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R 151249Z MAY 07 ZUI ASN-A00135000001 FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CG-37// TO ALCOAST BT UNCLAS //N01650// ALCOAST 243/07 COMDTNOTE 1650 SUBJ: 2006 CDR RAY EVANS BOAT FORCES COXSWAIN AWARD ANNOUNCEMENT 1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT BM2 IVAN BELL OF STATION SOUTH PADRE ISLAND HAS BEEN SELECTED AS THE WINNER OF THE 2006 CDR RAY EVANS BOAT FORCES COXSWAIN AWARD. THIS PRESTIGIOUS ANNUAL AWARD RECOGNIZES A COAST GUARD BOAT FORCES COXSWAIN WHO DEMONSTRATED SUSTAINED SUPERIOR PERFORMANCE, EXCEPTIONAL BOAT HANDLING SKILLS, AND EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP. 2. BM2 BELL DISPLAYED SUPERB LEADERSHIP, PROFESSIONAL ABILITIES, AND DEVOTION TO DUTY WHILE SERVING AS COXSWAIN AT STATION SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TEXAS. THROUGHOUT THE ELIGIBILITY PERIOD HE SERVED WITH DISTINCTION AS A BM3 - ADVANCING TO BM2 ON 01 JAN 2007. BM2 BELL EPITOMIZES A BOAT FORCES PROFESSIONAL. 3. AS PRIMARY SMALL BOAT COXSWAIN FOR HIS DUTY SECTION, BM2 BELL SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTED OVER 200 MISSIONS - LOGGING NEARLY 350 MISHAP FREE UNDERWAY HOURS WITH A THIRD OF THESE HOURS AT NIGHT IN AN EXTREMELY CHALLENGING OP AREA. HE WAS OFTEN CALLED UPON TO EXECUTE THE MOST DEMANDING OF HIGH RISK BOAT MISSIONS. BM2 BELL WAS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUCCESSFUL INTERDICTION OF EIGHT MEXICAN LANCHAS CONDUCTING ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES IN U.S. WATERS. DURING ONE NOTEWORTHY CASE, HE ENGAGED AND EXPERTLY OUT-MANEUVERED AN AGGRESSIVE NON-COMPLIANT VESSEL THAT MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RAM HIM. DEMONSTRATING EXCEPTIONAL JUDGMENT AND BOAT HANDLING SKILLS, HE COMPELLED COMPLIANCE - SUCCESSFULLY STOPPING THE VESSEL AND APPREHENDING THE CREW. IN ADDITION TO HIS DUTIES AS COXSWAIN, BM2 BELL SERVED AS FIRST LIEUTENANT FOR THE STATIONS 28 MEMBER DECK DEPARTMENT, BOATKEEPER FOR THE 47 FOOT MLB, AND PRIMARY TRAINER FOR THE STATIONS NEW BOAT COMPLEMENT. HIS OUTSTANDING BOAT HANDLING SKILLS AND UNIQUE ABILITY TO CONVEY THOSE SKILLS TO OTHERS THROUGH DETAILED INSTRUCTION AND HANDS ON TRAINING AIDED THE STATION IN QUALIFYING 12 COXSWAINS ON THE NEW 33 FOOT SPECIAL PURPOSE CRAFT - LAW ENFORCEMENT (SPC-LE), AND NON-COMPLIANT VESSEL PURSUIT TACTICS. THIS INTENSIVE TRAINING REGIMEN INCLUDED CLOSE QUARTER TACTICS, PEPPER BALL DEPLOYMENT, WARNING SHOTS, AND DISABLING FIRE. BM3 BELL EMBODIED THE COAST GUARDS CORE VALUES THROUGH HIS UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO COAST GUARD BOAT FORCES. 4. EACH YEAR IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SELECT ONLY ONE RECIPIENT FROM THE SUPERB SLATE OF PETTY OFFICERS WHO ARE NOMINATED FOR THIS AWARD. HONORABLE MENTION GOES TO THE FOLLOWING FINALISTS: A. BM1 ROBERT GRUSCHOW, STA KEY WEST B. BM1 KURTIS MEES, STA SEATTLE 5. I AM PLEASED WITH THE NUMBER OF EXCEPTIONAL QUALITY NOMINATION PACKAGES THAT WERE SUBMITTED AND COMMEND ALL THOSE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE MANY OUTSTANDING COXSWAINS WE HAVE THROUGHOUT BOAT FORCES. EVERY NOMINEE IS A TRUE BOAT FORCES PROFESSIONAL. NOMINEES FOR THIS YEARS AWARD ARE LISTED BELOW IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER: A. BM1 JARED COON, MSST BOSTON B. BM2 JOHN COSTABILE, STA NEW LONDON C. BM1 GREGORY FEISTER, MSU PORT ARTHUR D. BM1 MATTHEW FULLER, STA GRAND ISLE E. BM1 DAVID HILD, MSST GALVESTON F. BM1 JEFFERY LEWIS, MSST NEW ORLEANS G. BM1 PHILIP NULL, STA GOLDEN GATE H. BM1 JASON OAKES, STA MONTEREY I. BM1 MICHAEL UNDERWOOD, CGC CHINOOK J. BM2 JORGE VERDECIA, STA LITTLE CREEK 6. THE SELECTION PANEL MEMBERS ARE LISTED BELOW: A. CDR RICHARD KEESLER, COMDT(G-37RCB-1) B. CDR JAMES OLIVE, COMDT(CG-3RPC) C. CWO STEVE NORQUIST, COMDT(CG-37RCU) D. MKCM KEVIN WINTER, COMDT(CG-481) E. BMCM PHIL WOLF, COMDT(CG-384) 7. PRESENTATION OF THE 2006 CDR RAY EVANS OUTSTANDING COXSWAIN TROPHY WILL BE COORDINATED AND ANNOUNCED UNDER SEPCOR. 8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED. 9. RDML ROBERT C. PARKER, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS CAPABILITY, SENDS. BT
