Sunset of the Week

We sure tried this week for that third bust, patrolling hard, responding to intelligence, positioning ourselves where we think the bad guys are, and flying our helicopter many long hours to expand our sensor reach. We thought we had something on Thursday night with our boarding of a fishing vessel that sure acted “dirty”. ENS Kyra Van Echo led the boarding team, with our helicopter flying for support. After searching the vessel thoroughly, and not finding any contraband, ENS Van Echo concluded the boarding and left; we then landed our helo and departed the area.

Otherwise it was a standard, busy, intense week at sea. We conducted a great amount of training: basic engineering casualty control exercises, ship-wide damage control drills, nightly damage control indoctrination for new crewmembers, and a major caliber gun exercise on Friday (firing our big gun on the front of the ship). Our Integrated Training Team tried to hold a massive

Mighty Morgenthau from the air this week

battle exercise on Friday, but seas were too rough to safely conduct the training, and it was postponed to the following week.

College of Alameda classes continue, with Business 10 (taught by CAPT Michael Sullivan; LTjg Brandon Horne is the teacher’s assistant) having its second and final test. Computer Information Systems 5 (taught by CDR Mark Dietrich) is finishing its tenth chapter of the course book, just learned its two final QBasic programming techniques, and is gearing up for next week’s final.

Friday was a great time for the crew, even though seas were a bit rough: our helicopter did a couple hours’ worth of familiarization flights for 25 lucky crewmembers. Each flight was 10-12 minutes long and took off from the flight deck, circled the cutter while climbing in altitude (showing the breathtaking view of the ship from high above), then descended and

BMC Rob Walper conns the ship into Acajulta with the Captain coaching

circled into the landing pattern, and finally landed back on the tiny postage-stamp sized flight deck. The crew sure enjoyed the flights and we all thank our Aviation Detachment for the opportunity.

The Morgenthau pulled in very briefly on Saturday to Acajulta, El Salvador, to say good-bye to our Aviation Detachment as they flew back to Jacksonville so the aircraft can start a new mission in the Caribbean. BMC Rob Walper conned the ship into the busy port and drove excellently under challenging conditions including a fresh breeze and a longshore current. We also spent eight hours getting fuel for our transit back to the north, leaving Acajulta a bit after midnight. LTjg Ryan Waters expertly backed the ship out of the port in the middle of the night.

Our Morale Committee sponsored some fun activities this week. You’ll read later about our newest shipboard fad: Assassin. On Tuesday, Pi Day (3/14…get it?), we had a pie

FA Manny Ontiveros and FA Kyle Riddle try not to throw up during the Pie Eating Contest

eating contest on the messdeck, with FA Manny Ontiveros emerging as the victor. In the welterweight division, there was a “Pie Light” eating contest—plates of whipped cream and gummy bears. The winner had to find the gummy bears the fastest, and as is usual on this trip, SK2 Mike “I won another Morale event again” Simonetti edged out six competitors for the title. Finally, there was a contest to see who could recite the most digits of Pi, and CDR Mark Dietrich emerged with 110 digits, crushing his closest competitor, SN Ben Engle, like a scared student crumbling under the pressure of a sixty-page final exam.

We also had a morale shotgun skeet shoot (there are some great pictures of it in this news-letter) and our Aviation Detachment allowed interested wannabe-gunners to fire their very powerful, very accurate .50 caliber rifle.

From the Command Master Chief by MKCM Aaron Relford

Firing our 76mm this week for training

I would like to say to all the Moms and Dads, family and friends of these fine sailors here on the cutter Morgenthau: They represent you well. They are all hard working professionals who put themselves in harms way working in a hostile environment to protect our home and way of life. I ask that you continue to provide them the love and support they so desperately deserve.

We are finally coming to the end of our patrol. This is a bittersweet time for me because it will be my last trip. I’ve spent most of my adult life on ships at sea and now this chapter in my life is coming to an end and I’ll be moving on to the next great adventure. I’m not sure if that will be in the Coast Guard or as a civilian but whatever happens I will always have great memories. I have enjoyed the past three years serving as a member of the crew of cutter Morgenthau. Their energy and vitality is the fountain of youth and because of that I will not have started aging until I am no longer one of them. Peace be with you.

