Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma back home after 60-day patrol in Caribbean

By Charles McMahon, Foster's Daily Democrat

The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma guards the Hudson River Sept. 17 as part of port security duties after [the] Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers in New York. (Photo by PA2 Tom Sperduto)

KITTERY, Maine — The crew on board Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma (WMEC-908) arrived home Tuesday following a 60-day patrol of the Caribbean.

The crew logged hundreds of hours in the cutter's two small boats conducting cooperative law enforcement and boat operations with the Haitian coast guard and several other U.S. Coast Guard assets.

Working with various Coast Guard air stations, the Tahoma participated in hundreds of helicopter operations involving day and night take-offs and landings, refueling, and medical evacuation evolutions with the HH-60 Jayhawk and HH-65 Dolphin aircraft.

The 270-foot cutter is home ported in Kittery, Maine, and is under way with primary missions including maritime law enforcement, illegal immigrant operations and drug interdiction.

You can read the complete story at fosters.com, a service of the Foster's Daily Democrat newspaper, http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090930/GJNEWS_01/709309958/-1/FOSNEWS

The official USCG website for the Tahoma is located at http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cgcTahoma/

South Florida Welcomes Service Members for Fleet Week Port Everglades 2009

For my good friends in south Florida, another monitoring opportunity is available with the annual Fleet Week. To RW and all, hope you have some success and please pass along any news from this event.

The amphibious dock landing ship USS Ashland (LSD 48) enters port on opening day of the annual Fleet Week Port Everglades celebration. (U.S. Navy photo by Scott Lehr/Released)

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Joseph R. Wax, Navy Public Affairs Support Element-East

PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. (NNS) -- More than 1,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen aboard multiple ships arrived at Port Everglades, Fla., April 27 for Fleet Week 2009.

The crews of USS Ashland (LSD 48), USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98), USS Toledo (SSN 769), USCGC Tahoma (WMEC 908), and the Canadian Navy HMCS Preserver (AOR 510), as well as Sailors from Naval Beach Group 2 and Marines from the 2nd Marine Division, will take part in fleet week festivities from April 27 to May 2.

An opening reception was held for all hands at the Seminole Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood, Fla.

"Fleet Week South Florida has become a tradition that the entire community gets involved with," said Joe Millsaps, the chairman of Broward Navy Days. "South Florida is famous for being a military friendly community. Fleet week gives them the opportunity to express their gratitude."

Hard Rock treated the service members to food and drinks while the Navy Region Southeast rock band, Pride, entertained the crowd.

"The ceremony was great," said Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Joey Gonzalez, a member of the Fleet Week Port Everglades security team. "It made me feel really welcome to be here."

While in port for fleet week, the Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen will take part in a damage control Olympics, celebrity chef luncheon, blood drive, community relations projects, as well as visit local hospitals and schools.