It’s always a pleasure to cover the U.S. Coast Guard, as we did last week with Luke Whittaker’s photo feature about the constant exercises to hone preparedness as many weekend boaters take to the Columbia for Buoy 10 season.

(www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/coast-guard-braces-for-buoy-10/article_f4671ef2-354a-11ee-a3aa-dbc2f9781221.html)

One of the Coasties featured last week is on the path to attain coveted “surfman” credentials — a set of skills at the top of the pyramid for maritime lifesavers. Luke will be shadowing this process and photographing it for Chinook Observer readers.

Station Cape Disappointment is a main training arena for the USCG’s elite surfman force. This includes women, including Cape D’s most recent previous commander.

Walking on Benson Beach this warm and calm Sunday morning, I thought back on many winter days there when my dog and I are virtually alone, and violent waves sweep up nearly to the crest of the primary westward dune. The ocean side of North Jetty on such days is a churning caldron. And yet I often see motor lifeboats out in nearly nightmarish conditions, practicing vital rescue techniques.

Dear old Aunt Lucile was the civilian head of personnel for U.S. Coast Guard District 13 in Seattle for many years. One of her grandsons, my second cousin Steve, who as a child attained legendary status in our extended family as a world-class brat, turned into a bright and responsible young man in the Coast Guard.

We are great fans of the USCG and hope you are too.

Here are a few recent examples of our Coast Guard coverage. (A Chinook Observer subscription includes access to our vast archive of stories and photos of the Coast Guard and every other local subject.)

• https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/community/coast-guardsman-honored-for-community-service/article_27efc3a4-300b-11ee-b134-77d704173fe9.html

• https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/coast-guard-rescues-one-recovers-one-after-sunday-capsizing-in-columbia/article_f8e4c998-092b-11ee-b2d6-2fbbb4c1588e.html

• https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/be-gone-roadside-trash-coast-guardsman-s-personal-mission-tidying-up-the-neighborhood/article_50a7fccc-f8dd-11ed-858b-cf6a30449a44.html

• https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/buoy-goes-wild/article_ddea4388-c1d3-11ed-acaf-6ff88fb4b008.html

• https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/memorial-book-showcase-coast-guard-courage/article_973585f8-9201-11ed-a482-bb76f48ee41e.html

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