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From the Chief Master-At-Arms by FSCS Randy Litka

OS3 Chris Lopez on the shotgun

From the CMAA Locker: As we wind down on the final leg of this very successful patrol, we will be saying goodbye to a lot of very valuable shipmates who have made the Morgenthau thrive. However, when a valuable shipmate leaves, there is always another valuable shipmate to step up, take the reins and continue to the Morgenthau traditions. I will be stepping down as the ship's Chief Master at Arms on June 1st, and OSC Brian Dorsey will replace me. He has already taken over some of the responsibilities and is going to be the new "Sheriff in town". YN1 David Blackwell is my Master at Arms (MAA) and my right hand man. I will miss him terribly as he departs once we report back to homeport. His replacement is ET1 Sean Smiley. I am sure that ET1 Smiley will compliment OSC Dorsey just as YN1 Blackwell complemented me. Our berthing areas and other spaces are looking "ship shape" as we

It’s a hard-knock life: SN Nick Helbert at Flight Quarters Condition Two

look forward to embarking our "Tigers" for the trip home from San Diego to Alameda. "Tigers" are guests of crewmembers who wanted to get a small taste of shipboard life. We look forward to welcoming our "Tigers" and hope that they get the opportunity to enjoy Morgenthau at her best. Once again, I could not do my job onboard as CMAA without the assistance of my MAA and my berthing area MAAs. I will be departing on June 1st to report to the USCGC RUSH in Honolulu, Hawaii. It has been a sincere pleasure to serve as the Morgenthau's Chief Master at Arms for the last two years. This ship, this command, and this crew will always hold a special place in my heart. Fair winds and following seas….

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From Our Alameda Schoolkids Compiled by ENS Pam Wade

Morgenthau got an incredible surprise in the mail during a recent port visit: three huge packages from second and third grade students at St. Philip Neri school in Alameda. The packages contained cards, letters and drawings from the students to us as servicemembers. Some of the students had some very kind messages to pass to our crew:

DC2 Andrea Cooper on Anchor Detail, entering Acajulta

Names have been removed to offer a degree of protection for the young school kids

• I am 8 years old and in the third grade at St. Philip Neri school. I very much appreciate the work that you have done to protect our country. Thank you so much. God Bless.
• Thank you for protecting us. You help make peace.
• I go to St. Philip Neri. I live in Alameda, CA. I hope you have a good trip.
• Thank you for freedom. You are brave.
• Happy Crews. Thank you for protecting out country and we are praying for you and we are proud of the hard work you did.
• Thank you for protecting the world. Be brave every time. • I hope you have a safe trip. I am proud of yore hard work. My skool is Saint Philip Neri.
• Thank you for protecting me from things that can hurt me.
• Thank you for protecting our country. I am in 1st Grade. I hope you have a safe trip. P.S. I am proud of you!
• Thank you for freedom. And thank you for all your help.

SK2 Mike Simonetti wins the Pie Light

• Hi I hope you have a safe trip. I’m praying for you. Thank you for protecting Alameda, Ca.
• Thank you for risking your life for me. Also for protecting our country.
• I hop you have a safe trip.
• Thank you for protecting us. Also for world peace.
• Thank you for protecting us.
• I go to Saint Philip Neri. My state is called Alameda, CA. We are praying for you. Have a great trip. I will visit you. See ya!
• I hope you stay safe. I’m prod of your good pork. Bewer of sharks.
• Thank you for protecting our world. Thank you for peace in the world.
• I am proud of your hard work, We are praying for you, We hope you have a safe trip, We live in Alameda, Ca. We go to school at Saint Philip Neri.
• Thank you for peace. You stand up for us.

From all of us to the students at St. Philip Neri, thank you all. We are proud to be on patrol for you! Semper Paratus! Next week, we’ll answer some of the questions that you had.

