponce Inlet hosting another me-
dia event. The next stop was Titusville and then Stuart, Fla. for more quick Public Affairs events.
Other stops along the way which included the BAT-PAK were Riviera Beach, Pompano Beach, Wat-
son Island, Miami. The Goodyear Blimp was flown overhead at Pompano Beach displaying the
Wear It message.
During the tour, 42 inflatable life jackets/belt packs and one PEPIRB plus several dozen other prizes
were raffled off for giveaways. Estimated highway awareness contacts exceeded 100,000; boater
and marina awareness contacts numbered over 1,000, and 935 people attended the media events.
Forty-eight agencies and partners participated and at least two television and two newspaper arti-
cles were verified.
Full credit should be given to the participants, the port captains, members of the FWC and Coast
Guard units, Auxiliarists, Power Squadron members and the various vendors who made all this pos-
sible. Particular credit should be given to Brian Rehwinkle, coordinator for FWC, and Bruce Wright,
who led the Coast Guard resources. Division 4, Central Florida, Division 14, North Florida Coast,
and Division 17, The Space Coast all supported the event.
Division 2, Interior Lakes of Georgia has made headlines with their efforts to expand their area of
responsibility (AOR). J ust in the first half of this year, they chartered two new flotillas. Flotilla 23 will
serve to assist the boating public and Coast Guard on the upper eastern lakes in Georgia and North
Carolina. They have already conducted safe boating classes and placed fishing line recycle contain-
ers at some of the local marinas. All seventeen marinas have been set up as Program Visitation
Partners.
Flotilla 27 was chartered on J uly 10, 2010. This flotilla will serve Lakes Oconee and Sinclair which
are southeast of Atlanta, between Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia. This flotilla has already partici-
Reginald Hollar, DCAPT-N
Division 12, Coastal
and Inland South
Carolina is having a
banner year in
reaching and
exceeding goals that
were set for all
programs.

Page 7


pated in numerous Auxiliary programs in Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) missions and marine
operations. All of the flotillas in Division 2 continue to support the Coast Guard and the boating pub-
lic with RBS activities and operations.
Division 10, Coastal Georgia and South Carolina continues to support the Marine Safety Unit (MSU)
in Savannah and Coast Guard Air Station Savannah. Helo operations with the Air Station are ongo-
ing as are weekend safety patrols in support of MSU Savannah and the boating public. Numerous
Public Affairs functions were conducted in support of National Safe Boating Week. Some of the
events included were the Harbour Town Marina Day at Hilton Head, the Darien Waterslide Fair at
Darien, and the Bass Pro Shops in Savannah.
Division 12, Coastal and Inland South Carolina is having a banner year in reaching and exceeding
goals that were set for all programs. Although 2009 was the best year ever for Division 12, the first
half of 2010 has set a new standard. Overall performance as measured in hours invested by the
membership is up 15.5%, Public Education programs are up 18.3%, Coast Guard Administrative
Support is up 87%, Government Agency Support 738% and Marine Safety up 8% just to name a
few. Inland Flotillas, 12-3 and 12-1 continue to provide excellent support for the major lakes in South
Carolina with the RBS pro-
grams and operations. Flotillas
12-6, Mt. Pleasant, 12-8,
Charleston, and 12-12, Edisto
Island provide ongoing support
for Sector and Station Charles-
ton and training for the Citadel
Cadets.
Flotilla 12-10 and their So-
castee Detachment is on the
water every weekend during
the summer to help the Coast
Guard and South Carolina De-
partment of Natural Resources
cope with the influx of tourists
visiting Myrtle Beach and the
Grand Strand. Many of the
tourists become involved in
water activities on the ICW,
and a large number of them
have a limited amount of boat-
ing experience. Weekend inci-
dents are almost a normal oc-
currence due to the number of
personal watercraft and inexpe-
rienced operators on these ves-
sels, many of which are rental
units. Flotilla 12-2 continues to
support the boating public in
the most northern area to the
North Carolina border.
LAKE MURRAY, S.C.Increased boating accidents on Lake Murray, S.C.
prompted WLTX-TV, the South Carolina DNR and U.S. Coast Guard Auxil-
iary Flotilla 12-3 Lake Murray and Flotilla 12-1 Lake Marion to join forces
during National Safe Boating Week to increase public awareness of the impor-
tance of wearing a life jackets and practicing safe boating. Together, they pro-
duced a press event for local WLTX-TV in Columbia, S.C. which aired on
May 28, 2010. Pictured from left to right: DNR- Lt Robert McCullough, Me-
dia Liaison, Lt Billy Downer, Education and Sgt Wes Potter, Boat Owner; U.S.
Coast Auxiliary Flotilla 12-3 Festus Burchfield, Flotilla 12-1 Perry Moses III,
and J oe Livingston. Photo by Barbara Burchfield, Flotilla 12-3.
Page 8


District Captain West
John Tyson, DCAPT-W
TAMPA, Fla. Tampa Radio One, centrally located
within Division 7, was open 24 hours a day between
May 24-29, 2010 when Sector St. Petersburgs Res-
cue-21 radio system was off line. Mike Cabrera was
one of several radio watchstanders who volunteered.
He is seen here on April 29, 2010 responding to a
call in the Flotilla 79 radio room which houses the
Tampa Radio One communications facility.
Photo by Tim Teahan

Like its sister regions in the Coast Guard Auxiliary District 7, the West and its nearly 2,000
Auxiliarists had a busy first half of the year. Several Auxiliarists provided direct support to
Deepwater Horizon clean-up operations; many others volunteered their time and skills assist-
ing Sector Saint Petersburg, its five surface stations and eight cutters, and Air Station Clear-
water. Nearly 12,000 hours were provided in surface operations and operational support to
the Coast Guard, over 1,500 hours of public education instruction was conducted, 4,000 ves-
sels were examined, and Auxiliary aviation facilities flew 650 hours assisting Air Station
Clearwater on logistics, safety, search and rescue and other missions. All divisions and flotil-
las conducted exemplary National Safe Boating Week programs.
Shortly before leaving for his next assignment, Sector Saint Petersburg Commander Capt. Timothy
Close said, Once again, simply outstanding effort by the Auxiliary. He was referring to work by 50
Auxiliarists from Division 11 who devoted the better part of a week assisting on-the-water field test-
ing of new surface radar, electro-optic and infrared sensor equipment by the Coast Guard Research
and Development Center. The data collected from those field tests will be used to develop sweep
width tables for planning Coast Guard search and rescue missions.
The month before the sensor testing exercise, more than 100 Auxiliarists from flotillas across the
West stood one or more radio watches, some most of a night, during a four-day period when the
west Florida Rescue-21 Hi-Site antenna network was disabled. Two Auxiliary aircraft and their crew
provided emergency radio relay coverage over hundreds of miles of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, re-
lieving Air Station Clearwater C-130 aircraft from that duty during daylight hours. Auxiliary radios
intercepted and forwarded two distress calls that were not heard by Coast Guard surface unit radios.
While electronic sensor testing and Rescue-21 emergency radio relay coverage provided important
services to the Coast Guard, they were but a few of the many outstanding services performed year-
to-date by Team West Auxiliarists. We should
all take pride in their accomplishments; they
exemplify our dedication and commitment to
serving Coast Guard missions, and to achieving
a high level of performance through teamwork.
We must make every effort to continue our work
as a team communicating the importance of
boating safely, assisting our active duty ship-
mates, and maintaining the Coast Guard Auxil-
iary as Americas premier volunteer lifesaving
organization. Bravo Zulu to all you shipmates;
thank you for all you do. Keep up your out-
standing work!

Page 9

Sector Charlestons Change of Command took place on J une 18, 2010 at The Citadel in
Mark Clark Hall. Captain Michael F. White relieved Captain Michael F. McAllister, who as-
sumes new duties at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. With Auxiliarists from
all over Georgia and South Carolina present at the ceremony, we welcomed Captain White
and wished Captain McAllister a fond farewell and presented him with a plaque expressing
the Auxiliarys appreciation for his support and encouragement over the past three years.
April and May were busy months in our Sectors area of responsibility (AOR). A new flotilla
was chartered in Division 2 at Lake Chatuge. The lake is both in Georgia and North Caro-
lina, but is over 200 miles from Sector Charleston. Having established excellent partners
with law enforcement agencies, fire departments, and local marine dealers and marinas,
the new flotilla offers a Coast Guard presence on a large inland lake which extends from
North Georgia into North Carolina in the Appalachian Mountains.
May brought the Blue Angels to
Charleston and Sector utilized the
Auxiliary from the two flotillas in the
Charleston area to set up safety
zones during the exhibitions. As ex-
pected, the Auxiliary performed mag-
nificently.
As has been the custom in Sector
Charlestons regular meetings with
the Auxiliary Sector Coordinator, the
District Captain and Division Com-
manders are invited to attend. With
this plan in place, Auxiliary leader-
ship is privy to firsthand information
from Sector, participates in the plan-
ning process, and makes determina-
tions on how the Auxiliary can aug-
ment Sectors varied missions.

Ronald Goldenberg, ASC Sector Charleston
Above: CHARLESTON, S.C. Members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary stand
shoulder-to-shoulder with members of the Coast Guard during the Change of Com-
mand ceremony on J une 18, 2010 at The Citadel when Capt. Michael F. McAllister
relinquished command to Capt. Michael F. White. Auxiliary members look forward
to working under White and presented McAllister a plaque expressing the Auxil-
iarys appreciation for his support and encouragement over the past three years.
Photo by Barbara Burchfield


Left: Geography 101 Lake Chatuge in the Appalachian Mountains is far re-
moved from both the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Gulf of Mexico to the
south. The lake stretches from the Chattahoochee National Forest in Georgia to
the Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and offers boating, swimming,
fishing and a host of other water sports. The Auxiliary offers a much needed Coast
Guard presence on this vast inland water body. (Google map image)

Page 10


The East area of District 7 is an immense area stretching from Vero Beach in Division 5s
area of responsibility (AOR) in the north all the way south through Ft. Lauderdale and Divi-
sion 3, through Miami and Division 6, to the end of the Florida Keys and Division 13. It also
encompasses Puerto Rico and Division 1 plus the U.S. Virgin Islands and Division 16.
It is big and beautiful, but most importantly, diverse. We have Lake Okeechobee and
swamps, we have beautiful beaches, huge cities with the Intracoastal Waterway and rivers,
along with beautiful tropical islands. Along with such a diverse geographic area comes a di-
verse and amazing membership.
I encourage all of our members to put in time and energy in your flotillas and look to the divisions and
then district to spread your talents. It is a pathway to personal growth and experience that is unparal-
leled. Gaining the opportunity to work with so many talented and dedicated people is a true blessing. I
want to take this moment to thank each and every one of you for what you do for this organization and
your country. Each one of you brings special talents to the whole and we are all better for your gift of
time and talent.
Recently, I lost a dear friend who was one of my regular boat crew members. We had spent many
hours together cutting holes in the water. Tom Phelps was a special man. A former Army medical spe-
cialist, he had many stories that bordered on episodes of M.A.S.H. He was a quiet man and respectful
of everyone he dealt with. Whenever asked to do another job, he always accepted and did it with en-
thusiasm. He filled many roles in the Auxiliary, but I will always remember him for filling a special spot
in my heart. We will all miss him very much.
I know you all have friends here like Tom was to me. Make sure they know how special they are to
you and to all of us, every day. You are all unique and special people. You give freely of your time and
wealth, to serve a greater good. You ask for little, expect nothing, and serve without question. Thank
you. It is truly appreciated.
In the last issue, I discussed the many talented people supporting the various National Departments
from Division 5 and Division 3. This month, I would like to recognize those individuals from Division 6
and Division 13 providing service above and beyond while supporting National Departments.
Division 6, serving the Miami-Dade AOR is lead by J udith Hudson as Division Commander. You
probably all know J udith from her work in the Directors Office, but she is also the Directors Executive
Assistant for Security. She is assisted in Division 6 by Thomas Walker as the Division Vice Com-
mander.
George Navarini hails from Division 6, Flotilla 3 and serves in the International Affairs Department as a
Branch Chief. You might remember this next guy, who grabbed national acclaim by bringing home a
national Public Affairs Department award, Christopher Todd of Flotilla 6-11. Chris serves in the Public
Affairs Department as an Assistant Branch Chief.
Moving over to the beautiful Florida Keys and Division 13 we find Dewey J ackson as the Division 13
Commander assisted by J eff Bronsing as Division 13 Vice Commander. Dewey has been extremely
involved with the county Equal Opportunity Commission representing the Auxiliary and helping to or-
ganize volunteers.
Division 13 -- Flotilla 13-8 to be exact is home to J ohn Cooper. J ohn serves as the Deputy Director in
District Captain East
Dan Jacquish, DCAPT-E

Page 11

the International Affairs
Directorate (IA). Addi-
tionally, he holds an-
other position in IA as a
Division Chief. Finally,
we want to recognize
Donald Zinner, also of
Flotilla 13-8. Don serves
as the Branch Chief for
Training in the Aviation
Division of the Response
Department.
We have special people
from one end of this
great area to the other.
Whether serving in the
prestigious positions on
national staff, working on
the various district posi-
tions, on the division or
flotilla level or doing ves-
sel exams, teaching
public education or pa-
trolling our waters, each
and every one of you
performs a role that
makes this organization
great. Each role is a key
to making everything
work together.
Thanks again for every-
thing you do. Someone
is watching. Whether its
the boater that waves
hello; the kid that smiles;
the young person that
thinks the Coast Guard
might be a good career;
or the motorist who
says, Wow, I didnt
know the Coast Guard
did that! Someone is
watching and thinking,
Boy, Im glad theyre out
there.

