Tuesday, March 3

Guess where I was today? I got to ride a Coast Guard ice breaker under the Mackinaw Bridge. A co-worker is a Chief in the Coast Guard
Reserve. Each year they try to arrange what they term an “icebreaker cruise” to
familiarize supervisors with what the Reserves and the National Guard do as
part of their service. In this case it was a true icebreaker cruise. We went on
the USS Hollyhock, through the Mackinaw Straits and under the Mackinaw Bridge.

The Hollyhock is actually a buoy tender with a secondary
function of ice breaking. When we went out is was snowing, windy, and bitter
cold. Almost white out conditions. The forecastle (pronounced fo’c’s’le), where
the anchor chains are stowed, is open to the weather. I and my fellow civilian icebreaker
cruisers would step out there to take pictures and go back in to warm up. Meanwhile, there were two crew
that had to be out there the whole time. In case of an emergency, they had to
use a sledge hammer to knock out a chock and release the anchor chain. Our tour
guide was the Deck Officer. Through the wind and snow I heard him quizzing them
on their responsibilities. The Deck Officer was an Ensign not long out of the
academy and looked about 25 years old. Both crew looked to be about 18 or 19
and one was a female. A ton more responsibility than most people their ages.
From the warmth of my toasty house, while drinking a shot of rum, I salute you.
Thanks for being there.