U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba

10/04/2023

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month Escanaba Fam!

Today we highlight Damage Controlman 3rd Class Enrique Payan:

What’s your favorite part about your job?
“Learning all the trades, working in a tight knit shop where we bounce ideas off each other, and making sure everyone onboard is safe.”

Where are you from?
“I was born in Monterey Park, CA, and raised in Oregon. Im a Pacific Northwest lover! I love to snowboard, riding my motorcycle, hiking the beautiful trails of Oregon, my favorite team is the Portland Trailblazers.”

Advice for those who want to follow in your footsteps?
“More people should go DC because it’s the smallest rate in the Coast Guard. If you looking working with your hands, if you’re a problem solver, like to work hard, or are interested in firefighting, go DC”

Tell us about yourself:
“I’m proud to be Mexican-American. Growing up, my family was super tight knit. You create similar tight knit bonds with your shipmates. As a Latino in the CG, you have many opportunities to share your culture. I’m one of the Spanish translators onboard and I’m glad to help where I can. I’m proud to be both Mexican and American, I get to make my Mexican family proud while also serving the country I was born in.”

Thank you for sharing DC3🇲🇽
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10/01/2023

One of the best parts about being underway is the friendships we create! Take a look at some of the onboard Escanaba⚓️
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09/26/2023

Happy Hispanic Heritage Month Escanaba Fam!

Each year, we observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 through October 15. This time is an opportunity to learn about and celebrate the cultures of Hispanic and Latino communities that are woven into the fabric of American society.

In honor of , today we highlight Seamen Hernandez Concepción who is a valued member of our deck department:

“My name is Michael Eian Hernández Concepción. I am 18 years old and I am from Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. I joined the United States Coast Guard to have the opportunity to serve my country, challenge myself and develop new skills. Being born into a close-knit Latino family my Latin roots instilled in me a strong sense of community and a commitment to helping others. These values along with my passion for the sea led me to a fulfilling career in the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard entrusts responsibility in me unlike any other job and put my skills to the test. As a Hispanic I love a challenge despite the struggle and language barrier. I have the ability to translate allowing the coast guard to communicate more effectively and do a job well done! What makes me a proud boricua is the pride we carry. Festival, History, Music, Dances, Food, Traditions, is all part of being from the island.”

Thank you for sharing your story Seamen Herndandez Concepción!🇵🇷🎉
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09/04/2023

Happy Labor Day! Our Morale Officers, ENS Amanda Dake and ENS Gabrielle Doucot, planned a great barbecue for the crew to celebrate. We had food, games, and a raffle with tons of cool prizes!🎉
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09/01/2023

We recently got the chance to play in the Summer Slam Volleyball Tournament hosted by Training Center Yorktown! Seven members of the crew represented Escanaba in this highly competitive 2-dat tournament.

The “907 Elites” played great volleyball and placed 3rd overall🏆
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08/30/2023

Last week, our Leadership and Diversity Advisory Council (LDAC) hosted a leadership seminar. Members of the Tidewater Chiefs Mess spoke to the crew about intrusive leadership, how to effectively lead others, and the importance of leading with character.

Thank you to Senior Chief Sutton, Senior Chief Holbrook, Senior Chief Ester, Senior Chief Workman, and Chief Ford for participating in this event!
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08/10/2023

Backflips at the beach😎🌴
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08/10/2023

More from our visit!
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08/10/2023

to our time our at National Park! Dry Tortugas is almost 70 miles off the coast of of Key West.

“This 100-square mile park is mostly open water with seven small islands. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, the park is known the world over as the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, picturesque blue waters, superlative coral reefs and marine life, and the vast assortment of bird life that frequents the area.” via https://www.nps.gov/drto/index.htm

After anchoring a few miles off the coast of the park, we used the small boat to transport the crew on for a day of fun in the island sun☀️

Big shoutout to ENS Amanda Dake, OPS, XO, and CO, who worked hard to make this day happen!
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08/07/2023

Wishing fair winds and following seas to three of our beloved department heads! Thank you to Engineer Officer, LT Bobby Collins, Operations Officer, LT Patrick Dixon, and Supply Officer, Chief Warrant Officer Jomar Dunham, for all that you have done to make this ship better. We will miss you all dearly!

We’d also like to welcome to LT Brianna Buderus, LT Alexandra Elwell, and Chief Warrant Officer Darius Whiteside to the crew as our new department heads⚓️
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07/28/2023

Give it up for another ! Today we highlight our Culinary Specialists for the delicious catering they provided for our recent Change of Command Reception!

CSC Jason Banks, CS1 Karen White, CS2 Billy Stefanko, CS3 Romeo Sanchez, CS3 Pierce Wisdom, and CS3 Kieven Young spent several days prepping the perfect menu to celebrate the ceremony⚓️
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07/27/2023

More photos from the Change of Command Ceremony!

Thank you very much to SN Carlin Yu for serving as ceremony photographer and capturing these moments📸
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07/26/2023

On Thursday, July 20th, CDR Jared Silverman relieved CDR Benjamin Spector as Commanding Officer.

