GULF OF MEXICO--Thirteen members of the Dunedin Coast Guard Auxiliary (Flotilla 11-10) had a unique opportunity recently to support the US Coast Guard---with their annual live fire exercises. It was an extremely rare opportunity for the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the civilian component of the US Coast Guard, to participate in this type of training.

The event took place over a three-day period. The first day began at 9:30 am when four Dunedin members reported to the Port Security Unit 307 (PSU 307) headquarters at the Coast Guard Air Station in Clearwater FL. They were then transported to the Clearwater Marina where they boarded, Rovon, a 60-foot vessel owned and operated by Auxiliarist, Harvey Prior. Prior had volunteered his vessel as the command and control platform after learning that all appropriate size Coast Guard boats were already committed to other operational requirements. After bringing the vessel to a marina near the Coast Guard Station Cortez near Sarasota, the crew (Harvey Prior, Elaine Clark, Bill Clark, Walt Murray and Tom Loughlin) were transported back to the Air Station to retrieve their vehicles and get ready for Day 2.

The second day for the Auxiliarists began at 6:00 am (4:00am if you consider the time when some of the crew had to wake up) when they boarded a government van and were transported back to Station Cortez. Once there, the four Auxiliarists and four Coast Guard members got underway and headed for the restricted live fire target range 17 miles off-shore. Despite heavy seas and a stiff wind, the four 32 foot Coast Guard Transportable Port Security Boat (TPSB) successfully conducted live fire training exercises using not only the 50 caliber machine gun on the bow but also the 7.62 machine guns mounted on each side behind the cabin. Coast Guard LT Brian Dudely was aboard as the Officer in Charge of the Exercise (OCE) and made several positive comments about the professionalism of the Auxiliary crew. A heavy rain storm hit them just as they arrived at the Station docks to off-load the Coast Guard members. Prior stayed with the boat while the rest of the crew was transported back to Clearwater. Crew on this day were: Harvey Prior, Walt Murray, Sam Walker. Guy Warner and Roger Montembeault.

Day 3 was much like Day 2 except that, upon completion of the firing exercises, again in heavy seas, Rovon transferred most Coast Guard members to their boats however two stayed aboard for the return trip to Clearwater. While bringing in the 600 feet of anchor line, an emergency call was received regarding a civilian boat taking on water 17 miles to the south with 4 people on board. Upon securing the anchor line, the Auxiliary boat immediately headed south to assist with LT Dudley skillfully conducting most of the communications with the Coast Guard. Despite going directly into heavy seas Rovon made good time but when they were about 2 miles from the scene they were told to stand down; the situation had been resolved. Rovon reversed course and headed north arriving at 6:00 pm with a very tired, but excited, crew. Because of crew time requirements, two full crews were aboard. They were: Harvey Prior, Walt Murray, Bill Clark, Tom Loughlin, Ed Burgess, Larry O’Brien, Joan Gutek, Jon Nicholls and Larry Gilbert