Petty Officer 1st Class Cory Sumner, a Maritime Enforcement Specialist at Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco, holds K9 Feco at the Animals in War and Peace Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medal Ceremony March 9, 2022 at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington, D.C. Sumner is K9 Feco’s handler and trainer at the Canine Explosive Detection Team at Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kimberly Reaves)

Had to pass this along. I note the dog is a Chief and the handler is a First Class, so the Dog out ranks the handler?

Alameda-based Coast Guard K-9 recognized with Distinguished Service Medal

Editor’s Note: Click on images above to download full-resolution version.

ALAMEDA, Calif. – Coast Guard K-9 Chief Feco, a 9-year-old Hungarian Vizsla, stationed at Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Team San Francisco, was presented the Animals in War and Peace Distinguished Service Medal Wednesday in Washington, D.C.

Members of Congress recognized and honored six animal heroes for their accomplishments in both war and peace at the second annual Animals in War and Peace Medal Ceremony.

The ceremony highlights America’s appreciation of the sacrifices and heroism of American animals who served the United States and advances the effort toward the creation of an annual process to nominate animals for the Medal of Bravery and Distinguished Service Medal.

Feco joined the Coast Guard in late 2014 and is stationed at the Marine Safety and Security Team San Francisco K-9 Unit where his main responsibility is explosives detection at the Ports of San Francisco and Oakland.

Feco has participated in 1,467 events. Notable events include:

• Presidential security details for former President Barack Obama
• Judicial and Supreme Court security details
• 2016 Summer Olympic Track & Field Trials
• The National Football League Superbowls L, LII, and LIII
• The National Baseball League World Series
• The National Basketball League Playoffs
• The National Hockey League Stanley Cup
• San Francisco and Los Angeles Fleet Weeks

The Coast Guard has 16 canine explosive detection teams around the country made up of one human handler and one working dog.

Coast Guard cutters Glen Harris, Wrangell, Emlen Tunnell and Maui transit in formation in the Gulf of Oman, Feb. 26, 2022. Photo by Army Cpl. DeAndre Dawkins. 220226-A-AI379-760M.JPG

The US Naval Institute (USNI) has announced its 2022 Coast Guard Essay Contest.  Prizes are $5000, $2500, and $1500, but more important is the opportunity to get you ideas aired.

Submission Guidelines

• Open to all contributors — active-duty, military, reservists, veterans, and civilians.
• Essays must be no more than 2,500 words, excluding end notes and sources. Include word count on title page of the essay.
• Essays are judged in the blind. Do not include author name(s) on the title page or within the body of the essay.
• Submit essay as a Word document at http://www.usni.org/cgessay no later than 30 April 2022.
• Essay must be original and not previously published (online or in print) or being considered for publication elsewhere.

If you make a submission, and if it is not accepted for publication by the USNI, send it to me, and I will consider publishing it.

I had intended to watch for this milestone, but looks like about two months ago this website had its 2 millionth view since it was begun in July 2012. Another way to look at it is that we have had over 561,000 individual visits.

Thanks for making it worth doing.

M/V Helt Photo by Peter aus Holtenau via Marine Traffic

gCaptain reports that a NATO (Estonian) flag merchant vessel has been sunk, reportedly as a result of Russian action.

It was a small ship with a small crew. Two crewmembers were rescued. Four crewmembers are missing.

The circumstances of the loss were not clear. It may be that the ship was forced to transit a minefield.