The change-of-command ceremony is a historic, time-honored military tradition representing the formal transfer of total authority and responsibility for a unit from one unit commander to another. This event reinforces the continuity of command and provides an opportunity to celebrate the crew's accomplishments.

Specials thanks to VADM Kevin Lunday, Atlantic Area Commander, for serving as the presiding official for the ceremony. Thank you to all those who attended as well as those who joined us virtually via Facebook Live!
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07/20/2023

Change of Command Ceremony

07/19/2023

Fair Winds and Following Seas to our very our Commanding Officer!

CDR Benjamin Spector has served as the CO as Escanaba since 2021. Upon being relieved, CDR Spector will report to the Naval War College for graduate school.

Below is a message from CO about his last patrol and his time onboard:

“This was my final patrol on board Escanaba. Working alongside this incredible crew has been, without a doubt, the highlight of my career. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity I was afforded to serve with these incredible men and women. From the Arctic Circle to South of the Equator and everything in between, this has been an amazing journey that I will always cherish. I would also like to thank the HQ, Area, District, JIATF-S and SFLC staffs that stand behind our cutters to provide the necessary support to execute our missions while overcoming the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and a historic increase in migrant flow.”

Bravo Zulu on a successful tour CDR Spector!
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07/19/2023

You are all cordially invited to our Commanding Officer Change of Command Ceremony! Change of Command is a time honored tradition and we look forward to sharing it with you all. Please join us virtually tomorrow, Thursday July 20th as the ceremony will be live-streamed from our account at 10:00 am EST.

07/17/2023

While on Patrol, Escanaba served as the Control Tasking Unit in and around Haitian Territorial Waters. Escanaba coordinated and directed the employment of numerous surface and air assets to aid in deterring illegal migration. Additionally, Escanaba worked alongside the Haitian Coast Guard to prevent further migrant ventures and create sustainable solutions to mass migration.

This was also Escanaba’s first patrol following a 5-month dry dock availability and our CO’s final patrol onboard the cutter. Despite the extended amount of time between patrols, “the crew responded exceptionally well by focusing on training and proficiency while executing very challenging mission,” said CDR Spector.
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07/13/2023

Here are some highlights from our 42-day patrol in the Florida Straits and Caribbean Sea!

Escanaba’s migrants operations highlight the Coast Guard’s critical mission of preserving the safety of life at sea by preventing the potential loss of life brought on by people taking to the sea in dangerously overcrowded vessels.

Our primary duties are counter-narcotics operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources protection, and search and rescue in support of US Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere

Although this was a challenging mission, there was plenty of laughs, smiles, and good moments this patrol⚓️
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07/09/2023

And we’re back! Yesterday Escanaba returned home to Portsmouth, Virginia after a 42 day patrol🚢this was our first patrol after a 6 month dry dock period and it couldn’t have gone any smoother.

Escanaba contributed to the interdiction, care and repatriation of migrants from Haiti and Cuba while patrolling the Seventh Coast Guard District’s area of responsibility in support of Operation Vigilant Sentry.

After being out at sea, it’s always great to come back home and be reunited with loved ones❤️
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07/07/2023

It’s ! Escanaba wouldn’t be the same without our great Culinary Specialists! They cook up some great meals onboard and work hard to keep the entire crew fed🍽️

Food is also a great source of morale! Whether it’s pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving or hundreds of corn dogs for a corn dog eating competition, food has a special way of bringing everyone together!
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07/05/2023

One of the best things about being underway is the sunsets out at sea🌊And what better to watch the sun set than with a cigar and some of your shipmates! Our CO is a big fan of lighting the smoking lamp just in time to watch the sun set below the horizon. Comment below some of your favorite things about being underway!⚓️
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07/03/2023

Fair winds and following seas to SN Kyle Stitz, SN Bryce Vinson, ME3 Collin Holsinger, EM2 Brandon Eckel, LTJG Will Sergio, and LTJG Luke Childress

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to our crew and our mission⚓️
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07/02/2023

More from our ESCANABA memorial ceremony where we honored the lives and legacy of the original crew🇺🇸

07/02/2023

On June 12th, we held an memorial ceremony for the original ESCANABA. The original USCGC ESCANABA (WPG-77) was commissioned and stationed in Grand Haven Michigan on November 23,1932. Her primary duties were ice breaking and search and rescue on the Great Lakes.
During WWII, ESCANABA was assigned to convoy duty in the Atlantic. She es**rted numerous convoys and participated in various search and rescue missions.

In February 1943, the ESCANABA distinguished herself by rescuing 132 men from a torpedoed transport in the North Atlantic. For their outstanding heroism accomplishing this rescue mission, six officers and men of the ESCANABA were awarded posthumous decorations and commendations by Admiral Royal E. Ingersol, then Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet.
Four months later, the gallant ESCANABA set out on what was destined to be her final mission. On June 10, 1943, an Allied convoy sailed from Narsarssuak, Greenland bound for St. John’s, Newfoundland, with an es**rt consisting of the USCGC MOHAVE (flag), USCGC TAMPA, USCGC STORIS, USCGC RARITAN and USCGC ESCANABA. The convoy proceeded to the Northwest, encountering dense fog, icebergs and dangerous navigating conditions. The convoy had been alerted to the presence of an enemy submarine in the area.

