Fred's Place - The Place To Meet Old Coast Guard Shipmates

Welcome Aboard The CGC Bear

Week Five

by Brendan McPherson and Andrew Shinn

Week Five: We join Cutter Bear as she visits ports of call in La Goulette, Tunisia and Rota, Spain in support of it's ongoing Theater Security Cooperation (TSC) mission with the Navy's Sixth Fleet. While in La Goulette, Tunisia Bear hosted a reception for the Tunisian Coast Guard.

All photos are credited: U.S. Coast Guard photograph by Petty Officer Second Class Andrew Shinn.

The Coast Guard Cutter Bear, homeported in Portsmouth, Va.

Cmdr. Robert Wagner, right, Commanding Officer of the Cutter Bear, presents a plaque to a representative of the Tunisian Coast Guard during a reception held on board the Bear in Tunisia.

Fireman Richard Martin serves hors d'ouevours during a reception held on Board the Cutter Bear in La Goulette, Tunisia.

Foreign dignitaries sample the cuising provided by the crew of the Cutter Bear during a reception held on board the cutter in La Goulette, Tunisia.

Chief Warrant Officer Henry Langford, the supply officer of the Cutter Bear, talks with a member of a foriegn military service during a reception held on board the Bear in La Goulette, Tunisia.

Cmdr. Robert Wagner, Commanding Officer of the Cutter Bear, talks with a diplomatic official during a reception held on the flight deck of the Bear in La Goulette, Tunisia.

A foreign dignitary samples the cuisine provided by the food service staff of the Cutter Bear during a reception held on the cutter's flight deck in La Goulette, Tunisia.

Seaman Sergio Savain controls the helm of the Cutter Bear.

Petty Officer 3rd Class (BM) Alexander Fernandez, left, Petty Officer 2nd Class (MK) Shawn Downs, center, and Seaman David Wooten take the Cutter Bear's smallboat, Cub 2, out to take samples from an oil slick spotted in the Mediterranean.

Lt. j.g. Chris Floyd, damage control assistant aboard the Cutter Bear, salutes Lt. Charlie Marino, engineering officer aboard the cutter, during quarters on the cutter's flight deck.

A crewmember of the Cutter Bear goes down the hatch to deck berthing to investigate a report of smoke during a firefighting drill.

A crewmember of the Cutter Bear assesses damage during a firefighting drill.

Chief James Ramirez oversees a firefighting drill.

Lt. Charlie Marino oversees a firefighting drill on the messdeck.

Fireman (MK) Jonathan Williams listens to feedback after a firefighting drill.

Capt. Thomas Rowden, Commodore of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet's Destroyer Squardon Sixty, talks with the Chief's Mess.

Capt. Thomas Rowden, Commodore of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet's Destroyer Squardon Sixty, gives Fireman Anthony Coppola a command coin to congratulate him for being the Cutter Bear's Sailor of the Quarter.

Cmdr. Robert Wagner, Commanding Officer of the Cutter Bear, shakes hands with Seaman William Knight to congratulate him on his advancement from Seaman Apprentice to Seaman.

The Cutter Bear passed the Rock of Gibraltar June 15.

Seaman Randle Mazzuca, Petty Officer 3rd Class (DC) Gil Kester, Seaman Kenneth Closser, and Petty Officer 3rd Class (DC) Steven Jacobs prepare to handle lines on the foc'sl of the Cutter Bear as the cutter pulls into Rota, Spain.

A Spanish Navy boat provides security for the Cutter Bear as the cutter pulls into Rota, Spain.

Petty Officer 3rd Class (DC) Steven Jacobs handles a fender line while the Cutter Bear pulls into Rota, Spain.

Seaman Kenneth Closser tosses a heaving line to the pier in Rota, Spain while the Cutter Bear pulls into Rota, Spain.

Capt. Thomas Rowden, Commodore of the U.S. Navy's Sixth Fleet's Destroyer Squardon Sixty, addresses the crew of the Cutter Bear at the pier in Rota, Spain. Rowden rode with the crew of the Bear from La Goulette, Tunisia, to Rota.

Cmdr. Brendan McPherson reads a letter of thanks from the command of the Cutter Bear to Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Aaron Knowles, who sailed with the Bear from Cartagena, Spain to Algeira and Tunisia, and back to Rota, Spain. Knowles provided training on one of the cutter's newer electronics systems. He also became a father for the first time June 17, two days before Father's Day.

A mooring line aboard the Cutter Bear after the cutter moored in Rota, Spain.

The Cutter Bear moored next to a U.S. Naval vessel in Rota, Spain. The U.S. Navy has been flying the first Navy Jack flag with the words 'Don't Tread on Me' emblazoned across the bottom of a field of red and white stripes since September 11, 2001. Tradition ties the flag to early U.S. Navy Commodore Esek Hopkins, who used it first when he readied the Continental Navy in the Delaware river.

A fountain flows outside a cathedral in Rota, Spain. Crewmembers of the Cutter Bear toured the cathedral during a recent portcall to Rota for supplies and rest.

Chief James Ramirez of the Cutter Bear walks down the aisle of a cathedral in Rota, Spain during a tour of the town.

Chief Noel Stakes, 3rd Class Cadet Daniel Parker, Petty Officer 1st Class (ET) Michael King, and Chief James Ramirez, right to left, tour the streets of Rota, Spain during a recent portcall for rest and supplies.

The crew of the Cutter Bear had the chance to explore the streets of Rota, Spain during a recent portcall for supplies and rest.

Cmdr. Brendan McPherson, left, executive officer of the Cutter Bear, reads a letter of appreciation from the command of the Bear to Petty Officer 1st Class (MK) Lucas Marino in Rota, Spain. Marino joined the cutter crew for a month to fill a critical spot.

Petty Officer 2nd Class (EM) Michael Nolff introduces Petty Officer 3rd Class (EM) Mark Priebe on the flight deck of the Cutter Bear in Rota, Spain. Priebe transferred to the cutter and joined the crew in Rota.

Cmdr. Robert Wagner, left, Commanding Officer of the Cutter Bear, shakes hands with Petty Officer 2nd Class (EM) Eric George as George departs the Bear in Rota, Spain.

Petty Officer 2nd Class (MK) Jeremiah Grey checks a passageway during a firefighting drill.

Petty Officer 2nd Class (EM) Michael Nolff hurries to his firefighting station during a drill.

Petty Officer 3rd Class (BM) Alexander Fernandez, middle, Petty Officer 2nd Class (MK) Shawn Downs, back, and Seaman David Wooten take the Cutter Bear's smallboat, Cub 2, out to take samples from an oil slick spotted in the Mediterranean.

Petty Officer 2nd Class (FS) Chris Walker displays a tray of barbecued meatballs he prepared for a reception held aboard the Cutter Bear in Tunisia.

Lt. Charlie Marino, engineering officer aboard the Cutter Bear, hugs his son, Petty Officer 1st Class Lucas Marino, as the younger Marino departs the cutter in Rota, Spain. Petty Officer Marino was serving temporarily aboard the cutter to fill an emergency opening due to the birth of another crewmember's child.