DIVISION COMMANDER’S REPORT

To: Wally Smith, Commodore Date: November Report for October Activities

From: Jerry B. Edelen, Division Commander Division 6

HIGHLIGHTS:

1. Change of Watch was very successful

2. Division supports Monte Foundation Fireworks Display in Capitola

3. Division supports Santa Cruz Haunted Harbor Event

4. DCDR gives Veteran’s Day Address at the Defense Language Institute

5. Division supports Fleet Week

6. Surface Operations Patrols are conducted

7. Santa Cruz Harbor Partnership continues

8. Flotilla 6-7 partners with Santa Cruz Harbor District

9. Monthly About Boating Safely Classes continue

10. CG Station Monterey Facebook Page includes Division 6 Activities

11. Environmental Clean-up continues on the Coast Guard Wharf

12. Silver Charm support continues.

13. Flotilla 6-4 conducts joint operations with CG Station Monterey.

14. Monthly Meetings continue at CG Station Monterey.

15. CG Watchstanding continues

DETAILS:

1. Our Division 6 Change of Watch was conducted on November 11th

and we had some very

special guests- the Honorable Cynthia Chase, Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz; From the Coast

Guard CAPT Anthony Ceraolo, Commander of Sector San Francisco; CDR Evelyn Lynn,

Director of the Auxiliary for Coast Guard District 11; LT Mark Magrino, Commander, Coast

Guard Station Monterey and Leader of Team Coast Guard Monterey; LT Mike Wu, Auxiliary

Liaison Officer and Sector San Francisco Investigations Division….

From the Auxiliary: District Commodore Wally Smith; District Chief of Staff Mary Kirkwood;

District Captain Wil Sumner; and Immediate Past Division Commander Jane Smith; and

Immediate Past Division 11 Commander Jerry Gilmore. We were also honored to have with us

Mr. Milt Entwistle, a long time Auxiliarist and legend who recently celebrated his 100th

birthday. Milt is like the Ever-Ready Bunny, he keeps going and going and going….

Guest Speakers during the Change of Watch were the Mayor of Santa Cruz, Cynthia Chase; the

Commander of Sector San Francisco, CPT Ceraolo; the Director of Auxiliary, CDR Evelyn

Lynn; and District Commodore Wally Smith.

Prior to Guest’s Arrival Centerpiece Missing Man Table

Division Awards that were presented were:

The first Special Division Award was for Member Training. This year, the award went to two

deserving professionals- Vice Flotilla Commander Cecil Claspell; and Chief Bosun’s Mate Phil

Dawalt. Chief Bosun’s Mate Dawalt wasn’t able to attend the COW; but, his outstanding

support of our division was recognized. This year, Cecil organized two special classes for

Auxiliarists: a Boat Crew Academy and the Auxiliary Seamanship Course. What was special

about these courses is that for the first time ever, an active duty member from CG Station

Monterey not only assisted; but, was a primary instructor of the two courses. The instructor was

none other than CG Station Monterey’s Chief Bosun’s Mate Phil Dawalt. He led the

instructional team and presented a majority of the topics. During the Seamanship Course, BMC

Dawalt was joined by MKC Davis and BM1 Garcia; each presented topics that highlighted their

particular area of expertise. The member training this year truly was a Team Coast Guard

effort! Thanks were given to both of these professionals for their outstanding efforts!

Our Public Instruction Award went to Immediate Past Flotilla Commander Scott Galloway.

Scott has been tireless in teaching Auxiliary Courses to the public. Just a few of the courses

he’s taught this last year were:

Sailing Skills & Seamanship – January to April

Coastal Navigation – January to April

Sailing Skills & Seamanship – September to present

Coastal Navigation – September to present

About Boating Safely – October 21

We will never know the number of lives he’s saved or injuries he’s prevented by teaching the

boating public how to be safe on the water; but over the course of his Auxiliary Teaching

service, I’m sure it’s considerable

Our Fellowship Award went to two members who have devoted an incredible amount of time

supporting our many Public Affairs, Fellowship, and special events- The two were Marsha

Taylor and Bobbi Kamil. This really is a special award since our Division 6 is known nationally

as “the Party Division”. Many have heard of our fun-loving Gold Coast Division, from Antler’s

OPTREX at Lake Shasta, to National C-Schools. After all, how many Divisions do you know

that have a line item in their budget for “Bail Bonds”???!!

On most events, Marsha and Bobbi work together seamlessly…and the events are numerous..

