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Mark Sikorski

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Posted Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999, at 9:00 PM ET

Captain's log: 1200 hours, underway in the South Atlantic Ocean in position 23 degrees 14 minutes South latitude and 040 degrees 32 minutes West longitude (approximately 1,400 miles south of the equator). Although a bit more breezy and choppy from a freshening northeasterly wind, the temperature is warming quite nicely to the mid-70s. Forward is gently pitching and rolling with the seas broad on our starboard bow and Brazil broad on our port bow. All small arms, ammunition, and pyrotechnics have been inspected. The traditional eight bells have been struck--in the days of sail, noon marked the end of the navigational day, when the miles made good were logged from the past 24 hours. The ship's speed was determined by "heaving the log" over the side during every watch; the number of knots in the line that rang out over the rail during a set period of time (as measured by a sand glass) indicated the ship's speed in "knots." All of these readings were recorded on the quarterdeck in chalk on the log-board. At noon, this data was recorded permanently into the ship's log-book, and the log-board was erased to start the next navigational day.

1300 hours: Held quarters for all hands on the flight deck: another naval tradition that we use to acknowledge the efforts and accomplishments of the crew in front of their peers. Today I recognized our Sailor of the Quarter. In addition to official recognition, I also use quarters to interact with my crew--I normally start with the greeting "Good afternoon, shipmates," and they respond in strong unison with "Good afternoon, Captain"; this is a very spirited crew! When I speak to the crew, my goal is to weave together practical, everyday examples of the good things people do as a means to inspire ourselves to higher levels of performance. Many times, I only have a general idea of what I will say; I let my heart take over from there. To me, practical, heartfelt, on-the-spot recognition of the tangible things around us is much more powerful than following some convoluted book on how to motivate people. Good or bad, there are many examples in our daily lives that we can draw lessons from. This crew is target-rich with good things to talk about!

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As I walked around the ship today I had an opportunity to ask a few shipmates what they thought of this deployment. While they all are looking forward to getting home, most were very appreciative of the opportunity to experience a different part of the world. Some went skiing in the Andes mountains of Chile; many liked the numerous statues and monuments that dotted many of the cities we visited; some relaxed for hours in a square or cafe; and of course, the restaurants and food were always special. As I listened to some of the stories describing their liberty, it occurred to me that many of the South Americans we interacted with proved to be some of the most unselfish people imaginable. And in turn, their unselfishness had a positive impact upon all of us. A cab driver that chauffeured part of the crew in Guayaquil, Ecuador, drove several hours to meet us in our next port of Salinas, Ecuador, so that he could drive the crew around free. We've been given barbecues, luncheons, and dinners, and in many respects treated like royalty. In Montevideo, some of the crew ate at a restaurant where they were charged only for the dinner and none of their drinks. You would be proud of how this crew has responded in kind. Three shipmates stopped to assist two people and an infant when their car had rolled over on a highway in Valparaiso, Chile. They removed the people, rendered first aid and directed traffic around the accident. Several more intervened when some drunken citizens were harassing two kids in Ecuador. Much of our spare change was given away to many of the needy kids on the street. Interactions of this nature can happen only if there is a sense of camaraderie and cohesion between peoples; grounded in the things we value most--our freedom and love of the sea. I believe we bonded so well with the people of South America because we believe in our organization's founding principles of humanitarian service to our country and to all of those who go out to sea in ships.

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Posted Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999, at 9:00 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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