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

Welcome Aboard The CGC Escanaba

On Patrol Week 3

We join the crew of the Cutter Escanaba underway in the Caribbean Sea on a Counter-Narcotics Patrol!

This week we hear from the Captain, and two Boatswains Mates from the Deck Department on life aboard a cutter on Counter-Narcotics Patrol plus 46 photos.

All photos are official Coast Guard photos by PA2 Lisa M. Hennings.

Who is PA2 Lisa Hennings? Click here.

The Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba, homeported in Boston, Ma.

Now hear this ... this is the Cap'n speaking ...

Cmdr. Michael S. Sabellico, Commanding Officer, CGC Escanaba

Our third week was filled with flight operations and a visit to Cartagena for a short break.

The weather has not been cooperating with us, making it tough to safely operate our helicopter and small boat. Our days at sea seem to blend together with the monotony of our watches and the daily ship's schedule. We really look forward to our port calls so we can get some rest, recharge our batteries and get ready to get back underway.

Cartagena was a very nice city and with two vastly different areas to explore; "Old Town" and "The New City."

Old Town is surrounded by a huge wall totally encompassing the city, complete with cannons and outposts where soldiers used to guard against attack from pirates. The city itself is a maze of restaurants, shops, and gift stores. There are several squares in the town that act as central marketplaces for the plethora of street vendors selling anything from DVD's to children's toys. We ate at several of the restaurants here during our stay and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. In particular, a group of about 18 of us enjoyed a steak dinner at an Argentinean Steak House, where we all had steak, beer, salad, and sides for about $20 each. The only part of walking around Old Town that was frustrating was the ferociousness of the vendors trying to ply their goods on you…at points it was almost overwhelming.

In the New City, everything was more modern with a McDonald's and a Hilton Hotel. The Hilton was a favorite spot amongst my crew and I enjoyed myself for an overnight stay one evening. The pool at the hotel was beautiful and the swim up bar was simply awesome. We all relaxed in the sun and enjoyed a few cold beverages. We called home using the phones at the local phone bank for about 24 cents per minute and then we went to Adrianna's and bought Emeralds! Emeralds are mined in Colombia, and Adrianna's has been a favorite spot for Americans to buy Emeralds for years. The emeralds are of high quality and the prices are much cheaper than in the States.

Perhaps the most enjoyable part of the port call for me and the crew was the interaction with the Colombian Naval and Coast Guard forces. We hosted a luncheon for the local Commander of Naval forces, which was attended by all the local ship Commanding Officers and the Senior Coast Guard Officer. We enjoyed ourselves over a fine meal prepared by the cooks and then received a very insightful operational brief on the capabilities of our Colombian colleagues. The second day we hosted a professional exchange aboard ESCANABA covering the topics of Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and Damage Control.

All in all it was a great port call…

We're underway on the hunt again.

Until next week, fair winds and following seas.

/s/ Cmdr. Michael S. Sabellico, Commanding Officer

Blogs

BM3 Jason G. Snider

I have been on the Escanaba for about two and a half years. I have worked in the deck department as a "deckie" and then I made BM3. When the BM and QM rates were merged, I was sent to the navigation division. There, I learned how to do chart work and recently qualified for quartermaster of the watch. The training the navigation department taught me helped me understand what the BM's new role is in the navigation of the ship. On top of the navigation side of my job, I really enjoy the deck side of my job. It gives me new tasks to complete everyday and teaches me good leadership. The time I have spent on the boat has been hard due to leaving my family behind for months at a time, but the friendships and the experiences make the life on a cutter very enjoyable. I do not believe that the camaraderie we have on a ship can compare to anything else in the Coast Guard. I look forward to seeing new things in the Coast Guard and doing different jobs, but I will never forget everything I have seen or done on the Escanaba.

/s/ BM3 Jason G. Snider 24, Belton, South Carolina

I'm BM3 Michael Goszka and I am currently stationed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter ESCANABA. I came here straight from boot camp and I have been aboard now for a little over two years. I enjoy being stationed on the Escanaba because she is homeported in the best city in the States, Boston, and she has an incredible crew and command.

BM3 Michael Goszka

I struck Boatswains Mate (BM) instead of going to "A" school. Since the crew and command are so helpful I figured that I would learn more here than attending an eight-week school. I don't regret my decision one bit. I work in the Deck Department and live in a 21-man berthing area with some of the best guys I will probably ever meet. The department takes great pride serving on the ESCANABA not only because she is the best boat in the fleet, but she is also our home.

My duties as a BM consist of standing watch, lowering boats, boarding vessels, tying down helicopters, and other various duties. I enjoy my job thoroughly and it helps that I have a great command to work under. They truly care about the crew and it shows. Being a BM has many positive and negative points. I really like to work outdoors and to be in the middle of all the action, but to be in all of the action you have to be willing to work hard, even if that means during your holiday routine hours when most of the crew is resting.

I am currently on a counter-narcotics patrol. This is my first counter-narcotics patrol, but not my first time to the Caribbean. I have come down here to do alien migration patrols, in which we successfully picked up over 120 Haitian migrants. The crew is very excited about this patrol and we are all waiting in anticipation to make our first seizure. We are not going to go home empty-handed!

