ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Crewmembers from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg and tenant units hold roses and stand in formation during the ceremony for the 32nd anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial Jan. 28, 2012. Each rose represents an individual Coast Guardsman that lost their life after the Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules and two MH-60 Jayhawk helicopters from Air Station Clearwater, Fla., conduct a fly-over for the 32nd anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial Jan. 28, 2012 in St. Petersburg. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer James Angevine, a food service specialist at Sector St. Petersburg, salutes after presenting a wreath from the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer's Association for the 32nd anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park, Jan. 28, 2011. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Coast Guardsman places a rose in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial during the ceremony for the 32nd anniversary of the ship's sinking Jan. 28, 2012 in St. Petersburg. Each rose represents an individual Coast Guardsman that lost their life after the Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A wreath of flowers sits in front of the Coast Guard Blackthorn memorial during the ceremony for the 32nd anniversary of the ship's sinking Jan. 28, 2012 in St. Petersburg. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Coast Guardsman salutes in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial during the ceremony for the 32nd anniversary of the ship's sinking Jan. 28, 2012 in St. Petersburg. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Coast Guard crewmember places a rose in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial during the ceremony for the 32nd anniversary of the ship's sinking Jan. 28, 2012 in St. Petersburg. Each rose represents an individual Coast Guardsman that lost their life after the Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Betty and Steve Rogers, members of the Coast Guard Pipe Band, stand in front of the Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard during the 32nd anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn ceremony Jan. 28, 2012, in St. Petersburg. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

EDITORS NOTE: Click image for video.

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — Travis Niemi, commercial fisherman, speaks about the importance of his personal protective equipment after being stranded at sea in a life raft for approximately 10 hours because his boat sank after having anchor issues Dec. 28, 2011. 

Niemi, an experienced fisherman, believes that ultimately his protective equipment saved his and his shipmates life.

U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3^rd Class Jon-Paul Rios. 

EDITORS NOTE: Click image for high resolution photo.

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. — The Coast Guard Cutter Marlin remains moored at Coast Guard Station Fort Myers after transferring two survivors rescued at sea Dec. 28, 2011.

The Marlin is an 87-foot patrol boat primarily focused on recreational boating and fisheries law enforcement.

U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon-Paul Rios.

Click each photo above to see a larger version.

Click the photo above to see video of the offload.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. —The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cypress, a 225-foot buoy tender homeported in Pensacola, Fla., along with several state, federal and local partners, offloaded seven tons of cocaine at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Friday.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, a medium-endurance cutter homeported in Key West, Fla., interdicted a drug smuggling, self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) vessel, commonly referred to as a drug sub, in the Western Caribbean Sea Sept. 30.

The total interdiction is approximately seven tons and valued at nearly $180 million wholesale. The crew of the Mohawk stopped two SPSS vessels in 13 days. Used regularly to transport illegal narcotics in the Eastern Pacific, this interdiction is only the third Coast Guard interdiction of an SPSS in the Caribbean. The Coast Guard’s first interdiction of a drug smuggling, SPSS vessel in the Western Caribbean Sea happened July 13.

The crew of a maritime patrol aircraft deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South operations in the Caribbean spotted a suspicious vessel and notified the Mohawk crew of the location.

The Mohawk-based Coast Guard helicopter crew and pursuit boatcrew interdicted the SPSS and detained its crew. The SPSS sank during the interdiction along with the contraband.

The crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Cypress commenced searching for the sunken SPSS Oct. 17. Coast Guard crews and the FBI Laboratory's Technical Dive Team, located at Quantico, Va., conducted multiple search patterns. The SPSS was located by the dive crew Oct. 19.

"The interdiction of a third SPSS in the Caribbean brings to a close an extremely successful fiscal year for the Coast Guard here in Southeast U.S. and Caribbean,” said Rear Adm. Bill Baumgartner, commander of the 7th Coast Guard District. "Working with our interagency and international partners, we detained 98 smugglers and prevented 60,064 pounds of cocaine and 4,412 pounds of marijuana with a combined street value of $727 million from reaching our streets. Although we have been finding highly creative and innovative ways to make our counter drug mission successful, we continued to be challenged by the maintenance requirements and limited capabilities of our aging fleet of larger ships. One of the greatest limitations to our success is the availability of large cutters to patrol the transit zones and new cutters, designed to patrol far offshore in District Seven, will ensure we continue to detect threats at greater distances from U.S. shores and meet the demands of our robust counter drug mission."

