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

Welcome Aboard The CGC Escanaba

On Patrol Week 5

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

This week we hear from BM1 William M. Ferretti , and SN Matt Hendricksen on life aboard a cutter on Counter-Narcotics Patrol.

All photos are official Coast Guard photos by PA2 Lisa Hennings and LTJG David Shuck..

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

Blogs

BM1 William M. Ferretti

My name is William M. Ferretti, and I am the first class boatswains mate on board the ESCANABA. I grew up in Brockton, MA where I spent my childhood with my parents and my three older sisters. My father used to take us boating in and around the waters off of Cape Cod, at which time I realized my love for the ocean. At that point, I decided to join the Coast Guard.

I came into the Coast Guard in 1995, as soon as I graduated from Brockton High School. My first station was in a town called Two Rivers, located on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin. My next two stations were also in Wisconsin; Sheboygan and Milwaukee. In 1999 I had the chance to be stationed closer to home. I was offered Station Woods Hole, Massachusetts on Cape Cod. I spent nearly the next six years stationed there. While I was in Woods Hole, we provided around-the-clock security alongside the Secret Service for former president Bill Clinton while he and his family vacationed on Martha's Vineyard. I was also a part of the search and rescue/recovery efforts for John F. Kennedy Jr. when his plane went down off of Martha's Vineyard. After 9/11, I was sent temporary duty to Boston with a boat crew and provided constant security around the city's waterfront. In March of 2004, it was time for me to move on. I received orders to the Coast Guard Cutter ESCANABA in Boston, just north of my hometown of Brockton.

Everyone on board ESCANABA has various jobs/duties. My primary job on board is the Lead Petty Officer for the Navigation Division. It is up to my subordinates and I to make sure we have all of the charts for the areas that we are going to, and that each and every voyage is properly plotted out on the paper charts, as well as the electronic systems we use. The watch that we stand is called the Quarter Master of the Watch (QMOW). It's a four hour watch in which you navigate the ship to where it has to be. You stand one four hour watch a day, and then get relieved by the next QMOW. There is always someone on watch while we are underway, 24 hours a day. Aside from navigating, we are also responsible for hourly weather observations.

One of my other primary duties on board is duty coxswain for the Special Response Team. As duty coxswain, I am responsible for driving our Over The Horizon small boat. The Special Response Team consists of 6 of us who are responsible for pursuing high speed vessels or those beyond the cutter's line of sight. The team and I went to a special school where I was taught high speed boat maneuvering tactics and long distance navigational techniques.

Some of my collateral duties on board are: member of the helicopter tie down crew when we land helicopters on deck; member of a boarding team when we conduct law enforcement boardings; the ship's store clerk (a small store on board with items such as candy, toiletries, Coast Guard clothing, etc…); and the ship's Lay Leader helping to lead Sunday non-denominational church service.

We are currently on a counter narcotics patrol in the Caribbean. This is my first patrol in the Caribbean with the Coast Guard. My other patrols on board have been spent in the fishing grounds off the New England coast conducting fisheries boardings.

Being at sea for half the year isn't easy, but having a good crew on board helps. Being away from friends and family for so long gets to you after a while. The patrols seem too long and the inports always too short. In the end the sacrifice is worth it knowing that tonight when my nieces and nephews, friends, and family back home go to bed, they'll get a good nights sleep because they know the ESCANABA is Guarding the coast .

/s/ BM1 William M. Ferretti

SN Matt Hendricksen

I am Matt Hendricksen of Edison, NJ and am currently stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter ESCANABA. Everyone thinks that you learn everything you need to know about the Coast Guard in boot camp, but that is hardly true. ESCANABA is where I have learned everything about the Coast Guard and how to do things the right way. I am a member of the Deck Department on board and have gained a great deal of knowledge from the more experienced crewmen in my department. That's why I think ESCANABA is a great ship. The camaraderie and family atmosphere aboard are hard to find anywhere else. I have never met so many dedicated people in my life. They all know what they want to do in the guard and they all work hard to do it.

Currently I am on the waiting list to become a Gunner's Mate (GM). While I await orders, I am trying to get qualified as a boat crewman and law enforcement boarding team member. I am already qualified as a helm-lookout, messenger of the watch, and shipboard damage controlman. These qualifications have taken me about six months to achieve. After fulfilling my primary responsibilities on board during the day I work with the GM's as much as possible to learn more before I leave for GM "A school".

Being underway is possibly the best experience in the Coast Guard. Right now this is my 4th time out to sea and I love every minute of it. This patrol seems to be going quite slowly because of the type of patrol we are doing. We are often biding our time, waiting for an opportunity to arise. The whole crew is enthusiastic and waiting for the opportunity to interdict a drug carrying vessel. We are also just over the halfway mark in the patrol and I am excited to return to Boston. I miss my family and especially my girlfriend with whom I frequently share emails. But even though I miss them all dearly, I can't help but think how much I love this job and all the good that I am doing out here and the good I will be doing in the future.

/s/ SN Matt Hendricksen

Photos

The ESCANABA band "The Deepwater Project" playing during a Sunday night morale party on the flight deck. From left to right the members are LTjg Jeff Janaro, Chief Machinery Technician Gerald Bowen, LTjg Matthew Smith, and Machinery Technician 1st class Justin Price. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Lisa Hennings

Operations Specialist 2nd class Dustin Welch, Operations Specialist 3rd class Aaron Silva, and Operations Specialist 2nd class Mohamad Addam pose for the camera on the flight deck following an M-16 familiarization shoot. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Lisa Hennings

Operations Specialist 2nd class Gregory Smith stands watch above the pilot house with a pair of Escanaba's "big eye" binoculars. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Lisa Hennings

Seaman Apprentice Michael Kuhn and Store Keeper third class Tyson Beaird approach the helicopter onboard during a simulated "crash on deck" drill.

Damage Controlman 3rd class Clifford Morgan watches as Fireman Daniel Smith and Damage Controlman 3rd class Brian McDowell in their proximity suits as they "extinguish" a simulated helicopter fire.

Seaman Apprentice Nathan Leger and Boatswain's Mate 3rd class Jason Snider back away from the helicopter, firehose in hand during a simulated "crash on deck" drill.

Electrician's Mate Chief Julio Suazo, the Chief Enlisted Advisor addresses the crew during an afternoon formation on Escanaba's flight deck.

Damage Controlman 1st class Mitchell Pulatie (center) debriefs Damage Controlman 3rd class Brian McDowell and Fireman Daniel Smith following their training during a "crash on deck" drill

Machinery Technician 1st class Justin Price, Machinery Technician 2nd class Keith Stinson, and Machinery Technician 3rd class Jeremy Perkins inspect a sample of fuel taken from the helicopter.

LTjg Jeff Janaro entertains the crew as he leads the ship's band "The Deepwater Project" in an evening flight deck performance. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Lisa Hennings

The Executive Officer, Douglas Schofield briefs the officers and chiefs during an afternoon "officer's call."

Boatswain's Mate 3rd class Paul Milliken offers up a "victory" sign while securing the helicopter with chain link tiedowns.

Crewmembers relax on a Sunday afternoon during a ship's morale swimcall. Coast Guard photo by PA2 Lisa Hennings

Machinery Technician 1st class Justin Price plays acoustic guitar for the ship's band "The Deepwater Project." Coast Guard photo by PA2 Lisa Hennings