It was an exciting week for the NORTHLAND crew. A surprise visit was made to Dry Tortugas National Park in Florida. It was a great time for relaxation and sun. Fort Jefferson offered a wonderful view of the pristine ocean. The crew enjoyed the trip immensely.

During the homebound transit as NORTHLAND made its way to Virginia, the cutter came across and fifteen foot migrant vessel carrying seventeen Cuban citizens in the Florida Straits. NORTHLAND launched its cutter small boat and approached the vessel to find a young man in serious need of medical care. The cutter employed its Health Services Technician to render care to the injured man. The man was suffering from severe dehydration and low blood sugar which could have resulted in death had it not been for the quick actions of the cutter corpsman. The seventeen migrants had been out to sea for nine days with limited water and provisions. NORTHLAND took these individuals onboard and rendered medical care. The NORTHLAND crew’s hard work and compassion saved one life, if not seventeen, on that day.

A short time later, NORTHLAND ended its patrol on January 12, 2008, ready to start our annual training.

BM1 Alexander driving the crew over to the fort

BM3 Daniels, SN Hoffman, and unknown with Fort Jefferson in the background

Deck Force hard at work

ET1 Medalis posing with NORTHLAND

FSC Silva, OSC Beckom, and OSC Westerdahl getting some sun

GM2 Delahoussaye and EM1 Langdon waiting on the pier.

Nice refreshing bow spray

NORTHLAND out on the bay

OS3 Maclane in front of a very very old wall

SN Slape and SK2 Fullmore enjoying the fresh ocean air

This is referred to as burying the bow

View of the stern during high seas