Non-football related stuff that really makes your day

[-Deborah-]

Awww. You're going to be missed there, I'm sure. Hopefully the next gig is just as nice.

[-Deborah-]

Shit! Deb, can you fix that?

The only way I can fix it is the same way you'd fix it. I suggest you copy from your original source then paste it as unformatted text in Word (Paste As....Unformatted Text). Then copy THAT and paste here.

[CGVT]

OK, How do I do that in vista?

[-Deborah-]

Do you mean in Word 2007? If so, select the little arrow underneath the word Paste...then select Paste Special.

[CGVT]

Since taking over at Sta DI I have tried to get

a few messages across to the Crew. I usually

impart my “words of wisdom” when all hands

get together in the morning. The first message I

try to send is “Shots are stupid”


The second is:

“If the thought crosses your mind that what ever

you’re about to do isn’t a good idea, it probably

isn’t.”

I learned first hand that at least one of

these messages is getting through at a tailgate

prior to the Senior Bowl last year. About 20 of

us from the station were there and we had one of

those round fire pits (explain). We had a pretty

good fire going in it when it started to rain.









One of the guys and I decided that we should

pick the fire pit and move it under a tarp.

As we were stepping over logs,

trying not to slip in the mud and

trying not to get burned I heard a voice from one

of our shipmates say “You know Masterchief, if

the thought crosses your mind that what you are

doing is not a good idea…” I’m glad to see that

one got through.

I hear that the “shots are stupid

got through too… I hear that every time they go

to a bar and order a round of shots, they salute

me… Shots are stupid! Thanks guys. I’m not sure

that is the legacy I wanted to leave…

[CGVT]

A third message I try to get across is that it’s not

that hard to do a great job in the Coast Guard I tell them that all you have to do is what is

expected of you and “that much more” . You have lived and built a reputation of that much

more.You have answered every call and you gave“that much more” when you

tucked your families safely away and responded to Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis and Katrina as well

as tropical storms Arlene and Cindy and showed up at the station the day following these

storms ready to go to work.



When you volunteered to work with the Port Security Unit in Kamp Katrina and helped the

Waveland Mississippi recovery teams look for bodies in the debris.

When you donated toys for christmas to the crewmembers of Station Pascagoula after many

had lost their homes to the storm.

When you volunteered to sail with local patrol boats when they were short handed, or went to

assist Station Pensacola when they needed extra boat crew to search for a missing sailor.

Sometimes giving “that much more” was not difficult like the times you participated in

Christmas on the River and BBQ contest in Eufala, or acted as Color Guard for the Auxiliary

Spring Conference in Fort Walton Beach.

Tough duty, I’m sure.

And at times “that much more” was exhilarating especially when you completed successful

rescues and saved lives like the time you plucked 17 people from Mobile Bay after their boat

caught on fire.

Or rescued the family who spent 36 hours in the water of the Gulf 25 miles from shore after their boat capsized.

And other times “that much more” was agonizing,

like the time that you responded to the shrimp boat rewmember that was killed in the engine \

room or the man that was crushed between his boat and an oil rig

Or recoverd the body of a 12 year old boy the drowned at the beach

or the time you searched for four babies under the Dauphin Island bridge.

Through it all you have served with pride and professionalism and a dose of humor thrown in

for good measure.

It has been an honor to lead such a fine crew.


I said earlier that today is about friends and

family, continuity and change.

Senior Chief Christensen you represent and are

the continuity at Coast Guard Station Dauphin

Island.

Under your leadership I am sure the men and

women of Station Dauphin Island will continue

to grow and thrive and I know that they will

continue to give that much more. I am sure that

you, Chayel and your children will enjoy your

time here as much as my family and I have

enjoyed ours.





Everywhere we have lived there have been

indications that we have been assimilated into

the culture of the area.

When we lived in Vermont prior to coming here,

the first indication that I had was when our

oldest son Will, then 7 years old, told me that he

thought that the Boston Red Socks were “wicked

awesome”.

Some signs of assimilation that I have noticed

here are things like Will wanting to wear an

Alabama shirt to school on college shirt day,
( tell SEC parking only story??)

Another was when Caroline told me she was

“fixin” to do something


and one day I asked Jack if he wanted a Coke

and he responded by asking “What kind?”

But, change brings many feelings, so hard to put into words.

I think that Washington Irving said it best when he said

“Sweet is the memory of distant friends! Like

the mellow rays of the departing sun, it falls

tenderly, yet sadly, on the heart.”


During our time at Station Dauphin Island,

Mary, Will, Caroline Jack and I have had the

good fortune not only make new friends but to

be able to reconnect with old friends, fishing

buddies and shipmates.

And now new friends will become old friends

and memories will linger bringing joy as well as

sadness.


Every time I give one of these speeches I tell my

wife Mary that she has the hardest job in the

Coast Guard.

I promised that I wouldn’t say that today.. I

guess I Lied.



And of course, I always have to give our moving
statistics.

Mary and I have been married just under 20 years and this is our 8th move together.

Will this will be your 4th, Caroline, your 3rd and Jack your second.

It seems to get harder each time we move, doesn’t?

Once again I can only thank you for following me all over the country and allowing me to do a job that I truly love.

We will be leaving soon, but we will be much

richer for experience here and as we are driving

east on I-10 tomorrow we will have to remember

the words once spoken by one of my favorite philosophers:

Dr Suess

“We should not cry because it is over, we should smile because it happened.”

Captain, crew, friends and family, thank you all

for being here today and putting up with me for

the last four years.

Before I read my orders I have these last words

of advice for the Crew.

Always remember: Shots are stupid!

Thank you.

[YT]

Very nice speech Jim!

If I ever need a speechwriter, you've got the job!

[-Deborah-]

Nice job, CG.

Why are shots stupid, btw?

[Coop]

thei kil brain celz deb...

[CGVT]

Nice job, CG.

Why are shots stupid, btw?

Thanks, Deb.

I always tried to tell them that ingesting a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time was a good way to wreck a party. I started by telling them that shots and beer funnels were stupid, then I went to a party and saw them doing keg stands, so I added them to my mantra too. ( they told me I couldn't add things and I told them "I'm the boss, I can add what I want, Ha!). I would tell them to catch a buzz and ride the back of the wave. Drinking too much too fast makes you fall off the front of the wave...The idea of going out was to enjoy the party, not getting falling down drunk and puke all over themselves in an hour...

We had fun with it, but I think overall they got the message. Getting in trouble because of alcohol will get you kicked out of the Coast Guard.


I also told them "no porn on the internet on the CG system" because they would get caught, but I couldn't put that in my speech, Ha!

[Drew]

CGVT, you are ONE bald mofo!!

Agree with your 'shots are stupid' 100%

Congrats, and enjoy your stay in Joisey.

[CGVT]

CGVT, you are ONE bald mofo!!

Agree with your 'shots are stupid' 100%

Congrats, and enjoy your stay in Joisey.

Thanks, Drew.

Hey! That says BaLD, not BAD...Ha!

Notice how Jack is strategically position in front of my gut...?

[Drew]

Yeah, I noticed. I was however able to extrapolate what its probable shape was.

[DanO]

"Notice how Jack is strategically position in front of my gut...?"
-------------------------I didn't see no picture(s).

Nice Job CGVT.

GO LIONS "08" !!!!!!!!

[Sharkbait]

Nice job CGVT, I am impressed by all the ribbons, I salute you, Sir!.