They include:

The Coast Guard Station Valentine’s Day Party,

Independence Day Cook-off at the Station,

Coast Guard Birthday Party, Softball Game and Barbecue, and

Our Change of Watch.

In addition, Marsha Taylor, is also known as the Brittle Lady…not because she’s breaks

easily…., but because she makes baskets of gourmet peanut brittle for most of the events and for

Flotilla Meetings.

The table decorations on each of the COW tables were made by these two. Indeed, our social

interaction events would be much poorer without the loving support of these two…

Our Operations Award is entitled The Milt Entwistle Award in honor of Milt Entwistle. This

year, the award goes to Steve McCann. Steve is an experienced Coxswain who operates out of

Monterey Harbor. He is also a District Qualification Examiner. He and his crew patrol just

about every weekend, assisting boaters and keeping a sharp lookout as part of America’s

Waterway Watch. Just this last year he and his crew have accomplished the following:

They were the first responder to a scuba diving victim on board a dive vessel. They provided first aid which included the administration of oxygen and treatment for shock,

and initiated EMS to meet at the Monterey boat launch dock.

They recovered a hypothermic kayaker from the water who was in thermal distress approximately a mile from shore. They re-warmed the survivor and returned him and

his kayak safely to shore.

They observed two scuba divers from a capsized kayak who could not get back into the

overturned boat. These PIWs were more than a mile from shore, had no means of

communication, and could not make it back to shore. They rescued the two survivors

and returned them and their boat safely to shore.

They received a call about a vessel that was DIW approximately 5 miles off shore. They towed the vessel and its crew safely back to Monterey.

They were hailed by the Monterey Harbor Patrol to respond to a 40' yacht adrift and nearing the shoreline with no one aboard. They took the owner/operator aboard the

Auxiliary boat and transferred him safely to his vessel. He was able to safely maneuver

his boat away from shore.

They came upon a vessel dead-in-the-water at the harbor entrance of Santa Cruz Harbor.

The vessel was touching the rocks. They towed the vessel from the rocks and handed

them over to Tow Boat US.

Steve and his crew operated regularly alongside with the active duty Coast Guard and Monterey

Fire.

Steve also assists the Active Duty in training; and just recently, he took a key Monterey County

Weekly reporter out during a training exercise. This reporter will be publishing a public interest

piece in his paper about his experience.

This year, we created a Special Award…The Propeller Award. And this award went to Santa

Cruz Vice Flotilla Commander Glen Marshall. Glen is an aviation enthusiast who owns a 1940,

World War II Piper Cub which protected the Midwest right after the Pearl Harbor attack.

Glen’s airplane is hangered at the Watsonville Airport and he just recently got it certified as an

Auxiliary Air Asset. Not only is he raring to go; but, his enthusiasm is contagious. We have

several Auxiliarists seriously considering becoming Air Observers and several other aircraft

owners are considering joining the Auxiliary.

Thus, currently, our Division has its own Air Force with one aircraft with probably more to join.

Now, all we have to decide on is the armament to put on the aircraft!

Members of our Honor Guard who participated were Founding Honor Guard Captain Tracy

Schultz, Capitola Flotilla Commander Tammera Badano; Vice Division Commander Mike

Badano, and Karen Yoder.

Our Change of Watch was fun, and a huge success!

Here are a montage of pictures in pdf format:

Change of Watch 2017 #2 (1).pdf

2. On October 8th

, Team Coast Guard supported the Monte Foundation Fireworks Extravaganza. I

personally have observed numerous fireworks displays on three different continents…..and

nothing, nothing was ever close to the intensity of this fireworks display. Next year, I will send

out a message District-wide to inform everyone when this display will be. I’m not exaggerating

when I say this was a real bucket-list experience for me…it’s not to be missed!

Just one scene from the Display!

The facilities that went out to support keeping the boating public from entering “the fireworks

shell impact area” were:

Facility 301219 – Wally Smith, Karen Yoder, Mary Kirkwood, Don Morrison

Facility 261616 – Dave Wormington, Jack Sprow, Onno Hommes

Facility 331522 – Chuck Coberey, Wendy Killingsworth, Jerry Edelen

Cami Corvin provided outstanding radio support from the beach.

You can view a few minutes of the fireworks display on YouTube..but the intensity of the sound

and light at night is missed. Turn up the sound on your computer!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUr7CHwac-k

3. On October 29th

, Division 6 supported the Santa Cruz Haunted Harbor Trick or Treat Event.

