1975 to 1976

Coast Guard Sector Sault Sainte Marie, MI

After I graduated HONOR MAN of my boot camp company in Alameda, CA (Alpha 103).  I could pick any open job position to go to, ahead of everyone in the company.  I picked Sault Sainte Marie, MI.

GROUP Sault Sainte Marie Michigan, now known at SECTOR Sault Sainte Marie.  Sault Sainte Marie is a relatively small town right on the border with Canada.  It is home of the Soo Locks which connect Lake Huron with Lake Superior for large commercial ships.  There is a 20 foot difference between the lakes which constantly drains in some rapids.  Large freighters and tankers cannot do the rapids and hence the locks (since 1855).

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I was here until i got orders to go to the U.S. Navy Quartermaster A School and the U.S. Navy Signalman A School.  Both were in Orlando, Florida at a very large U.S. Navy Base.

While I was here my first major search and rescue case occurred.  The sinking of the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD and the loss of her crew of 29 souls.

When the song by Gordon Lightfoot came out I was moved. (Song about the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald).

I entered the Coast Guard in Omaha Nebraska and my Father's side of the family was from South Dakota.  I thought I knew what winter was.  I didn't.  The winter time in Sault Sainte Marie was very reveling and I learned a lot.

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