Coast Guard's Oldest Cutter To Be Decomissioned

KODIAK, AlaskaK – The Coast Guard ’s “Queen of the Fleet,” Cutter Storis will be decommissioned during a ceremony on the Coast Guard Base February 8, 2007 in Kodiak.

The ship is known as the Queen of the Fleet for being the oldest active duty cutter in service. During World War II, CGC Storis patrolled the North Atlantic to prevent the establishment of Nazi weather stations in Greenland. In 1948, CGC Storis changed homeport to Juneau, Alaska from where it supplied medical treatment to native villages and survey uncharted waters in the arctic. In July of 1957 Storis, along with cutters Bramble and Spar which are now decommissioned, completed its historic transit of the Northwest Passage and circumnavigation of the North American continent. Soon thereafter CGC Storis was transferred to its present homeport of Kodiak, Alaska. Proudly bearing its gold “38” hull number – a distinction given only to the oldest cutter in the fleet – the crew of the Storis completed their last patrol in Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea in early December 2006. Former Storis sailors who want to attend the decommissioning are invited to contact YN1 Timoteo at ltimoteo@cgcstoris.uscg.mil if they desire to attend the ceremony.

Former Storis sailors are invited to contact YN1 Timoteo (ltimoteo@cgcstoris.uscg.mil) if they desire to attend the ceremony. Coast Guard Pacific Area Public Affairs is in the process of setting up a dedicated website for 64 year old cutter, which will be hosted by Military.com and supported by Fred's Place.org. Former Storis crewmembers who are interested in sharing photos, video and sea stories and welcome to forward them to the Ppacific Aarea Ppublic Aaffairs office for inclusion. A Storis blog is also being established for crewmembers to share their storiesfor crewmember stories, news and information about the decommissioning. their. Once everything is set up the site addressed will be released. All information sent to public affairs will also be forwarded to Storis' commanding officer for possible inclusion into the decommissioning ceremony. Mailing address: Building 42 (Pep) Coast Guard Island, Alameda, Ca. 94501 c/o Public Affairs Email Address: Brian.N.Leshak@uscg.mil Telephone #: 510-437-3375 CGC

Storis saw action in World War II in the North Atlantic while assigned to prevent the establishment of Nazi weather stations in Greenland. In 1948, CGC Storis changed homeport to Juneau, Alaska from where it supplied medical treatment to native villages and survey uncharted waters in the arctic.

In July of 1957 CGC Storis, along with two other now decommissioned cutters, completed its historic transit of the Northwest Passage and circumnavigation of the North American continent. Soon thereafter CGC Storis was transferred to its present homeport of Kodiak, Alaska. Proudly bearing its gold “38” hull numbers – a distinction given only to the oldest cutter in the fleet - Storis completed her last patrol in Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea in early December 2006.

Alaskan media interested in covering the event in Kodiak please contact PA1 Kurt Fredrickson at the Kodiak Public Affairs office at (907)-487-5700

Stateside media with questions please contact the public affairs office in Alameda, CA., at 510-437-3375. B-roll video will be available.

Comments

[Marc S. De Zarn SS3]

I was stationed on the Storis from 1978 to 1980 as a cook. I became the captians steward and the officers cook. I ended up with more time on my hands than if I worked the galley. so I started to bake all sorts of things for the crew, doughnuts, bread, pastries, etc. I became very popular on board with the crew. I went up to the artic circle and visited on a russian fish processing ship. Went to Hawaii, for reference training ( war games). Right after that we went to japan to pick up our neew comanding officer, and had our change of command ceromonies at Adak Island in a gale force storm.I could go on for a long time about all the things I did while in the service of the Coast Gaurd, but I wont. kneedless to say the Coast Gaurd was the best thing I ever did. I wish I could have stayed in, till I retired. But i made that awlful mistake and got out. when I should have stayed. Best Time I ever had in my life full of good memories.

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It is impressive that it could last that amount of time. but at least it is something that it was remarkable.

[Edward J. Hall III (SS3 @time of service)]

I was stationed on the Storis as a third calss cook right out of SS school from mid 1976 to early in 1978. I too have some fond and somewhat wild memories during alpats in the Bearing sea, and visiting alot of Alaska I served a a cook in the General Mess as well as the Officers Mess.