Shipmates,

I hope you are enjoying a safe and happy Thanksgiving. For those of you who are not home thank you for standing the watch.

Being away from home and standing the watch on a holiday is something we all accept when we become Guardians. It is never easy but it is required to accomplish our mission. Today President Bush called two of our members and I called four others to express our thanks and the thanks of the Nation for their service.

The President spoke to SN Michael Manning at LORAN Station Attu and AET3 James Nichols at Air Station Barbers Point.

AET3 Nichols distinguished himself through his selfless devotion to duty on 4 September 2008 when his brother Joshua was lost with the crew of H65C CG 6505. He worked tirelessly to prepare aircraft for the search for the remaining missing crewmember and assisted his sister-in-law in coping with this tragic event.

SN Manning is the newest member at the most remote unit in the Coast Guard. He has a degree in biology and hopes to attend OCS and become a pilot. He is from Mesa, AZ

I spoke to the following individuals:

Fireman Will Burns is stationed on SEQUOIA, in Apra Harbor, Guam. Will is from Sierra Vista, AZ and has been in the Coast Guard 9 months. He is known on SEQUOIA as a “can do, go to” member of the crew. We are both from Arizona (along with SN Manning) and my mother was born in Bisbee, AZ a short distance from Sierra Vista. Will is looking to attend A School in an aviation rating.

YN1 Yolanda Hart lives on Yakota Air Base in Japan and is stationed at Activities Far East. She is the administrative specialist for the command and supports Coast Guard personnel stationed in Korea and Singapore as well. She enjoys living on the air base and learning Japanese culture. She is from Columbus, OH. She and her husband Stephen have a son and daughter.

BM1 Adam Lewis was the USCGC ADAK’s Sailor of the Quarter earlier this year. Forward deployed in the Persian Gulf, BM1 Lewis has conned ADAK during security operations around the Al-Basra and Khwar Al Amaya oil terminals and in the Khwar Abd Allah River. He has participated in over 30 high risk boardings in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom accumulating 220 days away from homeport in the last year. Adam hails from Raymond, MS. He has orders to the RAZORBILL in Gulfport, MS as Executive Petty Officer.

HS1 John Workman is the clinic supervisor for the ISC Ketchikan detachment in Juneau. He too was an enlisted person of the quarter. In addition to his regular duties, HS1 Workman has worked with local units to improve personal protective equipment (PPE) for line and weight handling equipment. He also purchased an Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitor that allows patient to drop by and quickly check their BP. In his off duty time he helps local Boy and Girl Scout groups and a homeless shelter. He is from Cincinnati, OH.

On behalf of the President, Secretary Chertoff, and the Vice Commandant let me wish all of you a safe and happy holiday season.

ADM A