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Mark Sikorski

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Posted Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999, at 8:30 PM ET

Captain's log: 1000 hours, underway in the South Atlantic Ocean under brilliant sunshine, gliding through slightly choppy seas. We continue to navigate along the southeastern coast of Brazil, approximately 1,500 miles south of the equator. The ocean has changed dramatically since yesterday; it's a distinctive tropical blue in color (probably from the equatorial current that pushes south along the coast), with numerous flying fish (yes, fish with wings that scoot along the wave tops for 200 or feet or so) and a small pilot whale checking us out. I'm on the port bridge wing observing small-boat coxswain training. Forward is equipped with a 6-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat that we use frequently to transport people and equipment from ship to ship. Affectionately known as "Walt II" (after Walter P. Forward), this boat is our workhorse; as such, we take great pride in keeping our skills sharp.

As I sit, somewhat perched in my port bridge wing chair, observing our young coxswains manipulating Walt II alongside our ship, I'm reminded of the many experiences we've shared as a crew on this voyage. After all, that's what sea stories are made of. It was in another hemisphere, three months to the day, that we left our homeport of Portsmouth, Va.; and in that time our adventures have taken us through several oceans, the Panama Canal, and some of the most treacherous waters in the world around the Strait of Magellan. Circumnavigating the continent of South America is quite an unusual undertaking for a Coast Guard cutter. As a matter of fact, I believe we are the first cutter to ever do so!

So why are we plying the waters of South America? Primarily to participate in a U.S. Navy deployment called Unitas (unity in Latin) that conducts multinational naval maneuvers with nearly every South American naval service. The deployment required us to steam in multi-ship formations, battle a fictitious war-game opponent off the coast of Panama, repair the buildings of a girls' orphanage in Ecuador, conduct practice law-enforcement boardings with the Chileans, steam close aboard a Colombian oiler to refuel at sea, present ideas to help the Uruguayans standardize their training, exchange mementos at late-evening dinners, and say warm goodbyes and farewell wishes to all. Our departure from Colombian waters was quite noteworthy; the Colombian patrol boat we were working with wanted to steam close aboard (approximately 100 yards) as a form of salute and then break away as we headed south. We thought it would be a good idea to salute back, so the entire crew manned Forward's starboard rail and we played the Colombian national anthem as they approached us. When they heard their national anthem, every single member of that patrol boat stood at attention and saluted, including the crewmember who was at the helm steering the ship! As they were saluting and we were saluting, their patrol boat was inching closer and closer to us. As the yards between our ships shrank to mere feet, I had to discreetly signal to the conning officer to gradually turn the ship to port to avoid a close encounter. Patriotism runs deep in the South American naval services.

As this deployment winds down to its final phase, I am overwhelmed by the incredible sense of pride every coast guard had in their organizations, and how much they look to the U.S. Coast Guard to be their model for future success. Several countries plan to send a few officers on some of our normal patrols in the Caribbean to gain better insight into our operations; many desire more frequent exercises with our cutters. Their admiration carries a heavy burden for us to live up to. I happen to believe--admittedly I'm somewhat biased--that the U.S. Coast Guard is a near-perfect blend of humanitarian service, law enforcement authority, and naval power. Why wouldn't, and why shouldn't, we share our organization with others? After all, saving lives is saving lives; does it really matter if it's in the offshore waters of New England or Argentina? Some of those same ships may be in the area someday to save lives off our coast. We have much in common with the naval services of this continent. I always knew how physically powerful the sea was; but not until now did I realize how psychologically powerful the sea really is--for it has the power to transcend the boundaries of language and culture. Always gracious, the naval services of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay provided us numerous opportunities to share ideas and understand that they are true professionals in every sense of the word. Despite the thousands of miles of ocean that geographically separate us from them, the love of the sea and all it represents in terms of commerce, enjoyment, and beauty are what binds us together. It's an experience that will last me a lifetime.

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Posted Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999, at 8:30 PM ET
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Cmdr. Mark Sikorski is the commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard cutter Forward.
COMMENTS

The Fraymaster responds:


Many readers wrote in with their own coast guard memories:


Brought back memories alright. Sleepless nights aboard the CGC Midgett in the Bering Sea being tossed out of your rack to land on the poor soul below you. Then the getting up the next morning taking baseball bats and breaking ice to straighten up the ship that had some how begun to list to starboard from all the ice on her hull and decks. The rush of having a killer whale swim next to the small boat as you went from cutter to trawler to board and inspect the Russians or Japanese fishing vessels. They were bigger than the small boat. The helo ops that took you into the polar ice packs where you got to see your first walrus or polar bear. The stop overs in Anchorage, Kodiak, Dutch Harbor, Adak, and Juneau. Is the Red Dog Saloon still open in Juneau? It helped to have a captain that liked to fish as much as the rest of the crew did. Those little stops along the way to put in a days fishing, and the feasts afterwards on the flight deck.

 Flat Foot
Boarding Officer
USCGC Midgett
(Circa 1977)


Today, I have been in a verbal communique with my husband, Captain Robert E. Fenton, USCGRet. regarding his desire to travel to a mini-reunion of the USCGA Class of '63 in Orlando, Florida next week. Having just returned from a week in San Diego at an FAA convention, I feel less than enthusiastic about these plans. After all, we still have two teenagers at home to care for! This morning, I telephoned him (at his office) asking--"Why do you want to go on this dumb trip?" After all, we have been married for nearly 33 years, and we have seen some of the classmates within the past year. His reply was that it will be wonderful--we shared so much together and went through so much, I want to see them. He then forwarded this article written by the at-sea CG captain. Is this a coincidence? My husband served as a commanding officer of a CG cutter, 1980-82. He claimed it was the best time of his life. His personality does not allow him to express emotion or sensitivity. After reading this article, I know why he has always felt so close to the Guard (as I have), and why he wants to share a few days with his former classmates. Thanks for the great article. We will forward it to as many classmates as possible. No doubt I will be on that plane to Orlando next week. I will send you a follow up as to how it went.

Thank you for listening.
Anne Marie Fenton


I enjoyed reading C.D.R. Stankowski's fine article about the CGC Forward's voyage in the south Atlantic. This is a good example of one of the Coast Guard's many far flung activities around the world. The nation's smallest Armed Force manages to do the job no matter where sent in an exemplary fashion. Many of our citizens think the Coast Guard is a stay-at-home force. Not so. It never has been. I experienced this attitude first in 1952 during the Korean War, when a Naval officer asked me what my ship (CGC Lowe) was doing in Japan.The story brought back many fond memories of my service on six Coast Guard cutters. Those that sail the cutters are the best! To the skipper and crew of the Forward, Semper paratus!

Berry Meaux
Captain, Ret.
U.S. Coast Guard


Thanks for the article. I always gain a little more wisdom when given a glimpse of the juxtaposition of responsibility, authority, and earned privilege in another person's life.

Tom Clemans



--Michael Brus (10/11)

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