Be safe.Be proud.. Be Semper Paratus!
MIAMI - Flotilla 6-11's operational facility Bravo Zulu helps enforce a safety zone at the Red Bull Flutag
regatta held on Saturday, J uly 10, 2010. Working the vessel are Don Manson, coxswain and boat crew-
members Bob Evans, Karen Lanahan, and Alex Tellchea.
Photo by Christopher Todd




Page 12
Logistics Directorate
James Dennen, DDC-L D7
Logistics:

Communication
Services

Human Resources

Information
Services

Public Affairs

Publications

Materials

The memo below illustrates
the impact that the oil spill
has had on one flotillas new
member e-Responders. This
same situation is occurring
throughout the district. The oil
spill has created a tremen-
dous opportunity to talk to
prospective members about
joining the Auxiliary. We have to make certain, however,
that we tell the prospective members that while the
courses they need such as Incident Command Systems
(ICS) and Hazardous Waste Operations (Hazwoper)
training are available, the chances that a new member
could get trained in time to be used effectively in this con-
tingency is probably not realistic. We want new members.
What we dont want are members that join under false
pretenses and disenroll a few months later because their
goals arent met.
J im Dennen DDC-L

From: Gilbert F. Thomas ADSO-7
To: Angela Pomaro DSO-PS-7
Subject: How the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Af-
fected e-Responders.

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill started on April 20, 2010.
Between May 20 and J uly 8,
2010, Flotilla 74 received
thirteen e-Responders. Out
of the thirteen e-Responders
received, eight have had
their file closed. Fifty percent
(50%) of e-Responders files
that were closed would not
return phone calls or E-
Mails. Twenty-five percent
(25%) of the remaining appli-
cants wanted to clean up oil
and were not interested in
joining the Coast Guard Aux-
iliary. Out of the thirteen ap-
plicants, two became mem-
bers, which is the Flotilla 74
monthly average.
From May 1
through 30 May
2010, there was
an increase of
125 additional
applicants com-
pared to the same
time period last
year. The in-
crease in appli-
cants is probably
due to the oil spill.
The net effect of
those 125 addi-
tional applicants
was an increased
number of hours
for all Human Re-
sources officers at
all levels. If each
applicant is called
three or four
times, e-mailed
once, and spoken
to once, the aver-
age time ex-
pended per new
member applicant
is four hours, for
a total of approxi-
mately 500 hours
of additional work beyond the normal duties of a Division
Human Resources officer and staff.
It has been my experience from both e-Responders and
phone calls that I received via the Flotilla 74 Volunteer
phone line that most of the applicants wanted to help the
US Coast Guard clean up oil immediately, or were looking
for a job to supply them with an income. Another thing be-
came apparent, and that was while they were looking at
the US Coast Guard Auxiliary web site, they found very
little information about the Auxiliary. A lot of time was ex-
pended answering questions about the oil spill; time that
could have been saved if the first question they were
asked had been if they wanted to join the US Coast Guard
Auxiliary or clean up oil. Were we to have another emer-

Gilbert Thomas is the current Flotilla
Commander, Flotilla 74 Brandon, Fla.,
and continues to serve as both Staff Offi-
cer Human Resources for his flotilla as
well as Assistant Staff Officer Human
Resources,
Division 7 Tampa Bay.
Photo by J ohn Lowe

Page 13



gency such as Deepwater Horizon, I would recommend
that the National Web Site have information posted on it
redirecting people to other agencies where people can
get involved.

Flotilla Gains 100th New Member:
Matthew Gary Seel

As a Charleston, South Carolina native and a son of the
Seel's Outboard Marine Dealership owner, to say that I
was raised on Charleston's waterways would be an un-
derstatement. Boating in my family has always been a
cornerstone; I couldn't imagine my life without it. From my
earliest memories to present day, my fondest ones al-
ways involved the water and boating in some form or
fashion. When the opportunity presented itself to enlist in
the United States Coast Guard Reserve, I felt the USCG
was a perfect fit: they serve where I feel is home - the
water.
Upon completion of my freshman year at the Citadel in
May of 2000, I decided to enlist in the reserves. Little did I
know my enlistment would give me the opportunity to
serve my country during one of her greatest times of
need, September 11, 2001. I served the USCG through
9/11, and after graduating from the Citadel I made the de-
cision to take another step toward my favorite pastime. I
loved boating but I wanted bigger boats; I wanted ships. I
decided to attend the State University of New York Mari-
time Academy where I receive a USCG Merchant Mari-
ner's License and a Master's Degree. While in school, I
finished my Coast Guard commitment at Coast Guard Sta-
tion New York, the same station that was among the first
to respond to the 9/11 crisis. I felt honored and privileged
to serve at that Station and finishing my commitment there
gave me a polished view of the significance of our Coast
Guard.
The Coast Guard has presented me with more experi-
ences and opportunities than I could have ever imagined.
From providing tuition assistance at the Citadel to con-
ducting search patterns for fellow boaters in distress to
providing a security escort to the Queen Mary II (cruise
ship) into New York Harbor, the Coast Guard has given
me memories and experiences that will last a lifetime. To-
day, I deal with the Coast Guard in a different light due to
my capacity as a deck officer aboard merchant ships. The
Coast Guard is our Nation's issuing authority on licensure
for vessels and therefore grants me the authority to per-
form my occupation. The Coast Guard has played such an
integral part in my life and given me so much since my
enlistment.
When the opportunity arose
to volunteer and serve the
Coast Guard Auxiliary in
Charleston, I felt again that
it was yet another perfect fit
and another perfect oppor-
tunity to serve the Coast
Guard and the boating pub-
lic.

Matthew Gary Seel is the 100th
new member of Flotilla 12-8
Charleston. Seel holds a Mer-
chant Marine License and is a
former member of the Coast
Guard Reserve.
Photo provided by Matthew
Gary Seel



Page 14

article can help you become one of these select mem-
bers.
Marine Safety and Environmental Protection
J ohn D. Sprague-Williams, DSO-MS

With all the turm-oil in the Gulf, environmental protection
has once again come into vogue. The demands for Auxil-
iarists who are Assistant Pollution Response Specialists
and Assistant Federal On-Scene Coordinator Represen-
tatives (Formerly Assistant Pollution Investigator) have
been among the first to be requested as volunteers to go
to the Gulf. I have been asked many times how soon a
member could earn these two Personal Qualifications and
head out. Its just not that simple. To get started, I recom-
mend this procedure:
1. First, take the Good Mate course. This will allow the
newcomer to Marine Safety to see whether or not s/he
even likes the field. It is an e-learning course that can be
started and completed entirely online and is divided into
three main parts: (1) The Water Environment (2)The Con-
nection Between Water And Recreational Boating and (3)
Potential Environmental Impacts Of Recreational Boating
And Marina Operations
2. Complete IMSEP (Introduction to Marine Safety and
Environmental Protection) E-Train Course. The main ob-
jectives of this course are:
a. The history, organization and missions of marine safety
in the Coast Guard.
b. The elements of the marine safety program in the ar-
eas of marine inspection and port operations.
c. The marine environmental protection program of the
Coast Guard.
d. Planning and emergency management responsibilities
of the Coast Guard.
e. Port security and waterway management functions of
the Coast Guard.
f. The Reserve and Auxiliary support program, its rela-
tionship with the Coast Guard in planning and allocating
resources to program needs, and its communications and
information management initiatives to insure that it is
working smartly and effectively with the Coast Guard.

Prevention:

Marine Safety

Member
Training

Public Education

Program Visitor

State Liaison

Vessel
Examinations
Bruce Lindsey, DDC-P D7
Prevention Directorate
Prevention Directorate
functions include envi-
ronmental protection
and getting the word
out about safety, be it
boating or environ-
mental. Obviously, the
oil spill in the Gulf has
heightened both inter-
est in, and the need for
environmental protec-
tion. Weve had calls
for Auxiliarists to augment the Coast Guard with several
environmental protection specialties. In the following
article, J ohn Sprague-Williams, District Staff Officer-
Marine Safety (DSO-MS) provides details to qualify for
in-demand technical environmental specialties. One
group of common requirements J ohn mentions are the
Incident Command System (ICS) courses required for
operations and environmental qualifications. Among
these is ICS-210, a Coast Guard specific course re-
quired for first responders. The course is not offered
often, and as a result, is very difficult to get. Tom Hay-
den, District Staff Officer Member Training (DSO-MT)
has arranged for the course to be conducted twice on
Saturday, September 25, 2010 at the District Confer-
ence. Those wishing to attend may get more informa-
tion and must register in advance with Mary Kennedy,
Assistant District Staff Officer
Member Training (ADSO-
MT) at -
mayrk19@bellsouth.net.
In the second article, Chuck
Kelemen, District Staff Offi-
cer Vessel Examinations
(DSO-VE) provides informa-
tion for qualifying for the
prestigious Recreational
Boating Safety (RBS) De-
vice. The requirements for
this award represent signifi-
cant accomplishment in sev-
eral areas of promoting boat-
ing safety and environmental
protection. The award can
justifiably be worn proudly-
but is worn by very few. This

Page 15




You can complete the application for the Marine Safety
Ribbon once you have successfully completed all of the
above requirements and now you can start working on
the Personal Qualification Standards (PQSs)-four of them
- but you cant just pick and choose which ones you want
from the below list.
Unlike other Auxiliary programs, where you have
autonomy in selecting what you wish to pursue, you
do not have sole control over which specialties you
may pursue. Because each Coast Guard Unit has
specific needs for your geographic area, you must
select the specialties from among those that your
local unit has a need for Auxiliarists to perform. You
will also need to find a mentor that can help you
through the process.
Below are the specialties that are available:

AUX-ACP Assistant Contingency Planner (Formerly As-
sistant Contingency Preparedness Specialist)
AUX-AEI Assistant Port State Control Examiner
(Formerly Port State Control Boarding Team Assistant )
A UX- CI Assi stant Contai ner I nspector
AUX-ED Assistant Federal On Scene Coordinator Repre-
sentative (Formerly Assistant Pollution Investigator)
AUX-EK Assistant Harbor Safety Officer
AUX-ET Assistant Pollution Response Specialist
AUX-EU Assistant Facilities Inspector
AUX-LDEV Assistant License & Document Evaluator
AUX-LDEX Assistant License & Document Examiner
AUX-LR Assistant Liferaft Inspector
AUX-MEES Prevention Outreach Specialist (Formerly
Marine Environmental Education Specialist)
AUX-MSAM Marine Safety Administrative & Manage-
ment Specialist
AUX-MSW Marine Safety Watchstander
AUX-PSC Port State Control Dispatcher
AUX-UPV Uninspected Passenger Vessel Examiner
AUX-UTV Uninspected Towing Vessel Examiner
CFVE Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Examiner
AUX-FO Assistant Marine Casualty Investigator
AUX-EO Assistant Maritime Enforcement Investigator
AUX-FN Assistant Suspension and Revocation Inspector
AUX-TI Assistant T-Boat Inspector
AUX-KI Assistant K-Boat Inspector
AUX-MI Assistant Machinery Inspector
AUX-MS Assistant Machinery Inspector (steam)
AUX-BI Assistant Barge Inspector
AUX-HI Assistant Hull Inspector
AUX-FPVE Assistant Foreign Passenger Vessel Exam-
(Continued on page 16)
g. Member training resources, structure and recognition
of members for development and completion of profes-
sional skills to support the marine safety program.
The course is available in several formats to meet stu-
dent learning needs and preferences. It is produced in
traditional booklet format for individual and group study;
and it is produced in electronic format for presentation on
personal computers and workstations for user-driven
study opportunities. In this latter format, it is able to inter-
act with new learning management software to manage
the students individual progress, present audio-visual
and interactive formats, and provide real time updates on
student progress and performance.
3. Complete ICS courses, most of which are available on-
line: ICS-100.a, 200.a, 700.a, and 800.b are available at:
http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp. Also required is
ICS-210, which is a Coast Guard four-hour classroom
course, or as an alternative, ICS-300, which is a three-
day classroom course frequently available from local
emergency management agencies or other (usually) gov-
ernmental sources.
4. Complete IIMS course this course must be ordered
and proctored by USCG active duty. Check with your Flo-
tilla Staff Officer Marine Safety (FSO-MS) before doing
this.
J ohn Sprague-Williams
District Staff Officer Marine Safety and member of Flotilla 27 Lake
Sinclair, Ga.



Page 16

iner
AUX-FFVE Assistant Foreign Freight Vessel Examiner
AUX-WM Assistant Waterways Management Represen-
tative

For further information please visit the website http://
pdept.cgaux.org/TridentMain.htm
If you have any questions, please contact your FSO-MS.


