Reunion for ex-Coasties set for Sanibel Island Aug. 29 through Sept. 15
A re-union of ex-Coasties is scheduled in Sanibel/Captiva from Aug. 29 through Sept. 15 when shipmates and family members from the 5th Coast Guard District covering North Carolina will be visiting Southwest Florida. Hosting this year’s reunion is shipmate Dick Fortune and his partner Sara Lopez, who reside on the west end of Sanibel. Past re-unions have included Massachusetts, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Caribbean cruises to name a few.
Coast Guard base Ft. Macon in Atlantic Beach, N.C., was their last duty station together 1967-1969. Base Ft. Macon was home to ocean-going cutters and buoy tenders that serviced aids and navigation along North Carolina’s outer banks, coastal communities and stood ready to provide search and rescue operations as needed.
The U.S. Coast Guard, founded in 1790, is America’s oldest maritime defender. Shipmates aboard Coast Guard buoy tender Jonquil, WLB-330, performed aids to navigation services, law enforcement and search and rescue roles along North Carolina’s coastal shorelines and navigable water ways. The 18-foot tender was on readiness status to respond to any maritime need noteworthy of the Coast Guard’s peace time role.
The Coast Guard was transferred to the Department of Treasury in 1967 and later in 2003 to the Department of Homeland Security, where it currently serves. Today the Coast Guard enforces the nation’s laws at sea and guards the nation’s vast coast line, including entry ports, while performing lifesaving missions as first responders and humanitarian service providers to aid at sea and/or shore including natural or manmade disasters.
Veteran Coastie, Quartermaster 2nd Class Fortune served on Coast Guard Cutter Winnebago, WHEC-40, out of District 14, covering Hawaii and the Pacific. The Winnebago provided search and rescue services and a communication link to air navigation and merchant ships, while maintaining a position known as Ocean Station Victor between Midway Island and Japan. Fortune’s role as quarter master navigator carried over to his duty assignment on the Jonquil where navigational aids (buoys) required exact placements along channels and waterways along the North Carolina coastline. Fortune’s crew mates, and future guests with their families, included Jon Whitman, Joe Cheek, Ron Lee and Robert Murph, along with Don Gagnon and Milton Russell, who will not be attending. All of Fortune’s shipmates had different roles and shipboard duties based on their skills.
Fortune’s turn to host this year’s visiting Coasties and their families will include outings to the Sanibel Lighthouse, a trip to “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and CROW. Day trips aboard Captiva Cruises vessels to the San Carlos Bay fish houses, Cayo Costa, Cabbage Key and/or Useppa. Dolphin and sunset tours are also on the itinerary.
And, of course, a trip to Sanibel would not be complete without sharing the favorite watering holes, restaurants and many attractions. This Southwest Florida barrier island is known for its protected natural ecosystem and controlled growth that makes Sanibel so desirable as a vacation destination and what has become Fortune’s permanent residence.
So, if you see a group of “old Coasties” wearing blue Coast Guard hats and/or T-shirts, feel free to stop them, say hello and thank them for their service. They will certainly appreciate it.
Semper Paratus!