/s/ BM3 Michael Goszka 25, Flemington, NJ

Photos

Special sea detail personnel on the fo'c'sle prepare to get underway from Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Mohamad J. Addam (OS2) watches as the ESCANABA departs Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Thomas P. Mullen (GM2) mans the .50 caliber machine gun as ESCANABA transits out of Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Anthony E. Sayward (MK2) secures rope that attached to the fenders as the ESCANABA departs Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Ens. Christine M. Kurczewski, observes the distance between the ESCANABA and the ARC ALMIRANTE PADILLA as the ESCANABA gets underway from Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas J. Nelson (HS1) pitches in during morale pizza night.

Cmdr. Michael Sabellico, Commanding Officer, overlooks the ARC ALMIRANTE PADILLA from the ESCANABA's bridge wing.

View of the ship's main battery located on the fo'c'sle, a 76mm gun that is effective against airborne and surface targets.

Petty Officer 1st Class Cory D. Lockhart (MK1), 28, stands near the deep fat fryer's circuit breaker in the galley.

Cmdr. Michael Sabellico, Commanding Officer, addresses the crew during afternoon quarters on the flight deck.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Andrew S. Gibson (FS3) and Seaman Food Specialist Jonathan M. Castor (SNFS) take a breather from work.

Petty Officer 1st Class William M. Ferretti (BM1), Lt.j.g. David C. Shuck and Petty Officer 2nd Class Karl M. Hasche (BM2) grill Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason G. Snider (BM3) for his QMOW board.

Special sea detail personnel on the fo'c'sle.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Clifford J. Morgan (DC3) talks with Fireman Henry T. Cylkowski on the fo'c'sle.

View of the Cutter ESCANABA moored at Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Close-up shot of MKC Tarini as he teaches a Colombian Navy sailor how to use handcuffs as a control technique during law enforcement training held at Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Seaman Apprentice Frank V. Verdi and Seaman Bradley A. Rode do a fresh water wash down to remove salt from the hull of the cutter.

Seaman Powell uses a heaving line to pull himself close to the side of the cutter in order to remove rust from the anchor and its housing.

HS1 Nelson tests the water quality at Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia before it is added to the ship's potable water system.

Seaman Apprentice Michael I. Kuhn removes rust build-up from the Cutter ESCANABA during a port call in Cartagena, Colombia.

Chief Petty Officer Julio C. Suazo (MKC) demonstrates control techniques to members of the Colombian Navy in Cartagena, Colombia during law enforcement training.

Chief Theodore J. Tarini (MKC) teaches a Colombian Navy sailor how to use handcuffs as a control technique during law enforcement training held at Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Chief Petty Officer Julio C. Suazo (MKC) translates to Colombian Navy sailors as MKC Tarini and Lt.j.g. Jeff Janaro demonstrate handcuffing as a control technique during law enforcement training held at Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Dustin S. Welch (OS2) and Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeremiah C. Picou (ET2) pose during a port call in Cartagena, Colombia.

Lt.j.g. Marc R. McDonnell talks members of the Colombian Navy in Cartagena, Colombia through different methods of control during law enforcement training.

Chief Petty Officer Julio C. Suazo (MKC) demonstrates control techniques to members of the Colombian Navy in Cartagena, Colombia during law enforcement training.

Lt.j.g. Jeff G. Janaro demonstrates an example of a control technique on Petty Officer 1st Class Chad E. Johnson (BM1) to Colombian Navy sailors during law enforcement training.

HS1 Tom Nelson enjoys a day in the sun at the Hilton Cartagena, Colombia.

ESCANABA crew poses for a picture before touring the sites in Cartagena, Colombia.

Mh-68A sits tight on the ESCANABA's flight deck during a port call to Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian L. McDowell (DC3) teaches basic firefighting and damage control techniques to Colombian Navy sailors during a port call in Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Seaman Edward L. Powell is lowered over the side of the cutter to remove rust from the anchor and its housing.

Seaman Apprentice Nathan C. Leger salutes the flag during morning colors.

Lt.j.g. Marc R. McDonnell takes in fresh air on the bridge wing.

Seaman Anthony C. Ramos' protective eyewear reflects the special sea detail personnel on the fo'c'sle.

Fireman Daniel P. Smith puts air into a fender prior to mooring.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Jason G. Snider (BM3) is asked to calculate track lines during his Quartermaster of the Watch (QMOW) board.

Petty Officer 1st Class Kurt A. Woodley (SK1) partakes in morale pizza night.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jim M. Gustafson (YN1) shows off a pizza he helped make during morale pizza night.

Petty Officer 1st Class Mitchell T. Pulatie (DC1) enjoys being a part of the morale pizza night crew.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jim M. Gustafson (YN1) and Petty Officer 1st Class Thomas J. Nelson (HS1) assist the first class petty officers in making pizza for the crew during morale pizza night.

Front view of the muzzle cover on the 76mm barrel.

Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffrey W. Lacombe (FS1) and Petty Officer 1st Class Cory D. Lockhart (MK1) prepare ingredients to make pizza for the crew during morale pizza night.

The brow conjoins the ESCANABA and the ARC ALMIRANTE PADILLA, a Colombian Missile Frigate homeported at Naval Station Cartagena, Colombia.

Petty Officer 1st Class Justin D. Price (MK1) makes his special white pizza for the crew during morale pizza night.