And we’re back on day two with an equal dose of heartfelt and funny New Year’s Logs entries! Thank you to the commands and authors who went the extra step to share a smile and honor our sea going traditions! We hope you enjoy reading these as much as we did.
If you missed out on the first batch, be sure to go back and check it out here. And come back later this week for the third and final compilation.
CGC BERTHOLF – IS1 Stefan Belcovski
The midnight bell begins to chime,
Marking the start of a watchful time.
Underway in the Bering with Nav Lights aglow,
Their amber haze on the cold crests below.
A Latitude XX.XX North brings crisp gale winds,
With Longitude XXX.XX West, the sea foam spins.
Running Cruise Two, with Gens 1&2,
LTJG Glashagel commands a course of 190 True.
D17, our TACON lead sure,
Under OPCON/ADCON of PAC, the Holidays blur.
Rain, snow, and Ice, our weather-eye keeps,
So in the port hangar, our snug sUAS sleeps.
Eyes sharp, hearts bold, we hold our post,
Guardians of freedom on every coast.
In quiet harbors or storms severe,
The stage is set — legends begin here.
Material condition is set to Yoke,
A stance of readiness never broke.
The crew rests but is never still,
Her heartbeat echoes with quiet will.
Three small boats secure, all checks complete,
No gear adrift, no tasks to repeat.
Dreaming but not idle, still ready to fight,
Where calm can turn chaos in the dead of the night.
ECDIS and radar glow soft and green,
Tracking the Aleutian’s slow-moving scene.
With every sweep, the watchful stare
Marks every shift in the quiet air.
BERTHOLF stands ready, steadfast, and true,
Her legacy borne by a vigilant crew.
Through icy winds and relentless seas,
She sails for justice, she guards with ease.
The clock moves slow, the silence deep,
The watch stands firm where others sleep.
Write it down in the log with care,
Marking midnight; the sea, the air.
For though the world may sleep in peace,
The watch of a cutter will never cease.
CGC ESCANBA U/W (REAL)- ENS Mychal Riccio
It's New Year's Day on Base Portsmouth's shore
KENNEBEC, FORWARD, SENECA have returned and are cared for.
FRANK DREW with buoys all serviced is home very content.
Even Station Portsmouth is at rest, with dreams of rescues being dreamt.
This Portsmouth family is a very tight clutch,
But there's one they call out to and miss very much.
"Where oh where is our sister today?
ESCANABA’s not here, nor out in Chesapeake Bay.
She was home for so long, we loved having her here
But now that she's gone we wish she were near.”
But ESCANABA shouts back from a great long distance,
"Take care my sisters, I'll be back in but an instance!
I'm out flying the flag and continuing our mission
For the story of the US Coast Guard must have its next rendition.
With wonderful midrats of fresh grilled chicken,
I'm in good shape as this log is being written.
I find myself sailing just north of the Hispaniola Island
XX–XX.X'N, XXX–xx.x'W and 8.5 NM from dry land.
We topped off my fuel tanks with F-76 only a few days ago,
Now the -3 and -4 service tanks provide suction and return down below.
My #2 Main is running at handle position 6 in pilot house control
Spinning the shaft at 167 with 79% pitch is where it likes to roll.
Back aft the #1 steering pump keeps me on course,
Meanwhile on the bus the #1 gen is a solid workhorse.
My Tag-out log shows 4 machinery tags left to be cleared,
And the Closure log says mod-Yoke all tight it appears.
I follow the CON of LANTAREA and District 7 tonight
Even have the full suite of navigation lights burning bright.
Up on the bridge, BMC Stallings handles the CONN,
While Deck is ‘JG Doucot whom Captain will call on.
Main Control has MK1 Cooke leading the charge.
Ensuring all pumps are running and have good discharge.
Aside from them 4 others are now standing the guard,
Prop, QMOW, Lookout, and Security are on the duty card.
All together my crew of one-hundred-and-three
Are safe and accounted for, just the same as me.
"I miss you all as any family member would,
And I would love to be back with you all if only I could.
But someone must stand the watch away from home,
And with sister NORTHLAND I can at least say I'm not alone.
Together we will do our part protecting those at sea,
Sailing on with Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty.
Take care my sisters, and enjoy your time at home,
And know that even when apart, we are never truly alone.
I love you all, and we will never be estranged.
I'll see you again once the seasons have changed."
And so this New Year's has past once again for the ESCANABA crew,
As they offer a wish of peace and safe travels to the world and to you.
CGC ACTIVE- ENS Sidney Motherway, LTjg Jack Bukoski, and GM1 Ryan Cody
0000-0300
The crew began to think we’d never leave Seattle,
Let alone leave the pier which was only half our battle.
But we did indeed shove off and made out way to Port “A”
With the best possible timing to be home on Christmas Day.