Recreational Boating Safety Device
Award
Chuck Kelemen, DSO-VE

The Auxiliary Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) Device
recognizes the extraordinary efforts of Auxiliarists in the
7
th
District who consistently provide strong support to the
D-7 RBS Plan and its programs. Consequently, the eligi-
bility criterion requires significant RBS program activity
over a minimum period of two years.
Members must compile 120 points per year for two con-
secutive years (for a total of 240 points) to be eligible.
Hours for prescribed mission
codes are reported on the
Mission Activity Report (ANSC
- 7030) form. Vessel Safety
Checks (VSC) and Facility
inspections are reported on
the Vessel Examination Activ-
ity Report (ANSC-7038). RBS
Program Visits are reported
on the RBS Visitation Report
(ANSC-7046).
Public Education: Hours
must be recorded using any
mission code 14. One point is
earned for every hour as lead
instructor and 0.5 points per
hour as an assistant/ aide.
(Preparation and travel time
does not count towards earn-
ing the device.)
Public Affairs: Activities pro-
moting RBS in the following
areas count as one point per
(Continued from page 15) hour limited to actual mission hours (preparation or travel
not included).
Public Lectures, mission code 10 B
Participation in Radio / TV programs, mission code 10 C
Information / VSC Booth, mission code 10 F
Vessel Safety Checks (VSC): Points are earned based
on the number of VSCs and/or facility inspections and
count as one point per VSC or facility inspection.
RBS Program Visitor: One point is earned for each
RBS Program visit.
Legislative Outreach: Hours recorded as Federal or
State Legislative Outreach, mission codes 65A or 65B.
One point per hour limited to face-to-face contact hours
(preparation or travel not included).
(Continued on page 17)



Chuck Kelemen, District Staff Officer Vessel Examinations
congratulates a boater after performing a Vessel Safety Check. He is a
member of Flotilla 29 Lake Lanier, Ga.
(Photographers name not provided.)
Page 17



strive to attain and it can be proudly worn as a testament
to your hard work!
Lets continue to support our District 7 RBS Plan to
achieve our goals and be eligible for this outstanding RBS
Device!

One point for each activity towards the RBS
Device Award...

State RBS Outreach: Hours recorded in meeting with a
state Boating Law Administrator (BLA) or state BLA staff
member, mission code 65 C. One point per hour limited
to face-to-face contact hours (preparation or travel not
included)
Only Directors of the Auxiliary are authorized to place
orders for the RBS Device from ANSC for the purpose of
awarding to Auxiliarists who meet the eligibility criteria as
reported in AUXDATA. Auxiliarists who meet the criteria
are entitled to wear it (uniform location is the same as for
insignia like the Coxswain insignia and Auxiliary Marine
Safety [Trident] insignia) above the left breast pocket.
I believe you will find this is a great goal for all of us to

Above: MIAMIJ ames Simpson from Flotilla 6-11 Miami con-
ducts a Vessel Safety Check at the Rickenbacker Marina on
February 12, 2010. Photo by Christopher Todd, ADSO-PA-SP.
Below: WIGGINS PASS, Fla. Handing out literature at the Bass
Pro Shops during National Safe Boating Week in May 2010 are
Flotilla 96 members Neil Arnal, Dave Shuster and J im McCaffrey.
Photo by J im Mayer.



Page 18

The Response Department
consists of Aviation, Commu-
nications, Navigation Ser-
vices and Operations. For this
issue of the Breeze, we are
featuring aviation operations
and communications with
articles by Cecil Christopher,
District Staff Officer Aviation
(DSO-AV) and J oseph Colee, District Staff Officer Com-
munications (DSO-CM).

VIP Transport
By Cecil Christopher, DSO-AV
VIP transport is one of the
many varied missions
flown by Auxiliary Aviation.
This month, I am reporting
on a recent VIP mission at
Coast Guard Air Station
(CGAS) Borinquen flown
by one of our crews. This
year, we here in the 7
th

District have provided
transportation for all levels
of the United States Coast
Guard command structure
Richard Leys, DDC-R D7
Response Directorate
Response:

Navigation
Services

Operations

Qualification
Examiners

Aviation

Communications
from the Vice Commandant of the USCG down.
On J une 14-16, 2010 Rear Admiral Baumgartner, Com-
mander, 7th District started his District tour with a visit to
Puerto Rico and St. Croix. AUXAIR 222FG, a Cessna
414A owned and piloted by Chuck Fischer and assisted
by Doug Armstrong provided support along with an MH-
65 from Air Station Borinquen for the VIP visit. A slight
change in travel plans required the admiral to be trans-
ported back to San J uan prematurely, making this CGAS
Borinquen Air Auxiliarys first VIP flight. The flight was a
huge success and we anticipate many more to follow.
(Report from AAC Doug Hansen, CGAS Borinquen)



Page 19



Communications
By J oseph Colee, DSO-CM

Whats new in Communica-
tions? Almost everything!
The Coast Guard has asked
me to submit names of watch-
standers who could be de-
ployed to the Gulf to cover the
Horizon Deepwater Oil Spill. I
sent them some names of
members who volunteered for
deployment.
The Coast Guard has also in-
quired about our fixed land and
mobile VHF and HF facilities
on the gulf coast of Florida. We
have 96 fixed land
and 33 mobile facili-
ties in that area at
this time and the
Coast Guard now
has the information
on each station.
There are a lot of questions about who can
operate a radio, who can inspect a radio, and
the difference between Telecommunications
Operator (TCO), Auxiliary Communications
(AUXCOM), and Watchstander. I will try to
cover some of the more frequently asked
questions.
Who can inspect a radio facility? Any flotilla,
division, district, or national communications


Left to right: Captain Eduardo Pino, Com-
mander, Sector San J uan; Rear Admiral Wil-
liam Baumgartner, Commander, Seventh
Coast Guard District; Douglas Armstrong,
CGAS Borinquen, Auxiliary Aircraft Com-
mander and Charles Chuck Fischer, CGAS
Borinquen, Auxiliary Aircraft Commander.
Photo by
staff officer who has also either completed AUXCOM or
TCO.
Who can own and operate a radio facility? Any mem-
ber who has passed either AUXCOM prior to August 1,
2008 or qualified as TCO and has also turned in the
proper security paperwork for Operational Support. (In
order to stand radio guard at an Auxiliary radio facility for
a vessel or aircraft facility, the member must be either
qualified as a Watchstander or be under the direct super-
vision of a qualified Watchstander.)
Who can mentor and sign off the task for TCO? Any
member who is qualified in telecommunications may men-
tor, but the sign off for the task must be from a communi-
cations staff officer or a person already certified as TCO.
For more information check out Resources tab on the
DSO-CM web page at http://cgaux7.org/index7.htm?
page=members. Click the Directorates link on the left
side of the page, select Response Staff Officers, then
select DSO-CM site.
Above: J oseph Colee (standing) and J erry Neal test and inspect a new radio facility for
Flotilla 14-5s new detachment in Green Cove Springs, Fla.
Photo by Helen Russette, Flotilla 14-5




Page 20

STATION LAKE WORTH INLET The Gold
and Silver join forces at Palm Beach Gar-
dens Medical Center.
On Wednesday, J une 9, 2010, members of
team Coast Guard gathered at the side of
one of their own at Palm Beach Gardens
Medical Center Hospice. Confined to his bed,
Auxiliarist Thomas Phelps of Flotilla 51 ap-
peared to be holding court; his hospital bed was sur-
rounded by many of his shipmates, friends and relatives.
Since Tom entered the hospital a week earlier, CWO4
J ames Mullinax, Commander of Coast Guard Station
Lake Worth Inlet visited Tom two or three times a day as
did many of his crew. They considered Tom Phelps, a
radio watchstander for Station Lake Worth, one of their
own. Many Auxiliarists visited him similarly throughout his
ordeal. Leaving Tom alone was not an option.
Though unable to speak, Tom opened his eyes when
BOSN (his signature C.G. calling) Mullinax, called out,
All Surfmen, Heavy Weathermen, Cox-
swains, Crewmen, Oarsmen and Boat-
men, man the rails. BOSN asked Toms
shipmates to sound off one at a time and
as each person said their name Tom
looked in their direction and acknowl-
edged them with his eyes. He knew they
were here for him as the end drew near.
The occasion was to pay formal honors to a shipmate
close to crossing the bar. Auxiliarists in dress uniform
representing Division 5 and District 7, and active duty
shipmates for Station Lake Worth Inlet in ODUs stood at
attention, some struggling to keep their emotions in
check. Once role call was complete, BOSN began the
ceremony by presenting Tom with the Coast Guard Auxil-
iary Achievement Service Medal with the Operational
Distinguishing Device. In addition to the achievement
medal from Captain J ames O. Fitton by order of the Sev-
enth District Commander, the stations active duty com-
ponent made Tom an honorary active duty crewman and
A Memorable Goodbye to a Shipmate
Edwin Greenfield, PAO Station Lake Worth Inlet, USCG

Page 21



awarded him the Senior Boat Forces Insignia. Dan J ac-
quish, District Captain East, was given the honor of pin-
ning the prized badge on Toms pajama top. Following
the formal ceremony, Toms shipmates spoke privately to
Tom congratulating him on a job well done; but for many,
the service was a bittersweet experience.
Tom Phelps contributions to the Auxiliary as a Public
Education Instructor, Division Officer, and Fingerprint
Technician are but a few of his accomplishments, but he
will best be remembered for his role as a radio watch-
stander at Station Lake Worth Inlet where his quiet de-
meanor and droll sense of humor were enjoyed by every-
one. Four of his closest friends in the Auxiliary and in life,
J oanne Mills, Chris Abernethy, Dan J acquish and Angela
Pomaro, all from Flotilla 51, remained in close contact
with Tom throughout his final ordeal. They bear witness
that Tom desired to be buried at sea after his ashes are
mixed with those of his wife. His wishes were carried out.
On Saturday, J une 12, 2010 at approximately 6:15 p.m.,
BOSN Mullinax honored the long military tradition of leav-
ing no shipmate alone or behind and was with Tom as he
crossed the bar. Tom will be remembered for many things
by a great many people. The men and women of Station
Lake Worth Inlet will remember Tom as a Patriot, per-
haps the greatest honor any American can be paid. May
God rest his soul and may he be greeted by Fair Winds
and Following Seas.

Photographs Left page: An Auxiliary vessel from Division 5
escorts the USCG vessel from Station Lake Worth Inlet as they
carry Tom Phelps ashes out to sea. Due to inclement weather,
the Auxiliary vessel could not follow the USCG boat past the
inlet.

Below: CWO4 J ames Mullinax, Commander, Station Lake Worth
Inlet accompanies Tom Phelps ashes out to sea along with fam-
ily members willing to brave the rough waters.
Photos by Diane Riggan



Page 22

LAKE WORTH, Fla. - The Honor Guard arrived early to
practice and to make sure that their uniforms were in or-
der. This was a special occasion and everything needed
to be perfect. They rehearsed their moves, salutes, and
talked about the timing for the changing of the guard.
Then they took a deep breath.
It could have been a gathering for an Auxiliary awards
ceremony or meeting with scores of Auxiliarists in Tropi-
cal Blue. As you looked through the doorway to the next
room, you were reminded of why you were here. White
gloves, combination caps and Auxiliary members solemn
and at attention helped the reality set in.
We gathered to honor Thomas OBrien Phelps, who
joined the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2005
and never wasted a moment since - be it teaching boat-
ing safety courses, qualifying as a crew member or carry-
ing out his duties as Division Department Chief Re-
sponse, Division Five, District Seven. He would show up
in the Mobile Communications unit anywhere or arrive by
boat anytime. He carried out every mission with the same
level of professionalism and always with a smile.
His sister, Deborah Phelps, observed that since moving
to Florida, Tom seemed reborn, adding, He loved the
ocean. Becoming a valued member of the Coast Guard
Auxiliary was just a natural step. With the loss of his be-
loved wife, Gale, his new family, the Auxiliary, gave him a
renewed sense of purpose. Though his children, Lisa and
Katie and grandchildren, Evin and Sawyer were his pride
and joy, his extended family, the Auxiliary, welcomed him
and embraced him. In five short years he touched many
peoples lives by his leadership example and kindness.
The sitting room was filling up fast. There were those of-
fering condolences to his sister, Debby, sister-in-law
Sharon, and his mother, Mrs. Betty Phelps. Everyone
wanted to share a story about some event in their lives
where Tom came to their aid, disregarding his own per-
sonal struggles with a terminal illness. If you needed a
place to stay, he offered his own home; if you needed
someone to talk to he offered his ear. Chris Abernathy
recalls that if you needed a partner for a public affairs
event, he would be there. If the Station was responding to
a case of great need, Tom could be counted on to come
in and relieve the watchstander at Lake Worth without
being asked.
As recently as May 2010, during open house at Coast
Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet, he was driving visitors to
and from their cars in a golf cart and he was still instruct-
ing public education classes. He was passionate about his
support for the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary.
As neighbors and family and other friends gathered, the
ten members of the Honor Guard queued up. Quietly they
took their turns honoring their friend by standing watch at
his casket or standing towards the back of the room. Close
friends and shipmates J oanne Mills, Angela Pomero and
Stu Landau along with Dan J acquish, Chris Abernathy,
Phil Bouckaert, Wilson Riggan, Louis Townsend, Les
McDermott and Bob Krell, filed silently into the chapel.
For nearly two hours, every ten minutes they would salute
and relieve one other, each time passing the casket ren-
dering a slow, steady salute to their friend. Toms mother
whispered at one point, It looks like the entire Coast
Guard is here.
The Loss of a Patriot, Gentleman and
Friend Thomas OBrien Phelps
Article and photographs by Diane Riggan, SO-PA 5
Page 23



