Editor’s note: The following letter was sent from Commodore Jim Vass, D8-CR to all of the sitting District Commodores. After consultation with National Commodore Gene Seibert it was decided to give this letter wider dissemination, therefore SITREP is offering the letter for your perusal and action.

6 December 2005

From: District Commodore, Eighth Coastal Region Auxiliary
To: District Commodores, Unites States Coast Guard Auxiliary

Subject: Status Report on Operation Life Ring and Request for Help

I humbly request your help and support.

We all know at times, when we are asked to support various programs, we are never sure the help is truly needed or if the money gets where it can do the most good.

With this in mind, let me tell you about how I just spent the first 4 days of December with the National Commodore, National Area Commodore Atlantic West and the Chief Director of Auxiliary. We were also joined by the D8CR Vice Commodore, Rear Commodores and District DIRAUX.

Our trip started in Mobile, Alabama and ended the trip in Port Arthur, Texas, with stops at Pascagoula, Biloxi, Gulfport, Diamondhead and New Orleans. The purpose of the trip was to let the Auxiliary and Coast Guard personnel, that have been through the devastating events of hurricanes Katrina and Rita that we care. We met and talked with members from various divisions and flotillas, as well as Coasties from the various stations along our route, to hear their stories, to hear and see their hardships, to gather lessons learned and how to improve our response to future emergencies. Likewise, we sot out their immediate needs and to determine how we could continue to help them. Forty-one Auxiliarists within D8CR lost their homes and possessions, not to mention the hundreds that sustained wind and water damage.

Let me tell you one of the many stories that we heard first hand. In Biloxi, Mississippi as we met with members of Flotilla 37, members, still very emotional, told us their stories. One of the members asked that we visit his home or at least what was left of it. His slab were the house once stood was about 15 feet in elevation above the water. During the storm our member and his wife crawled into a very small attic wearing life jackets, as the water began to enter his home. The water continued to rise and our member was able to reach through the ceiling to touch the water. He could also see his neighbors sail boat, the stern entered his bedroom and destroyed one of the walls for his home. The member is living in a trailer supplied by FEMA and has not been able to get the insurance adjuster to visit his home since the storm struck 4 months ago. This member was most grateful for the aid he received from the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, a loan of $5,000, which allowed him to purchase what little water and food could be found.

This sets the stage for the purpose of this note to you.

As you know, Commodore Gene Seibert’s desire is that all of the loans that were provided to our members by Coast Guard Mutual Assistance are converted to grants. By matching the amount of the loans received by Auxiliarists, contributions made to the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s Operation Life Ring Fund will assist in meeting his desire.

Currently to the credit of Commodore Joe Taylor, he was able to locate and with the assistance of a Coast Guard Mutual Assistance Representative, provided $160,000 in loans to over 32 of our members, with additional members still seeking Coast Guard Mutual Assistance support. Through your generosity, Operation Life Ring has collected approximately $90,000 in donations with donations continuing to trickle in, to provide to Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, to offset Auxiliarist loans.

Commodores, I am appealing to you and your members to continue to open your hearts, to support your fellow members in these disaster stricken areas. The Eighth Coastal Region has contributed $10,000 with most of the Divisions and many of the Flotillas contributing $1,000 or more.

I can assure you the money is going to members of the Auxiliary and Coast Guard families who are in need of your support, today. If we can not offset these loans through Operation Life Ring, our members, many of whom have been left with virtually nothing, will have to begin repaying these loans in April.

Once again, I appeal to you and your members to help. If you have questions please contact Commodore Joe Taylor or myself.

In advance I thank you for your help.

Jim Vass
Jim Vass
Commodore 8th District CR