The Bull would like to take a moment, in these dark, pre-dawn, hours to salute American Heroes that often go completely un-noticed. Until you need them. The United States Coast Guard, and especially those units thereof that are currently stationed here in The Bull’s adopted hometown of Mobile, Alabama.
First up, the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center. These superb aviators are seen daily flying over The Bull’s Pasture in their various aircraft. Quite a wonderful sight they are! Be not fooled by the name. These aircrews are not just here for training. When you are in the ‘Hurt Locker’, these are the folks that can – and will – get you to help P.D.Q. That’s not all. From the sunny Gulf Coast to the frigid waters of the far North, you will find these folks in the air. On mission and on time. Here is the mission statement from their own webpage:
“The Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama is a multi-mission unit, acting as both the Coast Guard’s Flight School and as an operational Air Station. Training is conducted to qualify Coast Guard pilots in the HU-25, “Guardian,” The HH-60 “Jayhawk,” and the HH-65 “Dolphin.” These same pilots return once a year for a week long proficiency course in their designated airframe. Operations Division, which fly’s the HU-25, conducts Search and Rescue, Homeland Security, and Environmental Protection missions in an area of responsibility that extends from the Louisiana/Texas boarder to the eastern edge of the Florida panhandle. Also located at ATC Mobile is the Polar Operations Division who deploy the HH-65 around the globe in support of scientific research aboard the Coast Guard’s three Polar Icebreakers.”
Mobile, AL isn’t just an old, historied city on the Gulf Coast. It is one of our Great Nation’s major ports. Keeping shipping operating safely and in good order is a duty that falls to the Coast Guard as well. All of this, and keeping America’s ports, (and thereby you and me), safe from the terrorist murderers that threaten us falls to the next USCG group here in Mobile. The Brave Crews of:
The 87 foot Patrol Boats, CGC Cobia (WPB-87311) and CGC Stingray (WPB-87305); the 225 foot Seagoing Bouy Tender, CGC Cypress (WLB-210); the 175 foot Coastal Bouy Tender, CGC Barbara Mabrity (WLM-559); and last – but not least, the Inland Construction Tender, CGC Saginaw (WLIC-803).
Ever seen those shows where someone is out on rough seas and all of their past bad deeds come back to haunt them? Or perhaps where some yahoo with a big boat but little experience gets in way over his head – literally? Either way, someone is in need of some serious help from folks willing to put everything on the line to save a strangers life. When that occurs here we know that the heroes at the Search and Rescue Station – Dauphin Island (Mobile, AL) will come charging in. Help you can trust when your world has gone down the tubes. Bless them!
One last note; We are happy to be home to the Dauphin Island Recreational Complex. This is one of the military’s MWR facilities. (That’s “Morale, Well-Being, and Recreation”) This facility, and the others like it, are a wonderful resource for those we send into harms way. They provide many with a place to regroup with husbands, wives, and children. (see my previous post about the MWR program and the facilities offered here.) Sadly though, the ‘good people’ (ahem) in Washington D.C. have seen fit to close this facility and many others over the protest of the very people that need and use them. Please note that the military families pay for the privilege of using the MWR program. The facilities are not provided free of charge! Write to Washington, call your Senators and Congressmen. Let them know we want our troops to have someplace they can relax and once again become close to those they left behind.
Again, many thanks to our loyal United States Coast Guard. Mobile, AL is both proud of you all and glad you are here.
Semper Paratus!
Bull, out.
[...] The Bull Speaks! “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.” ~Ronald Reagan~ « Coast Guard Heroes in Mobile, AL [...]
Carnival of Blue Stars #15…
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