R 251334Z MAR 11

ALCOAST 130/11
COMDTNOTE 1600
SUBJ: USCGC HAMILTON (WHEC 715) DECOMMISSIONING
1. ON 28 MARCH 2011, AFTER 44 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO OUR
NATION, WE WILL DECOMMISSION CUTTER HAMILTON.  THROUGHOUT CGC
HAMILTONS SERVICE, SHE HAS ALWAYS LIVED UP TO HER MOTTO, SEMPER
PRIMUS: ALWAYS FIRST.
2. NAMED IN HONOR OF THE REVENUE CUTTER SERVICES FOUNDER AND THE
FIRST SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY, ALEXANDER HAMILTON, WHEC 715 WAS THE
FIRST OF THE HAMILTON-CLASS 378 FOOT HIGH ENDURANCE CUTTERS.  CGC
HAMILTON WAS LAUNCHED FROM AVONDALE SHIPYARDS IN LOUISIANA AND
COMMISSIONED ON 18 MAR 1967.  SHE WAS THE FIRST U.S. MILITARY VESSEL
TO EMPLOY AIRCRAFT GAS TURBINE ENGINES IN COMBINATION WITH DIESEL
ENGINES (CODAG) IN A VERSATILE PROPULSION SYSTEM.  ORIGINALLY
HOMEPORTED IN BOSTON, MA, SHE WOULD SHIFT HER HOMEPORT TO SAN PEDRO,
CA, IN 1991, AND SAN DIEGO, CA, IN 1999.
3.  CGC HAMILTON WAS THE FIRST WHEC TO ARRIVE OFF THE COAST OF
VIETNAM IN 1969, IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION MARKET TIMES COAST GUARD
SQUADRON THREE (RONTHREE), WHERE SHE CONDUCTED COMBAT, LOGISTICS AND
HUMANITARIAN SUPPORT MISSIONS.
4. DURING HER LAST YEAR OF SERVICE, CGC HAMILTON CRUISED ALL AHEAD
FULL, SAILING FOR 205 DAYS IN 2010, COVERING OVER 50,000 NAUTICAL
MILES, IN SUPPORT OF HAITIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF, EASTPAC COUNTER-DRUG
OPERATIONS, AND WINTER PATROL IN THE BERING SEA.  I KNOW THAT IT WAS
HER HARD WORKING CREW THAT MADE THESE EXTRAORDINARY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
POSSIBLE - THIS IS AN ACHIEVEMENT THAT TRULY HONORS OUR PROFESSION.
5. TO CURRENT AND PAST CGC HAMILTON CREWS, PLANK OWNERS, SHELLBACKS -
GOLDEN, EMERALD, HORNED, OR OTHERWISE, SUBJECTS OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON,
BLUE NOSES, AND EVEN POLLYWOGS, WELL DONE.  THROUGHOUT 44 YEARS OF
SERVICE, YOUR DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE
MADE THE FATHER OF OUR SERVICE PROUD.  FEAR NOT HOWEVER, THE NAME
HAMILTON WILL LIVE ON WHEN THE FIFTH NATIONAL SECURITY CUTTER IS
CHRISTENED.  CONGRATULATIONS AND BRAVO ZULU.
6. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT AND GOLD ANCIENT MARINER, SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.