R 061523Z OCT 10

ALCOAST 487/10
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: 235TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY
1. THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COAST GUARD SALUTE OUR SHIPMATES IN THE
UNITED STATES NAVY AND WISH THEM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  FOR 235 YEARS,
THE UNITED STATES NAVY HAS EXEMPLIFIED ITS CORE VALUES "HONOR,
COURAGE AND COMMITMENT" WHETHER FIGHTING WARS, DEFENDING THE
HOMELAND, GUARDING NATIONAL INTERESTS OVERSEAS, OR ENSURING FREEDOM
OF NAVIGATION ON THE WORLDS OCEANS. TODAY, THE NAVY CONTINUES AS A
GLOBAL FORCE FOR GOOD.
2. IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE EARTHQUAKE IN PORT-AU-PRINCE, HAITI, YOU
WERE THERE.  THE USS BATAAN, USS NASSAU AND OTHER NAVAL ASSETS
PROVIDED VITAL AIR AND SURFACE SUPPORT FOR HUMANITARIAN AID MISSIONS.
THE USNS COMFORT TREATED MORE THAN 9,000 PATIENTS, PERFORMED OVER ONE
THOUSAND SURGERIES AND FILLED MORE THAN 70,000 PRESCRIPTIONS.  YOUR
DIVERS AND ENGINEERS PERFORMED ASSESSMENTS AND REPAIRS ESSENTIAL TO
THE RE-OPENING OF THE PORT FACILITY.
3. IN RESPONSE TO THE DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL, YOU WERE THERE.
YOU PROVIDED EXPERTISE AND EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING 16 RAPID DEPLOYMENT
SKIMMER SYSTEMS AND 66,000 FEET OF INFLATABLE BOOM.  NAVAL AIR
STATION PENSACOLA SERVED AS A CRITICAL STAGING FACILITY FOR
PERSONNEL, SKIMMERS, AND EQUIPMENT.
4. THE NAVY AND COAST GUARD HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED A UNIQUE BOND - FROM
THE 1798 QUASI-WAR WHEN NAVY SHIPS AND REVENUE SERVICE CUTTERS
GUARDED AMERICAN SHIPPING FROM FRENCH PRIVATEERS, TO WORLD WAR II
WHEN WE STEAMED TOGETHER PROTECTING CRUCIAL CONVOYS.  TODAY, WE
CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP ACROSS THE GLOBE, WHETHER COMBATING PIRACY
IN THE SOMALI BASIN, INTERDICTING DRUG TRAFFICKING IN THE SOUTHERN
TRANSIT ZONES, OR PROTECTING THE VITAL MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE
FLEDGLING IRAQI NATION.
5. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHEREVER YOU WERE NEEDED IN THE WORLD, THE
PROUD MEN AND WOMEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY WERE THERE.  YOUR
EFFORTS REFLECT THE "CAN DO" SPIRIT OF TRUE SAILORS.  BRAVO ZULU, AND
HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHIPMATES.
6. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT, UNITED STATES COAST GUARD SENDS.
7. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.