On 05/18/99 Tex Worley said:
A big Bravo Zulu to Gary Coy for this snapshot history of our ship and what she did in USCG service:The Cook Inlet was one of the many Casco class 311 foot cutters. The Casco-class ships were built as small seaplane tenders by the U.S. Navy. They were designed to operate out of small harbors and atolls and had shallow draft. The fact that the class was very seaworthy with good habitability and that its diesel-electric power plant gave it good range made this class well suited to ocean-station duty. A number of changes were made in these ships to better suit them to ocean- station duty. A ballon shelter was added aft; there were spaces devoted to oceanographic equipment and a hydraulic winch was added.Displacement was 2,529 tons. Length was 311'7' overall. Beam was 41'. Draft was 13'1'. Main engines were 4-electric motors driven by Fairbanks-Morse direct reversing diesels. Horsepower was 6,000. Twin screws. Maximum sustained speed was 17.3 kts, 10,138 mi. radius (and more than the circumference of the earth at economical speed!!). Fuel oil capacity was 166,430 gals. Compliment was 138 men, 10 officers, 3 warrants. Radar was SPS-23, SPS-29A. Sonar was SQS-1. Armament was (1) 5'/38 and 1 mousetrap. The Cook Inlet was built by Lake Washington Shipyards in Houghton, Wash. Keel was laid Aug. 23, 1943. She was launched on May 13, 1944. She was commissioned Nov. 5, 1944 (USN) and Jan. 15, 1949 (USCG). Was Decommissioned and transfered to South Vietnam on Dec. 21, 1971. Jan.15, 1949 to Dec. 21, 1971 was stationed at Portland Me. and used for LE, OS, and SAR. May-Jun 49 served on OS FOX. Jan. 50 served on OS BAKER. Apr.-May 50 served on OS BAKER. Jan- Feb 51 served on OS CHARLIE. Feb-Mar 52 served on OS CHARLIE. Oct. 52 served on OS COCA. Mar-Apr 53 served on OS HOTEL. Oct 12,53 received medical patient from MV Chambers. Dec. 54 served on OS DELTA. Jul-Aug 56 served on OS DELTA. Oct-Nov. 56 served on OS CHARLIE. Mar 57 served on OS ECHO. Jul-Aug. 57 Served on OS CHARLIE. Oct 57 served on OS ECHO. Jun-Jul 58 served on OS CHARLIE. Jan 59 served on OS BRAVO. Apr-May 59 served on OS DELTA. Apr-May 61 served on OS ECHO. May 65 served on OS ECHO. Jun-Jul 65 served on OS BRAVO. Aug 65 took part in cadet cruise. Jan 28,66 rescued survivors in a swamped PC. Feb 3-6, 66 escorted distressed Liberian MV Arion Burmuda. Dec 67- Jan 68 served on OS ECHO. Jan 8, 68 medevaced crewman from Swedish MV California. Apr-May 68 served on OS DELTA. Oct 68 served on OS CHARLIE. Jan-Feb 69 served on OS ECHO. Mar-Apr. 69 served on OS BRAVO. Jul-Aug 69 served on OS ECHO. Sep- Oct 69 served on OS DELTA. Feb 70 served on OS DELTA. Oct 70 served on OS BRAVO. Dec 70-Jan 71 served on OS CHARLIE. July 2, 1971 to December 21, 1971 was assigned to CG Squadron Three, Vietnam.Gary Coy CG VET
Best Friends All of the radio gang (Robert's Raiders)
Best Moment All the good times we had at the apt. up on High St. in Portland and at the Shamrock.
Worst Moment Lying in my rack hearing the page for all hands to load stores, saying some choice words about the damn XO and looking up only to see LCDR Schwartz (XO) looking at me. A real "Oh crap, why did I say that?" moment.
Chain of Command Capt. Lessing (CO), LCDR Schwartz (XO), LT Martin (Ops), LTJG Tom Whorley & Ens Jack Sprague (Comms), RMCS Bobby Ward (RMIC), RM1 Bill Potts, RM1 Ralph King, RM2 Art Pightling, RM3 Tony Bryant, RM3 Ken Filburn, RM3 Dick Seng, RM3 Adolph Galonski, and me.
Other Memories Ah yes...the wonders of Olongapo City. Dick Seng going out with the British sailors in Singapore to get a tattoo and waking up with a rose on his shoulder that said "Mum."
