FEATURE STORY

February 16, 2009

Robert R. Daraio

Branch Chief - Communications

International Affairs Directorate

USCG Auxiliary

bdaraio@yahoo.com

USCG Auxiliary Interpreter Corps Deploys:
Aboard USCGC Dallas In Support Of Humanitarian Aid Mission to Georgia.

No, the Coast Guard was not bringing care packages to Atlanta. Rest easy, all is well in the Peach State.

United States Coast Guard Auxiliarist Alicja Power of Traverse City, Mich., deployed to the Black Sea aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Dallas to help deliver the more than 76,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies, including soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, baby wipes, toilet paper, medicine and other necessities provided to save lives and alleviate human suffering in the Republic of Georgia, this past September.

USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716) was part of the combined US Navy Task Force 367, the maritime element of "Operation Assured Delivery"; the United States military's ongoing effort to support the Georgian government's request for humanitarian assistance.

"The crew of Dallas really wants these goods to make a difference in the lives of the Georgian people," said Capt. Robert Wagner, commanding officer of Dallas. "When we received the order to deliver these supplies, the men and women of this ship responded quickly at every turn."

Alicja Power deployed aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas from Aug.19 to Sep. 23, 2008.  Ms. Power, a member of the USCG Auxiliary Interpreter Corps belongs to the Twin Bay, Michigan Flotilla. She served on the Dallas as one of their Russian/ Ukrainian interpreters.

When not volunteering her time with the Coast Guard, Ms. Power uses her linguistic skills (in addition, to the aforementioned languages, Alicja also speaks Polish and French) in her professional translation/interpreting business.

Navy Task Force 367, part of ”Operation Assured Delivery", included the amphibious command and control ship USS Mount Whitney, U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, and US Navy destroyer USS McFaul. All three ships were used to transport humanitarian aid to war torn Georgia.

USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20), homeported in Gaeta, Italy with a hybrid crew of U.S. Navy sailors and U.S. Military Sealift Command civilian mariners, delivered more than 17 tons of aid, including 4,000 blankets donated by the U.S. Agency for International Development, juice, powdered milk, and hygiene products.

USS McFaul (DDG 74), an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer home ported in Norfolk, Va., delivered 82 pallets with about 155,000 pounds of U.S. Agency for International Development. Supplies included hygiene items, baby food and care supplies, bottled water, and milk. 

Although U.S. Navy C-9, C-40 and C-130 aircraft have flown tens of thousands of hygiene kits into the country over the previously, ships can carry much more cargo per mission than aircraft, which have a capacity of three to 12 pallets per sortie.

"Our job was to get the supplies to Georgia as quickly as possible," said Navy Capt. John Moore, Commodore of Combined Navy Task Force 367 and commanding officer of the USS McFaul. "The entire crew realizes the significance of their efforts in helping to provide comfort to the people of Georgia."

Alicja's assignment aboard the Dallas included interpreting during port visits in Batumi, Georgia; Sevastopol, Ukraine; and in Burgas, Bulgaria.

During her off duty time Alicja observed the life on board of Dallas, participated in as many activities, drills, and musters as possible, and enjoyed every minute of her shipboard assignment with the active duty Coast Guard.

Alicja says her Black Sea deployment as a translator on board of the cutter Dallas was "a very rewarding and memorable experience".

Ms. Power believes she was very well prepared professionally, technically, logistically, and emotionally for this demanding deployment.

Alicja credits the success of her mission to her Auxiliary mentors with previous translation experience; the enthusiastic support of fellow Auxiliary Interpreters, "…my delightfully open, sincere, and brilliant pen pal, Auxiliarist Richard Turrin", the French translator already serving aboard the Dallas.

Alicja knew what to expect, what to bring, (except for towels and clothes hangers, she won't forget them next time) and how to conduct herself properly and with the flexibility required of anyone serving aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Ms Power knew this trip was not a tourist cruise and was able to contribute to the mission as a linguist. Alicja said she had the notion that "I would be witnessing history."

The members of the U.S. Coast Guard serving aboard the 378-foot High Endurance Cutter, USCGC Dallas (WHEC 716), take pride in her reputation of achievement and excellence. This pride stems from a history rich in tradition, service, and accomplishment. Through the leadership and efforts of her officers and crew, the Charleston, S.C., based Dallas continues to set new standards to meet the diverse range of missions for which she deploys.

