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Welcome Aboard The CGC Morgenthau

March 29, 2006

Greetings from USCGC MORGENTHAU! This is the tenth and final report of our current deployment. We hope to keep you well informed of the great accomplishments and happenings of the Coast Guard Pacific Area’s ship of choice – the United States Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau. It’s been a great pleasure writing to you each week, and thank you all for your support to our crew during this extended three-month deployment. – CDR Mark Dietrich, Editor

The Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau, homeported in Alameda, Ca. Photo by Tony Gillilan.

From The Bridge:

Captain M. E. Sullivan

Greetings for the last time from the Bridge of the Mighty Morgenthau. As this deployment draws to a close, it is with a melancholy heart that I pen this last entry. We have produced incredible, record-breaking results in every endeavor we have been engaged with, and our successes have truly been a team effort. No one person has carried the ball alone - we have relied on our shipmates extensively, and we have many great memories to brag about. So we'll be crossing under the Golden Gate Bridge on Friday with mixed emotions - thrilled to be home once again, proud of our many accomplishments, yet sad in the knowledge that this might well be the last time that some of us will make this crossing. We have worked hard to build a foundation of success that will serve this Cutter well into the future, and I am confident that this rich legacy will continue, and I look forward to reading about the great accomplishments that this Cutter and crew are going to make in the future. Thank you all for your support, prayers, and dedication - we couldn't have achieved all the things that we did without your perseverance. Best Regards - Captain Sullivan sends.

Some Cool Patrol Statistics Compiled by LT Mike Fisher

Sunset of the Week
An HH-65 helicopter hovers overhead during our helicopter standardization inspection this week
HS3 Tim Marshall and HSC Rebecca Vinlove
YNC Ann Ladd and CWO2 James Bigbie, fantail warriors
MK2 Jesse Ridgeway

“Hold Fast” proclaim BM1 Sean McMullen’s knuckles
Flight Deck Warrior
Helo crash on deck drill: the pilots are pulled from the simulated wreckage
FS3 Chris Vick and OS3 Derby Flory during Casino Night
CAPT Kevin O’Day, prospective CO, joined us for a day at sea this week to see his new ship
The Landing Signals Officer, ENS Ernie Saponara, guides the helo into place for inflight refueling
A Flight Deck Warrior finishes using a grounding stick during in-flight refueling, having discharged the static electricity cre-ated by the helo’s engines and blades.
BM3 Wendy Leiva and BM1 Jeff Hamilton as navigation evaluators this week

CWO2 James Bigbie, First Lieutenant and Aviation Training Team Coordinator
“Tiedown pelican hooks make the best air guitars”, says his Tiedown Warrior
MK2 Bret Steinle, MK2 Mike Ryan, MK2 Mike Gill in Main Control
MK2 Chuckles Malinksi, OS2 Pascal Fraisse and OS1 Al Rivera at Casino Night
ENS Kyra Van Echo leads the Helicopter Control Officer squadron from the bridge

• Days away from homeport: 80
• Miles cruised: 17,941 NM
• Degrees of latitude spanned: 52
• Search and Rescue cases: 2
• Boardings: 5
• Go-fast pursuits: 1
• Detainees held: 13
• Migrants recovered: 77
• Cocaine seized: 12,420 lbs
• Value: $500+ million
• Helo evolutions: 225
• Flight hours: 116.7
• Anchorings: 3
• Mooring evolutions: 26

• Aviation fuel consumed: 7003 gallons
• Diesel fuel consumed: 544,389 gallons
• Turbine hours: 199.4
• Drills conducted: 42
• Bullets fired for training: 4,612
• Transfers in/out of theater: 19
• Promotions: 7
• Awards: 57
• Reenlistments: 5
• Damage Control qualifications: 25
• Watchstation certifications: 128
• Newsletter recipients: 720
• Messages sent: 556
• Messages received: 9950

Our End-Of-Patrol Press Release by LTJG Piero Pecora

Coast Guard Cutter Returns Home from a Productive Counter Drug Patrol

ALAMEDA, CA. – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Morgenthau and her crew of 163 men and women return to Coast Guard Island this Friday afternoon following an extremely successful counter-narcotics patrol of the waters off Central and South America. Morgenthau and her crew have interdicted over 18 tons of cocaine in their last two patrols, worth well over $1.5 billion.