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Engineering Department News by LT Greg Tozzi

BM3 Matt Jones at the skeet shoot with GMC Mark Jacobs instructing

Admiral Jellicoe said that “the prelude to action is the work of the Engine Room Department.” I’ve been thinking about that statement a lot lately as it finally sinks in that we’re heading home. We in Engineering aren’t the world’s most modest crowd, but I don’t think that it’s an overstatement to say that Engineers have been integral to every success that this ship has experienced over the past 80+ days. Every time MORGENTHAU ran at top speed for extended periods, every time the small boats went full out in pursuit of bad guys, every second that power was available for our electronics and weapons – all of this and more happened because fifty of the finest people with whom I’ve had the pleasure to serve put in the hours, did the maintenance, and solved incredibly complex problems despite a perennial shortage of parts, money, and time. They are magnificent.

SK2 Ben Warholoski on the .50 caliber rifle

Dear reader, let’s get down to brass tacks: This is the end of my last patrol in this ship, and, upon reflection, two things have occurred to me. The first is that I’m going to miss this ship, this crew, and, especially, these Engineers. The second is that it’s entirely possible that things may never be this good again. I hope that the members of the department for whom this is their first tour, the ENS Peter Hsus and FN Luke Siekmanns of the world, understand that this is a special ship with a special crew. This department consistently per-forms feats of nearly magical proportions to keep MORGENTHAU fully mission capable.

Over the past two years, dedicated people like DC2 John White, EM2 Taran Benevente, MK2 Edwin Prince, and MK2 Phil Perrault – and, really, I wish I could name them all here – have made my job the easiest in the Coast Guard.

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Operations Department News by LT Mike Fisher

BM3 Wendy Leiva uses her stool to reach the chart table. We’re an equal opportunity ployer, providing stools to the Very Short.

Our time in the Eastern Pacific is wrapping up, and all of Operations Department is looking forward to a little time at home to rest and see our families and friends. The work of the department has been instrumental in all the ship’s successes this patrol, including the seizure of over 12,000 pounds of cocaine, the capture of 13 narcotics traffickers and the safe navigation of the ship for nearly 16,000 miles. The hard work was mitigated by the opportunity to enjoy the sun, warm weather and fun port calls while receiving reports about the strangest weather (ice on the Golden Gate Bridge?) in the Bay Area.

Each of the four divisions will be losing many people who I have thoroughly enjoyed working with over the past two years and have contributed so much to this ship. I person-ally wish them and their families the best of luck in their next assignment! They will be missed but all have earned the opportunity for a job where there feet can spend a little more time on dry land than out at sea.

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Weapons Department News by LTJG Ryan Waters

On approach to lovely Acajulta, El Salvador: lines are going over.

This final installment of the patrol goes out to the Gunnery and Fire Control Divisions for offloading 68 MK 75 rounds the way we like to - through the barrel. For those who don't speak the language, Cutter Morgenthau's ordnance specialists put on a long overdue large caliber gunnery exercise on Friday. Props to ENS Miles Jenkins, GMC Mark Jacobs, and the rest of the armory crew for completing the time and labor intensive pre and post fire procedures associated with shooting our main battery. They were justly rewarded by some range time with the aviators' always popular precision .50 cal rifle. Thanks guys - shooting the big gun is what makes this job fun.

Not to be outdone, ENS Kyra Van Echo, ETC Dave Holder, and the Fire Control crew promptly responded to a potentially show-stopping Mk 92 overheat and got some good combat casualty control practice. Their expert response allowed us to shoot and is greatly appreciated. ETC - whatever anybody else says, I know what a magnetron is, I know we don't have a flux capacitor, and I appreciate your on-the-fly diagnosis and repair.

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Supply Department News by CWO2 Tony Parker

200 pounds of fury in a 170-pound bag: BMC Rob Walper

This week was a normal week for Supply department taking care of our crewmembers who are PCS departing this summer, TDY orders, emergency leave orders, preparing meals for the crew, preparing the menu and serving dinner in the Commanding Officer’s quarters, working on the change of command menu, setting up medical, dental, hearing exams appointments, ordering and issuing out supplies, and shipping supplies to our ports calls. Congratulations to FS3 Luis Noriega for your advancement to Food Service Specialist Third Class.