We spent the next whole week upon the stormy swells.
Yet each day at noon we always struck eight bells.
In reward of our service our grit and our strength,
We laid out this anchor two mighty shots in length.
The crew soundly rests at Northern Anchorage Seven.
On San Francisco Bay we lay with TACON D-Eleven.
Colored lights are glimmering but not those of navigation.
Works of fire beneath the stars in a breathtaking location.
The Golden Gates in sight along with Pier 39.
Both Mains have an hour’s notice while Gen number one remains online.
PACAREA leads our operations and administrations with glee.
Both small boats take a break since they’re secured for sea.
All anchor lights are shining but nothing can compare
To active by Treasure Island the views are truly rare.
Material Condition Yoke is set with exception of Group 14.
The new year has just begun with an unforgettable scene.
1LT and the number one guns stay active atop of the boat
Keeping watch for speedy ferries and ensuring we stay afloat.
CGC STAR-- SN Marcus Harris
0000-0400
POLAR STAR has worked up from Vallejo, California, where new shipmates were found,
All the way to Seattle, WAS, her rainy home in the sound.
We mended what was broken and fixed what was not,
Looking forward to complete a mission that many have sought.
Now one month later we’ve picked up motion,
Making out way through the Southern Ocean.
With three hundred miles of sea separating us from land,
The crew of the STAR will continue her plan.
And things have changed as we’ve gone down south;
The STAR’s orders now come from a brand new mouth.
Operations and administration still come from her boss in PACAREA,
But tactically, below the 60, the Joint Task Force is the new Commander.
Rest assured CG26326 is secured and strapped in,
But I wouldn’t count on her if you’re going for a swim.
And CG381076 is sitting comfortable in her cradle,
Let’s just hope that if we need her, the STBD crane is able.
Material Condition Yoke is still in effect, even if the hangar is often quite wet.
To power her along the engineers have set a 2-2-1 so that 3B can rest.
The navigation lights are on and burning bright,
Much like the spirits of the crew this New Year’s night.
And lest not forget the team on the bridge,
Whose watchful eyes ushered the New Year in.
The Deck and Conn is ENS Wagner,
A fast learner and party planner.
His instructor BM1 Barrors is there by his side,
There to lend a hand and to be a watchful eye.
And lastly you have your QMOW, ol’ SN Harris,
He’s not much of a poet, but he tried his darndest!
The Sandy Hook New Year Log – AUX Steve Gillooly
'Twas the night before new year's and all through our Station
My Coasties were sleeping, all tired from guarding our Nation
Their ODU's and PPE were hung with great care,
Their bellies were full of the galley's best fare.
The Twenty Nines and Forty Sevens were sleeping.
All rooms were quiet, no alarms were beeping.
Nothing on 16, nothing on 21.
Even Rescue 21 was pretty much done.
Nothing underway, No cases were open.
The GV's were safe (the OOD was hoping).
When what to my wondering eyes should appear?
It's an HH-65 lowering some gear!
She stepped from the basket with a lively little step
All full of excitement, verve, and much pep.
It was an Auxiliarist, of course, and she brought us good cheer.
Donuts and coffee. Cookies (no beer).
I asked why the visit to our lonely location
Did our busy little station deserve this attention?
She said that we had earned a treat, Something yummy for our crew,
For all that we train, and all that we do.
"The new year will bring many calls and much tedium.
Each boat crew will rush out (GAR is Low / Medium).
They will sacrifice much, these rescuers at sea,
Rushing out in bad weather, to save you or me.
They deserve their rest and a treat when they wake.
They deserve much more, but it was all I could bake.
We miss those who've transferred, those overseas at war.
We are grateful for those with us, on this lonely sand bar."
Then the Auxiliarist left, jumping back in the bird,
I heard her exclaim in a voice loud enough to be heard:
"Happy New Year Sandy Hook! Happy New Year to All!
Be careful out there, don't trip, and don't fall!
Train hard and train well so you'll be ready when called.
We are proud of you, every one and all."
I turned back to my console to update my log,
The OU called, and someone barked like a dog.
"Who authorized that flight? Who gave you permission?
Where's the paperwork on that? Who ordered that mission?"
I said what I could, and made up some excuses.
I blamed it on mixups and said the 204's were useless.
Then the SAR line rang, was it the big one?
Just a wrong number - no reason to run.
The cell phones are all charging, radio lights are all green.
The BM1's office is dark, the defibrillator is clean.
The front gate is closed, all equipment accounted for...
Just some crumbs on the flag locker, some dust on the floor.
My radio day is ending, and so is the year.
We'll start 2025 with much hope and good cheer.
May Sandy Hook be peaceful and happy, with lots of good fun.
May my Coasties sleep tight... and be ready to run!
-USCG-
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