As the ceremony closed and everyone filed out of the
chapel, they looked at photos of Tom and his family and
at the commendations and awards placed around the
room such as: Auxiliary Commandants Letter of Com-
mendation, Public Education and Member Training In-
struction Annual Service Award, the Sixth Sustained Aux-
iliary Service Award, Coast Guard Auxiliary Meritorious
Team Commendation Award for Miami Regional Exami-
nation Center Auxiliary Support Team, and presented to
Tom on J une 9, 2010 while he was in the hospital, the
Boat Force Operations Award which read:
Having achieved a heightened level of qualification,
knowledge and experience that includes both practical
and operational components, with a broader understand-
ing and appreciation for boat force command, manage-
ment, support and leadership issuesAuxiliarist Thomas
O. Phelps Honorary is awarded the Boat Force Opera-
tions Gold and Pewter Tone Insignia.
Signed, J.T. Mullinax, BOSN4, CO USCG STA Lake
Worth Inlet
In his final days, Tom Phelps experienced what we hope
we all will: his family and friends at his side paying tribute
to his life and to his service to his country and the Coast
Guard Auxiliary. Everyone had a chance to let Tom know
how he had touched their lives and how much they loved
him. Tom Phelps commanded the respect of Auxiliarists
across Division Five as well as the active duty at Coast
Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet.
At the memorial service held a few days later at
Station Lake Worth Inlet, CWO4 James Mullinax
honored Tom Phelps with these words:

For some, being patriotic is something they do from
time to time when the mood strikes them. For others,
patriotism isnt enough and they dedicate their lives
to being PatriotsTom Phelps didnt talk about be-
ing a patriot he showed he was a patriot through his
deeds and actionsthrough his involvement with the
United States Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxil-
iary. For people like Tom Phelps being Patriotic isnt
enough. A love born of sacrifice, a love that comes
from volunteering yourself for the betterment of your
communityAll of the men and women standing to
your right are Americas Maritime Guardians, some
paid, some volunteers. Some of them are quite liter-
ally heroes. They have distinguished themselves by
rescuing victims of the sea from certain death while
others have distinguished themselves in combat
against their enemies while serving in the military.
Still others have served their country quietly working
to make the waters of the Palm Beaches safer for its
citizensTom Phelps was all of these. If you ask the
Guardians standing to your right who they look up to,
theyll tell you men like Tom who could have been
enjoying retirement on a beach, a cruise in the Carib-
bean or playing shuffle board in a retirement commu-
nity. Your son, father and grandfather chose the road
less traveled and by doing so, earned the highest
honor that can be placed on any American, that of
Patriot. Tom was a friend and shipmate to his Coast
Guard family. Today our service and our country are
a lesser place without him, he will be missed.

Still standing watch over all of us are those men and
women like Thomas OBrien Phelps who have gone
on before us. We carry on in their name, the tradi-
tions of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary
Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty.

Thomas O. Phelps 1946-2010
Captions: Left page: Members of the Division 5 Honor Guard
wait solemnly for the service honoring the passing of member,
Tom OBrien Phelps to begin.

This page: CWO4 J ames Mullinax, Commanding Officer, USCG
Station Lake Worth Inlet, escorts Tom Phelps mother to her
seat at the ceremony to honor him. The Guardians assigned to
the Station stand at parade rest to the front right of the guests
assembled.
Photos by Diane Riggan



Page 24

opments in the
media and sus-
pected that they
would receive
such a call. The
immediate re-
sponse was,
Yes sir, our Go-
Kits are ready --
where do you
need us?
Within days,
Coast Guard
official Tempo-
rary Duty Assign-
ment Orders
were issued and
preparati ons
made to fly to
New Orleans.
Transportation
was arranged to
the Command
Post (CP) in Plaquemines Parish. The forward operating
base in Venice, La. was staffed with more than 3,000 pri-
VENICE, LA: - April 2010, more than 50 miles off-shore
in the Gulf of Mexico, a BP oil rig explodes killing 11 crew
members. The subsequent fire and damage results in the
sinking of the platform and the beginning of the most
massive oil spill in history.
Within minutes of the event, the U.S. Coast Guard is
preparing for a full scale response which will test the
very limits of personnel and resources like never be-
fore.
The Incident Command System (ICS) springs into
action. Initial personnel are dispatched for the imme-
diate Search and Rescue Operations. The necessary
efforts to provide Logistics and Planning support to
the operational response take shape. People with
necessary ICS skill sets are quickly identified and
dispatched to the Gulf.
Nearly three weeks into the response Bill Hanlon and
Gary Krantz (District 7 - Flotilla 31) receive a phone
call from Lt. Ken J ones, Planning Section Chief as-
signed to a Command Post at the mouth of the Mis-
sissippi River Delta. The Lt. asked, Are you available
for deployment to the Gulf?
Both Auxiliary members had been following the devel-
Mission Deepwater Horizon - Are You Semper Paratus?
By William F. Hanlon, ADSO-PA-E





Page 25

vate contractors, clean-up workers, BP Oil employees,
and U.S. Coast Guard Active Duty and Reserve person-
nel.
Immediately, upon arrival at the CP, the Auxiliary mem-
bers were ushered through the check-in process, pro-
vided all necessary safety related gear and a situation
orientation briefing. Both were assigned to the Planning
Section, Krantz in the Resources Unit and Hanlon in the
Documentation Unit.
For nearly a month, the two Auxiliary members worked
side-by-side with Petty Officers, Chiefs, Commissioned
Officers and BP Executives as the strategy for the re-
sponse to the oil spill was executed on a daily basis. The
days were long. Each morning started with an Operations
Briefing at 5:30 A.M. Working 12-15 hours per day was
the norm. From the very first day, their presence at the
CP and interaction with Active Duty and Reserve
Coasties was a seamless integration. The single task and
goal at hand was assisting the local community with pro-
tection and clean-up of spilled oil from their pristine wet-
lands and environmentally sensitive areas. As a testa-
ment to the readiness and effectiveness of the Auxiliary
to provide mission critical support to Team Coast Guard
the Commanding Officer at Plaquemines Branch asked
if the two members could stay on for an extended tour.
Why were these Auxiliary members specifically selected
for this mission? Answer Both were ready (Semper
Paratus) when called. In this instance, Hanlon and Krantz
availed themselves of advanced Auxiliary training
opportunities, practical exercises, and participation in
actual operations involving ICS management and
tasking.
This particular oil spill mission (Deepwater Horizon
MC 252) is like no other ever involving the Coast
Guard. The personnel and resources of Team Coast
Guard are being tested to their very limits as the net
for qualified volunteers is cast wider.
How can you prepare to be effective if requested to
volunteer? Answer Completion of ICS courses is
the first step. The next is to be being current in Boat
Crew, Coxswain, and Air Operations qualifications.
Also, experience in both surface and air search pat-
tern techniques will be a valuable asset for this mis-
sion.
It is likely that as the oil spreads and reaches the East
Coast of the Atlantic Ocean, there will be a need for
Auxiliary Recon vessels to maintain a search of areas
for evidence of oil sheens. Locations will need to be iden-
tified so that Rapid Attack Teams may be dispatched for
actual clean up of the discovered oil slicks.
If not currently ready to help -- now is the time to become
prepared.


Captions:
Left page, top: VENICE, La. Rev. J essie J ackson tours the Plaque-
mines Branch Command Post and staging area for oil spill clean up
efforts on J uly 1, 2010. Here, Rev. J ackson takes a moment along the
docks to offer a prayer for the workers involved in the coastal restora-
tion mission. Pictured in the gathering is District 7 Bill Hanlon, ADSO-
PA (East) who was under Coast Guard orders assisting in Command
Post operations. U.S. Coast Guard photo by U.S. Lt. Ken J ones, Plan-
ning Section Chief
Left page, bottom: MYRTLE GROVE, La. National Incident Com-
mander Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen and Deputy Secretary of the
Interior David Hayes on a staging barge in the Louisiana Bayou on J une
17, 2010. Traveling with the VIP party on a two-hour boat tour of the
area affected by the oil spill is Gary Krantz, FSO-MT Flotilla 31 District 7
Auxiliary. U.S. Coast Guard photo by U.S. Lt. Ken J ones, Planning
Section Chief
Right page: VENICE, La. Bill Hanlon, ADSO-Public Affairs-East, Dis-
trict 7 aboard a BP Recon Team Helicopter on J une 13, 2010 before
liftoff on an orientation flight of the affected wetlands. U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary photo by Gary Krantz, District 7 FSO-MT 31.




Page 26

CLEARWATER, Fla. Flotilla 11-1 Clear-
water, Fla., celebrated its 60th Anniversary
over the weekend of May 22 and May 23,
2010, with a banquet at the Clearwater
Yacht Club on Saturday night followed by a
picnic at Sand Key Park on Sunday.
The events leading up to this memorable
celebration were often very exciting and
rewarding. This included everything from
fund raising to decorating decisions to de-
signing souvenir mugs and receiving city
and county proclamations.
On J une 19, 2010, Congressman C.W.
Bill Young, U.S. House of Representa-
tives, even had a flag flown over Congress
for the flotilla which goes along with the proclamation
which he read into the Federal Register.
How did the flotilla finance such an extravagant celebra-
tion while keeping it free for all of the attendees? The
funding and other preparations commenced three years
prior to the celebration and were successful because the
members of the flotilla supported the whole idea of a su-
per special party. To start off the fund raising, the mem-
bers of the flotilla unanimously voted to donate all the
money provided by the Finance Center for the meal enti-
tlement from all patrols. This brought in thousands of
dollars over the three years. There were numerous
Silent Auctions where members donated new
items and services. This raised hundreds of
dollars. Plus, they held annual White Ele-
phant sales which brought in more money
and let the members buy each others dis-
cards. Then, Deb Mallorys (11-1s Finance
Officer) employer rewards its employees
who perform volunteer work, and those
checks helped to fill the Anniversary Fund
coffers too. In addition, the members earned
additional funds by the bridge and staff feed-
ing the Lingo Loot jar for using acronyms
without a proper explanation.
These efforts ensured a first class celebra-
tion that included a super venue, high-
quality food, souvenirs, lots of guests from
within the Coast Guard family and local community,
snazzy decorations, etc.,-- in other words, an event that
will be remembered affectionately for years.
The formal celebration began with a proclamation from
Pinellas County. On Tuesday, May 18, 2010, Pinellas
County Commissioner Susan Latvala presented the mem-
bers of Flotilla 11-1 with a proclamation that she read into
the records. J erry Osburn, 11-1 Flotilla Vice Commander,
accepted the proclamation on behalf of the members.
Then, on May 20, 2010, the City of Clearwater presented
the flotilla a proclamation celebrating its 60th Anniversary.
On Saturday morning the decorating committee began
their work. They met at the Clearwater Yacht Club at
9:00 am and turned the dining room into Flotilla 11-1s
domain. As one of the servers said, he had never
seen the place look so good; better even than
the decorations for the many weddings they
had there. The decorating committee was
made up of Steve Acuff, Heath Wilder, Barb
Masson, George Masson, Ed Kasper and
was under the watchful eye of Teresa Kasper.
Teresa had the magnificent artistic ideas that
made the dining room so festive.
Saturday night began about 5:00 pm when the
stalwart workers arrived (Teresa Kasper, Ed
Kasper, J erry Osburn, Mel Manning, and
Karen Miller) to put the finishing touches on
the room. A little while later, the flotillas face
to the public reported (Barb Masson, George
Masson, Kim Clark and Frank Toal). The re-
ception table was ready with the programs, dinner tickets,
Getting Better While Getting Older
60th Anniversary Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater, Florida
Story by Karen L. Miller, SO-PB 11, ADSO-PB





Page 27

door prize tickets, the page from the Federal Register,
and guest sign-in book. After Barb, George and Kim
worked with them, Ed and Frank escorted each esteemed
guest to their tables. Almost all the tables were set up with
six seats just the right size for good conversation!
The evening began with cocktails and appetizers and lots
of good conversation. As the guests arrived they were
escorted to their tables, brought to the front of the room to
have their picture taken, and then led to the bar area for
appetizers and cocktails. This allowed everyone to get
comfortable, relax with each other and get ready for the
evenings activities. At 7:30 pm the gathering was called
to order. J im Rudolph, Flotilla Commander, introduced the
long list of dignitaries (members, Auxiliarists, city, state
and federal politicians). J erry Osburn, Flotilla Vice Com-
mander, led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance. Then,
Gary Gray, a member of the Dunedin Flotilla and the flo-
tillas host at the Yacht Club, provided an invocation.
COMO Don Frasch presented Flotilla 11-1 with a plaque
for its 60
th
Anniversary. Dinner was servedthe atten-
dees had a choice of Chicken Oscar, Grouper Picatta or
Filet Mignon.
After dinner, retired Rear Admiral Bill Schwob, a long-time
member of 11-1, was asked to come to the podium.
COMO Don Frasch presented Bill with an Auxiliary Mem-
bership Services Certificate for thirty years as a member
of 11-1. Schwob then delivered an outstanding Keynote
Speechwith just the right combination of humor and
pathos. He entertained the guests with Coast Guard
jokes, described his relationship with the Auxiliary from
his earliest days in the
United States Coast
Guard, and told his audi-
ence how comfortable his
late wife Mary was with
the company of Auxil-
iarists. At the conclusion
of his speech, the audi-
ence rose in unison for a
standing ovation.
The honored guests were
offered the opportunity to
speak to the attendees.
The flotilla members were
regaled with praise and
positive comments. The
evening ended with heart-
felt remarks from J im Ru-
dolph, who presented a
history of 11-1s service to the Coast Guard and the City
of Clearwater and then told the audience about the flo-
tillas plans for the futurea search for a permanent
headquarters on the local waters. Gary Gray concluded
the evening with his rendition of the Coast Guard Hymn.
Even though it was about 10:30 pm, many people stayed
much later to continue socializing.
On Sunday, the members of 11-1 continued their celebra-
tion of the 60th Anniversary with a picnic at Sand Key
Park. This was a catered affair so the members could
enjoy themselves and not worry about slaving over a hot
barbeque. The hot dogs and hamburgers, salads, fruit
and cake were all delicious. Peter Palmieri and J im
Moore were responsible for the picnic arrangements, and
got all of the liquid refreshments, the special cake and
arranged for the caterer. Paul Ingham arranged for the
flotilla to use the shelter at the park; he got a waiver from
the no-alcohol policy; and even provided for free parking.
Flotilla 11-1 might indeed be getting older, but if this cele-
bration is any indication of their abilities to plan and exe-
cute a mission, then they are surely getting better too!

