R 070028Z DEC 11

ALCOAST 561/11
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: HONORING FALLEN SHIPMATES - USCGC WHITE ALDER
1. TODAY WE REMEMBER THE LOSS OF 17 SHIPMATES 43 YEARS AGO WHEN THE
USCGC WHITE ALDER (WLM 541) COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER VESSEL AND SANK IN
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER NEAR WHITE CASTLE, LA. WE HONOR THEM BY
REFLECTING ON THEIR SACRIFICE MADE IN SERVICE TO OUR NATION.
2. ON 7 DEC 1968 AT 1829, CGC WHITE ALDER WAS DOWNBOUND WHEN IT
COLLIDED WITH THE UPBOUND M/V HELENA, A 455-FOOT FREIGHTER. THE POINT
OF IMPACT WAS ON WHITE ALDERS STARBOARD SIDE, CAUSING THE SHIP TO
ROLL OVER AND SINK IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. THREE OF THE CREW ESCAPED
FROM THE SINKING VESSEL AND SURVIVED. HOWEVER, THE REMAINING 17 COAST
GUARDSMEN DROWNED. ALTHOUGH SEARCHERS RECOVERED THE BODIES OF THREE
CREW MEMBERS, THE RIVER RAPIDLY BURIED THE CUTTER IN MUD AND
SEDIMENT, ENTOMBING THE REMAINING 14 COAST GUARDSMEN IN THE SUNKEN
HULL WHERE IT REMAINS TO THIS DAY.
3. CGC WHITE ALDER AND CREW ARE HONORED WITH MEMORIALS IN BATON ROUGE
AND METAIRIE, LA AND A NAVIGATION MARKER IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.
THEIR NAMES ARE INSCRIBED ON THE CUTTERMANS MEMORIAL IN WASHINGTON,
DC. THEY ARE LOST, BUT NOT FORGOTTEN, HONORED AND REMEMBERED BY
FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SHIPMATES.
4. SEMPER PARATUS. STAND A TAUT WATCH. ADM BOB PAPP, COMMANDANT,
SENDS.
5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.