Built in the jungles and remote areas of South America, the typical SPSS is less than 100 feet in length, with four to five crewmembers, and carries up to 10 metric tons of illicit cargo for distances up to 5,000 miles. Drug traffickers design SPSS vessels to be difficult to spot and rapidly sink when they detect law enforcement, thereby making contraband recovery difficult.

"This is the second self-propelled semi-submersibles case for this crew and I am extremely proud we were able to stop millions of dollars of cocaine from reaching the streets of America," said Cmdr. Mark Fedor, Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk's commanding officer. "They are a significant threat to our nation and throughout Central and South America because they can smuggle massive amounts of narcotics as well as other illicit goods or people and we will continue to be out here and stand a vigilant watch."

The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Customs and Border Protection, and partner nation aircraft and vessel crews work together to conduct counter drug patrols in the Caribbean.

U.S. Coast Guard story and photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael De Nyse, PADET Tampa Bay, Fla.
U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jon-Paul Rios, PADET Tampa Bay, Fla.   

TAMPA BAY, Fla. - Coast Guard members from Sector St. Petersburg partnered with state and county officials during a joint agency exercise in the Port of Tampa, Wednesday.

The goal of the joint agency exercise was to test the abilities of a Small Craft Intrusion Barrier (SCIB) that is designed for adverse marine conditions and creates a barrier to intrusions by unauthorized, stray or threatening vessels.

Coast Guard officials were aboard a state law enforcement response boat working cohesively with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission personnel, and other state and county officials to test the abilities of SCIB. During the evolution, the SCIB was towed through the Port of Tampa. This allowed officials the opportunity to see first-hand how the maritime security tool responds in real-time situations. Coast Guard boatcrew members aboard a 25-foot Response Boat from Station St. Petersburg were also on scene to closely observe the SCIB test.

"This was absolutely a successful exercise," said Edmond R. Morris, Sector St. Petersburg's Port Security Officer and retired Coast Guard Cmdr. "We gained knowledge relating to the logistical requirements to deploy and retrieve the boat barrier, the physical readiness of the barrier system and provided individual familiarity to currently assigned Coast Guard law enforcement and emergency response personnel relating to the barrier."

It is paramount that local, state and county officials partner with the public and private companies during these evolutions because the National Infrastructure Protection Plan requires it. The NIPP is national plan that mandates the methods for security within the U.S. and in that plan it mandates a public/private partnership to provide security. In those partnerships are private industry, federal, state and local agencies, and related organizations and associations.

"The Tampa Port Authority is proud to partner with the Coast Guard on security initiatives that have positive implications for the safety of Florida's largest and most diversified sea port," said Richard Wainio, Tampa's port director and chief executive. "The Coast Guard is a key partner in developing ongoing safety and security plans for the Port of Tampa and Tampa Bay."

The barriers are the property of the Tampa Port Authority (TPA), procured under a Port Security Grant from the Department of Homeland Security for use by the TPA for security during heightened or sensitive evolutions. When not in use, the barrier is permanently stored on TPA property near the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office marine division, so it can be close to the critical infrastructure it's designed to protect.

For high resolution images of the event, please click the photo thumbnails at the top.
For video, click the far right thumbnail.

Click here to access video

BRUNSWICK, Ga. - A Coast Guard Air Station Savannah MH-65 Dolphin crew pose with the family they rescued March 11, 2011. Chantelle and Quame Pierre were stranded inside thier kayak 200 yards from shore in a mud-filled marsh. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

CHARELSTON, S.C. - The Coast Guard rescued two kayakers in distress east of Brunswick, Ga., Monday.

Operational watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector Charleston were notified by Coast Guard Station Brunswick, Ga., that Chantelle Pierre, 31, and her son Quame Pierre, 6, hometowns unknown, were stranded inside their kayak 200 yards from shore in a mud-filled marsh at approximately 8:20 p.m. Sunday.

Coast Guard Air Station Savannah launched an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter rescue crew and arrived on scene at approximately 12:36 a.m. Monday.

The crew safely hoisted and took the Pierres to St. Simmons Island McKinnon Airport.

No injuries were reported.

