FEBRUARY

Baltimore FF released from hospital; firefighter killed in fire postumously promoted. CLICK FOR ARTICLE.

U.S. Coast Guard Press Release:
The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the USCGC John Scheuerman (WPC 1146), Patrol Forces Southwest Asia's (PATFORSWA) fifth 154-foot Sentinel-class cutter, into service at the Port of Tampa in Tampa, Florida, Wednesday.
Adm. Karl Schultz, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, presided over the ceremony. Mrs. Nancy Vannoy, John Scheuerman's niece, is the ship's sponsor.
The cutter's namesake is Seaman 1st Class John Scheuerman, a native of Toledo, Ohio, who served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves from October 16, 1942 to September 9, 1943. While serving aboard the U.S.S. LCI (L) 319 during the amphibious Allied invasion of Italy, on Sep. 9, 1943, Seaman 1st Class John Scheuerman exhibited conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action. Observing an enemy fighter plane diving in for a strafing attack as his vessel approached the assault beaches in the Gulf of Salerno, Scheuerman unhesitatingly manned his battle station at an exposed antiaircraft gun and, with cool courage and aggressive determination, exerted every effort to direct accurate gunfire against the hostile aircraft. Although mortally wounded before he could deliver effective fire, he remained steadfast at his post in the face of imminent death, thereby contributing materially to the protection of his ship against further attack. The U.S. Coast Guard awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart Medals to Scheuerman posthumously for his heroism. Posted in February.

APRIL

3 Baltimore, MD FFs Killed in Rowhouse Fire Ruled Homicides. CLICK FOR ARTICLE.

MAY

Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard- The Coast Guard commissioned the 48th Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC) Pablo Valent (WPC 1148) into service at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida, Wednesday.
The cutter’s namesake Pablo Valent was originally from Corpus Christi, Texas, and joined the United States Life-Saving Service in 1912. In September 1919, Valent helped rescue the crew of the hurricane-damaged schooner Cape Horn off the coast of Texas. For his heroic efforts, Valent received the Silver Lifesaving Medal and the Grand Cross of the American Cross of Honor Society. Valent was one of the first Hispanic Americans to receive these honors.
The Valent is the 48th FRC and is the first to be homeported in St. Petersburg with missions including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, coastal security, and living marine resources. There are 12 other FRCs in Florida, which operate throughout the Caribbean Sea.
Each cutter is designed for a crew of 24, has a range of 2,500 miles and is equipped for patrols up to five days. The FRCs are part of the Coast Guard’s overall fleet modernization initiative.
FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment as well as over-the-horizon response boat deployment capability and improved habitability for the crew. The ships can reach speeds of 28 knots and are equipped to coordinate operations with partner agencies and long-range Coast Guard assets such as the Coast Guard’s National Security Cutters.

JUNE

Oshkosh Corporation announced that it has completed the acquisition of Maxi-Métal Inc of Saint-Georges de Beauce, Quebec, Canada. MAXIMETAL is a leader in the design and manufacture of custom fire apparatus and utility vehicles in the Canadian market and will be part of Oshkosh’s Fire & Emergency segment. CLICK FOR PRESS RELEASE.

AUGUST

U.S. Coast Guard- the USCG has accepted delivery of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter William Chadwick WPC-1150. The 154' Fast Respnose Cutter is the first of 6 that will be assigned to Boston. The William Chadwick is expected to arrive in Boston sometime later this year. Also, the 270's Medium Endurance Cutters Tahoma (WMEC-908) and Cambpell (WMEC-909) from the U.S. Navy Base in Portsmouth, NH to the U.S. Navy Base in Newport, RI.

SEPTEMBER

U.S. COAST GUARD

The new 154's Fast Response Cutter USCGC William Chadwick (WPC-1150) has arrived in Boston and is the first FRC to be assigned in New England. It is scheduled to be commissioned on November 10th and will be the first of 6 new Fast Reponse Cutters assigned to Boston.