This transfer season many of our shipmates in supply will be leaving. FSCS Randy Litka is getting promoted to Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2) 01June and has orders to the Cutter Rush. YNC Ann Ladd is also getting promoted to CWO2 and has orders to Alameda CA. HSC Rebecca Vinlove is on the list for both CWO2 and HSCS and will be departing. FS1 ¾ Mike Simpson is making Chief and has orders to Tracen Center Petaluma. YN3 Jessika Garay is transferring to Sector New Orleans. YN1 David Blackwell is transferring to Sec-tor Houston. FS2 Anna Henson, FS2 David Hubbard, and FS2 Sean Whitten will all be transferring to new units in the near future. SK2 Ben Warholoski will being getting out and moving to Hawaii. We wish everyone good luck on their new assignments. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Supply Department for your hard work and dedication. It has truly been an honor working with each and every one of you!

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Aviation Department News by LT Peyton Russell

Goodbye from HITRON 06-06!!!! Time flies when you are having fun (no pun intended) and we did have some fun over the past couple of months. It is finally time for us to pack up our things and head back to sunny Florida. We truly appreciate the experiences you have shared with us. It has been a pleasure sailing and working with each and every one of you. Without a great cutter and crew we really can't accomplish much of anything. The role each and every member of the crew plays in accomplishing this mission is vital. Have you ever dealt with an AVDET that isn't well rested or properly fed? If you think helicopters whine, you should hear inside the aircraft when those do things don't happen. We really appreciate you all and the hard work you do everyday. We even appreciate the Engineer Officer's attempts to sabotage the mission and snuff out our lives.

Our AVDET: Mr. Fred Nichols, LTjg Bryon Mace, LT Peyton Russell, AMT2 Mo Moreno

This was my last deployment (hopefully) as part of a HITRON AVDET. I can honestly say I am glad I was able serve out my last days aboard the mighty MORGENTHAU with her crew. You made my last trip a memorable one (except for certain parts of the Costa Rica MPB) and I appreciate it. LTjg Bryon Mace and AMT2 “Mo” are really grateful you were able to get them over the top of their first go-fast. You have made an outstanding first im-pression on HITRON's future. You have set a high mark for them to compare other cutters against. The ship's Fred really didn't have much to say he hasn't told you already. When I asked him for a quote for this newsletter, he just grumbled as he walked away to wash the aircraft for the third time (last Friday).

Good luck MORGENTHAU in all your future endeavors. May you have fair winds and following seas. HIT 06-06, Out.

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Division in the Spotlight… by LTJG Steve Arnwine
Department: Operations      Division: Navigation

(L-R) BM1 Jeff Hamilton, BM2 Nate Fraze, BMC Rob Walper, BM3 Wendy Leiva, BM1 Nate Davis, LTjg Steve Arnwine Not pictured: CWO4(BAND) Terry Waddington

Greetings from the Navigation Division! The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. However, as the Navigation Division has found during recent patrols Morgenthau doesn’t always travel in straight lines; some days it seems like one big circle. Due to the fast paced operations and constantly changing intelligence, the navigation team has been flexible to react in this dynamic environment. Whether it is laying down new track lines or gathering port information for a brief stop for fuel, the Navigation Division is al-ways there to answer the call.

The Navigation Division maintains all nautical charts and publications to ensure that all foreign/domestic ports charts are up to standards, allowing for the safe navigation of the cutter. With the expediential growth of technology and changing times, these once Quar-termasters are now part of a new breed of Boatswain’s Mates. They use the principles of old and combine them with new computer based navigation systems to get Morgenthau from one port to the next. During a normal day underway, the Navigation Division can be found standing watch on the bridge, correcting charts for our next port of call, reviewing ships logs, and laying down next track lines to our next adventure.

BM3 Wendy Leiva, FS3 Liz Roberts and SK3 Brynn Healy

When Morgenthau is inport, the Navigation Division maintains the quarterdeck (area when you first step onto the ship) along with the bridge. We have some improvements occurring this inport for the quarterdeck such as a new and improved check in/out board and a new large carpeted ship’s crest. These small touches will enhance the overall appearance of the quarterdeck while at the same time show why Morgenthau is the “Pride of the Pacific.”

