Operations Department. (Guest writer: ENS Pam Wade)

Greetings from the Operations Department of the Mighty MORGENTHAU! As you probably all know we’ve been pretty busy this patrol and the Operations Department has been operating as a well-oiled machine to get the job done.

This week has been a crazy one and I think most of our crew will agree that time has fleetingly flit into the dark ages of the past without us even realizing it! We’ve been all over the place searching for the middle of the Pacific Ocean. By the time we found it, we had made a star with our track-lines to mark it… so if you look at some satellite pictures of the Eastern Pacific from last week, you may be able to see our wake. Next week we’ll go for a portrait of our fearless leader, Captain Michael Sullivan!

Each division in our department—Navigation, Radio, Combat Information Center (CIC), and Electronics (ETs)—serves a vital role in our mission out here. The Nav division makes sure that we stay safe on the high seas and don’t run into anything. They also plot our courses and navigate by the stars when our equipment goes down. Speaking of equipment going down, the ETs and Radio deal with archaic equipment that continually tries their troubleshooting skills, but we here on the MORGENTHAU believe in keeping it “old school”. CIC has an entirely different beast to deal with – the boss. Hours are spent under to blue lights talking to the people we work for to get permission to do what we do best – get the bad guys. It’s not an easy job to sit in the air conditioning all day and stare at computer screens while your nice Californian tan fades away into pasty white, but they have stick-to-itiveness! On top of these regular duties, volunteers from each division are on the Law Enforcement Team and standing detainee watch. All of our efforts are worth it though, because we did indeed get our bust! We’ve stopped 105 bales of cocaine and seven drug runners in their tracks, and our presence in theatre alone is enough to deter others. They’re scared, and we’re stronger. Until next time, remember: “The future is an uncharted sea full of potholes.” (© This quote was stolen from my roommate’s calendar.)

Engineering Department.

While most of the ship works in air-conditioned comfort, a select group of stalwart individuals toils in 120o heat while covered in oil and sweat; these are MORGENTHAU’s Engineers. What makes an Engineer? An armful of sweet tattoos and an unnatural fascination with Chuck Norris aside, the defining characteristics of MORGENTHAU’s Engineers are True Grit and a healthy dose of everything right and true in the American Character. We’re reminded every day that ships don’t maintain themselves. Keeping the engines turning, the air conditioners chilling, the toilets flushing, and the gyroscopes doing whatever it may be that gyroscopes do requires a bagful of maintenance, two teaspoons of tender loving care, and a dash of engineering magic. When one of our systems goes down, rest assured that a team of Engineers will be on scene turning wrenches, soldering connections, and welding metal until we achieve our goal of having everything onboard work as advertised.

The good news is that Engineering is having one heck of a patrol. Observing the ship’s operations for a week, one would leave with the impression that Engineering has its oily hands and dirty fingernails in everything. One would be right. Witness our four time Sailor of the Quarter runner-up, EM2 Taran Benavente, in his baked potato-like proximity suit standing ready to tempt fate in the event of a flaming helicopter crash to pull the pilots to safety. See Iraqi Freedom veteran DC2 Darrell Dodge’s heroic efforts to save a fishing vessel laden with cocaine from sinking. Observe Desert Storm veteran MK2 Eduardo Cabrera wielding a shotgun menacingly as he leaps aboard a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics. Yes, these are heady days for your Engineering Department. In the end, though, we continue to do what we do best: keeping the ship running. So, remember, when MORGENTHAU makes her way back to Alameda, it’ll be because a lot of Engineers put a lot of hours into keeping those propellers turning; hug an Engineer.

Supply Department.

Supply Department is the smallest, but definitely not the least, of the five departments onboard Morgenthau. The Supply department is made up of four divisions: Administration, Food Services, Health Services, and Supply. These four divisions do many various tasks throughout the day, from solving pay problems, processing orders and emergency leave, serving 4 meals per day, keeping the crew healthy and taking care of the sick crew members to ordering supplies and issuing parts. The Admin Office works closely with every member departing to ensure that they receive their permanent change of station (PCS) departing entitlements and ensure that they have a smooth PCS transfer and/or retirement. The Food Service Division is responsible for the procurement, storage, and preparation of all food items, including ordering subsistence items in foreign ports. In addition to serving three, nutritionally balanced meals a day, the FS division also provide a fourth meal – MidRats – for crew members standing duty in the middle of the night. Recently the Health Services division completed medical screening for the seven detainees onboard, and treated crew members’ various injuries including a concussion and a crushed thumb. They are also updating all health records and verifying all shot records. The Supply Division handles all of the purchases for the ship; this includes Purchase Orders for Supplies, Food, Fuel, and Port Services. All in all, every member of the Supply Dept. works hand in hand, to contribute to ensure that Morgenthau completes her day to day mission.

