Stribling, Grady, CWO3

Best Friends
MKC Charles (Chuck) Russel
LT Dick Fish
MkC Stanley Kubo

Best Moment
On 27 June 1979, for convenience of the Government, I departed CGC Yocona to CG Air Station Astoria, OR. where I took the oath of a commissioned Warrant Officer on 01 Aug 1979. CGC Yocona was undergoing emergency repair at Seattle, WA. and wouldn't return to Astoria in time for my departure to my new duty station.

Chain of Command
Commanding Officer: CDR Charles Morgan USCG
Commanding Officer Change of Command: CDR Charles Reid USCG
Executive Officer: LCDR W. L. John USCG
Engineering Officer: LT Dick Fish USCG
Electrical Department Head: Senior Chief Electrician's Mate Grady Stribling USCG

Other Memories
After tours of duty in Virginia, I was looking forward to returning to the northwest coast of the USA. My new duty station was the CG Cutter Yocona (WMEC-168), home ported at Astoria, Oregon. The CGC Yocona, a Medium Endurance Cutter was one of the Coast Guards older Cutters and previously belonged to the US Navy as a "salvage Vessel" with a diving locker and platform. Astoria is located at the mouth of the Columbia River which has a bridge that spans the river to Washington State. The area is known for it's fishing, hunting, and logging industries. We decided to settle in the small town of Seaside, Oregon, located 17 miles south of Astoria and better known for being the end of the Lewis & Clark Trail. We had to stay in a small motel for a few months waiting for our new house to be completed. The folks that ran the motel were very gracious to us and made my family feel at ease and comfortable when I had to get underway. Our house was located within walking distance to the beach which allowed us to enjoy fishing and digging for Razor clams. At my back door, just east of the town, rose the coastal mountain range. Within 30 minutes, I could be on a winding stream fly fishing for trout. We made a lot friends through our involvement with church, school programs, Cub Scouts, and coaching Little League base ball.
Although I had a lot to do at home, the Yocona had a busy underway schedule, performing law enforcement and fisheries patrols. In addition , there were the shipyard availability period in Seattle and Underway Readiness Training in San Diego, CA. Yocona was also called upon to tow the large navigational (LNB) buoys out to sea and place them on station.
Yocona's most notable achievement, the "drug bust" of the motor vessel, Helena Star, which yielded several tons of marijuana, the largest "drug bust" on the west coast at the time.
During my tour on the Yocona, my most important achievement was my Electrician's Mates' inspection, removal, reconditioning, and reinstalling of components of the Main Propulsion Switchboard. In addition, repairs, reconditioning and adjustments to the Main Propulsion Direct Current Generators and Motors. This allowed the Yocona to complete a successful full power trial which hadn't occurred in nine years.
There were two experiences I'll never forget. First, we were underway one morning when I was sick with the flu and had chills and fever. It was the day I had to take my service wide exam. As I sat at a table on the crews mess deck, I answered the questions without given thought to ponder over my answers nor change any of them. I felt so bad I just wanted to complete the exam and crawl back in my rack. I didn't get excited when the time came for the service wide exam results and advancement list.
I almost fell out of my chair when I was informed my exam standing was #1 and I was #1 on the list to advance to Senior Chief Electrician's Mate (E-8) on Jan. 01, 1979. I called my Detailer at CG Headquarters to find out where my new duty station would be. He told me I was going to be in -charge of the Electrical Department on the new Icebreaker, Polar Star home ported in Seattle, WA., unless I decide to accept the commission as a Chief Warrant Officer and he said that was all he would say about that.