The crew was met by Brunswick police upon landing.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -  Coast Guardsmen, survivors, family members, and community members from around the Tampa Bay area commemorated the 31st anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn tragedy, Friday, at Blackthorn Memorial Park, in St. Petersburg.

The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980.  Twenty-three of the Blackthorn's 50 crewmembers lost their lives during the Coast Guard's worst peacetime disaster.  A memorial inscribed with the names of the crewmembers that perished now stands two miles north of the accident site.

Friday’s ceremony consisted of an aerial salute by Coast Guard aircraft, remarks by Coast Guard Rear Adm. William D. Baumgartner, commander Seventh Coast Guard District,  posting of the Colors, and reading of the lost crewmembers' names, each commemorated by the placing of a rose beneath the memorial.

The Blackthorn tragedy provided the impetus for the establishment of the Command and Operations School at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.  The school offers courses to prepare command-level officers and senior enlisted members for command duty afloat.  Commanding officers are now required to formally assess risks such as transiting an unfamiliar port at night and are given full discretion and encouraged to say no if they feel the risks involved are unnecessary.

Additionally, the Coast Guard developed new training requirements, spent more money on safety equipment and made changes to the navigational aids in and around Tampa Bay

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Members of the U.S. Coast Guard, Tampa Bay area community, friends, and survivors, came to commemorate and pay respect to the 23 crewmembers lost during the sinking of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn during the 31st Anniversary Blackthorn Memorial Ceremony, Jan. 28, 2011 in St. Petersburg.  U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 1st Class Mariana O'Leary.   ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Chief Warrant Officer Michael Tomasi, the commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Joshua Appleby, renders a salute during the 31st anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn ceremony Jan. 28, 2011, in St. Petersburg. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Simpson. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Petty Officer 1st Class Bryan Carpenter, a crewmember on the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, places a rose at the base of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn Memorial, during the 31st anniversary ceremony Jan. 28, 2011, in St. Petersburg. Each rose represents an individual Coast Guardsman that lost their life after the Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Simpson.   ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Crewmembers from Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg and tenant units hold roses and stand in formation during the ceremony for the 31st anniversary of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn. Each rose represents an individual Coast Guardsman that lost their life after the Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Simpson. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Roses sit in front of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn memorial during the ceremony for the 31st anniversary of the ship's sinking Jan. 28, 2011 in St. Petersburg. Each rose represents an individual Coast Guardsman that lost their life after the Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, in St. Petersburg, Jan. 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Rob Simpson. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - A Coast Guard crewmember salutes for the presentation of colors during the 31st anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park, Jan. 28, 2011. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Retired Chief Petty Officer Ralph Wilson rings the ship's bell for each crewmember lost in the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision during the 31st anniversary memorial service at Blackthorn Memorial Park, Jan. 28, 2011. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer James Angevine, a food service specialist at Sector St. Petersburg, presents a wreath from the Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer's Association for the 31st anniversary memorial service of the Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn collision at Blackthorn Memorial Park, Jan. 28, 2011. The Blackthorn sank after colliding with the tanker Capricorn near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Jan 28, 1980. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle.

Story, photos and video by Petty Oficer 3rd Class Tara Molle
Coast Guard Public Affairs Detachment Tampa Bay, Fla.
 

Rebuilding Haiti

What would you do, if in less than a minute, everything you knew even your very livelihood just crumbled away? For the roughly 3.5 million people living in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, this nightmare was real.

On Jan. 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake ripped through the heart of the city leaving nothing but a trail destruction in its wake.

Within 24-hours Coast Guard assets were the first to arrive on scene in support of the U.S. government's unified response, ready and willing to help wherever crews were needed. Eleven months later, a multitude of Coast Guard assests have deployed to Haiti and Port-au-Prince has now become somewhat of a second home for many Coast Guard members. Such is the case for many of those onboard the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, a 225-foot buoy tender homeported in Charleston, S.C.

The Oak first arrived on scene Jan. 18. While their main missions were delivering medical supplies, food, and several tons of donated bottled water, two of their most crucial jobs were to ensure safe navigation routes for numerous ships into the port and servicing buoys in the harbor. It’s been almost a year since that fateful day and the rebuilding of Port-au-Prince is far from completion.

