Monday, August 09, 2010

Gulf Patrol: CGC DECISIVE

by Ensign Andrea Psimer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Decisive.

CGC DECISIVE has been on the scene of the Deepwater Horizon for the past two weeks. The patrol has been a rewarding one despite the circumstances of the tragedy. For many of the crew, it is an opportunity to contribute to the cleanup of the waters they grew up on.

Serving as a large operational asset on scene during the response, we have hosted many reporters. This has afforded us the opportunity to provide people around the Gulf and around the country with a glimpse into the life of a Coast Guardsman (or woman in my case) and to demonstrate just how much we care about this mission.

As we conduct our mission – search and rescue guard for on scene workers and aircraft, and hurricane guard in the event an evacuation is ordered, media from around the country have landed on our flight deck. In just 24 short hours, NBC 33 from Baton Rouge, LA, learned first hand what the Coast Guard and the men and women of DECISIVE are all about. We are from the Gulf, live on the Gulf and are committed to doing all we can to help restore the Gulf.

I thought I’d share some of those stories with you to give you a glimpse of life aboard DECISIVE during the response.

From Honor Guard to oil spill

As we head back out to patrol the well site after a couple of days to refit, we reflect on time spent bringing stories of the biggest environmental response in our nation’s history to our neighbors – many of whom are out of work and in some cases out of patience. We told them what we saw out there and promised to do everything we can to support the mission when we get back on scene.

We hope the media coverage of our mission has made the surreal events of the past couple of months real for folks around the country, but we also see it as an opportunity to remind the residents of the Gulf that we live among you. Our families and children look forward to fishing the Gulf, enjoying its beaches, and most of all seeing the promise of restoring the Gulf become reality.

ENS Andrea Psimer
CGC DECISIVE

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