Media Availability: Coast Guard to commission Hawaii's second Sentinel-class cutter

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 14th District Hawaii and the Pacific March 7, 2018 Contact: 14th District Public Affairs Office: (808) 535-3230 After Hours: (808) 341-9849 14th District online newsroom

Media Availability: Coast Guard to commission Hawaii's second Sentinel-class cutter 

HONOLULU — Media are invited to observe the commissioning of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Gerczak (WPC 1126), Hawaii's second Sentinel-class cutter, Friday.

The Joseph Gerczak is the second of the three Honolulu-based Fast Response Cutters that will primarily serve the main Hawaiian Islands.

All three FRCs should be in place by the spring of 2019. These cutters, with their improved effectiveness in search and rescue, will make the waters around the main Hawaiian Islands a safer place for recreational boaters and users of the waterways. Our on water presence improves with each new vessel, providing over 7,500 operational hours, a 40 percent increase over the existing 110-foot patrol boats.

The cutters are designed to patrol coastal regions and feature advanced command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance equipment, including the ability to launch and recover standardized small boats from the stern.

Joseph Gerczak, the cutter’s namesake, was killed while defending USS LST-66 from Japanese bombers during an American assault on Borgen Bay in New Britain, Papua New Guinea on Dec. 26, 1943. Gerczak was the first to react when the enemy bombing began and shot down two of the attackers before shrapnel from an explosion fatally wounded him. By his expert marksmanship, unwavering perseverance, and calm courage in the face of tremendous odds, he contributed to the success of this and previous assault and reinforcement landings during the New Guinea Campaign. The Purple Heart and the Silver Star were awarded to him posthumously. The crew of LST-66 received the Presidential Unit Commendation for their actions in the battle.

WHO: Vice Adm. Fred Midgette, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, will preside over the ceremony.

WHAT: Commissioning ceremony for Hawaii's second Sentinel-class cutter.

WHEN: Friday, March 9, at 10 a.m. Media should arrive at Coast Guard Base Honolulu no later than 9:15 a.m.

WHERE: Coast Guard Base Honolulu, 400 Sand Island Parkway, Honolulu, HI 96819. Media will be met at the front gate and escorted.

Please RSVP to Coast Guard 14th District External Affairs at 808-341-9849 or 808-535-3230 by 3 p.m., Thursday.

-USCG-