Flotilla 4 Participates in Medal of Honor Recipient's Homecoming Events

Auxilarists Wendy Faganel, Gene Kellogg and Nick Critelli meet SSG Salvatore Giunta during a reception in Hiawatha. (U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary photo of Mrs. Carmela Chiafos)

On November 16th, Army Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama during a ceremony at the White House. Staff Sergeant Giunta is the first living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War. He was honored for his heroism and bravery during combat operations in Afghanistan in 2007.

Staff Sergeant Giunta earned the medal by charging a group of Taliban who were trying to take off with a wounded comrade during a battle. His actions stopped the Taliban’s attack and allowed him to regain control of his wounded comrade. He also saved the lives of the many other members of his unit who had been caught in an ambush by the Taliban.

His hometown of Hiawatha, Iowa had a parade and gathering to welcome SSG Giunta home. Flotilla 4 members Wendy Faganel, Gene Kellogg and Nick Critelli represented the Coast Guard Auxiliary during the parade and ceremony. These Auxilarists were able to meet SSG Giunta and thank him for his service and congratulate him for earning the Medal of Honor.

Coast Guard Auxiliary Special Event Station Makes 300 Contacts

Today five members of Flotilla 4 participated in a ham radio special event to commemorate the 701st anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. This station was located near Rippey, IA and is designed to accommodate events like this. The station operated primarily on three frequencies and logged 315 contacts from 39 states and 9 countries.

Operators talked to stations in four Canadian provinces, Australia, Belgium, Cuba, Columbia, France, Germany, Italy, Peru and Spain. The purpose of the annual event was to spread awareness about the Coast Guard Auxiliary and what it does for the community.

Photos of the event can be viewed at http://www.flickr.com/photos/flotilla4/



Auxilarist Roland Newton makes contact with a station at the ham radio special event to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)



Auxilarist Roland Newton (left) makes contact with a station while Norma Newton (right) wraps up a contact as Brandon Butters (center) looks on at the ham radio special event to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)

Flotilla 4 Hits the Air to Commemorate the 71st Anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

On Saturday, October 23rd, members of Flotilla 4 in Des Moines will join other Coast Guard Auxilarists to hit the airwaves to commemorate the 71st anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We will be one of several other special event stations on the air. Our callsign will be K0G. We will operate from 1400 - 2100 Zulu (9:00 am to 4:00 pm Central).

Our assigned frequencies are:
• 7.240 Mhz
• 14.345 Mhz
• 21.405 Mhz
• 28.405 Mhz

The purpose of the event is to spread awareness about the Coast Guard Auxiliary and what it does for the community. We will be updating our Flickr photostream, Twitter account and our blog throughout the day on Saturday with updates.

For QSL information please find WA0ROI in the good in the call book.

Here are some photos from our special event station last year:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flotilla4/sets/72157608201481830/


Flotilla 4 on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/flotilla4

Flotilla 4 on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/flotilla4



Auxilarists Roland Newton (left), Brandon Butters (center) and John Halbrook (right) talk on the air during the special event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by Doug Jansen)


Auxilarist Gene Kellogg aps up his contact at the ham radio special event to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)

Seventy-First Anniversary of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

On June 23, 2010, the Coast Guard Auxiliary will celebrate seventy-one years of faithful and dedicated service. Our Auxiliary shipmates have once again given generously of themselves to support Coast Guard personnel and missions, and to make our nation’s waterways safer for the more than 83 million recreational boaters who sail them. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers have literally taught generations of boaters how to properly equip and operate their vessels. Through their dedication to boating safety and their lifesaving activities, thousands of mariners are saved or assisted every year. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has honored our profession and advanced the outstanding service we provide our nation.

Over the past year, the Auxiliary has set the standard for organizational resilience and continuous improvement. By modernizing its national organization, the Auxiliary positioned itself to parallel the Coast Guard in its conduct of operations, training, policy development, and mission support. At the same time, it broadened its capabilities through a major expansion of its Trident program to provide greater support for the Coast Guard’s marine safety mission, the innovative application of social media and language interpretation skills to support rescue operations following the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, and the formalization of the Auxiliary’s chef program to better support Coast Guard food service personnel. More recently, Auxiliarists have served in a range of capacities in support of Deepwater Horizon Spill Response operations, including over 5,000 hours checking the readiness of vessels participating in clean-up operations, monitoring deployed booms, supporting the area command center, and assisting with public affairs.


