40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOSS OF USCGC CUYAHOGA

ALCOAST 350/18 COMDTNOTE 5700 SUBJ:  40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE LOSS OF USCGC CUYAHOGA 1. Saturday, October 20th, marks the 40th anniversary of USCGC CUYAHOGA (WIX 157) sinking. The cutter was underway in the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Potomac River on a nighttime training mission when she collided with the 521-foot Argentine-flagged freighter M/V SANTA CRUZ II. The impact of the collision was so devastating that CUYAHOGA sank in minutes, taking 10 Coast Guardsmen and an international officer with her. Eighteen crewmembers survived the incident. 2. The CUYAHOGA sinking – and the USCGC BLACKTHORN (WLB 391) collision and sinking 15 months later - initiated a period of review and reflection that ultimately led to improvements in Cost Guard policy, doctrine, training and standardization. The Service created a preparation course for all command cadre, mandated the Deck Watch Officer Examination, required prospective commanding officers to conduct underway familiarization rides, and promulgated the Commandant's Cutter Navigation Standards. Today, Service leaders at all levels are trained to mitigate risk and ensure that Coast Guard operations are performed as safely as possible. We honor the sacrifice of those Coast Guardsmen who perished aboard CUYAHOGA 40 years ago by adhering to the lessons learned from that tragedy. 3. Two ceremonies will be held to memorialize the CUYAHOGA and her crew. On Friday, October 19, Officer Candidate School will host a ceremony on the campus of the Coast Guard Academy. For further information, please contact LT Eric Romero at (860) 701-6402 or "Eric.D.Romero@uscg.mil." On Saturday, October 20, a ceremony including members of CUYAHOGA's surviving crew, will take place on the grounds of Training Center Yorktown. For more information, please contact CWO4 Chad McNeill at (757) 856-2241, "Chad.A.McNeill@uscg.mil"; or LT Brendan Salerno at (757) 856-2720, "Brendan.R.Salerno@uscg.mil." 4. More information about USCGC CUYAHOGA is available at: "https://history.uscg.afpims.mil/cmsmedia/2002048161/-1/-1/0/CUYAHOGA%20AFPIMS.PDF" 5. Please pause to remember our lost shipmates of USCGC CUYAHOGA and reflect on their service to our nation. 6. RDML Melissa Bert, USCG, Director of Governmental & Public Affairs, sends. 7. Internet release is authorized.