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Holy cows, I can't help but fear for my dad and for my Coastie Hubby. My dad was in the CG as a Quarter Master (back then) and has been a sailor all of his years. On his own personal boat, several times him and his vessel have almost gone down into the great depths of the ocean but some one up above must have been watching over him.

My greatest fear is loosing my husband to the ocean and the weather. It isn't the drug runners or migrants because they are trained for that, as they are trained to handle the disastrous weather and the bearing seas but they are so small in the huge waves!

That story was an amazing recollection. You don't hear too many "war" stories any more.

Thank you for sharing that with us.

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Would you mind if I copied your story and put it on another web site? I have a huge Coast Guard group on another site and would love to share it.

Please?

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I was a student on the 41332 when it capsized.  The account above is almost perfectly accurate.  I'll never forget the three men that didn't make it back.  My eyes still leak when I talk about that night.  It happened on Nov. 15th 1977, not 1976.

A great website for stories is

http://www.jacksjoint.com/

A large selection of first hand accounts of CG life.

Thanks,  I appreciate the information.

Steve

I was stationed at Grays Harbor 1979-1980. After the Navy raised 41332 and recoverred the bodies, the families of Morris and Erickson requested permission to scatter their ashes at sea using station boats. The permission was granted and on the appointed day the two families arrived escorted by a chaplain. They embarked on MLB Invinsible (52') and the remaining station boats escorted 4 - 44's and 4 - 41's if I remember correctly. Once we cleared the breakwall around the CG moorings and entered Grays Harbor, Invisible took the point and the remaining boats fell into a v formation with blue lights flashing. We crossed the bar in formation and remained in formation until we were either 3 or 12 miles off (can't remember that detail). When we arrived at the proper distance offshore, Invinsible positioned herself in the center and the other boats made a circle around her with the coxswains keeping their bows pointed toward Invisible. The chaplain said the last rites and then each family in turn scattered their loved one's ashes. Finally, a floral wreath was cast onto the surface.

Not many of us involved knew either of these Coasties personally. It had been almost three years since the accident and what with normal rotations... We all took it very personally, however, these were our own. We saw to it that they crossed the bar for the final voyage in dignity and honor.

Thirty some years later, I still tear up every Memorial Day and Veterans Day when I meditate on the sacrifices these young men made for their country. They are the heroes I remember.

Gerald

Gerald,

I wasn't even there, didn't know anything about this story until it just recently popped back up on the forum... Your account made me tear up, too! Thank you for taking such good care of our Coasties and getting them home to the sea.

If you have any other sea stories, happy or sad, please post away. It's always good to read about our Coasties, even the sad stories to know they were treated with diginity. God speed.

Macie

I am Gregory Morris' niece and I am looking for any information about my uncle Greg before he died. My mother was his sister and she has limited memory of Greg's life before he died. I have been tracking information for years always stopping with dead ends. My father was a BM Chief and retired in the Coast Guard and its very important I know anything anybody can remember. Thank you, all of you for sharing. Sincerely Mary Morris

Thank you for sharing this, I am Gregs niece and didn't know anything about his story as its too hard for my family to share and relive. I have been on my own trying to piece together pieces of his life. Does any one remember if he had any children?

Gerald,
 I represented the Morris family that day.(was married to his sister).my first notification was made by Chief Hicks
from Cape D the day after the sinking of UTB41332.at that time i was the XPO of Bodega Bay MLB station.It was
very stressful on the family over the next few years.The Crew from MLB station Grays Harbor were very professional the day we took BM3/c Greg Morris ashes to sea.It was comforting to be surrounded by Shipmates
as i commited his ashes off the stern of the MLB Invinsible. Thank you. Dan Peckham,BMC ret.

yes he does my name is justin lindholm i have been trying to find family from his side of the family  i will like to talk to you if i may mary morris

Justin,
Sorry its taken so long for me to check this account, I would like to talk.

Thank you!
Mary

I just ran across the site and joined. My name is Jay Kemsley and I was the coxswain driving the boat. It's almost 35 years and I remember it like yesterday. I'll try to tell the story as accurately as possible if people are interested. I lose a piece of my heart every time I think of it or tell the story but I know the only way to keep their memory alive is to let people know what happened.BM3 JUSTIN "JAY" KEMSLEY.

Welcome aboard BM3... anything you want to share, we will listen. If it is painful, as I imagine it would be, you don't have to. But anything else you want to talk about or share with these young ladies & men about the CG feel free to jump right in.