Aviation Department.

Greetings shipmates and friends, the HITRON (Helicopter Intercept Tactical Squadron) AVDET would like to say thank you for all of the outstanding support we have received aboard Morgenthau. LCDR Hancock and AET2 Trang will be departing at the next port, leaving the flying to the very capable hands of LT Peyton Russell, LTJG Mace and AMT2 Moreno. LT Russell is a veteran HITRON mission commander with several Go-fast busts to his credit. He is a very knowledgeable unit instructor pilot and very eager to learn from the crew of CGC Morgenthau as this will be his first East Pac deployment. I assure you that LT Russell is very excited to sail with the crew of Morgenthau as this will also be his last patrol. He currently has orders to report to CGAS Clearwater to fly HH60J’s this spring. Like LTJG Mace, LT Russell comes to us from the United States Army, where he flew Black Hawks.

AMT2 Moreno had some great news recently, his wife is pregnant and they are now expecting their first child. AMT2 Moreno or “Mo” would likely appreciate any parental insight the crew might offer. Our civilian maintainer Mr. Fred Nichols is actually a celebrity. Yes Fred was featured as one of the flight deck crewman aboard the carrier featured in the movie “Top Gun”. He was also the body double for Tom Cruise during the infamous sand volleyball game. AMT2 Trang recently earned a new nick name. We now call him “Liger”, as he is known for his skills in magic and power. LTJG Mace reports that he is enjoying his time aboard Morgenthau and that he thoroughly enjoyed the flurry of law enforcement activity earlier in the week. Many of you may not know, but LTJG Mace commanded an Apache unit in Iraq during the opening attacks on Iraq. We are honored to have a shipmate on board who stood the watch in harms way defending this country. LTJG Mace says that while the operational pace may be a little slower in the East Pac than what he experienced in Iraq, the burritos of San Diego made the decision to switch services the right one.

Weapons Department.

This Eastern Pacific patrol sees Weapons Department busy as usual. In addition to everyday training, Deck Force has been providing near continuous boat crews, helo tie downs, and various other able hands for our continuing late night and early morning operations. Fire Control continues to back up CIC and enhance Morgenthau's operational picture with diligent watch standing on their radar. Gunnery has been maintaining our gun systems and weapons qualifications, keeping Morgenthau's teeth respectably sharp.

We are also leaning forward and preparing for events further along our trackline. The Aviation Training Team is preparing for Morgenthau's helicopter standardization visit at the end of this patrol. Fire Control and Gunnery divisions have been working together to enhance the ship's combat readiness by building proficiency in their respective General Quarters watch stations. In addition, as our law enforcement operations grow more complex, there is an increasing need for our small boat coxswains and crewmembers to be able to operate away from the ship, day and night, for extended periods, in various environmental conditions. Deck Force is in the midst of a comprehensive overall of Morgenthau's small boat training program to address these needs.

Weapons Department remains on target and tracking, providing Morgenthau with boats, guns, a flight deck, and the expert personnel that keep them up and running.

Crew Recognition This Week… Compiled by ENS Ernie Saponara

• FN Nicholas Al-Houti certified Generator watchstander
• SA Wayne Benson certified Helm Lookout and also celebrated a birthday on 7 Feb
• MK2 Eduardo Cabrera certified Generator watchstander
• FNMK Jason Costley certified Generator watchstander
• SN Adam Durham certified Helm Lookout
• SN Ben Engle certified Helm Lookout
• FN Jason Gregg certified Security watchstander
• BM3 Matthew Jones certified U/W QMOW
• YNC Ann Ladd celebrated a birthday on 9 Feb
• MK1 Kenneth Miller certified U/W EOW
• SN Daniel Moraga certified Cutter Swimmer
• FN Ejan Petrie certified Generator watchstander
• FN Mike Williams certified Generator watchstander

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Blast from the Past

Can our plankowners identify anyone in this photograph from the 1970s?

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We’ll See You All Soon…

We’ll be safe out here on the high seas – you be safe too at home, and thank you for your support, e-mails and care packages! We’re thinking of you all the time.

Best regards,

The Officers, Chiefs and Crew of
USCGC MORGENTHAU (WHEC 722)
“Decus Pacifici – Pride of the Pacific”

Send care packages to:


USCGC MORGENTHAU (WHEC 722)
FPO AP 96672-3916

Visit us at: http://www.uscg.mil/pacarea/MORGENTHAU

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