Photograph this page: CLEARWATER, Fla.- Mel Manning,
DCDR 11 and retired RADM William Schwob, USCG, a 30 year
member of 11-1 and keynote speaker stand at the podium on
May 23, 2010 for the Flotilla 11-1 Anniversary celebration.
Photo by Deb Mallory

Photos of tables and Lingo Loot jar by Karen Miller.



Page 28

On May 20, 2010, at precisely 11:00 am EDT, a
coordinated effort was made to set a world record
for the most life jackets inflated at one time. This
event also set the tone for launching National
Safe Boating Week on 22-28 May.
This first annual challenge to inflate life jackets
simultaneously all across North America, the U.S.
Virgin Islands, and Canada was dubbed Ready-
Set-Inflate (RSI). Sponsored by National Safe
Boating Council (NSBC) and Canadian Safe
Boating Council (CSBC), early results totaled
1,137 life jackets inflated in this effort. Not bad
for the first event!
In South Carolina, 28 USCG Station Charleston
personnel and Auxiliarists from several coastal
flotillas participated in a group effort. Burnette
Sheffield, Flotilla Staff Officer Vessel Examina-
tions (FSO-VE) 12-3 Lake Murray, joined with
U.S. Army soldiers J amie Abel and Allison Chan
at Fort J ackson to inflate their life jackets during a safety
event on the base.
As intended, the life jacket inflating events, now called
inflations, have brought attention to life jacket use and
general boating safety awareness. Promoting the use of
light-weight, versatile, and comfortable life jackets is in-
tended to convince boaters to wear them all the time
while boating. Twelve inflatable life jackets were donated
by Mustang Survival to prize winners in a RSI competition
among participants.
You can see this event growing in popularity, with event
photos and stories available at www.ReadySetInflate.com.
There are photos and videos on the RSI Facebook site,
including a pretty funny video of two people and their dog
inflating life jackets to the tune of O Canada. Before and
after inflation photos are filmed in some clever settings.
Replacement CO2 cartridges were provided by Leland,
Ready-Set-Inflate!
By Barbara Burchfield, FSO-PA 12-3





Page 29

Ltd. to 1,000 participants. Na-
tional sponsor of Ready-Set-
Inflate, Cabelas offered their
store locations to hold inflation
events. In Canada, SmartBoater
supported the event as a spon-
sor and advocate for safe boat-
ing.
Next year, Ready-Set-Inflate will
be held at 11:00 am on Satur-
day, May 21, 2011. Get your
cartridges ready, folks!
Phot os: Left page top:
CHARLESTON, S.C.-Twenty-eight (28) members of
USCG Station Charleston and Auxiliarists from several
coastal flotillas participate in the Read-Set-Inflate event
sponsored by the National Safe Boating Council on May
20, 2010.
Bottom left: Burnette Sheffield from Flotilla 12-3 Lake
Murray is joined by U.S. Army soldiers J amie Abel and
Allison Chan at Fort J ackson Army Post to assist in setting
a world record for the Ready-Set-Inflate event.
Photos on left page by Barbara Burchfield.
Photos this page: TAMPA, Fla.Eighteen
(18) Members of USCG Station St. Peters-
burg, Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife
and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 7
Tampa Bay participated in the Ready-Set-
Inflate event held on May 20, 2010.
As part of the days demonstrations, member
Michael Cabrera from Flotilla 79 in Tampa
dons an inflatable life jacket and jumps into
the water to demonstrate how the life jackets
inflate when wet. With television cameras roll-
ing, much to everyones chagrin, the life
jacket did not automatically inflate and
Cabrera had to resort to inflating it manually.
Photos of Division 7 Ready-Set-Inflate event
by J eff Young Photography, Tampa.



Page 30

the time of filming was to air the segment on the evening
news sometime during the week of May 23, 2010, which
was the 2010 National Safe Boating Week. They also had
the segment available on their website - www.wltx.com -
for several days. The segment actually aired on May 28th.
There is much work yet to be done in promoting boating
safety on South Carolina waters. The U.S. Coast Guard,
the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the DNR, along with
many other state and local agencies are working hard
toward this end. And we now owe the staff at WLTX a
great big Thank You for their efforts to help promote
boating safety in South Carolina! Bravo Zulu, WLTX!


WLTX-TV Films
Boating Safety
Segments
By: J oe Livingston, FL 12-1,
Lake Marion, S.C.
LAKE MURRAY, S.C. On Fri-
day, May 21, 2010, members of
Flotilla 12-1 Lake Marion, S.C.,
participated in a public safety
awareness patrol mounted in
collaboration with Flotilla 12-3
Lake Murray, S.C., and the
South Carolina Department of
Natural Resources (DNR) on
Lake Murray, S.C. This patrol
was organized at the request of
WLTX-TV in Columbia, S.C., in
an effort to promote boating
safety to the South Carolina pub-
lic in the wake of the recent fatal
boating accidents that occurred
on Lake Murray, and due to the
high number of boating related
deaths in state waters this year.
Barbara Burchfield, State Auxil-
iary Liaison Officer and Division
12 Public Affairs Officer and hus-
band Festus Burchfield, from Flotilla 12-3, worked with
the staff at WLTX in planning the event which included
the demonstration of some of the Rules of The Road for
boating as well as interviews with Barbara Burchfield and
state DNR officials.
While the Burchfields facility Unit One, provided a stable
platform for the film crew, the DNR boat with three offi-
cers onboard as well as Flotilla 12-1 facility Reel Thrill
with Perry Moses, Larry Odom, and J oe Livingston on-
board demonstrated the proper way for two boats to
safely cross each others paths when crossing at 90 de-
grees, when meeting head on, and when one boat is
overtaking another.
The filming went well with the WLTX staff getting plenty
of good footage both on the water and on the dock at
Flotilla 12-3 headquarters, Flotilla Island. Their plan at
D7 National Safe Boating Week Activities
LAKE MURRAY, S.C. Matt Youngblood, WLTX-TV Channel 19 photographer, shoots video for
their press event on May 21, 2010 and airing on May 28 to promote safe boating during National
Safe Boating Week, May 22-28, 2010. He is shooting film from U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla
12-3s Auxiliary Operational Facility Unit One with Festus Burchfield, coxswain. Flotilla 12-1s facility
Reel Thrill with Perry Moses III, coxswain, along with crew members Larry Odom and J oe Livingston
demonstrate various moves when boats approach each other. U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo by
Barbara Burchfield.







Page 31


TAMPA, Fla. Captain Bill Miller,
host of the popular Brighthouse
Sports Network cable show
"Hooked on Fishing," recently
assisted the Auxiliary in promot-
ing Vessel Safety Checks (VSC),
life jacket use and boating educa-
tion programs during National
Safe Boating Week. With cam-
eras rolling, Vessel Examiner
Craig Starns performs a thorough
VSC on Bill's boat at the Gandy
Ramp on May 22, 2010. The VSC
aired in several segments during
NSBW on "Hooked on Fishing,"
an invaluable help to Auxiliary
boating safety efforts. In case
you're wondering: Bill's vessel did
not pass the initial VSC. His
sound producing device was de-
fective. He replaced the air horn
and brought the boat back for a
recheck. Bill's boat now proudly
sports a 2010 VSC decal.
Photos by Tim Teahan

Below: CLEARWATER, Fla.Flotilla 11-1 Clearwater Florida, traditionally offers its About Boating Safely program (ABS) at the beginning of
National Safe Boating Week (NSBW). This year was no different, other than the flotilla was hard pressed to get enough instructors since sev-
eral members were busy staffing a booth and Vessel Safety Check station at West Marine and several more were preparing the Clearwater
Yacht Club for the flotillas 60
th
Anniversary Celebration that night.

Pictured at the About Boating Safely Program is Teresa Kasper standing at the far end of the room, and staffing the booth at West Marine are
from left, J ohn Caddigan, J eff Lawlor and Tom Kellum. Photos by Karen Miller



Page 32

Never a Dull Moment On a Routine Patrol.
Article by Fr. Dan Freitas, Edited/Co-Authored by Sue Carty, Photos by Julius Nagy
MELBOURNE, Fla.Routine is the word most crew
members think of when they patrol but unusual was
what the crew of the Angel experienced on April 11, 2010
after they got underway for an ordinary training mission.
The Angel, an Auxiliary Operational Facility from Flotilla
17-2 South Brevard, Fla., and crewed by Fr. Dan Freitas,
coxswain; crew- Mike Donahue and Terry Riley; trainees-
J ulius Nagy, Pete Anderson and J oe Kirkman, got under-
way from Waterline Marina in Melbourne, Fla., and pro-
ceeded south in the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) where
their scheduled training went as planned.
Soon after anchoring for lunch near Marker #21, a set of
floating objects and tubes with a makeshift sail, nick-
named by the crew as the armada, floated by with four
persons onboard. The first was two men; one had a line
around himself and the bow of the vessel and the other
was holding to the back with one hand and trying to pad-
dle with the other. It was the first of three such groups.
The crew could not believe what they were seeing. With
two pairs of binoculars onboard, they took turns checking
the progress of the armada. Since no abandoned boats
were in the area and by the gear they were carrying, the
Angels crew presumed that the group had probably
camped overnight on the spoil island, the direction from
which they were coming. The armada was headed for
the mainland, 0.6 of a mile away. Station Canaveral was
notified and the Angel followed their progress as re-
quested. It took over one hour for the last group to reach
land. No life jackets were seen anywhere and no one was
wearing one, but they had an Angel to watch over them
until they all safely reached shore.
Back in the ICW, J ulius Nagy mentioned he had never
been in Melbourne Harbor, so they took a side trip into the
harbor and to do more training. After clearing the Mel-
bourne Causeway back to the ICW, they noticed a sailing
vessel having trouble lowering its sails and changed their
course towards it.
It was Solitude, a 34 foot sailing vessel with three persons
on board. The 11/12 knots east wind carried it across the
ICW from East to West. We suggested they lower the an-
chor and Angel came along its starboard side.
After unsuccessfully trying to lower the sail, Pete Ander-
son and Terry Riley, who own sail boats, saw the forestay
had broken, preventing the sail from being lowered. They
also knew if the sail could not be lowered, the mast could
fall, possibly causing major damage. Dan Freitas, cox-
swain, noticed the sail was already cut and asked Echart
Schneider, owner of the Solitude, for permission to cut
more of the sail to help spill the wind. The
crew used a boat hook to enlarge the cut,
which helped to bring the sail down. The
owner tied the sail to the mast and weighed
anchor. Solitude was escorted safely back
to its slip in Melbourne Harbor.
Not only did the owner and occupants of the
Solitude appreciate the help, but it was a
day to remember for the crew of Angel, who
felt good that they were able to assist in
what could have been a disaster.
Now, that is what you call on the job train-
ing. What a reel story to tell!