The Poster for the Event

The Santa Cruz Harbormaster asked our assistance during this major event. In the past, Tammera and

Mike Badano, Division members and trained Paramedics were able to administer critical First Aid to

visitors who had severely injured themselves, and Division members were able to control access to

docks, preventing overloading of docs which in the past had resulted in docks collapsing, spilling

people into the harbor. During this particular event, families all had a great time Trick or Treating,

Harbor personnel gave away free candy to visitors at numerous stations along the harbor, and Division

personnel in ODU’s interacted with the public. This was a great Public Affairs event!

Division personnel participating were Wally and Jane Smith, Gwen “The Hammer” Hammer , Cami

Corvin, Jerry Edelen, Scott Galloway, David Jardin, Craig Johnson, Tim Meroney, Tracy Schultz, Dave

Wormington, Karen Yoder, Tammera Badano and Sean Sheehan. Overall, an incredible success….no

one was injured, there were no incidents of any kind, and the families really enjoyed themselves.

During the event, the Santa Cruz Harbormaster came up to us and thanked us profusely for our help!

Pre-Operations Briefing; Just one of the many booths

Santa Cruz Harbormaster in the center From l to r.. Harbor Employee,

T Badano, Harbor Police

4. COL Phil Deppert, Commandant of the Defense Language Institute, Presidio of Monterey asked

me to present a Veteran’s Day Speech at DLI’s Veteran’s Day Ceremony on November 9th

.

This is the notice that went out to all tenant members of the Command:

Vet-day-program_2017 (1).pdf

Here’s the DLI School Link:

http://www.dliflc.edu/dliflc-holds-veterans-day-ceremony/

Saluting the Flag Invocation

During the runup to my address, I was introduced as currently serving as a Coast Guard

Auxiliary Division Commander. From the feedback I received, I believe it was very good

publicity. My speech:

Col Deppert, Col Brown, Distinguished Guests, Faculty, Staff, Students of the Defense Language Institute, Ladies,

and Gentlemen.

We’re gathered here today to honor our Veterans, and to remember their courage and the sacrifices they have

made to defend this great nation of ours.

This particular day is celebrated because it was the day the Armistice went into effect during World War I between

the Allied Nations and Germany. The Armistice took effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh

month- November 11, 1918, and was regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” because battles such as the

Battle of Verdun were so brutal and costly that it was inconceivable that they would ever be allowed to reoccur.

We know now that would not be the case and that our country would be engaged in more wars to come. It would

be our Veterans who would answer the call to duty and march to the sound of guns.

You future Veterans here at the Defense Language Institute study hard to master strategic languages so that you

can provide critical, timely information to your Chain of Command so that the right decisions can be made, battles

may be won, and lives may be saved.

This location that we’ve chosen to honor this special day is a fitting one. If you look behind me, you’ll see a

portion of the Berlin Wall…the wall that divided freedom from bondage.

During the Cold War, I served behind this wall in the Berlin Brigade during the years 1985- 1988. I’ve been gently

reminded that most of you students here at DLI weren’t even born then, although I really don’t feel that old.

In Berlin, I experienced the stark reality that divided the freedom of the West from the slavery of the East and I was

reminded that for all of us who serve our country, the ultimate sacrifice can occur at any time.

During one of the earliest modern terrorist attacks against U.S. Military Personnel- the Berlin Labelle Disco

Bombing, two Veterans from the Berlin Brigade were murdered- U.S. Army Sergeants Kenneth Ford and James

Goins. I served in the same battalion as Sergeant Ford who was an outstanding noncommissioned officer. Shortly

after the bombing, President Ronald Reagan retaliated and sent Air Strikes against Muammar Gaddafi, the bloody

dictator of Libya- the man responsible.

The writer Michel de Montainye once described the character of Veterans when he said, “Valor is steadfastness,

not of arms and legs; but, of courage and the soul.”

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coastguardsmen do not fight for glory; rather, they fight out of a sense of

duty and the understanding they may be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice at any time.

The World War I Battle of Verdun was fought for almost a year and became the longest and bloodiest battles in

human history. There were 714,000 casualties, half French and half German.

