R 281519Z MAR 11

ALCOAST 135/11
COMDTNOTE 1600
SUBJ: USCGC CHASE (WHEC 718) DECOMMISSIONING
1. ON 29 MARCH 2011, AFTER 43 YEARS OF FAITHFUL SERVICE TO OUR
NATION, WE WILL DECOMMISSION CUTTER CHASE.  THE COAST GUARD MEN AND
WOMEN WHO SERVED IN CUTTER CHASE, PAST AND PRESENT, DID SO WITH THE
UTMOST DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT TO THEIR MISSION AND TRULY
PERSONIFIED CHASES MOTTO "THERE IS NO WORK BETTER THAN OURS."
2. CGC CHASE, COMMISSIONED IN MARCH 1968, WAS THE THIRD CUTTER NAMED
IN HONOR OF SALMON PORTLAND CHASE, PRESIDENT LINCOLNS SECRETARY OF
THE TREASURY.  CGC CHASES FIRST HOMEPORT WAS IN BOSTON, MA.  SHE
WOULD LATER CHANGE HOMEPORTS TO SAN PEDRO, CA, IN 1991, AND SAN
DIEGO, CA, IN 1999.
3. CUTTER CHASE SAILED IN THE ATLANTIC, PACIFIC AND INDIAN OCEANS, IN
SUPPORT OF VIRTUALLY EVERY ONE OF THE COAST GUARDS CHALLENGING
MARITIME MISSIONS.  MOST NOTABLY, DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, CGC CHASE
SERVED IN OPERATION MARKET TIMES COAST GUARD SQUADRON THREE
(RONTHREE), PROVIDING NAVAL GUNFIRE SUPPORT TO OPERATIONS ASHORE, AND
LOGISTICS SUPPORT TO COAST GUARD AND NAVY PATROL BOATS.  FOR THESE
EFFORTS, SHE WAS AWARDED THE NAVY MERITORIOUS UNIT COMMENDATION AND
VIETNAM SERVICE MEDAL.
4. TO CURRENT AND PAST CREW OF CHASE, PLANK OWNERS, SHELLBACKS -
GOLDEN, HORNED, EMERALD, OR OTHERWISE, SUBJECTS OF THE GOLDEN DRAGON,
BLUE NOSES, AND EVEN POLLYWOGS, WELL DONE.  THERE TRULY IS NO WORK
BETTER THAN YOURS.  YOUR 43 YEAR LEGACY OF OUTSTANDING SERVICE HONORS
OUR PROFESSION BY EPITOMIZING THE DEDICATION AND PROFESSIONALISM THAT
ARE HALLMARKS OF THE COAST GUARD.  ONCE A CHASER, ALWAYS A CHASER.
BRAVO ZULU.
5. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT AND GOLD ANCIENT MARINER, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE IS AUTHORIZED.