During this extensive three month deployment, Morgenthau and her crew seized two vessels carrying a total of six tons of cocaine with a street value of over 500 million dollars. The first vessel, a Peruvian fishing boat, was sighted and seized while trying to make the journey north to offload narcotics destined for the streets of the United States. Morgenthau intercepted the vessel and deployed the ship’s highly trained boarding teams to search the boat for contraband. The vessel’s crew made a desperate attempt to destroy the evidence by scuttling their boat. Morgenthau’s shipboard damage control experts thwarted the scuttling with an aggressive response, keeping the vessel afloat long enough to recover the entire load of cocaine before the boat finally succumbed to flooding and sank in the Pacific Ocean. The seven narco-terrorists were detained by the Morgenthau.

Morgenthau’s second cocaine seizure occurred when the cutter detected a small, high speed vessel typically used for the transshipment of illegal narcotics. The cutter made use of its embarked armed Stingray helicopter and interceptor boats to capture the vessel. The boat attempted to evade the helicopter but was forced to stop when the helicopter’s gunner disabled the boat’s engines with precision fire. A boarding team subsequently discovered over 3 tons of cocaine aboard the vessel and detained the six man crew. The boat was sunk as it was deemed a hazard to navigation.

Always ready to respond to a humanitarian crisis, Morgenthau made a 1,000 mile sprint at top speed to assist 77 Ecuadorian migrants found adrift in a dilapidated, sinking vessel off the coast of El Salvador. Morgenthau provided food, shelter, and medical care while safely delivering the men and women to Guatemala for repatriation to Ecuador. Several of those assisted were only 15 years old.

Morgenthau and her crew proudly return to their homeport of Alameda after sailing over 18,000 miles and visiting seven ports in seven different countries in support of the Coast Guard’s counter-drug mission.

Proudest Survey by ENS Pam Wade

• “My shipmates and myself.” – OS2 Pascal Fraisse, Ocean Springs, MI
• “Getting orders.” – SN Michael Morrill, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
• “Blowing the heck out of something!” – GM2 Jonathan Kinker, Pheonix, AZ
• “Deck force and their achievements and qualifications gained on this patrol. Good job!” – BMCS Darren Davis, Everett, WA
• “I got to see and experience things most people don’t get to experience.” – SN Jona-than Pangelinan, Agana Heights, Guam
• “Busting drug runners!! They’ll think twice about putting drugs into my country!” – DC2 David Martin, Houston, TX
• “Getting underway for the last time with the old command.” – BM3 Christopher Kuhr, Petaluma, CA
• “How everyone comes together when we need to get something done.” – SA Aaron Bolton, Placentia, CA
• “Proud that Ridgeway got pooped on by a pigeon the last day in San Diego.” – MK2 Chuck Malinski, Witchacanodo, Poland
• “My new hat.” – OSC Ken Torquato, St. Helens, OR
• “That morale was really good to me and we got 2 drug busts.” SK2 Michael Simonetti, Middletown, NY
• “I didn’t die on the fishing boat.” – DC2 Darrell Dodge, Ahsahka, ID
• “All the incredible things Operations Department did for the patrol.” – LT Michael Fisher, Columbia, SC.
• “Becoming a member in the elite club of the fantail raiders.” – SN Dan Moraga, Thousand Oaks, CA
• “The fantail raiders stayed out of trouble.” – FS2 Sean Whitten, Sacramento (the town), CA
• “I am proud of Chuck Malinski; see you in Boston.” – DC2 Andrea Cooper, Weed, CA
• “That was easy!” FN Patrick Hamer, San Jose, CA
•“I saw a lot of water.” – FN Byron Knepp, The Colony, TX
• “It was a good trip but now we’re home.” FN James Adams, Normangee, TX
• “I got my replacement this patrol.” – BM3 Wendy Leiva, Miami, FL
• “The Halo 2 Tournament rocked but the big busts were great too.” – ET2 Mark Edil-lon, Guam, USA
• “My bank account is not empty, I lived to see my 21st birthday, and I haven’t been hospitalized YET” – BM2 Nathaniel Fraze, Bakersfield, CA
• “My Cubans and the great leaders” – SN Benjamin Engle, Milwaukee, WI

