| | |  Vallarta Living | July 2009 
Steadfast Crew Volunteers in Vallarta
 dailyastorian.info
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July 17, 2009
| | A recent visit to Puerto Vallarta by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast provided a wonderful opportunity for the mariners to spruce up Asociación Femenil Vallartense (AFV). | |
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast returned last week following a 67-day counter-narcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The 210-foot cutter provided maritime domain awareness and served as an on-scene law-enforcement asset while patrolling.
While on a midpatrol break, 10 members of the Steadfast crew participated in a community relations project in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Working with members of the local Navy League and American Legion, the crew of Steadfast battled the rain, heat and humidity, to paint four classrooms as well as rake and clean up an adjoining playground.
Members of the cutter readily volunteered to participate in this project. Cmdr. José Jiménez, the current commanding officer of Steadfast, is always amazed at his crew's willingness to volunteer. "One would expect to have a hard time getting volunteers to give up their day of rest and relaxation to lend a helping hand for such a worthy cause. However, this is never the case. Every time I have sought volunteers for a project like this one, I'm reminded of my crew's commitment and dedication to help others as I always end up getting more volunteers than needed."
The opportunity to take part in a project like this allows the crew to understand the culture better, make a positive contribution to the local community, and to positive foreign relations between the United States and México.
"Visiting foreign ports is one of the few perks the crew gets to enjoy during a deployment. In addition to having an enjoyable time we get to learn a little about another country's customs and traditions as well as some of the challenges their people face," Jiménez said.
Boatswains Mate Second Class Tim Glasure sacrificed a day off in this exotic port of call to participate in the project. "I think it was a fun and great experience to get out in another country's community to make a difference."
During the patrol, the Steadfast crew conducted an arduous five-day counter-narcotics boarding of the Motor Vessel Orion, searched more than 430-square-miles of ocean for a crashed Navy SH-60 helicopter and served as the first cutter of its size to be capable of both small boat and airborne use of force against vessels suspected of smuggling narcotics in the Eastern Pacific.
Additionally, Steadfast crew worked closely with Coast Guard and other law-enforcement agencies aircraft to actively monitor more than 3,000 square miles of ocean in search of vessels transporting narcotics.
The patrol included flight operations with both the embarked Helicopter Interdiction Squadron (HITRON) helicopter and training operations with Coast Guard Air Stations Los Angeles, Humboldt, Calif., and North Bend. The information and intelligence gathered during Steadfast's extended deployment will allow domestic and international law enforcement agencies to better allocate resources toward the war on drugs and will support national strategy for Homeland security.
Steadfast is a Reliance Class Cutter, one of 14 in the Coast Guard fleet and one of only three based on the West Coast. The cutter was commissioned in 1968 and has been homeported in Astoria since January 1994.
Steadfast has earned the nickname "El Tiburon Blanco," or "White Shark" from drug smugglers while based in St. Petersburg, Fla., for her notoriously effective law enforcement operations in the Caribbean. She was the first cutter to be awarded the gold marijuana leaf, indicating 1 million pounds of marijuana seized.
Since her commissioning in 1968, Steadfast has completed more than 330 Search and Rescue cases, interdicted more than 1.6 million pounds of marijuana and 27,700 pounds of cocaine, seized more than 65 vessels, and stopped over 3,500 undocumented migrants on the high seas from entering the United States.
Steadfast is currently berthed at the 17th Street Pier adjacent to the Astoria Maritime Museum, preparing for a fall patrol, and is open for tours every Sunday and on holidays.
Click HERE to read more about the volunteer work USCG Steadfast crew members performed on their recent Puerto Vallarta port call.
The Puerto Vallarta Navy League provides an opportunity to socialize as well as “give back” to our local community. For more information, visit VallartaNavyLeague.org, or send an email to pvnlac(at)comcast.net. |
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