I retired from the Coast Guard in 1989 after 28 years of service including some time in the Navy. I found this forum while searching for information about the reactivation of the Polar Star. I was aboard the Star from 1981-1984. Served on 3 other breakers as well. Looks like an interesting group.

Welcome Aboard PolarBill, happy to have you. Anything you want to contribute, some of the best stories are the older ones. We would love it if you shared.

I see you are in Oregon... We lived in Roseburg for a while. We are going back next month for a funeral. Not looking forward to the funeral but I am looking forward to being back in the PacNW. My son is currently stationed in Seattle on the Midgett.

Thank you for your service.

Welcome to the forum...we look forward to your many stories, and learning from your experience and vast knowledge. Thank you for your service to our great country.

Posted By Old Guard2 on 09 Apr 2013 06:25 AM
Welcome Aboard PolarBill, happy to have you. Anything you want to contribute, some of the best stories are the older ones.  We would love it if you shared.

I see you are in Oregon... We lived in Roseburg for a while. We are going back next month for a funeral. Not looking forward to the funeral but I am looking forward to being back in the PacNW. My son is currently stationed in Seattle on the Midgett.

Roseburg is nice there along the Umpqua.

Here's a story - your son is on the Midgett in Seattle - I was on another 378, the Munro, out of Seattle in 1973-76, that's where I made chief. About 10 years ago I was visiting Mazatlan and there's the Munro tied up at the Captain of the Port dock - I talked with a couple of the crew and they were complaining about what an old tub it was. Nearly new when I was aboard. 

I wasn't looking for ships, the best seafood restaurant in Mazatlan, Mariscos La Puntilla is right there.

If you were on the Munro you headed to Kodiak more than once, I'm sure. That's where my ex-husband was stationed right out of boot and then again out of A School. We were there from 85-90. I miss that stupid rock.

I'll bet it was nice to see your old ship sitting there. If I'm ever in Mazatlan, I'll have to look for the restaurant.

The Munro is now homeported in Kodiak. I see it regularly And I'm PCSing to Sector Columbia River soon.

Old Guard2, we were in Kodiak quite a few times - we did all our mid-patrol breaks during ALPATs in Kodiak . I was there on the Northwind several times too - I don't remember ever stopping there on the Polars. I believe we also made the very last ocean station November on the Munro.

I have to admit if I had to pick a rock it would probably be Oahu rather than Kodiak. My daughter and her husband are PCSing to Hickam, AFB this summer and I'm looking forward to visiting them.

FloridaGirl, I was on the Resolute out of Astoria - other than the weather, which is awful, I enjoyed living there. My son graduated from Astoria High School just before we PCSd to D9 Cleveland.