Thank you for your great story about the Royal New Zealand Coastguard Federation. I was, however, very interested in the Letters to the Editor about the CGC Munro. I was fortunate enough to be commanding HMNZS Canterbury in RIMPAC 1981, an exercise in which Munro and Canterbury formed an orange unit to “prosecute” the battle group sortieing from San Diego. My operations officer and I went to Munro using our Wasp Helicopter and formed our battle plans, which worked extremely well. [During the exercise], I recall that Munro got through and managed to “launch” her weapons at the carrier battle group causing quite a bit of “damage.” It was an exciting time. I would like to learn more about CGC Munro and the valiant Coast Guard member she was named after.

I am now General Manager of the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard, the largest of the volunteer Coastguard units in New Zealand. Our 6,800 members pay a subscription that enables us to provide a 24 hour, 7-day-a-week operation.

The America’s Cup Regattas ran here beginning in October 1999 and kept us really busy. There were nearly 700 incidents during the period, but that is hardly surprising with thousands of boats going out to watch the final races. Our aim four years ago when New Zealand won the Cup, was to be the best volunteer Coastguard service in the world and to demonstrate that during the Regatta. I believe we have achieved that goal and I would be very pleased to show any reader of your excellent magazine around our establishment here in Auckland.

— CDR Michael R. Pate, RNZN Rtd.

Auckland, New Zealand

Greetings from Eastern Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. I enjoyed your article about Coastguard New Zealand. I am President and Training Officer for the Opotiki Volunteer Coastguard and we service a small riverside town in the Eastern Bay. Your writer was accurate in describing the make up of our members. I am a retired bricklayer, and we have just finished altering our boat shed for a new rescue craft. It was all done by members’ volunteer labor. The new 8.8-meter rigid-hull-inflatable craft was used during America’s Cup by the umpires, then sold to Coastguard groups throughout the country at a considerably reduced price. At present, although it is autumn here, we have mirror seas and daytime temps of 25-27 degrees centigrade.

— Arthur Sayor

Opotiki, New Zealand

It was a real treat reading about my dear friend, CDR Susan Rogers (we call her “Suz”), who wrote the New Zealand Coastguard story in the January/February issue. Susan and I worked together years ago as consultants on the former presidential yacht Potomac. As a matter of fact, she and I were pictured on the cover of one of the really old issues of The Reservist back in the early 1980s with an accompanying story about what we were doing — two women reservists working in a civilian capacity to restore a former presidential yacht. Thanks again.

— YNC Marlene Du Four, USCGR(Ret)

Oakland, Calif.

Ed’s note: We looked through our Reservist Magazine archives for this article but some of our back issues are missing, including this one as well as the cover story on the Cuban Boatlift in 1980. If anyone has either copy that they would like to part with, please mail it to Commandant (G-WTR-2). We would be forever grateful. Also of interest, the Royal New Zealand Coastguard sent a copy of The Reservist to its Patron, Charles Prince of Wales. Apparently he really enjoyed it as the New Zealand Coastguard received a letter back from Prince Charles’ secretary saying so.

Eliminate BUC Award?

At the beginning of the last decade, the Coast Guard issued its Bicentennial Unit Commendation Ribbon to members serving during our 200th birthday. Has the Coast Guard ever considered eliminating this award? Although every active, reserve, and auxiliary Coast Guard team member appreciates our honorable heritage, none of the other military services have an equivalent award for its personnel. The Coast Guard is becoming increasingly involved with joint CONUS and OCONUS operations, serving alongside the rest of the U.S. Armed Forces. However, members of the other military branches occasionally express confusion over this award. Wouldn’t rescinding the BUC Ribbon eliminate the confusion, and bring the Coast Guard’s system of decorations into compliance with that of our sister services?

Although some may feel I’m attempting to aggravate my fellow service personnel, I’m actually asking a sincere and serious question. As a member of PSU 305, I’ve worked extensively with members of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps, who make inquires (or unflattering remarks) about our Bicentennial Unit Commendation Ribbon. Semper Paratus.

— BM1 Walter T. Haven, USCGR

Raleigh, N.C.

Ed’s note: We’ve not heard a peep on the BUC Award since it was issued back on Jan. 2, 1990 for the Coast Guard’s bicentennial. According to the Coast Guard Awards and Medals Manual (COMDTINST M1650.25B), Section 3-20, the BUC was awarded by the Commandant to all Coast Guard members, including Selected Reservists, civilians, and auxiliarists, serving satisfactorily during any period from June 4, 1989 to Aug. 4, 1990. Personnel of other Services who were assigned to and served with the Coast Guard during this period are also eligible for this award. I wear mine with pride and would be proud to share with other Armed Forces members that it signifies that the Coast Guard is the “longest continuous seagoing service in the nation’s history, having been founded Aug. 4, 1790.” Perhaps when they ask questions, you can use it as an opportunity to educate your fellow service members about the Coast Guard. Nevertheless, perhaps this should be posted on the Coast Guard Reserve Forum to see what other Coasties think and we can publish your responses in a future issue.

Law Enforcement and Retirement

I enjoy The Reservist and would like to add some input for future issues as well as ask a question. It must be difficult to give adequate space to a whole category of reservists, but I enjoyed the bravo zulu to Law Enforcement (May 1999) and wonder if you are going to finish the job? There are many levels of Law Enforcement including city, state and federal. I have the honor of knowing Coasties in Law Enforcement at many levels, and I am in the federal category.

This also gives me a chance to ask if The Reservist goes to retirees as I am approaching mandatory retirement during 2000. I have retirement information from earlier articles, but was wondering if there is information on how to organize the ceremony and what should be included?

— IVC Jerry Upson, USCGR

Santa Rosa, Calif.

Ed’s note: Reservists in Law Enforcement were saluted as Citizen-Sailors of the Month in the May 1999 issue (pages 10-11) in conjunction with National Police Week. You’ll be happy to know that a final decision was just made by our staff to salute “Citizen-Sailors in Law Enforcement” for the seventh annual Citizen-Sailor issue slated for September. So, if you’re a reservist in the field of Law Enforcement (especially if you’ve never been featured in The Reservist), please send us 100-200 words about your job with an “action photo” by July 15. Traditionally, we publish most if not all the submissions for this special annual issue. As for retirement, The Reservist goes to all retirees, so you’ll still receive the magazine after retiring. This current issue should answer most retirement questions. Make sure you read MCPO George Ingraham’s column as he addresses some retirement issues as well. Hope this issue is helpful to all Coast Guard Reservists as they plan for those “golden years.”

Corrections

Please note the following corrections from the March 2000 issue: The “20th Anniversary of CGC Blackthorn Tragedy” story on Page 11 said that U.S. Rep. C.W. “Bill” Young of Florida was in attendance. Actually, Mr. George Cretekus, Congressman Young’s staff assistant, represented him when pressing congressional business preempted the congressman’s attendance. Also, two names were omitted from the Chief Warrant Officer Eligibility List (PSS) list on page 24: Rodger L. Guest, 01-36229 and Alan A. Hayes, 08-33209.