Sam Spade's San Francisco

Q: When the National Guard gets into trouble, who do they call?

A: The U. S. Coast Guard

To watch the Coast Guard rescue of National Guard soldiers, just turn-up the sound and push the play button:

Coast Guard rescues 6 Portland Nationalguardsmen

The U.S. Coast Guard rescued six Oregon National Guard soldiers from Portland yesterday when their 32-foot training boat capsized at the mouth of the Columbia River.

Commander Jeffrey Kotson of the U.S. Coast Guard Group Astoria said the Coast Guard received a brief mayday call at around 10 a.m. and were able to pinpoint the boat's location using the Rescue 21 communications tower on Megler Mountain, Washington

The Rescue 21 system provided rescuers with a single line of bearing from where the mayday call originated, he said.

"In this case, an uncorrelated mayday, where the radio transmission does not include a position and nature of distress, the Rescue 21 communication system proved extremely valuable," Kotson said.
.
Kotson said a 47-foot motor lifeboat was immediately dispatched from Cape Disappointment to the overturned boat, as was an MH-60J rescue helicopter crew from Group/Air Station Astoria.
.
A Coast Guardsman on watch in the observation tower at Ilwaco, Washington, spotted six people waving from the bottom of the overturned vessel.
.
"This is a great example of military services looking out for each other," said Capt. Stephan Bomar, a spokesman for the Oregon Military Department. "We're not sure what happened -- it just flipped." That's the National Guard point of view. The Coast Guard point of view is that those soldiers were just another group of citizens who needed rescue by America's maritime professionals: The United States Coast Gard.

Job well done!

Bomar said the six men were on an unspecified training mission, on an unnamed boat when their boat capsized crossing the Columbia River bar at Peacock Spit. The incident remains under investigation.

The men were transported by the motor lifeboat to Cape Disappointment for medical care, but they were all uninjured.

Another day at work for the U. S. Coast Guard.
.

A proposed California Air Resources Board regulation could lead to marine casualties resulting from propulsion losses and equipment failures.

The Air Resources Board (ARB) has a proposed regulation under review that, if approved as expected, will require ocean going vessels to use low sulfur marine distillates in main engines, auxiliary engines, and auxiliary boilers beginning on July 1, 2009 in regulated California waters.

The state defines regulated waters as those out to 24 nautical miles from the baseline. The Coast Guard anticipates an increase in deep draft fuel switching and is urging industry to take proactive measures to improve fuel switching safety in an effort to prevent propulsion losses and equipment casualties.

The Coast Guard has issued a Marine Safety Notice is to increase awareness and provide general guidance on fuel systems and fuel switching safety in an effort to prevent propulsion losses.

A recent Coast Guard study and review of marine casualties indicate that lack of maintenance and testing of certain systems, including fuel oil systems, is one of the leading causes of propulsion failures. Proper procedures, training, and maintenance are essential for vessels to safely switch between heavy/intermediate fuel oils and marine distillates.

Additionally, vessel operators need to have a good understanding of their system requirements and limitations, and determine if any modifications may be necessary to safely switch between intended fuels.

In order to manage risk and improve safety, says the Marine Safety Notice, vessel owners and operators should:

Consult engine and boiler manufacturers for fuel switching guidance;

Consult manufacturers to determine if system modifications or additional safeguards are necessary for intended fuels;

Develop detailed fuel switching procedures;

Establish a fuel system inspection and maintenance schedule;

Ensure system pressure and temperature alarms, flow indicators, filter differential pressure transmitters, etc.., are all operational;

Ensure system seals, gaskets, flanges, fittings, brackets and supports are maintained;

Ensure a detailed system diagram is available;

Conduct initial and periodic crew training;

Exercise tight control when possible over the quality of the fuel oils received; and

Complete fuel switching well offshore prior to entering restricted waters or traffic lanes.

(original story published in MarineLog)

.

About the image: click to enlarge the map in a separate tab or window

This just in from the White House:

Bev Godwin, Director of Online Resources & Interagency Development in White House New Media, knows internet and government. She is on detail to the White House from the U.S. General Services Administration, where she serves as Director of USA.gov and Web Best Practices. She showcases some examples of new media you may or may not know about from across government:

Did you know your government may be cooler and more approachable than you think? It really is. I know. I work here.