The navigation division is comprised of LTjg Steve “The Pirate” Arnwine, BMC Rob “Tito” Walper, BM1 Jeff “Old Leaky” Hamilton, BM1 Nathanial “Bowditch” Davis, BM3 Wendy “Little Nina” Leiva, and BM3 Matt “Are you going to eat that?” McCullough. We recently acquired BM2 Nate “White Goodman” Fraze after he came to his senses and decided to come up where “the air is crisp.” The next time you see a Navigation Division Boatswain’s Mate, please don’t hug them as we like our personal space. Fair winds and following seas.

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Assassin #1 Report by ENS Pam Wade

MK2 Brian “Chorizo” Meachum, SA Josh “The Terminator” Dalton, LTjg Brandon “Ron Burgundy” Horne, ET3 Dan “The Evil Monkey Man” Nelson

A brand new morale event never before played onboard Morgenthau began after leaving Panama a few weeks ago. It is called “Assassin”. If you’ve never heard of this game before, it’s pretty fun and it’s been a big hit this patrol! The basic premise of the game is that every person involved is an assassin and they receive a target. Each target is actually an assassin after yet another assassin. The way that you “kill” your target is by squirting them with a water gun. You can’t have any witnesses and there are regulations on what times you can shoot someone; for example, you can’t score a kill when your target is sleeping or on watch. The way to win the game is to be the last assassin alive. Our Golfito port call slowed the killing for Assassin #1 and we never got down to the very last assassin. The final four, however, were DC2 Andrea *Andy Coop* Cooper, MK2 Michael *KillJoy* Gill, OS2 Brian *The Creep* Soto, and OS3 Brandon *Too Cool for a Handle* Debetham.

Assassin #1 been really fun and the only problem is that it has made everyone completely paranoid! The XO, CDR Mark *SlashX* Dietrich, locks his stateroom door and doesn’t come out unless he is escorted by a witness (someone who he knows is not involved in the game nor is his assassin). I walk down the passageways and I see shadowy figures lurking in the corners, holding a bright orange fluorescent plastic water gun that is no doubt dripping down their pant leg. I think one of the best stories that I’ve heard so far is that *SlashX* was hiding in ENS Ernie Saponara’s shower at 0330 waiting for him to come off watch. He waited until ENS Saponara was about to brush his teeth and flung open the curtain squirting him with water, causing him to scream and flail like a little girl, wildly grabbing for his water gun to fight back. This commotion woke up the neighbors, the pilots who were attached to the Morgenthau for the patrol, and the screams resounded throughout the ship; unfortunately… he didn’t stand a chance.

Assassin #2 is well on its way and the number of assassins onboard is dwindling, but the memories will never die. Here are a few of the mug shots and alias names that the crew is using. I think you’ll enjoy them!

FS2 Sean “Sean P. Whitterman, Esquire” Whitten, FN Mike “Sarge” Williams, SN Rick “Sugar ‘N Spice” Spicer, MK3 Bret “” Steinle

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Crew Recognition This Week... Compiled by ENS Ernie Saponara

• SA Aaron Bolton certified as Helmsman and Lookout.
• ENS Vincent Escobedo certified as an inport Engineer Officer of the Watch.
• ENS Vincent Escobedo certified as an underway Engineer Officer of the Watch.
• ENS Vincent Escobedo earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• BM2 Nathaniel Fraze celebrated a birthday on 14 March 2006.
• OS2 Kim Hawkins celebrated a birthday on 14 March 2006.
• ENS Peter Hsu certified as an underway Engineer Officer of the Watch.
• ENS Peter Hsu earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• OS3 Christopher Kiener celebrated a birthday on 19 March 2006.
• MK2 Charles Malinski certified engineering Throttleman watchstander.
• SA Jonathan Null certified as Helmsman and Lookout.
• IT1 Aubrey Quinones celebrated a birthday on 13 March 2006.
• FN Kyle Riddle certified as engineering Security watchstander.
• BMC Rob Walper certified as an underway Officer of the Deck.

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Blast from the Past

This incredible piece of art—now in our newsletter’s banner—is the work of one of Morgenthau’s plankowners, Mr. Steve Thomas, currently in Utah. Mr. Thomas was kind enough to give us permission to use the image, and sent several prints for key members in our crew. Thank you!

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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