CGC Storis

CGC Storis Crew Comments

Read comments from former members of CGC Storis, and take a few moments to write a few of your own memories and stories.

Storis XO 1967-68

Captain Lynn N. Hein, USCG (Ret)

Too bad I didn't have more notice and that the STORIS decommissioning is scheduled for February 8th in Kodiak.  I would have liked to attend since I consider my tour aboard as XO from December 1967 to June 1968 the best tour of duty I had in over 30 years of service.  We worked hard, played hard and were gone from home port (Kodiak) about 78% of that time, but sure saw a lot and accomplished a lot.  My son also served in STORIS on his first tour out of the CG Academy and we both would have attended if it was more feasible.

Congratulations!

Dawna H. Pearson
LCDR, USCGR
ISC Kodiak

It is hard to believe that the officers and crew of the STORIS will be celebrating the 60th anniversary of the vessel. When I graduated from the Coast Guard Academy on 19 December 1941 (Class of 42) I was assigned to the NORTH STAR, a wood hull vessel that had been used by Admiral Byrd in his South Pole expedition. We were employed carrying supplies on the Greenland Patrol.

Birth in Storis Sick Bay

Mark Miller
Former crewmember

CDR Playdon was an Acacdemy grad. I recall reading of his death early during my time aboard STORIS. It caught my attention because we had just had a visitor in Nome (during tours) who gave birth to a son in sick bay while he was CO.

Summer of '54

LCDR James W. Baker USCGR (RET)

I took the attached photo while Storis resupplied Cape Sarichef loran station during the summer of 1954 (1 June, I think). Alongside Storis is an LVT (landing vehicle tracked), our main method of transporting goods ashore. In the background is Pogromni Volcano, a prominent landmark near the west end of Unimak Island.

OPS Memories

Derek Rieksts
CAPT., USCG (Ret.)

I was the Operations Officer assigned to the CGC STORIS from 1987 to 1990.  I worked for two Captains:  CAPT (Ret.) Alan (“Big Al” – but never to his face) Walker and CAPT (Ret.) John Alan (Al) Doty – a superb “Alaskan Sailor”.   I served with two great XO’s – my friends CAPT (Ret) Tom Trosvig and Wayne Raabe, CDR (Ret).

I have many memories of STORIS, most of them very good:

Former Crew Member 1985-1986

MARK SIELAFF
Retired Chief

Sorry to see a multi-function ship decommissioned. The STORIS scadinavian name meaning (Great Ice) was the only ice breaking vessel stationed in Alaska.  The 235ft vessel was the only one of it's kind, built in 1939 and first of four to circumnavigate North America.

Former Storis CO

Jim Shaw
Former Storis CO

I was somewhat saddened to hear that the Old Girl is leaving the fleet. I had the pleasure and honor to be one in the line of Storis Captains, back in the mid 80's. She was a rugged, dependable ship perfectly suited to her environment. The taxpayers definitely got their money's worth from Storis and the hearty sailors that guided her through her stalwart career. All of us who sailed in her have much to be proud of.

Regards,

Jim Shaw
Captain, USCG Ret

Freighter Hits Storis

Dale Rice
Former crewmember

We were heading home from a December patrol in 1974 and due in the day before Christmas when a call for a 400 foot freighter adrift due to the main engine not working was received We were diverted 200 miles South of Kodiak to assist them. They were attempting repairs and an engineering team was sent over to assist and assess the problem. An offer to tow them to tow them to Kodiak was made and turned down. How ever they would like a tow to Seattle. After a day of standing by the weather started getting rough and the freighter's Captain requested a tow to the closes port.

E-1 to O-6 1942

Edwin L. Parker
Retired Captain

I started my Coast Guard career on Storis in November 1948 when I was assigned to Storis during her stop in Seattle en route Juneau her new Homeport.  At that time Alaska was part of the Thirteenth District.  I went aboard as a Seaman Recruit because at that time the only Boot Camp was moving from Mayport, Florida to Cape May.  I was not alone there were six other recruits in the same status.  As a result the Storis was our Boot Camp.  As a result I was aboard on her arrival Juneau and I have photos of her first mission two days after arrival.  It was the retrieval of an Alaskan Coastal float plane that had suffered a hard landing while making its approach to Juneau.

I left Storis in June 1950 to accept an appointment as a Cadet at the Coast Guard Academy and I retired in 1980 as a Captain.