Our shipmates, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, have performed superbly, always standing a taut watch and exemplifying our core values. Please join me in recognizing their superb dedication by celebrating their seventy-first anniversary with your local Auxiliarists.



Admiral Bob Papp
Commandant




















Admiral Robert J. Papp,

24th Commandant of the Coast Guard

(U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Communications Past and Present

As our flotilla has increased our presence through safety patrols on local waters we have sought to refine our communications capabilities. Our colleagues in Omaha have the benefit of a permanent base station known as AUX Station Omaha. The benefit to a more permanent and ready communications base for them is evident. It allows them to operate more quickly, with better reliability and in more comfort.

For our 2009 operational season we operated communications out of a tent that was shore-side to provide guard for the patrol boats on the water. After several weather events that hit us, it was clear that we needed something better.

Thankfully some donors thought so too and Flotilla 4 was able to receive a trailer to be outfitted as a mobile AUX Base for our operations. Auxilarists Roland Newton and Paul Faganel have provided much of the leadership and sweat to get it ready. After many hours of construction it was ready for its first test. On Memorial Day weekend it was rolled out for duty and was a vast improvement over the previous tent version.

Saylorville Lake AUX Base, Memorial Day Weekend 2009
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Gene Kellogg)

Saylorville Lake AUX Base, Memorial Day Weekend 2010
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Gene Kellogg)

Roland Newton, FSO-CS, stands watch in the Communications Trailer.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Doug Jansen)

Memorial Day Boating Safety

Unfortunatley this Memorial Day Weekend in Iowa has been quite deadly on the water. Remember that there are a few things that can keep you and your family safe on the water:

1. Always wear a life jacket. Remember it is required that all kids 12 and under wear one, but parents and older brothers and sisters should too.

2. Do not drink and drive a boat. Alcohol has an even greater effect while boating than on shore due to the motion of the boat and the heat.

3. Take a boating safety class. You may think that you are a boating expert, but it never hurts to learn the rules of the road. Plus some insurance companies will offer you a discount on your boaters insurance. To find out when one is coming up e-mail us at boatingclass@flotilla4.org

4. Get a free vessel safety check. They are free and only take about 15 minutes. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the Power Squadron both offer vessel safety checks that help boat owners to make sure that they have all of the required safety equipment to go on the water. Most boats that do not pass inspection are only missing a few things that cost less than $20. Also, some insurance companies will offer you a discount on your boaters insurance for passing the vessel safety check. To sign up to get a vessel safety check e-mail us at vsc@flotilla4.org.

Here are some safety tips on life jackets from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Spring Into Safe Boating

Auxilarist Jeff Towle conducts a Vessel Safety Check during Memorial Day Weekend in 2009.
(U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Photo by Brandon Butters)

On Saturday, May 29th the Coast Guard Auxiliary will participate in the annual "Spring into Safe Boating” activity at Saylorville Lake. This activity is in conjunction with National Safe Boating Week.

Vessel Examiners from the Coast Guard Auxiliary will conduct free voluntary vessel safety checks at the ramps and marina at the lake.

A Vessel Safety Check is a free courtesy examination of your boat (Vessel) to verify the presence and condition of certain Safety Equipment required by State and the Federal regulations. The Vessel Examiner is a trained specialist and is a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. They will also make certain recommendations and discuss certain safety issues that will make you a safer boater.

This is not boarding or a law enforcement issue. No citations will be given as a result of this encounter. We will supply you with a copy of our evaluation so that you may follow some of the suggestions given. Vessels that pass will be able to display our distinctive VSC decal. This does not exempt you from law enforcement boarding, but you can be prepared to make this a positive encounter.

Boat owners may also receive a discount from their insurance company for successful completion of a Vessel Safety Check. Vessel Examiners bill be at the Lake View and Cherry Glenn ramps and the Saylorville Marina from noon to 5 pm on Saturday.