Prior to deployment, Ms. Power expected life aboard the Dallas to be "a sort of boot camp for translators on an unstable surface and institutional food". She was pleasantly surprised that the living accommodations, although necessarily Spartan, turned out to be cozy. Alicja said "The only problem was not being able to sit on one’s bed due to the spacing between bunks, and four bouts of sea sickness successfully remedied by pills".

Alicja found the food surprisingly varied and creatively prepared. There was always something to be enjoyed by everybody. In fact, the Commodore of Task Force 67 awarded the Dallas’ food service an Award of Excellence, "The cooks really extended themselves for him and his two accompanying officers when they hopped on board of our vessel.” Alicja said she was grateful to be so well fed, without having to worry about food preparation and the dishes.

Alicja found the travel arrangements and transit to and from the boat flawless. She was fascinated by life aboard of a working Coast Guard cutter and the routine of the Coast Guard day, both previously unfamiliar to her. The wardroom officers were courteous and tried to involve Alicja in their camaraderie and professional tasks, their duties and fatigue permitting. Alicja usually shared breakfast with the captain, the executive officer (XO), and some of the junior officers. This gave Alicja the opportunity to ask many practical questions, which was useful later when spending time in various departments on the Dallas.

Ms. Power reported that she "was pleased to utilize my translation skills during such a memorable mission. I enjoyed being part of the delivery of the humanitarian aid to Georgia, the people seemed genuinely grateful for our help.”

Alicja was pleased to meet the leadership of the Ukrainian Coast Guard and the Bulgarian Border Police during formal meetings and receptions.  She said "It was good to catch a glimpse of Sevastopol, Constanta, Burgas and Izmir, although I wish we had stayed at least two days in Constanta and Izmir. It was really helpful to have port briefs prior to liberty at each port; it helped everybody be sensitive to the local culture and the political and economic climate, and to consider the factors of personal safety".

Alicja says she was "honored to get to know the young people working aboard Dallas. I have grown to appreciate and respect their competence, professionalism and hard work. I was impressed with the 25 hard working women aboard the vessel. If invited again as a volunteer interpreter, I would certainly consider contributing my services".

Ms. Power reported "I will always remember and treasure the time spent with Dallas, and I am grateful for the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally".

She and her husband Thomas joined Team Coast Guard in 1995 to put their skills as pilots to use in support of the Coast Guard's Search and Rescue (SAR) and Ice Patrol missions. Thomas is a Coast Guard Auxiliary Aircraft Commander and Alicja is training in the Air Observer program.  Alicja qualified for the Auxiliary Interpreter Corps in 2005.

Alicja Power was awarded a Spats Eebow Award, an unit award, for outstanding support during the Black Sea and Assured Delivery missions in Georgia by the crew of USCGC Dallas; the Coast Guard Auxiliary Achievement Medal, and an Excellence in Service Award by the Commodore of Navy Task Force 67, Commodore John Moore, for whom she served as personal interpreter in Georgia and Sevastopol.

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary Interpreter Corps is a Division of the USCG Auxiliary International Affairs Directorate. Interpreters are members of the USCG Auxiliary and offer their linguistic skills to the US Coast Guard and other agencies of the Department of Homeland Security. Over 360 volunteer interpreters speaking 46 foreign languages have provided more than 40,000 mission hours in support of U.S. Coast Guard missions and international cooperation with other coast guards and volunteer organizations dedicated to the safety of life at sea.

For more information visit: http://www.cgauxinternational.org/

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of Team Coast Guard. Founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the US Coast Guard Reserves and re-designated the Auxiliary in 1941. The 30,000 volunteer members (men and women) donate millions of hours in support of Coast Guard missions.

Pictures: (all photos by Alicja Powers, USCG Auxiliary)

Photos can be found here.

9/1/08, Sevastopol, Ukraine. Reception aboard Dallas for the Ukrainian Coast Guard officials and their wives. Translating the response to Captain Wagner's welcoming speech by the Head of the Ukrainian Coast Guard in Sevastopol.

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9/1/08. Sevastopol, Ukraine. Reception aboard Dallas. Captain Wagner giving "Welcome aboard Dallas " speech  to the Ukrainian Coast Guard delegation.

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Photos of reception aboard the Dallas

9/1/08. Officers of the Ukrainian Coast Guard in Sevastopol, after I accompanied them on the tour of the cutter Dallas, enjoying their reception treats (I may add the food was delicious, especially the seafood appetizers), and sharing their admiration for the seaworthiness of the 46 year old Dallas. I do not know the names of these two gentlemen.