I was in from July 67 to July 71. I served on three units. First one was USCGC Tamaroa. It was a search and rescue cutter out of Staten Island, NY. We would go on one week patrols that were quite wide ranging. At various points we were in Bermuda, Argentia, Newfoundland and once brought a propeller shaft for an ice breaker to England.
We averaged about one to two SAR cases a patrol so we were usually pretty busy. Most of the rescued were fishing trawlers.We also went after cigarette and arms smugglers (drugs were not big in those days). Although by the time her career ended the Tam had 160 tons of MJ busts toher credit.
On a regular basis, we would board Russian fishing trawlers to make sure they were in compliance with the fishing treaties of the time. Back then they could fish within 3 miles of our coast.
My second unit was 3rd District Maintenance and Repair. Not glamourous at all. It was all hard, back breaking work. We built boat houses at Coast Guard Stations. Automated light houses, repaired docks andbuilt several concrete drainage ditches. Our territory was from Lake Champlain to Indian River, Delaware.
My final duty station was Fire Island Radio Annex where I was responsible for plumbing, carpentry repairs as well as fire fighting, The station had an antenna farm that could broadcast to Europe as well as maintain the light house on the property.
Currently, I am heavily involved in saving the Tamaroa.She will be a working exhibit stationed in Virginia. Please check
www.tamaroa.org.
Coast Guard
04-16-2005, 17:46
Where have you been? 
