Shipmates,
There are times in your life when an opportunity is provided that is both personally extraordinary and professionally impactful.
This afternoon I had the distinct honor, along with a group of officers, enlisted, and civilian personnel to visit the National Archives. We were able to view (in a vault) original documents that form the DNA of our Service.
Included were Alexander Hamilton's Charge to the Revenue Officers that forms the basis for our Service Doctrine (Pub 1) and operational procedures that guide our boardings today (that's us looking at the hand written document in the picture).
We also viewed the original copy of the legislation enacted on 4 August 1790, which authorized the construction of our first cutters and laid out the basic authorities that can be found today in 14 USC 89. The Act was signed by George Washington.
We also viewed the log of the BEAR that recorded the discharge of cargo in support of the Overland Expedition directed by President McKinley in 1897. In that operation our heroes LT David Jarvis and E.P. "Bully" Bertholf drove reindeer over a thousand miles to rescue trapped whalers off the North Slope of Alaska.
Finally, I was allowed to view the emergency orders my Dad was given to come home when I became ill following by birth. My Dad, DCC (ret) Clyde Allen, was underway on the USCGC MINNETONKA when I was born. I later developed severe medical problems that prompted him to be sent home. As you can see, I survived.
We will be posting images of the documents in future posts. This was an extraordinary day.
ADM A