I visited Verdun, France with my wife and son, Jarret when we were stationed in Berlin. On the battlefield is the

Fort Douaumont Ossuary. This is a huge building with numerous windows spaced about 30 feet apart at ground

level. While we were visiting, Jarret ran to one of the windows and looked in. He screamed to me to go to him and

look. I went to him and what I saw caused my legs to buckle. There, in one this huge room with a dirt floor, with

sun light streaming down from a skylight were over 130,000 human skeletal tail bones stacked like poker chips,

from the dirt floor almost to the ceiling. Some of the stacks had fallen over spilling the tail bones onto the dirt

floor. The Battle of Verdun was so brutal that many of the bodies of the dead- both French and German were no

longer intact after the fighting…just bones remained. The bones were gathered up after the war, segregated by

type and laid to rest in this ossuary- both French and German bones, mixed together for all eternity. Each of the

dozens of windows at the base of this building illuminated similar grisly scenes.

The Verdun Ossuary represents sacrifice, indeed…the ultimate sacrifice.

The Ossuary is testament to that fact that Members of the Armed Forces do not serve for glory. Instead, they serve

out of a sense of duty and out of love for their Country and their fellow citizens. They willingly put their lives at

risk in that service.

General Jiseppe Garibaldi, the Father of Modern Italy verbalized the essence of what it means to be a Veteran. He

said “I offer neither pay, nor quarters, nor food…I offer only hunger, thirst, forced marches, battles and death. Let

him who loves his country with his heart, and not merely with his lips, follow me.

That statement epitomizes the essence of the soul of each and every Veteran.

May God bless our Veterans and May God bless the United States of America, the Land of the Free, because of the

Brave.

Thank you!

5. Division Member, Tom Sprague, was selected to support communications at Sector SF during

Fleet Week. He served on Thursday and Friday. He applied over two months prior to Fleet

Week and was approved! Picture taking was tightly controlled. Below are a photo of the

exterior camp, with a picture of the inside of one of the trailers.

The Encampment One of the Commo Trailers

6. The following surface operations patrols were completed by Division 6 facilities during July

2017:

Facility # Coxswain Flotilla # Location # hours

Facility 201474 Steve McCann Flotilla 6-4 in Monterey

Harbor

20 hours

Facility 201152 Mark McLaughlin Flotilla 6-4 in Monterey

Harbor

0 hours

Facility 261616 Dave Wormington Flotilla 6-7 in Santa Cruz

vicinity

11.5 hours

Facility 301219 Wally Smith Flotilla 6-10 in Santa Cruz

vicinity

28 hours

Facility 331522 Chuck Cobery Flotilla 6-10 in Santa Cruz

vicinity

14 hours

Air Facility

Glen Marshall Flotilla 6-7 In Watsonville

vicinity

Just Approved!

Our newest Air Facility!

Facility 261616 on Patrol Facility 301219 assisting Vessel Assist

7. Santa Cruz Harbor continues to partner with our Division:

http://www.santacruzharbor.org/documents/Newsletters/Newsletter_July2017.pdf

and advertise our monthly “About Boating Safely” Classes:

http://files.constantcontact.com/a85a58bc001/75c96536-d915-4edc-ac26-

816f8d6bbabd.pdf

8. Flotilla 67 continues a poster distribution at Santa Cruz harbor bulletin boards featuring a

themed monthly boating safety message. The intention is to have a fresh, timely message up

each month to catch boater's eyes.

9. Our Division is offering About Boating Safely once a month, on Saturdays, to help quench

the demand for Boater Safety Cards along with other instruction.

An About Boating Safely class was conducted on Saturday, October 21, 2017, from 8:30

AM to 5:00 PM, at the Santa Cruz Harbor Public Meeting Room.

Coastal Navigation (CN) classes was conducted on Monday beginning September 11, 2017

(15 weeks)

Boating Skills (BS&S): was conducted on Wednesday beginning September 13, 2017 (13

weeks)

Flotilla 64 website continues to include a zip code-based PE Class locator at the following

URL:

http://wow.uscgaux.info/peclass.php?unit=113-06-04

Here’s the advertisement:

Announcement - Upcoming Classes 2017 (1).pdf

10. CG Station Monterey continues to cover the many operations it engages in, including joint

efforts with Division 6. The coverage of these joint operations is contained in the Station’s

Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/coastguardstationmonterey/

PROJECTS:

Remaining Special Division Activities- 2017:

December o Santa Cruz Harbor Lighted Boat Parade- December 2

nd

o CG Station Monterey Holiday Party- TBA

o Division 6 Christmas Party- December 16th

CHALLENGES/ OBSTACLES:

THE Challenge- Trying to increase Mandatory Training Course completion for all Division

Members. We’re making some progress, but we’re not at the level we need to be.

