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Author Topic: SHIPWRECK OF THE MESQUITE WLB-305  (Read 4300 times)
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BuoyJumper
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« on: December 10, 2009, 11:56:31 am »
I was stationed on the Coast Guard Cutter Mesquite straight out of bootcamp at Cape May in July 1966 and served aboard her until discharged in May of 1970.  To this day in my mind there isn't any part of the ship that I can't walk through.  I remember being aboard her as if it were yesterday.  I have Fred Stonehouse's book entitled "Shipwreck of the Mesquite DEATH OF A COAST GUARD CUTTER".  

                                                                  

It's a great read, Fred did an outstanding job of researching the mishap.  The book is out of print now but if you ever have the chance to get your hands on a copy do it.  Until then, this February 1990 Commandant's Bulletin does a pretty good job of giving you a summary of what happened that morning that led to the loss of the Coast Guard Cutter MESQUITE.

Ron Wilkins, crewman
USCGC MESQUITE
WLB-305
1966-1970  
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 02:02:26 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2009, 11:59:34 am »
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 12:40:28 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2009, 12:00:11 pm »
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 12:40:48 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2009, 12:02:49 pm »
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 12:41:03 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2009, 12:03:32 pm »
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 12:41:17 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2009, 12:04:34 pm »
A smallboat from the Coast Guard Cutter ACACIA a sister ship to the MESQUITE approaches the battered ship.  ACACIA crewman Jeff Marshall was aboard the smallboat.  Jeff and the rest of the salvage team from the ACACIA went aboard the MESQUITE to strip the ship of all essential equipment, personal effects, the toppled mast, hazardous materials and the 4 NOAA bouys she was carrying.  

« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 01:30:22 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
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« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2009, 12:56:55 pm »
ACACIA crewman Jeff Marshall on the bridge of the MESQUITE.  Jeff is actually standing perpendicular to the horizon but the crewman who took the photo turned the camera and took the photo at an angle which makes it appear that the MESQUITE is on an even keel with no list and that Jeff is standing at an angle.  Knowing this we can calculate the approximate angle of the list at the time. 

« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 01:31:21 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
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« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2009, 12:57:45 pm »
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 01:35:31 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
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« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2009, 12:58:12 pm »
A salvage team from the ACACIA at work on the buoy deck.  Notice the toppled, ice encrusted mast.
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  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2009, 12:58:38 pm »
« Last Edit: December 10, 2009, 01:36:45 pm by BuoyJumper » Logged
  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2009, 01:01:42 pm »
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  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2009, 01:03:55 pm »
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  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2009, 01:05:42 pm »
By February 1990 the winter ice has a firm grip on the MESQUITE doing further damage to the ship.
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  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2009, 01:19:00 pm »
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  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
BuoyJumper
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« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2009, 01:25:54 pm »
Spring comes to the Upper Peninsula and the ice is beginning to move out.
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  Save a Boat - Ride a Coastie ... 
"And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years" ..........Abraham Lincoln
My CGC Mesquite Photo Album (Click Here)                  MY COAST GUARD CHANNEL PAGE  (Click Here)
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