Above: MELBOURNE HARBOR, Fla.: Auxiliarists J oe Kirkman, Pete Anderson and Terry Riley rein in a sailing vessels errant sail on
while on patrol April 11, 2010. Mike Donahue can be seen in the left foreground.
Below: During the same patrol, the crew of the Angel spots the Solitude, clearly in trouble!
Opposite page: The armada meanders past the Angel, likely originating from the nearby spoil island.
Page 33



Page 34

flotillas. No permanent record
exists of those who have
passed away. Since its initial
engraving, five more Auxil-
iarists have been identified who
have earned their rite of pas-
sage and will have their name
added to the wall. Presently,
the division is relying on the
memories of their most senior
Auxiliary members to provide
additional names. In its con-
tinuing efforts to show respect,
the Division will conduct a
yearly memorial ceremony for
members who have crossed
the bar.
Funds raised for the Memorial
Wall were generously contrib-
uted by the community, the divi-
sion, flotillas and Auxiliary
membership. As the Division
Vice Commander 14, it was a
labor of love for David Green to
do this for all of the divisions
shipmates, past, present and
future.
Special guests who attended the ceremony included
Captain Andy Blomme, Commander, USCG, Sector J ack-
sonville, Reggie Hollar, District Captain-North, Mayor
Fland Sharp of J acksonville Beach, Mayor Harriet Pruette
of Neptune Beach, City Councilman Tom Taylor of J ack-
sonville Beach, Chief Petty Officer Robert Lehman, Offi-
cer in Charge, Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team in
J acksonville Beach, Chief Warrant Officer J im Devane,
Commanding Officer, Station Mayport, as well as Mrs.
Anne Ping and Mrs. Reidunn Petroni.
In addition to the support shown by the many members
and dignitaries who attended, David Green, VCDR,
wishes to thank Lonnie Young, Florida Project Manager of
the Moyer Marble and Tile Company of J acksonville, who
was helpful in procuring the granite and arranged for the
project to be completed on time and under budget!

J ACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. A ceremony honoring
Division 14 District 7 members who have Crossed the
Bar coincided with the 71st anniversary of the Coast
Guard Auxiliary this J une 26, 2010. The highlight of the
ceremony was the unveiling of an Auxiliary Memorial
Wall, located at the US Coast Guard Aids to Navigation
Station in J acksonville Beach, Florida.
The memorial service commemorated the work of those
members who embodied a commitment to personal duty
and responsibility to their neighbors, community and
country. The names immortalized on the wall will act as a
continual reminder of our friends and shipmates who pre-
ceded us, showed us the way, and did so because of
their love of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Sixty-five names have been engraved on the three-piece
memorial which was carved from Virginia quarried granite
weighing in at 1,200 pounds.
David Green, Vice Commander (VCDR) Division 14 com-
mented that it was nave of him to think that it would be a
simple task to collect all the names from the divisions
Memorial Wall: Division 14 Honors
Members Who Have Crossed the Bar
By David Green, VCDR
Members of Division 14 Honor Guard pose behind the Memorial Wall honoring mem-
bers of Division 14 Coast Guard Auxiliary who have passed on. From left, the mem-
bers are Rich Craven, Scott Thomas, David J ones, Paul Davis, David Green, Ken
Perrone, Bill Sekeres. All personnel are from 14-4 except Scott Thomas and Bill Se-
keres, who are from 14-2. Photograph by Rusty Gardner, FL 14-5






Page 35

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla.Members of Division
3 regularly assist with the on-going training of
the Search and Rescue swimmers assigned to
Station Fort Lauderdale and call these mis-
sions Helo Ops. These photos were taken
during a Helo Ops mission April 30, 2010.
A USCG helicopter lowers AST2 Brad Fitz-
patrick to the Operational facility Heartbeat.
Scott Cleary, Flotilla 37 Lighthouse
Point and Gary J oseph, Flotilla 38 Plan-
tation, Florida receive him while Don
Banos, Flotilla 34 Pompano Beach, is at
the helm. Also on board is Brian Lich-
tenstein from Flotilla 38 in Plantation,
Florida, who took these great shots.
Above: Swimmer being hoisted out of
the water!




Page 36

E-mail is a wonderful communication tool. It has virtually
eliminated the game of telephone tag. Sometimes the
game of tag goes on for so long that you forget what the
original call was about. Not so with e-mail. With e-mail
you transmit a message to your intended recipients and
maintain a record in your computer of the message and
the eventual reply.
E-mail has become an accepted means of communicat-
ing in business and with friends and family. E-mail mes-
sages contain correspondence and reports for business
purposes and personal e-mail containing correspon-
dence, stories, jokes, or religious or political messages.
Usually these are to people we know well and from whom
we have received e-mails containing similar content.
There is relatively small risk in offending our friends and
family with these types of e-mail because we know they
are amenable to receiving them.
E-mail is a powerful and dangerous tool. We can instan-
taneously broadcast a message to a single recipient or
multiple recipients. But it is one of the easiest forms of
communication to misunderstand. The speed with which
we can fire off a message or reply to one can result in a
message that conveys an entirely different meaning than
the one we intended to send.
In our Coast Guard family, e-mail has become a vitally
important tool in conducting our business and is consid-
ered official correspondence. E-mail is a very efficient
form of conveying reports, meeting notices, meeting
agendas, and informational messages. But it can also
offend, hurt, incite, or spread misinformation, causing
animosity and division within the organization.
E-mail is useful when you want to:
Convey detailed information.
Arrange a meeting.
Recap your understanding of a spoken conversation
(phone or in person).
Provide a carefully worded response.
Send a consistent message to a group.
Provide a paper trail.

Avoid using e-mail when:
Youre angry.
Youre responding to someone who is angry.
Youre addressing a sensitive issue.
Youre reprimanding someone.
Youre sharing information that you dont want to be
shared with others.
Youre gossiping or spreading unsubstantiated ru-
mors.
Here are some guidelines to consider before you click on
send the next time:
All Auxiliary and Coast Guard e-mail addresses are
obtained from rosters, other Auxiliarists, Auxiliary e-
mail lists, etc. and are protected under the Freedom
of Information Act. When you give out your e-mail
address for the conduct of Auxiliary business, you do
so with the expectation that its use will be limited to
Auxiliary business.
The roster should not be used as a distribution list to
send e-mails that express personal, political, reli-
gious, or sexual views. Such e-mails only serve to
cause animosity among members and are detrimental
to the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard.
Never send unsolicited personal e-mail to a member
of the Coast Guard at a *.uscg.mil address!
Be careful about sending unsolicited e-mails to other
Auxiliarists that do not pertain to Auxiliary business. E
-mails that contain jokes, pictures, degrading com-
ments about others, etc. can be offensive to others.
Before sending non-business related e-mails, make
sure that the e-mails will be favorably received and is
not unwanted due to its nature and subject matter.
Think about your recipients, the subject matter of your
e-mail, and your recipients knowledge of the subject
before sending.
Write clearly to avoid misunderstandings.
Consider that the e-mail may go beyond your in-
tended recipient.
Avoid rumor and innuendo, or stating things as fact
when you cant be certain that they are.

Give serious thought about the impact on the sender or
others before forwarding someone elses e-mail.
Dont alter the words in someone elses message without
stating that you have done so or use anothers words
without attribution.
Dont use e-mail to discuss personal issues or for problem
resolution between Auxiliary members.
(Continued on bottom of page 37)

Use of E-Mail in the Auxiliary
Braxton Ezell, DCDR 8





Page 37


e-mail when youre angry or upset. Instead, write your
message and then sit on it overnight. Read it the next
day and you will probably have a different perspective.
J ust writing the proposed e-mail is usually enough to vent
your aggravation with the proposed recipient.
As Falstaff said, "The better part of valor is discretion, in
the which better part I have saved my life." (Falstaff,
Henry IV, Part One, W. Shakespeare)
Avoid using e-mail when dealing with a controversial sub-
ject.
Keep the number of recipients to the minimum neces-
sary. Dont CC up the chain unless its necessary.
So before you click the Send button take some time to
read your message. Make sure it clearly communicates
what you intended to say. Run spell check to check the
spelling and grammar. Above all, dont write and send an
(Continued from page 36)

Use of Email
TAMPA, Fla. Amid much fanfare and escorted by Auxiliary vessels from Division 7 Tampa Bay, the USCGC Eagle enters Tampa
Bay on J uly 10, 2010. Division 7 facilities both escorted the Eagle and ferried dignitaries such as Capt. Sheryl Dickinson, Commander,
Sector St. Petersburg to board the Eagle before the ship made her grand entrance up the narrow channel to the Tampa Convention
Center. Seen beside the Eagle are Auxiliary vessels Miss Marla from Flotilla 72 St. Petersburg, Fla., Lucky Dog and Omnia from Flotilla
79 Tampa, Fla., and Gulf Lady from Flotilla 75 Ruskin, Florida. The red vessel just forward of the Eagle is the Patriot, Tampas new 32
foot fire rescue vessel. Photo by J im Newman, Flotilla 7-16 Gulfport, Fla.



Page 38





their only big boat, multiple crew regatta.
Ms. Hanson attended Division 11s Awards Dinner in
2010 and presented 11-1 Clearwater, 11-3 Madeira
Beach, 11-7 Hudson, 11-9 Tarpon Springs and 11-10
Dunedin with attractive plaques showing CYCs gratitude
for Division 11s assistance.

Photos: Clearwater Yacht Club sailboat race and one of
the beautiful plaques presented to Division 11 flotillas by
the Clearwater Yacht Club to express their appreciation.
Auxiliary Operational Facility Sea Dip owned by Roy
Bertke from 11-10 assists at a Clearwater Yacht Club
sailboat race.
Photos by Karen Miller
CLEARWATER, Fla.Clearwater Yacht Club
(CYC) Vice Commodore Brenda Hanson re-
cently presented plaques of appreciation to
five of the flotillas in Division 11 for their all out
support of the Yacht Clubs ten regattas this
past regatta season. A total of 44 Division 11
members participated in ten regattas from September
2009 through March 2010 (some, multiple times) helping
keep more than 650 sailors from over 30 different coun-
tries safe during CYC sailboat racing events.
CYC runs local, regional, national and international re-
gattas; almost all of them require Coast Guard Auxiliary
assistance. The Clark Mills Regatta is local and regional
and includes eight year olds just learning how to sail.
The High School Cressy Qualifier is for regional high
school championships. The US Sailing Youth Worlds
Qualifier is on a national scale and includes participants
from all over the country. The Laser Midwinters East
Regatta is CYCs largest international competition with
198 sailors from 30 different countries.
CYC also used the Auxiliary to assist in the Snipe Mid-
winter Championship which is an international competi-
tion and is their longest running one its in its 73
rd
year.
They also run the annual Clearwater Challenge which is
Looking out for the Sailors
Karen Miller, SO-PB 11, ADSO-PB





Page 39

ATLANTA, GA. (April 22, 2010)- Captain J ames Kreglo,
of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands has been named a Univer-
sity of Phoenix Volunteer Leader Award Honoree, an
award given by HandsOn Network and the University of
Phoenix to 10 outstanding volunteer leaders in the na-
tion. These leaders motivate others and are catalysts for
change in their communities.
The award celebrates the first anniversary of the land-
mark Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which
authorized the largest expansion of
national service in America in decades.
Kreglo will receive $10,000 to donate to
the organization of his choice.
Kreglos dedication to service stretches
back three decades. He moved to St.
J ohn in the US Virgin Islands (USVI)
and became a sea captain and Emer-
gency Medical Technician (EMT). He
quickly recognized the need to develop
youth into civic leaders.
In 1981, Kreglo, a scout leader with the
Boy Scout Council of the USVI, estab-
lished the Boy Scout Sea Explorers
program. More than 200 young people
from underserved neighborhoods have participated in
the program and have become environmental stewards
of the island chain.
To further engage youth, Kreglo utilized his unique tal-
ents as a fencer and fisherman to train young people in
the athletic, moral and ethical principles emphasized by
sporting and scouting organizations, which encourage
self-respect and hard work.
Kreglo continues to lead by example. He identifies un-
met needs and mobilizes people and resources to ad-
dress critical health, education, and public safety issues.
He is a volunteer EMT, and certified in Certified Emer-
gency Response Team (CERT), cardiopulmonary resus-
citation (CPR), First Aid and Boating Safety Instructor,
preparing youth and adults for disaster mitigation and
response. He trains residents of the Virgin Islands and
Florida in CPR, First Aid and CERT.
Most recently, he initiated the effort to establish the first
Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla on St. J ohn. The 18-
member group provides boating safety courses to the

public, educates youth groups on environmental issues
and life jacket use, and provides courtesy boat inspec-
tions. Kreglo currently serves as the US Coast Guard
Auxiliary Division Commander for the Virgin Islands.
With more than 8,000 hours of service recorded since
2001, Captain Kreglo has inspired adults and youth in
the US Virgin Islands and Florida. He has empowered
them to improve their community in significant ways by
becoming active change agents.