Trying to get even more members to attend our monthly Flotilla Meetings and events.

Trying to increase the membership and participation level of one of our Flotillas.

AGENCY INTERACTION:

11. At the request of the CG Station Commander, Division member, Keith Simmons, continues his

monthly trips to the Monterey US Coast Guard Pier and informs personnel there not to leave

their fishing line behind when they leave. Many of the sea birds, seals and sea lions are

becoming seriously injured or dying because they get caught up in this discarded fishing line.

Keith also picks up litter, while being ever vigilant in relation to America’s Waterway Watch.

Also, after the March 18 great white shark attack on a kayak/kayaker off San Carlos Beach

adjacent to the CG Pier, he keeps a wary eye out for shark activity in the waters next to the pier,

populated by sea otters, harbor seals, and sea lions, and popular location for kayakers and

SCUBA divers. While walking on the pier, he often has brief conversations with tourists,

including pointing out features and answering questions. This last month, he was accompanied

by Division Auxiliarist and the former Seaside Chief of Police Robert Jackson. Robert just

recently retired.

Keith picking up refuse and fishing line Keith and Rob working in their Team CG Station

Monterey attire

12. Each month COMO Wally Smith, Mike McLaughlin, Michael and Tammera Badano alternately

serve on Silver Charm in support of Air Station San Francisco with Terry Blanchard, coxswain,

at the helm. It’s always very rewarding training on San Francisco Bay.

Mike Badano at work!

13. Coxswain Steve McCann and his of Tracy Schultz and Robb Kay continue to conduct joint

training with CG Station Monterey’s 47-foot Motor Life Boat.

Crewman Robb Kay and the 47-foot MLB

14. Flotilla 6-4 conducts its monthly Flotilla meetings at the CG Station Monterey classroom.

15. Three Division members support CG Station Monterey by performing Watchstanding duties.

CG Station Monterey, Division 6 Watchstanders Tom Sprague, Alex Urciuoli, and Cami Corvin

are fully qualified U.S. Coast Guard Watchstanders and continue to serve in this important

position at CG Station, Monterey.

Division Watchstanders Alex Urciuoli, Cami Corvin and Tom Sprague at work

at CG Station Monterey!

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES:

Have Fun!

Win the Phifer Award!

Have Flotillas qualify for the NACO 3 Star Excellence in Diversity Award. o (Flotilla 6-4 qualified for this award. It was the only flotilla in our District to do so this

year!)

Sign up three Division Members to earn the RBS Device. Encourage everyone.

o (VDCDR Mike Badano earned his device this year!

Have two Division Members qualify for AUXOP. Encourage everyone. o (Alex Urciuoli completed his AUXOP requirements on 10/12!)

Insure 100% of Division Members complete mandated training.

o (90% of our Division personnel who have participated more than 25 hours this year

have completed mandatory training)

Make Flotilla Meetings and Division Meetings more pertinent and fun, thereby increasing meeting participation and retention

Contact inactive members, encourage activity, learn about roadblocks to inactivity

Encourage all Flotilla activities to be considered Division Activities. Although Flotillas will take the lead, Division identification is important for cohesiveness and morale.

Encourage Members of each Flotilla to attend other Flotilla meetings to increase Division

identification.

Train Division Staff Officers to “own” their areas of responsibility….to monitor, assist and mentor Flotilla Staff Officers.

Insure timely reporting by Division and Flotilla Staff Officers. I know this may be next to impossible, but my recent purchase of a cattle prod may help!

Encourage all Division members to attend PCA and D-Train….Great Training and Fellowship!

Increase the number of crew qualified Division Members by at least 2 and increase Division member participation in the Santa Cruz and Antler’s OPTREX’s.

o (Karen Yoder completed crew training and qualified as crew!)

Increase the excellent support provided to CG Station Monterey, USCG Cutter Hawksbill, the local harbor masters and other local agencies. Inquire and analyze how we can increase our

support.

RBS PROJECT GOAL CURRENT STATUS

Surface Operations (hrs.) 1700 591

Marine Dealer Visits 1150 781

Public Ed. (enrollment) 160 62

Vessel Safety Checks 650 429

Volunteer Hours 18,000 10,089

Respectfully submitted,

Jerry B. Edelen

DCDR – Division 6