“We have a great partnership with the Haitian Coast Guard and recently, through that partnership, we were able to transport a refurbished 41-foot boat to their base in Port-au-Prince so that they can perform their daily missions,” said Lt. Cmdr. Peter Niles, commanding officer of the Oak. “We have the incredible unique ability to transport goods as well as hoisting large items onto our buoy deck with our crane.”

Niles explained that the Haitian Coast Guard has struggled with minimal assets that were in need of multiple repairs and basic supplies needed to properly run their boats have to be shipped in, which can take months.

Along with the revitalization of the Haitian’s fleet, the Oak helped repair the pier on the base.

“Their pier and 41-foot boat needed a lot of maintenance and we were able to go down and help fix them to make them functional again,” said Niles.

He explained that his crewmembers such as the damage controlmen and machinery technicians on board, were able to fix discrepancies on several things such as a faulty dewatering pump and a broken law enforcement blue light atop the 41-foot boat.

“As a result of the earthquake, supplies can be very hard to get in Haiti," said Niles. “The Port-au-Prince harbor is extremely busy and now the Haitian Coast Guard will be able to go out and conduct their missions more safely. The U.S. Coast Guard wants to ensure the safety of all mariners.”

Coast Guard members from both countries stayed quite busy in the two-day period the Oak was present. While some Oak crew diligently worked on the numerous projects like the pier on base, and readying the 41-foot boat, other members went ashore to provide training sessions with the Haitian Coast Guard on weapons familiarization and medical training.

“We conducted small arms training, how to clean and maintain weapons and also conducted live-fire training,” said Petty Officer 1^st Class John Ware, a gunners mate at Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Team 91108 in St. Mary’s, Ga. “I think this training is very beneficial because as a law because as a law enforcement officer, and that’s what I see those guys as, they need to be able to protect their country as well as themselves.”

Ware explained in great detail the benefits of small arms training and how it is a valuable asset for the Haitian Coast Guard.

“It would make their situation a lot better if we, or other people could provide them with more training and more equipment," said Ware

In addition to small arms training, Oak members provided health and wellness training, first aid training and CPR.

The benefits of teaching things as simple as first aid cannot be put into words. After the earthquake, many people from Port-au-Prince ran to the Haitian Coast Guard base for immediate assistance.

“We covered a lot of first aid for burns, lacerations, broken bones and countless other common medical emergencies,” said Petty Officer 2^ndClass Christopher Hammock, a health services technician onboard the Oak. “They appeared rather knowledgeable but also eager to learn anything more we could teach them.”

Hammock explained that although they were able to perform basic medical operations, they are in dire need of several up-to-date medications. Most, if not all of their medications have expired. A Haitian Coast Guard member even brought Hammock into a spare room inside their clinic on base, which was filled with hundreds of expired boxes of Tylenol.

“There is a lot of emergency equipment that would be extremely beneficial for them to have and use,” said Hammock. “Any help and supplies that we can give them or bring to them would be a huge help for what they need to run the clinic.”

“With training, now they have more medically trained professionals that will be able to provide simple needs,” said Niles.

When all was said and done, the crewmembers from both countries were able to let their hair down with some much needed morale.

“I think a highlight of the trip for the crew was the fact that we were able to have a volleyball game with the Haitian Coast Guard,” said Niles. “Volleyball seems like a very simple thing to some people. Because of the uprisings in their country, they weren’t able to leave their base for three weeks. By us having the ability to play a simple game with them, it gave them a moment to get away from their everyday stressors. Remember, every one of these people were affected by the earthquake and all we were there to do was to give them a little bit of fun and enjoy that time spent together.”

He explained how it was a great comradery builder for both crews and that it created positive international engagement.

When the games finished, everyone shook hands, gave each other high fives and smiles could be seen spreading like wildfire throughout the base. Children peeked through cracks in the base wall and people stood on their rooftops just to get a glimpse of the fun being had.

For the Haitian Coast Guard, a refurbished boat, a few training sessions and a one-hour volleyball game won’t erase the daily remnants of a tragedy that has ensued over the past year. For the crew of the Oak, it’s just another day helping those most in need.

“A majority of my crew was in Haiti after the earthquake at the base because they wanted to help save lives,” said Niles. “It was healing for them to go back to the base and see that there is a new leaf turned over and that the base and its people are trying to flourish again.”