About University of Phoenix:
University of Phoenix is constantly inno-
vating to help students balance educa-
tion and life in a rapidly changing world.
Through flexible schedules, challenging
courses and interactive learning, stu-
dents achieve personal and career aspi-
rations without putting their lives on
hold. As of February 28, 2010, 458,600
students were enrolled at University of
Phoenix, the largest private university in
North America. University of Phoenix
serves a diverse student population,
offering associates, bachelors, mas-
ters, and doctoral degree programs from campuses and
learning centers across the U.S. as well as online
throughout the world. For more information, visit
www.phoenix.edu.
About HandsOn Network:
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points
of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the
nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action
Centers in 16 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful
network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and non-
profit organizations that are answering the call to serve
and creating meaningful change in their communities.
Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million
hours of volunteer service valued at about $600 million.
F or more i nf ormati on, pl eas e vi s i t
www.HandsOnNetwork.org.
Submitted by HandsOn Network. Permission to reprint
granted.
CC Kreglo Named as a University of Phoenix
Volunteer Leader Award Honoree



Page 40

WIGGINS PASS, Fla.- Thirty years. But whos count-
ing? So says Betty Riddle of her 30 years as a volunteer
member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
After moving to Bonita Springs, Florida in 1979, Betty and
her husband Tom decided to join Flotilla 96, Wiggins
Pass, North Naples, Florida. And wow, did they get into it!
Tom became Flotilla Vice Commander within six months
after getting special permission, and moved all the way
up to Rear Commodore-West (now District Captain-
West), District 7. He was very active with the Auxiliary
and the Coast Guard up to the time of his death in 1995.
Soon after getting involved with the Auxiliary, Betty and
Tom Riddle were both sent to Coast Guard Station Mara-
thon, Florida to work on the Mariel Boat Lift, which was
quite an eye-opener for them. Betty worked in the com-
munications room doing whatever was asked of her. That
is when she decided she really enjoyed the comms
room.
Miss Betty, as she is affectionately known, has held
every position at the flotilla level including two years as
Flotilla Commander and positions at division and district
levels.
During these years, Betty has dedicated most of her time
as a watchstander at the local Coast Guard Station in Fort
Myers Beach, Florida. Even after giving up most of her
flotilla staff office and district positions, she typically puts
in 30 plus hours per week at the Station. Riddle has been
a qualified watchstander at the Station for 29 years, and
during her years at the Station, she also became qualified
as an Officer of the Day and a Coxswain on the 41 footer
and various smaller boats. Additionally, she has also been
designated as Sailor of the Quarter. Riddle has served
under many different commanders and has also taught
numerous Guardians in the communication room. Some,
who have moved on, contact her to see if she is still there.
She says its always nice to hear from them.
When Betty Riddle first got involved with Coast Guard
Station Fort Myers Beach, there were only 24 Coast
Guard members assigned and the person in charge was a
Chief Boatswains Mate. The Commander is now a Chief
Warrant Officer and there are 52 members attached to the
Station.
As Betty says, Times have really changed. With me get-
ting older, it seems like those coming into the Coast
Guard are really young! In fact, I now have grandchildren
older than some of them.
If one has time to listen, Riddle can talk about numerous
interesting cases she has personally been involved with.
What she really enjoys, Betty says, is that there are never
two days the same at the Station.
No, at this time, Betty does not have a retirement date in
mind. She just wants to see how things go. I really enjoy
what I am doing or I would not be doing it. We hope she
continues to enjoy what she is doing for a long time!
Betty Riddle - 30 Years with the Coast Guard
and the Auxiliary
By Jim Samples
WIGGINS PASS, Fla.Betty Riddle talks on the phone in the
Flotilla 96 office. - Photo by Michael Dobrovic
The most commonly made error when writing flotilla des-
ignations is to confuse their correct designations with
AUXDATA numerical data entries. Please refer to your
Auxiliary Manual COMDTINST M16790, Chapter 4, Sec-
tion A.3 Designation:
Auxiliary flotillas are designated by Arabic numerals.
The first number indicates the division, followed by the
flotilla number. The name of a city or town in which the
flotilla is located completes the designation. For example,
Flotilla 32, St. Louis, is Division 3, Flotilla 2, located at St.
Louis, Missouri. Different flotillas in the same area must,
for record purposes, have different names. New flotillas
should use the name of the community, body of water, or
other name identified with the locale. When either the
number of divisions or the number of flotillas exceeds
nine, use a hyphen between the flotilla and division num-
ber. For example, 11-4 or 6-10.
Do not use leading zeros. The leading zero is derived
from computer usage and applies only to numbers
entered into a database such as AUXDATA. Outside
of a computer database, District 070 reads District
Seventy. The placement of the zeros is what keeps
the numbers in their correct order within the data-
base, but it is simply District 7 when written, posted
on a website or when spoken.
Do not use hyphens between division and flotilla
numbers when division number is less than ten. Us-
ing the above example, 3-2 is an incorrect designa-
tion for the St. Louis flotilla.
Do not use computer designations for your flotilla.
For example, it is Flotilla 79 Tampa... not Flotilla 070-
07-09. If your flotilla is correctly designated by num-
ber and name, the use of the district number is not
necessary. When district numbers are used, they
should follow the flotilla designation and the flotilla
designation takes prominence.

Page 41
Write Your Flotilla Number
Correctly!

Bill Sorrentino, VCDR 4; BC-IUS
Branch Chief
IU Division, Standards Branch
Department of Information Technology
Dottie Riley, DSO-PB D7
MIAMI - Boat crewmember Matthew Paulini, FSO-IS 6-
11 D7 (right) teaches boat crew trainee Edwin Bowley
the proper technique to use when tying a bowline dur-
ing the Flotilla 6-11 member training session at the Mi-
ami Yacht Club. Photo by Christopher Todd
Flotilla 79
Flotilla 79

Flotilla 070
Flotilla 070
-
-
07
07
-
-
09
09

Flotilla 07
Flotilla 07
-
-
09
09

Flotilla 7
Flotilla 7
-
-
9
9




Page 42
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Participates in
Time-Honored Tradition
William Hanlon, ADSO-PA-E
OPA-LOCKA, Fla.: May 13, 2010, Coast Guard Air Sta-
tion Miami was the setting for a time honored tradition
known as the Change of Command, a formal ceremony
where continuity of authority is transferred from one
leader to another. On this day, before an assembly of
more than 200 guests representing the entire Coast
Guard family as well as foreign, federal, state, local digni-
taries, law enforcement, and related partnership entities,
District 7 command was transferred for the 31
st
time since
1941.

One of the many traditions during the solemn ceremony
is a formal inspection of the troops by both outgoing and
incoming District Commanders. On this occasion, of the
thirty members making up the Coast Guard Honor Pla-
toon, nearly half were members of the Auxiliary. Auxiliary
members from Divisions 3, 5, 6, and 13 proudly stood at
attention shoulder-to-shoulder in formation as the news
media and invited guests witnessed Rear Admirals Bran-
ham and Baumgartner conduct the walk-by inspection.
The seamless integration of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
with their active duty counterparts as one uniformed force
was a powerful visual testament reflecting the important
role of the Auxiliary in the overall completion of the Coast
Guards missions.

During one the many speeches on this day, Admiral Steve
Branham specifically singled out the Auxiliary for praise.
District 7 Commodore Don Frasch was asked to stand
and be recognized for the outstanding efforts of the entire
Auxiliary in support of Team Coast Guard.

A informal reception was held following the formal cere-
mony. During this post event, Commodore Frasch and
Walter J askiewicz, District Chief of Staff, presented a
proclamation to now retired Admiral Branham inviting him
into the Auxiliary.

All of the Auxiliary members in attendance at this Change
of Command and especially those selected for Admirals
Honor Unit expressed a profound sense of pride and
gratitude for being offered the opportunity to be part of
this time honored tradition.


Post Change of Command ceremony: During a reception at
Miami Air Station, Commodore Don Frasch presents Rear Admi-
ral Robert S. Branham, Ret., a proclamation from COMO
Nicholas Kerigan, Auxiliary National Commodore and USCG
Captain Mark Rizzo, Chief Director of Auxiliary reflecting honor-
ary status as a Commodore in the Auxiliary.
Photo by William Hanlon

Auxiliary Members of the USCG
Unit present for Inspection
Division 3
Bill Hanlon
George Kozel
Scott Cleary

Division 5
Otto Spielbichler
Diane Riggan
Bob Clarke
Mel Marx
Mel Schumacher

Division 6
Pedro Jesus Ordaz
Ruben Daniel Paz


Division 13
Dennis J. Kahler
Gerald L. Metcalf
Elsie Metcalf
Several of our Coast Guard sectors, stations and vessels
changed command since our last publication. To the mem-
bers of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, this represents both a
loss of familiar, friendly faces as well as an opportunity to
introduce more Coast Guard members to Auxiliary roles
and missions and to our great versatility. While our primary
mission is boating safety education, the Auxiliary also
serves as a force multiplier by performing functions and
duties that free many Guardians to perform law enforce-
ment and other critical missions. Auxiliary members
attended these ceremonies both as guests and as
members of the guard presented for inspection by the
incoming and departing commanders.
Right: MIAMI - Coast Guard Rear Adm. Bill Baumgartner,
Seventh District commander, looks on as Coast Guard Capt.
Chris Scraba relieves Capt. J ames O. Fitton of command of
Coast Guard Sector Miami J une 25, 2010. Scraba took com-
mand of one of the busiest sectors in the Coast Guard. U.S.
Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Barry Bena
Left: ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. J uly 2, 2010- Amos J ohn-
son, Division Commander 7, Tampa Bay, Fla., bids fare-
well to outgoing Sector Commander Capt. Timothy Close
at the reception following Sector St. Petersburgs Change
of Command ceremony at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Pe-
tersburg. Close relinquished his command to Capt. Sheryl
L. Dickinson. Prior to this assignment, Dickinson served as
the senior legal advisor from 2007 to 2009 for J oint Inter-
agency Task Force South in Key West, a Department of
Defense command conducting counternarcotics opera-
tions. Photo by Tim Teahan
Right: CHARLESTON, S.C.- Sector Charleston held its
change of command on J une 18, 2010 at The Citadel in
Mark Clark Hall. Captain Michael F. White relieved
Captain Michael F. McAllister, who assumes new duties
at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. With
Auxiliarists from all over Georgia and South Carolina
present at the ceremony, Auxiliary members welcomed
White and wished McAllister a fond farewell.
Photo by Barbara Burchfield
Page 43



Page 44

friends you have left will give you points for not making them
sick looking at a dancing bubble on a carpenters level.
On boats with single outboard engines, a force called
torque can affect port/starboard movements as well as your
vessels fore and aft attitude. Trimming the outboard in (or
bow downward) will usually increase the steering torque to
the starboard. Trimming the outboard out (or bow up) will
usually have the opposite effect of making the boat want to
go to port.
J ust aft and above the prop of an outboard engine is a small
blade that hangs down. It is generally adjustable to swivel
left or right. This is designed to offset the torque movement
of the prop going forward with a neutral trim and at the
manufacturers recommended cruising speed. If your out-
board motor has a weather helm e.g. a tendency to wander
either to the port or starboard, you may want to adjust this
torque offset blade.
So much for outboard configurations. Now, let's assume
you're operating a boat with inboard power, either straight or
V-drives. Shafts, struts and props come out of the hull at an
angle, although some more than others. Therefore the props
will push water down, pushing the aft end of the boat up at
that same angle, either at the engine or V-drive location.
Thus trim tabs are often necessary on planing and some
semi-displacement hulls. A good hull design will incorporate
some of these natural lift characteristics, which help offset
some of this bow down tendency.
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. In todays world of
small power boats (under sixty-five feet) and
with inflation/recession adversely affecting our
economy, the importance of Auxiliarists maxi-
mizing the efficiency of their vessel perform-
ance becomes more important than ever.
Obviously, careful maintenance of the power
train and hull should be the owners first priority.
But often overlooked on planing boats is the
proper trimming of your boats attitude when
underway. Properly balancing a boat not only
includes adjusting trim tabs, or tilting an out-
board motor, it should also include balancing
the boats weight port and starboard as well.
Can this trimming make a major difference to
your wallet? Several boat and outboard manu-
facturers agree that paying attention to properly
trimming a boat can usually improve the effi-
ciency of operating a power boat by as much as twenty
per cent!
If a twenty percent operating improvement is not suffi-
cient incentive for you to adopt some consistent trimming
routines, you need not read any further. However, if
spending a few minutes underway fiddling with your
boats attitude to reduce your vessels operating costs by
this amount is a sufficient reward, then here are a few
tips.
As soon as your boat is floating (with no one in it) take a
look at it to see if there is an obvious list to port or star-
board. When a boat is leaning underway there is an in-
creased drag on that side that has to be corrected by an
increased rudder adjustment to the opposite side. This
compounds the inefficiencies. So there are now two un-
necessary drag forces to overcome causing the engine(s)
to work harder to maintain the desired speed. Taking a
few moments to move any portable materials (or passen-
gers) to correct the listing is well worth the effort. From a
safety perspective, a listing vessel in beam seas is not a
good combination of surface dynamics. I had a friend
who actually glued a small carpenters level on his boat.
It worked fine at rest but any boat movement underway
made the air bubble dance so badly it was worthless. If
you are a fanatic about nautical gadgets and need to
know if your boat is listing, get yourself a bronze sailboat
inclinometer thingy that measures how much your boat
is heeling. It will look ridiculous on a powerboat, but any
Trimming a Boat
Article and photos by Stu Robinson, TCT Coordinator D7
The tachometer with an increase
of revolutions at the same throttle setting.