Morale Report by ENS Pam Wade

We had some phenomenal morale events this patrol. Our Morale Officer fills us in on the big contests and the big winners:
• 80’s Night Contest – HSC Rebecca Vinlove – Theme night was 80s and the grand prize went to the person with the best 80s costume.
• Super Bowl Pool – 1st Qtr: SK2 Michael Simonetti, 2nd Qtr: FS2 David Hubbard, 3rd Qtr: Alejandro Alonso, 4th Qtr:FN Timothy Daugherty – Although we couldn’t watch the Super Bowl, we listened to it on high frequency radio and announced what was happening every few minutes. Pool winners won different morale prizes.
• Table Football Tournament – FSCS Randy Litka – This event brought us all back to the days of study hall in high school.
• UNO Tournament – SK2 Ben Warholoski – Who doesn’t love UNO?
• Bingo Grand Prize Winners – SK2 Michael Simonetti (twice), OS3 Derby Flory – Bingo is a classic onboard and we try to play at least once a month.
• Hearts Tournament – SK2 Ben Warholoski – A few of us tried our hand in a hearts tournament when we could find the free time to play in between busy operations.
• Assassin 1 – DC2 Andrea Cooper, OS3 Brandon Debetham, MK2 Michael Gill, OS2 Brian Soto – The celebrated new game of hunt and kill ended in a draw between four top assassins.
• Assassin 2 – SK2 Michael Simonetti – Finally, on our second game, we were able to single out one ultimate assassin.
• Chubby Bunny – SN Daniel Brown – How many marshmallows can he fit in his mouth? A lot – but honestly… we all lost count.
• Texas Hold ‘Em – MK1 Eric Arwood, ETC Phillip Miller – A popular card game played on the messdeck almost every night turned into a tournament that was so popular we ran it twice. Top prizes: an XBox 360 and an iPod Nano.
• Pi Eating Contest – Heavy Weight: FN Manuel Ontiveros, Light Weight: SK2 Michael Simonetti – On March 14th (3.14) we celebrated “Pi Day”. The heavy weight pies were no joke – they were at least 12’’ by 18’’. For the lightweight competition, contestants raced to find all of the gummi bears hidden under the whipped cream without using their hands.
• Pi Memorization Contest – CDR Mark Dietrich – This contest was to satisfy the intellectual need in all of us. 110 digits.
• Scavenger Hunt – HSC Rebecca Vinvlove, YNC Ann Ladd, FS2 Alejandro Alonso – All raced around the ship to find as many objects as they possibly could within 10 minutes including lint from the dryer and an AFFF can.
• Pictionary Tournament – This was a lot of fun and had us all laughing and yelling – but reminded us that we are in the Coast Guard, and not professional artists, for a reason.
• Also popular this patrol were swim calls and the skeet shoot, where everyone wins!

Helicopter Standardization Visit by LTJG Piero Pecora

The last days of every patrol seem to crawl by. All everyone can focus on is the loved ones they miss and what they’re all going to do as soon as they get home. Luckily we have found something to keep us busy over the last couple of days. When MORGENTHAU pulled into San Diego last Friday everyone might have had liberty on the front of their minds but lurking on the very near horizon was our upcoming helicopter standardization inspection and visit, or “STAN”.

For those not privileged enough to have experienced a STAN visit, I will explain. Every two years, senior aviators from the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile Alabama visit MORGENTHAU to evaluate our ability to conduct Helicopter Operations. We spend months planning for it and they roll in like a three day hurricane. Our STAN visit began this year bright and early Sunday morning; yes Sunday. We spent the first day con-ducting training, completing inspections and taking tests to evaluate our book knowledge for each flight quarters position. On Monday, (which most people mistakenly thought was Tuesday due to our short weekend) we completed all final shore side inspections and con-ducted more training. Tuesday was our third and final day. We got underway from San Diego and headed to sea. In the early afternoon CG-6578, a Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter from Air station Humboldt Bay, arrived to play. We spent the rest of the day conducting every possible operation for evaluation.

