The Sterling coast guard auxiliary page

Cathey and I joined the the USCGAUX in August 2000. We joined the Whittier flotilla 170-02-04.  Although we both started out at the bottom of the ladder, the last year has gone very well for us. We started our training during the the winter by taking the basic seamanship class. In the spring we were picked to go to Juneau for training by the Coast Guard to be crew qualified for the new SAFE boat due to arrive in June. We both took a  Radio watchstanders class and Cathey squeezed in a weather specialty class and ICS training also. Both of us finished our crew training and became crew qualified over the summer. Lots of time was also spent refurbishing and setting up Auxiliary Station Whittier, which formerly was an Alaska Railroad caboose. There was a large dedication ceremony for both the station and the SAFE boat on June 16th. I was even in the honor guard for the ceremony! Since then our training continued by countless patrols in the SAFE boat to help keep the waters of Prince William Sound just a little bit safer. 

The summer was winding down when the events of September 11th happened.  The SAFE boat was requested by the Coast Guard to move to Valdez to help the  with patrolling the Valdez harbor and terminal area. Although Cathey and I were not in the initial response by our flotilla that first day, we were the crew for the SAFE boat  that first weekend on patrol at Valdez. We went over to Valdez several times to help crew the SAFE boat. Cathey was there the last weekend when the auxiliary handed the keys to the SAFE boat over to the Coast Guard  for the Reservists to operate . I feel extremely proud that our flotilla and district was able to contribute and help our country at a time of need, and I feel extremely proud to belong to one of the best and most friendly organizations that I have known---The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Click to see the     Photo Gallery

Whittier flotilla 170-02-04 website

What's happening in the Coast Guard Auxiliary

What's happening in the U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska

The latest News from the U.S. Coast Guard