Page 45

Generally, balancing your boat fore and aft is where the ma-
jor financial rewards can be obtained. This is also where
there are going to be more variables to correct. As you learn
the subtle nuances of your boat, you will appreciate the
value of keeping a working log on board so you can record
some performance information. For example: I have a 43 ft.
boat with forward and aft fuel tanks. Diesel fuel weighs ap-
proximately seven pounds per gallon. With a full 480 gallons
or slightly more than one and half tons of diesel on board, I
discovered over time I needed a bit of bow up trim to main-
tain an optimum Cruising Speed RPM Ratio. As I used up
some fuel I could gradually adjust the trim back.
Not to worry dear reader, the Cruising Speed RPM ratio is
about as technical as this article gets. Most power boats
have a tachometer that displays the speed of the engine in
RPMs or Revolutions per Minute. This is merely dis-
playing the speed of the engine, not the boats speed.
Although a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit is not
required to be on an operational facility, having one on
your boat however, will give you the speed of your boat
over the bottom and can give you greater efficiency accu-
racy. If you have both a tachometer and a GPS, you can
easily generate a Cruising Speed / RPM table.
In relatively calm seas and leaving the throttle alone at
your cruising speed, slowly adjust your bow up or down
with your trim tabs. (Be sure to have a seasoned crew
maintain a lookout during any maneuvers that could dis-
tract you from complying with the lookout requirements
of Nav Rule 5!) Leave the trim attitude adjustment for
about 15 to 20 seconds for it to take full effect. If you ob-
serve any change in RPM you should note the position of
the trim tabs. Higher RPMs with no change in throttle set-
ting will indicate an increased efficiency. If you have a
working GPS aboard, you may want to also note any in-
crease in speed. You may repeat these observations un-
der varying weight conditions with water and fuel tanks
full to see if there are any significant changes.
I also adjust trim just for the sea state placing a higher
value on safety than economy. In most cases, I prefer no
tab or a slight bow up attitude in a following sea to keep
the bow high. As the boat runs off a wave, a slight bow
up attitude helps eliminate a bow steer reaction and pre-
vents the bow from being pushed into the back of the
next wave if the seas are stacked. Also, in a big head
sea, this slight bow up configuration will help keep the
decks drier and prevent the bow from diving like a sub-
marine.
Most trim tabs function independently of each other. This
can be useful for leveling, offsetting weight distribution
and countering natural listing for beam seas.
Next time you are on a patrol and things are getting bor-
ing waiting for J ohn Q. Public to need our help, run a
couple of trim/RPM trials. Then, when you instruct in a
Public Education or Member Training class, you will have
something unique and personal to share.

River patrol boats at rest with no one
aboard showing no observable sidewise list.
Photo lower right: "Our gang"- Chief Hudnell, USCG,
Auxiliarists Ann Gabriel, Berth Lynne, Walter Gorenflo
(QE), and Garry Ford, members of Flotilla 44 Daytona
Beach.



Page 46

MARATHON, Fla.--
What can I do with
my expired flares?
Where can I safely
dispose of them?
These questions are
heard every time our
flotilla has a table or
display during a
community event.
Our Vessel Examin-
ers also report these
are frequent ques-
tions asked of them,
followed by an ad-
mission that the
boater has never
actually had to ignite
a flare or use any
visual distress signal-
ing device. Where
there is a need con-
cerning recreational
safe boating prac-
tices, you can de-
pend on the Coast Guard Auxiliary!
Flotilla 13-2 in Marathon, Fla. contacted BM1 Brian Von-
noh and BMC Will Hillyer of Coast Guard Station Mara-
thon to explore the idea of having a day when boaters
could bring their expired flares, get instruction, see dem-
onstrations, and under supervision, actually ignite a flare.
Nearby Flotilla 13-3 in Big Pine, Fla. was invited to join in
this event, a Flare and Fire Safety Expo on April 24,
2010.
Station Marathon agreed this was a good idea and ar-
ranged to host the expo on the Stations grounds. With
further planning, the Marathon Fire Department was
asked to participate in the event so that they might help
boaters become more knowledgeable about which fire
extinguishers they should have on board and the most
effective way to use them when extinguishing a fire
aboard a recreational vessel. The Monroe County Sher-
iffs Department was contacted and it was arranged for
the Bomb Squad to pick up and safely dispose of the
flares collected that day.
Various other government agencies participated. The
Florida Fish and Wildlife office supplied literature and the
Department of Environmental Protections Clean Marina
program provided the flotillas Type IV cushions and bilge
socks to give to participants signing a clean boater pledge
card. Station Marathon also allowed visitors to board one
of their 33 foot boats, which appealed to people of all
ages. The flotilla set up their trailer with a safe boating
equipment display along with pamphlets and printed infor-
mation to be distributed. A banner and table also reminded
people about free vessel safety checks and several atten-
dees signed up to have a Vessel Examiner contact them.
Marathon also enjoys a wonderful small town sense of
community, and one of their local banks, Centennial Bank,
agreed to bring their trailer, cooker and staff to provide
free hot dogs, drinks and chips to all of the participants.
The day was sunny and beautiful, but 20 knot winds were
a concern. Flotilla 13-2 members Dottie Mattern and Sue
Redding lectured and demonstrated aerials, but did not
launch rockets or parachutes due to nearby residences
downwind. The orange smoke flares and other hand held
flares were spectacular, and all who wanted the opportu-
nity to actually ignite a flare were encouraged to do so
Flare and Fire Boating Safety
Article and photos submitted by Dottie Mattern, FSO-IS 13-2
Sue Redding from Flotilla 13-2 Ignites a flare during the Flare and Fire Boating Safety Expo at Station Mara-
thon on April 24, 2010.





Page 47

under the watchful eyes of Auxiliary and Coast Guard
members. There were many questions from participants.
There were water buckets on site for extinguished flares
and fire extinguishers close by, if needed. Fortunately,
the day went without incident despite the windy condi-
tions.
The Fire and Flare Expo
was scheduled from
11:00 am until 3:00 pm.
This allowed Auxiliary
members to do three
demonstration/flare firing
sessions, so the size of
the groups was manage-
able. They wanted to
keep the student-teacher
ratio small for safetys
sake. Following the flare
lessons, fireman Marcus
Orozco gave an excellent
talk concerning the types
and the most effective
uses of fire extinguishers
and answered questions.
The Auxiliary re-
ceived many positive
comments and ex-
pressions of grati-
tude from the people
who came, many of
whom actually got a
hands on experi-
ence with flares.
They enjoyed being
on the Station
grounds, boarding
the boats, learning
useful information,
and of course getting
free cushions and
delicious hot dogs.
They ended the day
with four large boxes
of expired flares and
aerials (over 350
items) that received
a proper and safe
disposal.
Auxiliary members
from both Flotillas 13-2 and 13-3 felt this was a success-
ful event that fulfilled important safety needs of their rec-
reational boaters and plan on making this an annual or
possibly a semi-annual event in Marathon.
Dottie Mattern and Sue Redding provide instruction on the safe handling, discharge and disposal of flares to
attendees of the Flare and Fire Safety Expo held at Station Marathon on April 24, 2010.

Below, the pair checks the expiration dates of flairs brought in by the attendees.

Make your room reservations before August
23, 2010, by calling the hotel. (Auxiliary
rate: $104)

Form for mail-in registration is located on
the D7 website at: http://www.cgaux7.org/
(Conference tab) or register
and pay at the D7 Materials
Ce n t e r a t : h t t p : / /
www.cgaux7.org/

Conference schedule is posted
to the D7 website. Some course
offerings require early registra-
tion, so be sure to download
and read the course offerings
well ahead of time!
District Seven Fall Conference
Mardi Gras will be The Fun Night Theme
for the conference in September 2010. We
hope to have beads for everyone, but if you
want fancy ones, you may wish to bring
your own!

Costumes can be Mardi Gras type
anything goes: Body Painting
(preferably with clothes), Hallow-
een costumes - whatever you are
comfortable with.

We will have a costume contest,
and come prepared to have fun!

SEPTEMBER 22 - 26, 2010
The Florida Hotel and Conference Center
At the Florida Mall
1500 Sand Lake Road, Orlando, FL 32809
Phone: 407-859-1500
The District 7 Fall Conference (DCON) is the annual event for LEARNING,
SHOPPING, DINING, NETWORKING and just plain, having fun!





Page 49

MARIETTA, Ga.U.S. Coast Guard Auxil-
iary member Sherry Blomeley, who is also a
Cobb County Public Library System Regional
Manager, introduces marine and boating
safety topics at Powder Springs Library story-
time, J une 28, 2010. The program is part of
the summer reading program, Make a
Splash-READ! on-going throughout the
Cobb County Public Library System until Au-
gust 1, 2010.

Below left: A nine year-old girl creates a life
jacket after learning about water safety dur-
ing the summer reading program at the Cobb
County Public Library.

Below right: A seven year old boy gets his
life jacket fitted by his mother. Sherry Blo-
meley, a member of 12-2, Marietta, Ga., defi-
nitely made a splash at the Cobb County
Public Librarys summer reading program,
Make a Splash READ!

All photographs by Erika Ruthman (CCPLS)



District Staff Officers
Prevention Department
J ohn Sprague-Williams .....DSO-MS
Tom Hayden ...DSO-MT
Ronnie Merritt ..DSO-PV
Ruth Ann WhiteDSO-PE
William S. Griswold..DSO-SL
Chuck Kelemen ......DSO-VE

Response Department
Rodney Rocky Reinhold..DSO-NS
Cecil Christopher........DSO-AV
J oseph Colee, J r. ..DSO-CM
J anee Henderson.......DSO-OP
J erry Henderson..QE Coordinator

Logistics Department
Nestor Tacoronte .......DSO-CS
Susan Z. Hastings .......DSO-IS
Thomas A. Loughlin ...DSO-PA
Dorothy J . Riley. ..DSO-PB
Angela Pomaro ......... DSO-HR
Terry Barth .....DSO-MA
Nestor Tacoronte .. Webmaster

Lillian G. GaNun ....DSO-SR
Kevin McConn ....DSSO
J ohn Roderick . ...DFSO
Andrew Anderson....DSO-LP
Antoinette Borman.....D-LL
William Malone ......DSO-FN
Gwendolyn S. Leys ....PPDCPA
Karen L. Miller ...Grants
Peter Fernandez...Plan Coordinator
Thomas Brickey .. District Materials Center


Past District 7 Commodores
2007-08....Allen Brown
2005-06....Peter Fernandez
2003-04 ....... J ay Dahlgren
2001-02............ Mary Larsen
1999-00.... Helmut Hertle
1997-98... E.W. Edgerton
1995-96.... George E. J eandheur
1993-94....... J oseph E. Norman
1991-92.. Walter W. Bock
1989-90.... Guy R. Markley, J r.
1987-88. Rene E. Dubois
1985-86.... Robert B. Waggoner
1983-84. J ohn C. King, J r.
1981-82. William J . Callerame
1979-80 Bolling Douglas
1977-78.... J ames Titus
1975-76.... Newton Baker
1973-74.. Lawrence G. Danneman
1971-72... Dr. Elbert C. Prince
1969-70... George B.M. Loden
1967-68...... Ernest A. Baldine
1965-66....... Roland Birnn
1963-64.... Miguel A. Colorado
1961-62...... E. E. Vanderveer
1959-60 Richard L. Smith
1957-58... Herbert L. Lutz
1956. A. Harlow Merryday
1954-55.... Stanley W. Hand
1952-53... N.J .M. McLean
1951-52... Fred T. Youngs, J r.
1950.... Guersey Curran, J r.
1948-49... Charley E. Sanford
1946-47.. W. N. Mansfield
1939-45... No DCOs yet, DCPs governed
Auxiliary Sector Coordinators

Ronald Goldenberg . ASC Sector Charleston
Donald C. Hoge .... ASC Sector St. Petersburg
Robert Funk ... ASC Sector J acksonville
Russel D. J ackson.. ASC Sector Key West
Osvaldo M. Catinchi... ASC Sector San J uan
William V. Tejeiro.. ASC Sector Miami
District Administrative Assistant & Aide

Carolyn R. Hooley ...........D-AD
Ronald Goldenberg.......D-AA
Elaine J . Cornell ...D-AA
Rosalind M. Lucash. .D-AA
COMO Mary T. Larsen .....Advocate
1.
2.
District 7: From where do our stories come?
Our district covers a large area: from the Carolinas south to
Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This map shows
the approximate location of each article in this issue.
Get your flotilla or division on the map!



1. Division 11: Looking Out For the Sailor..38
2. Division 7: NSBW: Radio Show......31
3. Division 8: Auxiliary Email....36
4. Division 9: Betty Riddle.....40
5. Division 13: Flare and Fire Safety Expo.46
6. Division 16: CC Kreglo-National Volunteer Award.39
7. Division 3: Helo Ops .........35
8. Division 5: Farewell to a Friend.......20
9. Division 17: Routine Patrol.. 32
10. Division 4: Trimming Your Boat.....44
11. Division 14: Memorial Wall.....34
12. Division 2: Summer Reading Program.49
13. Division 12: Ready, Set, Inflate! ...28

If your division is not featured in this issue of the Breeze, be
sure to submit an article next time. Submission deadline is
October 10, 2010. Highlight your members varied activi-
ties. We want to hear from you!

1.
2.
4.
3.
6.
7.
8.
10.
11.
9.
13.
12.
5.
OFFICIAL BUSINESS
PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE $300
PRSRT STD
POSTAGE AND FEES
PAID
U.S. COAST GUARD
PERMIT NO. G-157
Homeland Security
U.S. Coast Guard
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
DSO-PB D7
1630 Wakefield Drive
Brandon, FL 33511-2325

CAPE CANAVERAL--Atlantis stands ready for her final launch as captured in this photograph taken on May 12, 2010 during an Auxiliary Air
(AUXAIR) mission with T.J . Wagner, pilot and J ohn Roderick, crew. Photo by J ohn Roderick. Previously published in Flotilla 14-7 newsletter, St.
Augustine Buoy.