At 0510 on the morning of June 13, 1943, there was a sudden flash of light on the horizon and dense yellow and black smoke was seen rising from the perimeter of the convoy. The cutters STORIS and RARITAN were ordered to investigate. Racing to the position where the ESCANABA was last stationed, they discovered that the cutter was gone; she had been struck by an enemy torpedo and sank instantly. Within ten minutes of sighting the smoke, all that remained was debris and two survivors: Seaman First Class Raymond O’Malley and Boatswains Mate Second Class Melvin Baldwin. One hundred and one men were lost that morning.

All that remains today of this proud ship are her rigged mast, her lifeboat, and a few other items, which are part of a memorial park in the City of Grand Haven. No monument will ever mark the place in the Atlantic where ESCANABA and her brave crew sank, but for the Nation she served so well she will always remain an honored memory.

CDR Spector called the remaining relatives of Seaman First Class Raymond O’Malley on the 13th of June to provide an update on the wellbeing and status of Escanaba’s crew, which is customary for the Commanding Officer to do. We honor and remember the legacy of the ESCANABA!

12/03/2022

What's up Escanaba and Facebook family! We are coming to you from somewhere in the Caribbean Ocean. We hope all is well back on the beach and that you all enjoyed Thanksgiving! This patrol has definitely kept us on our toes thus far. Migrant flow has seen a significant increase this year. We've found ourselves in the right place at the right time with the help of our friends at District Seven, interdicting two Haitian Sail Freighters each with over 200+ people onboard. Although operations have definitely kept us busy, we've still had the opportunity to spend time together as a crew and have some fun. Holidays are always a tough time being away from our friends and families, but thanks to our awesome Chief's Mess and cooks, we enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving dinner that was on par with grandma's cooking. We spent Thanksgiving giving thanks and sharing with each other as a crew what we were thankful for. Our morale committee had events set up throughout the day such as arts and crafts to lighten the mood. They also took time out of their day to decorate the messdeck and give it that "home away from home" feel. We've also taken the time to recognize some of our members that have advanced and promoted since we left home port. Our now second year Junior Officers promoted to Lieutenant Junior Grade (LTJG), as well as a handful of Third Class Petty Officers that advanced to Second Class. We want to publicly congratulate our shipmates and can't wait to see what the future holds for them! And as always, a patrol isn't complete without a couple port calls sprinkled in there! The crew recently had a well-deserved pit stop in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Again, thanks to the morale committee for coordinating events for the crew to participate in. We held a kickball game that had a great turnout for a little friendly competition that was followed by lunch, some adult beverages, and games on the pier. It was really nice for the crew to get out and stretch their legs and enjoy some down time. We're back hard at work though, executing the mission we're out here to do. We'll talk to you all again soon and take care! Enjoy looking through some pictures we've gathered so far. Escanaba out.

06/13/2022

06/13/2022

Today marks the 79th anniversary when the CGC Escanaba sank off the coast of Greenland while conducting convoy missions in 1943. Last year, we had the honor of laying a wreath to the sea at the coordinates of the last known position of the CGC Escanaba. Today, as we are underway on deployment, took a moment of silence to thank those who served before us and to remember the sacrifices made before us. Thank you to all those who have served or are currently serving, thank you for your service!

02/23/2022

Good morning! Last week CGC Escanaba hosted the Portsmouth Fire Department for familiarization and review of firefighting tactics and procedures for shipboard firefighting. This relationship is crucial to keeping the crew and local fire fighters safe in case of an emergency. Thank you to Portsmouth Fire Department!

01/18/2022

Congratulations to the crew on receiving: Permanent Cutteerman’s pin (MK1 Bradley Walker and MK1 Jeff Spies) Sailor of the Quarter (MK3 Ryan Dawson), and Meritorious Team Commendation and many more Letter of Commendations.

Thank you to HITRON and a great AVDET team for all the help with transporting members and mission success!

12/13/2021

Congratulations to our DC1 Ryan Frattaroli for this incredible accomplishment! Bravo Zulu!

12/02/2021

10/26/2021

Stay frosty!

10/26/2021

A successful Tuesday morning training discharging our old CO2 bottles to make room for new replacements.

You know CO2 is working when the bottle is frosty!

10/20/2021

Starting off the day right with this sunrise!

Pictured (left to right): DC3 McCullough, OS3 Petrik, and OS3 Kossie

09/25/2021

See the story

09/06/2021

Escanaba is on our way home to Portsmouth, Virginia! We had a great 50 day patrol training with the Royal Canadian Navy; simulating Search and Rescue scenarios, communicating through flashing lights and sound signals, replenishment at sea, and testing the mission capability of Coast Guard cutters in harsh weather conditions.

Thank you to the crew for all the hard work these last 50 days and thank you to the Temporary Duty personnel that assisted us for this adventure!

07/01/2021

Lifting our OTH (small boat) out of the water with BM2 McClain in charge. Great job!