The U.S. Coast Guard commissioned the new Fast Response Cutter USCGC Douglas Denman (WPC 1149) on September 28th in Ketchikan, AK.
According to the USCG press release, the cutter was named for Douglas Denman who was born in Tallapoosa, Georgia and joined the Coast Guard in 1940. He was eventually assigned to the USS Colhoun as a coxswain. On Aug. 30, 1942, the Colhoun was positioned off the coast of Guadalcanal when it was attacked by adversarial aircraft. Denman was seriously wounded during the attack, but remained at his duty station. When the order was given to abandon ship, Denman and another crewmember helped evacuate the crew and get life jackets to those already in the water. Because of Denman’s selfless actions, 100 of the 150 officers and crew survived the attack and sinking of Colhoun. For his heroic efforts, Denman received the Silver Star and Purple Heart medals. He served for 20 years in the Coast Guard, retiring as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1961.

U.S. Coast Guard decommissions Cutter Baranof. Information courtesy of U.S.C.G. media relations:
The USCGC Baranof (WPB 1318) was decommissioned during a ceremony aboard Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Monday.
Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, presided over the ceremony.
“USCGC Baranof’s exemplary service to our nation is a testament to both the Island-class platform and the crews that have manned Baranof over the past 34 years,” said Lunday. “Whether it was conducting law enforcement and search and rescue in the Caribbean, or deploying to the present-day homeport of Bahrain to support U.S. Central Command, those that have manned Baranof have continually met the needs of America.”
Baranof was commissioned into service on May 20, 1988 at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach in Miami. The 18th of 49 Island-class patrol boats, Baranof received orders to the U.S. Fifth Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2002. Shortly after their arrival in Bahrain, Baranof’s crew was underway conducting maritime interdiction operations in the North Arabian Gulf.
Baranof was replaced by the USCGC Clarence Sutphin Jr. (WPC 1147), which arrived at NSA Bahrain on Aug. 23, 2022. As part of the Coast Guard’s fast response cutter program, the service is acquiring 65 Sentinel-class fast response cutters, with six of those assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Patrol Forces Southwest Asia.
PATFORSWA, the Coast Guard’s largest unit outside of the United States, oversees the cutters in Bahrain. The ships are forward deployed to U.S. Fifth Fleet to help ensure maritime security and stability across the Middle East. The 154-foot long vessels feature advanced communications systems, and improved surveillance and reconnaissance equipment.
PATFORSWA, which is operationally attached to Fifth Fleet’s Commander Task Force 55, is composed of six FRCs, shoreside mission support personnel and a maritime engagement team. The unit plays a crucial role in maritime security, maritime infrastructure protection, and regional theater security cooperation. The unit also supports other U.S. Coast Guard deployable specialized forces operating throughout the Middle Eastern region.

NOVEMBER

U.S. COAST GUARD CUTTER COMMISSIONING IN BOSTON

Courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard:
BOSTON — Coast Guard Cutter William Chadwick (WPC-1150) commissioned Thursday at Coast Guard Base Boston, as the first of six Fast Response Cutters to be stationed in the city.

Admiral Steven Poulin, Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, and Rear Adm. John Mauger, commander, 1st Coast Guard District, oversaw the ceremony, as Lt. Cmdr. Tyler Kelley assumed command of the 154-foot cutter and its crew. Under Kelly’s command, the 24-person crew will now conduct missions offshore of the Northeast United States.

These Sentinel-class fast response cutters (FRC) are designed for multiple missions, including drug and migrant interdiction; ports, waterways and coastal security; fishery patrols; search and rescue; and national defense. The Coast Guard has ordered 65 FRCs to replace the 1980s-era Island-class 110-foot patrol boats. The FRCs feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment; over the horizon cutter boat deployment to reach vessels of interest; and improved habitability and seakeeping.

Born in Dover, New Jersey, the cutter’s namesake was a keeper of the Green Island Lifeboat Station in New Jersey and recipient of the Congressional Gold Lifesaving Medal for his rescue of the crew of the schooner George Taulane on Feb. 3, 1880. Chadwick remained keeper of Green Island Station until his retirement in August 1886.