First we conducted a VERTREP or vertical replenishment. A VERTREP is used to transport large equipment or supplies to or from MORGENTHAU. Since we didn’t have much to send to shore we practiced with two mooring fenders that we use to keep from scratching the hull when we pull alongside a pier. After we slung that load around we conducted an ELVA or Emergency Low Visibility Approach. When the weather is so bad that the helicopter cannot see us, our Air Direction Controllers talk them in over the radio using all of the expensive equipment in the Combat Information Center. If needed they are able to walk the helicopter all the way in to the flight deck. Next we completed a HIFR (Helicopter In-Flight Refueling). This allows us to pass a fuel hose to the helicopter and refuel them while they hover above the deck. The best way to describe it is like gassing up your car while cruising down the highway. Usually this evolution is used when the seas are too rough to land a helicopter or when working with a helicopter that is too large to land on our flight deck. Since our helicopter had a full tank again we continued and completed 15 landings. We finally landed the helo and gave the pilots a break. While they rested we conducted a crash on deck drill where the crew simulated a hard landing, put out a fire and rescued the crew. With all of these evolutions complete, the crew finally took a break.

After sunset, we got right back to it. We launched the helicopter and completed night time evolutions. We operate helicopters, routinely, at all hours of the night so when the sun goes down we just turn on the lights. Once we completed all of our night landings we pulled out the really expensive toys. For those really dark nights, or when we want to sneak up on the bad guys; we are equipped to conduct Night Vision Goggle operations. We finished the night up by completing all of our requirements for NVG operations. After nearly seven hours of straight helicopter operations we finally said good bye to our guests and returned back to San Diego.

The crew worked really hard over this patrol, logging nearly 120 flight hours. Their hard work really paid off. We nearly flawlessly completed all requirements for STAN and really showed how flight operations are done. Most importantly, we cleared the final hurdle and can now head home for some well deserved rest.

Reflections from Former Crewmembers Compiled by ENS Ernie Saponara

• CWO (Ret) Roger Estrada (SK1, PreComDet) sends: I apologize for this JIT input...on behalf of all our plankowners we do appreciate our inclusion in your newsletter from time to time and the endearing pride swell in us to know how well the crew of the "Queen" (as Captain MacDonald calls her) are performing overall. It brings back some fond memories of our so-called "adventures" while serving on-board also. Keep up the good work and 'bon voayage' wherever you may sail! Someday, perhaps you will have the same nostalgic feelings of the Morgenthau as we did many horizons ago. Thanks!
• BMCS Ret. Norman F. "Fred" Boothe, BM1 as plankowner: Had wonderful time during our last reunion the crew members. They made us old men feel as if we were still part of the crew and treated us great. The old gal still looks good and remains the best ship in the Coast Guard. Smooth sailing to all.
• Phillip Guerra sends: “Pray God's blessing and protection on the crew of the Morgenthau. I'm Phil Guerena, and was a shy seaman on board in the late '70s, during the time of Cdr. James K. Woodle and Captain George Walton. Because I was so quiet, I may have had only two good friends on board, Seaman Ben Vasquez and BM3 Kurt Salveson. For anyone who would like to say "hello," I'm at phillipvaldo@yahoo.com. Take care all.”
• James Hector presents a memorable experience: CDR Forrester (Great Guy ) is my CO at GTMO. While on exercise Absecon, we lost use of one engine so we had to dock with only one engine - Forrester goes down to the little deck below the bridge when we make our approach to the dock - Navy has two tugs standing by to assist us in tying up. YAD tells OPS Officer: “wave off the tugs - we do not need them - HA HA!” Single screw former Cowslip CO ties up with one engine - put out all lines and double up. That night at the O Club, I am told drinks were on the house for Absecon. Best Compliment was that Jack Forester never turned a hair from his front porch. Yea I know YSD is bragging again.
• James Hector presents a memorable experience: 1-3-69 standing into GTMO "M" is 4th in line. Outbound Russian passes 1st 3 naval ships with NO honors, then renders honors to "Morg". Our Bridge Gang answers smartly Dip for Dip.
• Bob O’Flynn sends: I thought you might like seeing this (Ed: see the picture at the end of the newsletter). This is a picture of 4 of the Morgenthau Plankowners taken in New Orleans in 1969. The saddle was "borrowed" the night before from a local establishment. The saddle stayed aboard the Morg, hidden in the smoke stack, for many years. It made more patrols than most of the crew. QMC Tom Blackmon (right), RMC Bob Warbutton (left), QM2 Greg Moreau (standing), QM3 Bob O'Flynn (sitting on a saddle).
• Bill P. Pfaffenhauser sends: No old stories, just a word of thanks. I have really enjoyed the newsletter, not just for the news but more for the insight into how special the Morgenthau’s crew is to this very day. We put a lot into getting her commissioned and knew she was special way back then. Thanks to all of you in the “New Guard”, I can clearly see that she continues to mark the horizon with her prow held high, her stacks well stoked and heated with the fire of hot pursuit, and her rooster tail in full regalia. From one of the “Old Guard”, I think you are doing us proud, keep up the good work and enjoy the old girl while you can.