Answering President Obama’s call for engagement with the public, federal agencies continue to expand their online presence. As Macon Phillips, Director of New Media @ The White House says in this video "Your government is delivering online content in new ways and new venues as technology impacts how and where people consume content."



So, look for opportunities to jump in and connect with your government -- at our websites and blogs, through videos and photos, in social networks, through widgets, podcasts, and more. Abraham Lincoln knew what he was talking about. This is government of the people, by the people, for the people.

View, comment, rate, participate, and share. The government is paying attention, even as we continue to learn ourselves. The more people engage, the more meaningful all of this becomes, and the more progress we can make.

Here’s a sampling from the video of what’s been happening. Keep your eye – and mouses -- out for lots more.

EPA’s Pick 5 to help the environment http://www.epa.gov/pick5

FBI widgets http://www.fbi.gov/widgets.htm

Library of Congress Flickr photo stream http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/

National Park Service Facebook App to share stories and photos

Peer-to-Patent project http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/peerpriorartpilot/

Presidential Directives and Executive Orders http://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing_room/PresidentialActions/

Freedom of Information Act http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Freedom_of_Information_Act/

Transparency and Open Government http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Transparency_and_Open_Government/

Recovery.gov http://www.recovery.gov

Serve.gov http://www.serve.gov

State Department’s DipNote blog on Twitter

State Department on Facebook

Troop Tube http://www.trooptube.tv/

TSA blog and other federal blogs http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Reference_Shelf/News/blog.shtml

U.S. Government channel on YouTube

USA.gov http://www.usa.gov

USA.gov’s government FAQs, email and online chat http://answers.usa.gov

USA.gov on Twitter

And of course Whitehouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov
..White House Blog http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/
..Health Care Reform Forum (slideshow) http://www.whitehouse.gov/photogallery/White-House-Forum-on-Health-Reform/
..Live Streaming from the White House http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/
..Open for Questions http://www.whitehouse.gov/OpenForQuestions/
..Podcasts http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/images/get_connected_01-iTunes_ove.jpg
..President’s Weekly Address http://www.whitehouse.gov/weekly_address/
..Town Hall in Turkey http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/04/07/The-Student-Roundtable-in-Turkey/

More ways to connect with government online: http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Multimedia.shtml

Contact the White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

.

.
.
.

Hold on, pilgrim. You have reached an out-dated post. For the 2010 story go to: https://samspadesf.com/2010/05/memorial-day-events-in-san-francisco.html

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Here is the original 2009 post:

Three of the principal Memorial Day events for veterans, military and their families and friends in Northern California will take place in San Francisco. Here are the details:
.
1) San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio
.
The premier Memorial Day event in San Francisco is the remembrance ceremonies at San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio. Located right on the spot where the Pacific Ocean meets San Francisco Bay at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the San Francisco National Cemetery is one of the nation's oldest and most beautiful.
.
The Presidio is former Headquarters, U. S. Sixth Army. The U.S. Army first established itself on this site in 1849, but the Presidio has been a military post since 1776 when an expedition of Spanish soldiers accompanied Catholic Franciscan friars and some settlers to the area. The friars, under the direction of Father Junipero Serra, chose to live in the Sunny Mission and the settlers drifted down the peninsula, but the soldiers chose the most strategic real estate: the Presidio.
.
The annual ceremony at the cemetery honors all the men and women of the United States military from the nation's founding through to the latest casualty today. The ceremony involves civilian and military participants, various veterans organizations, military color guard and band. The branches of service - Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard - are all individually honored. Active units of the Navy, Army Reserve, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and National Guard often participate.
.
It's a good mix of people: There are the old World War II vets. They're getting pretty old and fewer in number, but they still come to attention and render a hand salute - and many of them are very highly decorated - genuine American heroes. There are a lot of Vietnam - era vets and a fast growing number of Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan vets and their families. We even have some old WWII Russian Red Army vets who come with chests full of medals worn with great and obvious pride. They were our allies during WWII and they still show up to honor our lost. That's brotherhood and that's professionalism among warriors. They are always welcome.
.
Veterans are encouraged (if you so choose) to wear uniforms, partial uniforms or caps to identify your branch of service and unit. Remember: veterans can now salute out of uniform (not hand over heart) at the raising and lowering of the national flag and during the playing of the National Anthem. Read the story here.
..
In 1884, San Francisco National Cemetery became the first West Coast cemetery to be part of the national cemetery system. Soldiers were buried here at the post cemetery as early as 1849. Through time, the cemetery expanded from 9 acres to its present 27 acres and contains over 30,000 graves, including those of 35 congressional Medal of Honor recipients. Click here for a list of the 35 Medal of Honor recipients buried at San Francisco National Cemetery.
.
Where: San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio on Memorial Day. (map and direction links provided below)
.
When: Monday, May 25, 2009
.
10 AM: Arrive at the Presidio's Main Post Parade Ground at 10:00 AM. The parade will get underway at 10:30. Participants will march from the Parade Ground to San Francisco National Cemetery.
.
11 AM: The memorial service at San Francisco National Cemetery will commence at 11:00 AM. The cemetery occupies some of the most beautiful and spectacular real estate on the planet. The cemetery sits next to Golden Gate Bridge and offers a sweeping panoramic view of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate, the Marin Headlands and the Pacific Ocean.
.
Get directions to the Cemetery here.
.
Federal and state legislators, local community leaders, representatives of the military, veterans organizations and the families and friends of those we have lost will participate.
.
1 PM: The annual Interfaith Peace Service will commence at the Presidio Interfaith Chapel (formerly the Army's Main Post Chapel) near the cemetery. The service is open to everyone who may wish to attend.
.
Parking: Parking is available on the Presidio near the Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., Main Post area. (Download a .pdf Presidio map here)
.
Public Transit: SFMTA (Muni) provides bus transportation to the Presidio. Also read: Public Transit to the Presidio
.
Taxi Cabs: Before you jump in a San Francisco taxi, be sure you read this first: San Francisco Taxicab Scams: Read this Warning!
.
History of the Presidio: Here is a good source for quick, concise and accurate information about the rich and colorful history of the Presidio of San Francisco provided by the California State Military Museum.
.
Learn about the Presidio: The Presidio is under the jurisdiction of the Presidio Trust and the National Park Service. Visit the official Presidio Trust website here. Visit the National Park Service Presidio website here.
.
Maps: Download a detailed map of the Presidio in .pdf format or view a map online.
.
Helpful links:
Presidio Golf Course and Clubhouse (very nice cafe, affordable menu, hearty cooking, great views)
LucasFilm Digital Arts Center at the Presidio (movie studio on the site of old Letterman Hosipital))
Restaurants at the Presidio
..Pres a Vi restaurant (next to LucasFilm Digital Arts Center)
..Presidio Bowling Center (hot coffee & sandwiches next to the Main Post Parade Ground)
..La Terrasse (by the Main Post Transit Center)
..Presidio Cafe (at the Presidio Golf Course)
..Presidio Social Club (just inside the Lombard Gate)
..Crissy Field Center (coffee, sandwiches - at Crissy Field Center)
..Warming Hut (coffee and sandwiches - at Crissy Field Center)
..Dish (coffee and sandwiches - at the San Francisco Film Center by LucasFilm)
Presidio Trails and Scenic Overlooks
Crissy Field
Golden Gate Bridge
.
2) U.S.S. San Francisco (CA-38) Memorial at Land's End
.
USS San Francisco (CA-38) was laid down on 9 September 1931 at the Mare Island Navy Yard, Vallejo, launched on 9 March 1933. San Francisco earned 17 battle stars during World War II. For her participation in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, she was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. For the same action, three members of her crew were awarded the Medal of Honor: Lieutenant Commander Herbert E. Schonland, Lieutenant Commander Bruce McCandless, and Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Reinhardt J. Keppler (posthumous).
.

.

.
More information that may interest you:
.