My second experience occurred while we were underway off the coast of Washington State. We carried a Federal Wildlife and Game Officer with authority to inspect the the fish caught and canned by foreign fishing fleets and issue citations when violations to US fishing laws were found. They were only allowed to take what we called "trash" fish, i.e., "Hake". No sporting fish, i.e., salmon were allowed. After we had boarded and completed the inspection of a Russian fishing fleet and cannery ship, the Captain of the Russian Fleet invited us for a social visit. Captain Morgan of the Yocona sent a request to the 13th CG District Commander for approval in the interest of diplomatic relations which was returned approved. Captain Morgan wanted me to be a member of the Yocona Party along with him, the Fed.Wildlife & Game Officer, and the Operations Officer when we made our social visit with the Russians. We first went aboard one of the fleet's fishing boats and were taken to the Captain's cabin. A lady brought a bowl of fruit to the table and each of us a shot of Russian vodka followed by a toast by the Russian Captain as we all downed our shot. After a short duration of trying to understand their broken English we were taken to the mother ship where the fish was canned and labeled for distribution. The huge ship on the outside looked like a "Scow"but on the inside it was spacious, clean with wide ladders / steps and compartments with modern furnishings. We were taken to the Captain's Lounge where we all introduced ourselves which included the Russian Captain, First Mate , and Chief Engineer. After the introductions we were served caviar and a shot of Russian Vodka with a toast by the Russian Captain. This went on until every one in both groups had proposed a toast. By this time we were "toasted" but held our own. We discussed the ways of life in both countries and they seemed to admire the way we lived. They told us the fleet were required to spend 3 years at sea before returning to Russia. The fleet would pull in to various ports only long enough to refuel and purchase food. The crew were composed of professional seaman and Russians that were working to complete their four years of service to their country in which all Russians were obligated. Working in the fishing industry was one of many ways they could complete their obligation. They were very friendly and courteous and gave each of us a small figurine as a memento of our visit. We didn't have anything to give in return so I gave the Chief Engineer my collar pins. He was ecstatic. Needless to say it was rough seas for all of us the next day.
In June of 1979 I took some leave to go camping with our CG friends that lived at Coos Bay, Oregon. I was selected for the Warrant Officer Program and decided to accept it. I would take the oath of a Commissioned Chief Warrant Officer with the Grade of CWO2 and the Specialty of "Naval Engineering". Even though I requested sea duty as Main Propulsion Assistant on one of three WMEC Cutters in the 7th CG District, my orders were for the 1st CG District Naval Engineering Branch as a Type Desk Officer in Boston, MA. I found out my previous boss in the 5th CG District was now the Branch Chief of Naval Engineering in the 1st District Office and had asked for me by name. I knew it would be a long time before our families would see each other again. On my return to duty, the Yocona got underway to Seattle , WA. where we were to take a LNB buoy in tow and set it off the coast of northern Washington, State. I had the second watch as Engineering Watch Officer (EWO) and went down to relieve the EWO on watch. Prior to relieving the watch, I went through Ithe Engineering Spaces to inspect operating equipment and watertight integrity of the space. As I entered the stbd shaft alley, something didn't seem right. The intermediate propeller shaft pillow block bearing was moving in a side to side motion as if the shaft was bowed. I rubbed my eyes and sure enough, the bearing was moving. I immediately went back to the EWO Station and called the Pilot House requesting Yocona come to "all stop" due to an engineering casualty on stbd propeller shaft along with a request for the Engineering Officer's presence in the Motor Room. I found out while I was on leave the Yocona went up the Columbia to Portland for the Rose Festival. While en route the Yocona's stbd propeller was locked -up by a "dead head" (log) in the water. As Yocona backed down, the "dead head" was dislodged and the Yocona proceded on to Portland. The incident caused too much torque on the propeller shaft and consequently it was bowed or bent. As a result the stbd propeller shaft was mechanically locked to keep it from turning as we continued on to Seattle using the port shaft only. Due to the delay in making repairs I departed Yocona and driven back to Astoria by government vehicle to take care of moving my personal affects and the selling of both of our vehicles. My wife was 4 months expecting and we decided to fly back to Ga, spend some time with our family, buy a new automobile and drive to Boston. On Aug. 01 1979, I reported to Air Station Astoria and was Sworn in as a Commissioned Chief Warrant Officer.Afterward, we were taken by friends to Portland for catching our flight to Atlanta.