Assassin #2 Report by ENS PAM WADE

• SK2 Mike “Geno Bassino” Simonetti • FN Kyle “Dirty Orange Smoke” Riddle • CDR Mark “SlashX” Dietrich • SN Kaleb “Hollywood Nikky” Kirkpatrick

Assassin continues… This time we tried something new and we printed out ID cards for each assassin. Each assassin carried the ID card for their target and when they assassinated their target it was posted in the main pass so everyone could see who was out of the game. The newly eliminated target then handed over the ID card they had been carrying and the assassin was on his or her way again. This proved to have a much more rapid turn around because I received ID cards of assassinated targets in stacks of 3 or 4 at a time. I think it really gave our blossoming assassins a chance to show their skills. Either that, or the first game we had gave them a chance to hone their assassin skills to be truly lethal.

You may be wondering who the ultimate assassin was this time. Well, you almost should have guessed it, SK2 Michael “I win every morale event” Simonetti proved to be the best assassin. His alias for Assassin was “Geno Bassini” and his mug shot… well… I bet you’ll agree that he’s got crazy eyes. His prize is a gift certificate to Blockbuster, where I can only imagine he’ll rent all seasons of the popular T.V. series “Alias” and practice his moves in preparation for the next game.

Each of our players gets to keep their ID cards as a memento of their Assassin days, so if your loved one had a chance to play – ask them to see it! Until next patrol this is your last Assassin update. Stay cool and keep your eye out for those deadly florescent water guns!

• MK2 Mike “Killjoy” Gill • BM1 Sean “Primo” McMullen • SN Daniel “Ha-Y-N Pride” Brown • SK2 Ben “El Espiritu” Warholoski

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

Deck Force is all smiles as we hit San
Diego, our first U.S. port for nearly three

In-flight refueling training this week

• FN James Adams earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• FS3 Alejandro Alonso earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• SA Max Bridges certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• SN Daniel Brown celebrated a birthday on 29 March 2006.
• SN Julio Cardenas certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• SN John Clare certified as Gangway Petty Officer of the Watch.
• SN Joshua Dalton certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• FN Shane Gorton earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• FN Patrick Hamer earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• SA Robert Hill certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• SA Thomas Killacky certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• SN Kaleb Kirkpatrick certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• HS3 Timothy Marshall earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• SN Matthew Morin certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• SN Ruben Nieves certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• SN Jonathon Pangelinan certified as Inport Security Watchstander.
• BM2 Caleb Paramo celebrated a birthday on 22 March 2006.
• MK2 Jesse Ridgeway celebrated a birthday on 21 March 2006.
• ENS Ernie Saponara certified underway Officer Of the Deck and earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• BM3 Jonathan Sains reported back aboard from Boatswain’s Mate "A" School.
• SN Steven Thompson reported aboard from Training Center Petaluma
• SK2 Benjamin Warholoski earned temporary entitlement to the Cutterman’s Insignia.
• BM3 Jessica Young certified as Boat Davit Operator.

Blast from the Past

Can you place the time, location and people? Hint: see the plankowners reflections section of this newsletter.

We’ll See You All on Friday…

…and we can’t wait to get home. Watch for our next trip report starting again in June during our next deployment.

Best regards,

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

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