Radioman News

Bollinger Shipyards on Thursday announced it has delivered the USCGC Melvin Bell to the U.S. Coast Guard in Key West, Fla. This is the 181st vessel Bollinger has delivered to the U.S. Coast Guard over a 35-year period and the 55th Fast Response Cutter (FRC) delivered under the current program.“We’re incredibly proud to deliver the USCGC Melvin Bell, the final of six Fast Response Cutters to be homeported in Boston, the birthplace of the U.S. Coast Guard,” said Bollinger president and CEO, Ben Bordelon.

The Coast Guard commissioned the newest California-based 154-foot Fast Response Cutter in San Diego, Wednesday.The Benjamin Bottoms is the fourth Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) to be homeported at Base Los Angeles-Long Beach.While these ships will be based in San Pedro, they will operate throughout the 11th Coast Guard District, which includes all of California and international waters off of Mexico and Central America. "Radioman First Class Benjamin Bottoms is a Coast Guard hero," said Adm. Charles Ray, the Coast Guard vice commandant.

USS Detroit (LCS 7) was commissioned in its namesake city of Detroit on October 22. Adm. Phil Davidson, commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, officially placed the vessel in commission. "Today is about service. Cmdr. Michael P. Desmond, who command LCS Crew 108 “Ghost Riders,” assumed command of Detroit. "USS Detroit is truly blessed to have the opportunity to commission in its namesake city. Speakers included Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan and U.S. Sens. Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters. "Cmdr.

Retired Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) William "Bill" H. Plackett died peacefully the evening of March 4. He was 78. Plackett became the sixth MCPON Oct. 1, 1985. He relieved Billy C. Sanders and held the job for three years before Duane R. Bushey assumed duties in September 1988. Plackett was born in Paxton, Illinois, and joined the Navy at the age of 19 in 1956. He attended radarman "A" school in Norfolk, Virginia and was assigned to the Naval Control of Shipping Office in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf. He served tours aboard Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet embarked upon amphibious force command ship USS Mount McKinley (AGC 7), and Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy.

“Going into the beach it looked like the beach was covered with driftwood—when we got close we realized the beach was covered with bodies,” noted U.S. Coast Guard Radioman 3rd Class Leroy C. Bowen, Jr., crewman aboard LCI 83 that landed Allied forces and extracted wounded from French beaches 60 years ago Sunday. Bowen’s landing craft was one of many Coast Guard-manned ships that participated in the D-Day landings June 6, 1944—a day that would prove to be one of the bloodiest in the Coast Guard’s long history. According to Coast Guard Historian Scott Price, of the 99 Coast Guard-manned warships that participated during D-Day missions, six were lost and many others seriously damaged; 18 Coast Guardsmen died and 38 others wounded. VADM James D.

Radio Holland USA Inc. has appointed William Thompson as the branch Manager of the Long Beach, Calif., office. Historically, the Long Beach office has been a service center supporting the Radio Holland Group brand for the past 23 years. As Branch Manager for the West Coast territory branch operation, Bill will be instrumental in our growth which includes not only service for our global customer base but also equipment sales and service, fleet management via Fixed Price Maintenance Contracts, VSAT / INMARSAT equipment and Airtime sales and service, as well as S-VDR sales and service. Thompson comes to Radio Holland USA with a management background including positions as General Manager of a national maritime retailer, regulatory compliance consultant and security and safety director.

The crew of the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Salt Lake City (SSN 716) held the ship’s inactivation ceremony Oct. 26 at Naval Base Point Loma, Calif. More than 250 Sailors, plankowners and former commanding officers turned out for the event to say farewell to the submarine they once served aboard. “It’s sad to see her go,” said retired Capt. Richard Itkin, Salt Lake City’s first commanding officer. After 21 years of active service, Salt Lake City will be decommissioned later this fall at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Virginia. The inactivation ceremony gave the visitors and crew time to say goodbye to the boat before it heads to Virginia. During the ceremony, the commissioning pennant was taken down, symbolizing the ship’s retirement.