SN Sean Crocker

My name is Sean Crocker I grew up in a small town in Maine called Wiscasset. I've lived there my whole life. When I was about eight years old I got my first look at the Coast Guard. I was in Boothbay Harbor, Maine with my grandparents eating ice cream on a pier, when I saw a Coast Guard boat pull up, and a bunch of guys in uniforms get off with gun belts on and all kinds of fancy gear. All I remember thinking was "WOW! that would be a cool job to have." From then on all I wanted to do was join the Coast Guard. Now twelve years later on board the cutter ESCANABA doing a counter narcotics patrol, you might say that I have achieved my dream. There are difficult times that come with the job, like getting up at three in the morning to go to watch for four hours and then having the entire work day ahead of you and then going back to watch for another four hours. You can get pretty tired with a few days like that, but after a while you kind of get used to it. The knowledge and experiences are what I find most rewarding about this job, you're always learning something new, always training for different qualifications, and your not just doing the same thing day in and day out (besides standing watch). Each day always holds something new to learn. Since I've reported, I've gotten qualified in a number of stations like helm and lookout, messenger, and helicopter tie-down member. These are just some of the qualifications that are possible to achieve on board. Being on board a cutter you get the experience of becoming a sailor and learning valuable seamanship skills, and you get a good look at many of the different jobs that there are in the Coast Guard. I have chosen to strike boatswain's mate. It's a job that offers driving boats, and doing boardings on other vessels. I will also learn how to do chart work and navigate ships. These are just some of the many tasks I'll have as a boatswain's mate. Being a boatswain's mate is exactly the reason I joined the Coast Guard. Some of the people I've met since I've joined will be some of the best friends I'll have. As I continue my career in the Coast Guard, I hope to meet many more good people like the ones I've gotten to know on board the ESCANABA.

/s/ SN Sean Crocker

BM2 Karl Hasche

I have been on the Cutter ESCANABA for 2 years and 7 months now. This is my 10th patrol and I've been to the Caribbean 3 times on alien and migrant interdiction patrols. This was my first narcotics patrol and it was a lot more exciting than waiting around for migrant vessels. The crew I sail with is great and I enjoy my job as a BM2 in the Navigation division. When I was a BM3 I also had the pleasure of working with the deck department who I can say is the hardest working department on the boat. I was the lead BM3 and learned a lot of leadership skills and I got to freshen up on my seamanship skills as well. My favorite part about ship life is the travel. I've been to places like Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Colombia, and others I would probably have never seen if I hadn't been stationed here. I'm originally from Seattle, Washington and always wanted to live on the East Coast for awhile just to experience the other side of the country. So far I've had a great time living in Boston which is our homeport, however my time on the east will soon be up and I will be trying to go back to the West Coast. During our inport periods, I am involved in making sure the ship will be ready to go on our next patrol. Once I find out where we are going, I plot out our tracklines and make sure all our charts (electronic and paper) are ready to go. When I have free time at work, either underway or inport, I try to get more qualified on the boat. I just finished breaking in helicopter tie-down crew, and I should be finished with my boarding team member qualification soon. Over the last two years I have had a blast here, met some of the best friends I've ever had, and been to some of the craziest parties in the craziest places.

/s/ BM2 Karl Hasche

Photos

ESCANABA crewmembers pose with Commanding Officer Michael Sabellico and Brother Herman Gijsbers of the Soto, Curacao Siloam Children's Hospice. While in Curacao, ESCANABA sent 17 volunteer crewmembers to Siloam to help paint the hospice and refurbish the grounds.

Crewmembers from ESCANABA do yard work and help paint the façade of the Siloam Children's Hospice

Chief Boatswain's Mate Matthew Welsh supervises several volunteers as they work on painting the back side of the Siloam Children's Hospice

Brother Herman Gijsbers addresses the Commanding Officer and volunteers from the crew prior to commencing work on the hospice. As well as donating time, ESCANABA worked in partnership with the Wampatuck Elementary School in Scituate MA to help raise over $1,100.00 and numerous toys that were presented to the Hospice.

Various volunteers from ESCANABA take a break for a laugh while working on the hospice. Crewmembers were more than willing to volunteer their time and effort and at the end of the day, everyone left tired, happy, and fulfilled.

Volunteers

ENS Cathy Gabinelle, Chief Boatswain's Mate Matthew Welsh, and LTJG Jeffery Janaro observe local apparent noon with sextants in hand on the starboard bridge wing.

ESCANABA sits at anchor in Curacao, her last port call before returning home.

The helicopter tie down teams work to release the helicopter during one of the final helicopter evolutions of the patrol.

LTJG Marc McDonnell and Boatswain's Mate Third Class Paul Milliken work together to paint the Siloam Children's Hospice

ENS Cathy Gabinelle and Chief Boatswain's Mate Matthew Welsh adjust their sextants while observing local apparent noon.

---

Special Notes:

To all sailing with ESCANABA these past eight weeks, thank you. This patrol has been long and successful, and we could not have made it without your emails, your love, and your support. We will have one final submission before our return to home port where we can finally be reunited with those of you that have been waiting so patiently for us. We hope Fred's Place helped to bring you closer to us despite the distance, and we thank Fred's Place for accommodating all of our blogs and photographs. We also hope you have enjoyed tracking us across the Caribbean and we look forward to seeing many of you at the pier. Thank you for keeping us in your prayers. We'll see you soon!

~Officers and Crew of the ESCANABA

---