Polar Star crew recognized for mission-saving repairs

polarstar2Polar Star’s engineering crew knows more about the saga of aging cutters than the average Coast Guardsman. Every patrol, maintenance issues occur regularly, but Operation Deep Freeze 2016 was the “mother” of all casualties for the 40-year old cutter, threatening to halt a resupply mission for the U.S. Antarctic Program in Antarctica. It took a surfboard repair kit, elbow grease and round-the-clock marathon repair sessions by Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin Oakes, an electrician’s mate, Petty Officer 3rd Class Agustin Foguet, a damage controlman and Seaman Manon Mullen from the deck department, to keep the limping “polar-roller,” as it’s affectionately called, afloat and operable. The three crew members were in for a surprise when Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukuft recognized them during an awards ceremony aboard the cutter. The Commandant was then shown the engine room where the critical repairs took place. Read the story here 09:24

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