To view video, please click the photo below.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Haiti where the crew delivered a 41-foot utility boat as well as several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR and small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak assist in onloading a 41-foot utility boat onto the buoy deck, Nov. 29, 2010. The Oak departed Charleston for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to provide CPR and small arms training and deliver a 41-foot utility boat to the Haitian Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak assist in onloading a 41-foot utility boat onto the buoy deck, Nov. 29, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak assist in onloading a 41-foot utility boat onto the buoy deck, Nov. 29, 2010. The Oak departed Charleston for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to provide CPR and small arms training and deliver a 41-foot utility boat to the Haitian Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Petty Officer 3rd Class Zach Bessant, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Furr, Chief Petty Officer Timothy Morrisette and Petty Officer 3rd Class Jamal Omar prepare to onload a hose reel onto the stern on the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, Nov. 29, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Seaman Michael Sobolewski prepares a drum filled with shackles to be lifted by a crane onto the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, Nov. 29, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Chief Petty Officer Charles Gittings, a boatswains mate on the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, checks the underside of a 41-foot utility boat that was loaded onto the buoy deck Nov. 29, The Oak departed Charleston for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to provide CPR and small arms training and deliver a 41-foot utility boat to the Haitian Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., sits anchored in the harbor Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 1st Class John Ware, a gunners mate, instructs Haitian Coast Guard members on weapons safety Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Hammock and Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Sawade demonstrate to Haitian Coast Guard members how to dress a broken arm Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Hammock and Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Sawade demonstrate to Haitian Coast Guard members how to properly use a tourniquet Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 3rd Class Steven Sawade, a food service specialist on board the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, inspects a room filled with boxes of expired medication Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Chief Petty Officer Stephen Plotner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Trey Thompson, Chief Petty Officer Chuck Gittings and Seaman Michael Sobolewski work a crane lifting cots that were delivered to the Haitian Coast Guard Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Chief Petty Officer Stephen Plotner, Seaman Michael Sobolewski, Chief Petty Officer Chuck Gittings and Petty Officer 3rd Class Trey Thompson, work a crane lifting cots that were delivered to the Haitian Coast Guard Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., lower a buoy back into Haitian waters after the crew conducted maintenance on it Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., prepare to lower a buoy back into Haitian waters after the crew conducted maintenance on it Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason Andrade, a boatswains mate on board the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., carries parts across the deck while working buoys Dec. 6, 2010. The Oak departed Charleston for Port-au-Prince, Haiti, to provide CPR and small arms training and deliver a 41-foot utility boat to the Haitian Coast Guard. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Seaman Zane Hutson, Petty Officer 2nd Jason Andrade and Chief Petty Officer Chuck Gittings observe buoy deck operations Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 3rd Class Zach Bessant, a boatswains mate on board the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, prepares chain for a heat and beat during buoy operations Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 2nd Class Cameron Croteau, a damage controlman on board the Coast Guard Oak, welds repairs on the Haitian Coast Guard dock Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., play a game of volleyball with members of the Haitian Coast Guard Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., play a game of volleyball with members of the Haitian Coast Guard Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., play a game of volleyball with members of the Haitian Coast Guard Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., and the Haitian Coast Guard pose for a group shot after playing volleyball Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

To view the video, please click the image above.

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - The Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Haiti where the crew delivered a 41-foot utility boat as well as several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR and small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

For more photos, visit our 7th District Coast Guard Facebook page here.

CHARLESTON, S.C. - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Oak assist in onloading a 41-foot utility boat onto the buoy deck, Nov. 29, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 1st Class John Ware, a gunners mate, instructs Haitian Coast Guard members on weapons safety Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 2nd Class Chris Hammock and Petty Officer 3rd Class Stephen Sawade demonstrate to Haitian Coast Guard members how to properly use a tourniquet Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Petty Officer 2nd Class Cameron Croteau, a damage controlman on board the Coast Guard Oak, welds repairs on the Haitian Coast Guard dock Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti - Chief Petty Officer Stephen Plotner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Trey Thompson, Chief Petty Officer Chuck Gittings and Seaman Michael Sobolewski work a crane lifting cots that were delivered to the Haitian Coast Guard Dec. 5, 2010. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Oak, homeported in Charleston, S.C., traveled to Port-au-Prince where they delivered a 41-foot utility boat, several items for the Haitian Coast Guard base medical clinic and assisted in teaching first aid, CPR, small arms training to the crew. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Tara Molle