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The Coast Guard Channel has recently created a flash presentation with music of some of my CG work. To view, click on the
logo above.(THIS MAY TAKE A MOMENT OR TWO) I am truly flattered and honored that they selected my work. Be sure to check
out their site on the links page. There are a lot of very nice USCG presentations.
Coffee Mug available
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| USCGC Bear acrylic 20x24" |
The CGC Bear on what is probably a typical patrol. When completed it will also include the old steam bark Bear, built in
1847, sailing past her stern (below).
The "new" Bear was commissioned on February 4, 1983 and is the first of thirteen "Famous Class" 270-foot
Medium Endurance Cutters. She has "big shoes" to fill and is living up to her namesake very well. ______________________________________________________________
Coffee Mug, mouse pad and print available
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| USRC BEAR sailing alongsite the current BEAR (The Two Bears) 20x24 |
Always With You, Always There
The Two Bear's
As you might know, the original Bear was built in 1873 by Alexander Stephen & Son of Scotland. She only spent about the first
10 years sealing before she was acquired by the Revenue Cutter Service in 1885. She had a very colorful career and is probably
the CG's most famous Cutter. One of her most noted adventures was the rescue of the Greely Expedition. Sadly she foundered
on Mar 19th 1963 off of Chatham MA while under tow to Philadelphia to be converted to a restaurant. I was told by a friend
that even during her last hours she continued to rescue as there was a crewman from the tug aboard and she didn't sink until
he was removed! If you look closely just forward of the foremast on deck there is a white hat sailor waving to the one on
the new Bear who is on the 01 deck just above the last port...he is clad in orange foul weather gear ...probably the BMOW
eh?
The current Bear is 270 ft long and the first of the "Famous Class" Cutters. She was commissioned on February 4th, 1983 and
is homeported in Portsmouth VA. Quite a contrast!
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| USCGC Escanaba and the Dorchester 1943 |
This is what North Atlantic convoy duty might
have looked like in 1943. The USCGC Escanaba, a 165 foot gunboat was escorting convoy SG-19 consisting of six ships (three
merchantmen). One, the U.S. Army Transport Dorchester, can be seen in the background while another escort ship, the CGC Comanche,
is barely visible on the horizon. The date is February 2, 1943 and about 100 miles west of Cape Farewell Greenland. It was
a bitter cold and gloomy day typical of that time of year. A short time after midnight the following day the Dorchester was
torpedoed and sank in about 15-20 minutes. She carried 902 crew and passengers. 675 men were lost including the four Army
Chaplains that were aboard praying for the safety of the men.
Tragically, about 4 months later the Escanaba herself sank, probably the victim of a drifting mine. The explosion and sinking
was so rapid that no distress call was sent. Only two men survived, Melvin Baldwin who died in 1964 and Ray O'Malley who died
on March 8, 2007 in Chicago.
The citizens of Grand Haven Michigan, the Escanaba's homeport, were so distraught that they raised funds to have another Escanaba
built. Every summer they conduct what is now known as the Coast Guard Festival in honor of the crew and all Coast Guard personnel.
To read about the Transport Dorchester and the four Chaplains, click here.
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| USAT Dorchester sinking - acrylic 5'x3' - private collection |
The USAT Dorchester sinking as described to me by several survivors. The torpedo hit amidships just aft of the stack and
below water. Almost immediately a strong smell of ammonia permeated the area below decks, she lost power and continued a short
distance under her forward momentum before becoming "dead in the water". She then settled slowly towards the stern, rolled
to starboard and sank bow first. All within about 20 minutes. Seen here in the painting is a portion of her starboard side
as men frantically try to cut a frozen drum raft free while others desparately attempt to clear two lifeboats. Others are
seen slipping on the ice covered decks while the four Chaplains on the lower left of the main deck give their last life jacket
to a man without one. Many of the men can be seen only partly clad in the sub freezing weather and others, dazed, are contemplating
jumping.
One common statement of the survivors I talked to was that looking back at the sinking ship is it looked like a "giant Christmas
tree of humanity with hundreds of glowing red lights of the life jackets".
This painting is now on permanent display in the Immortal Chaplains Memorial Sanctuary aboard the Queen Mary in Long Beach
CA. Please click on the above link to learn more about the Foundation and the Chaplains.
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| Stalking SG-19, Dawn February 2nd 1943 - acrylic |
This is my last painting in the DORCHESTER series. It depicts the early morning prior to the DORCHESTER sinking. SG-19 was
the name of the convoy that was enroute to Greenland. The escort ships consisted of the CGC TAMPA, ESCANABA & COMANCHE.
The Merchant ships were the DORCHESTER, LUTZ & BISCAYA. U-223 a class VII type German U-Boat that sank the DORCHESTER.
Coffee Mug available
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| USCGC Sagebrush - acrylic - PRIVATE COLLECTION |
The CGC Sagebrush WLB399 was a 180 ft class
C seagoing buoy tender built at the Zenith Dredge Company at Duluth Minnesota in 1944. These vessels were primarily built
for Aids to Navigation duties but were also used for icebreaking, search & rescue missions, firefighting and logistical support.
During their prime the 180's were considered the backbone of the "Black Fleet" & workhorse of the CG in general. They were
all recognized as one of the most versatile & practical ships of the CG fleet. She was decomnissioned in April of 1988 & sadly
scuttled as a reef off of the Georgia coast. The last remaining 180, the Acacia WLB406, will be decommissioned in June of
this year.
This painting was commissioned by a former CG Radioman who was aboard in 1968 and wanted the famous El Morro Castle in the
background while entering San Juan Harbor.
Print & Coffee Mug available
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| In Harms Way (Bodega Bay) - 16x20 - acrylic AVAILABLE |
This is the U.S. Coast Guards newest Motor
Lifeboat, replacing the familiar 44 foot MLB's. She is a 47 footer constructed of aluminum and is able to right herself in
just 10 seconds during a rollover. This painting is of the CG47257 assigned to Bodega Bay Motor Lifeboat Station and is dedicated
to the courageous surfmen throughout the USCG who place themselves "IN HARMS WAY" on a daily basis. This painting is AVAILABLE.
Coffee Mug & print available
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| On Guard - CG25592 - Acrylic, 16x20 Private Collection |
The 25 foot "Defender class" response boat is the newest addition to the Coast Guard's fleet of small boats and will provide
a standardized platform for the services new Maritime Safety & Security Teams (MSST's)
These boats will also provide a greater capability to support nearly all of the Coast Guard's multiple missions including
enhancing Homeland Security with reported speeds in excess of 40 knots.
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Coffee Mug available
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| NOT IN VAIN USCG manned USS Serpens - Acrylic |
The USS Serpens AK-97 was A U.S. Coast Guard
manned cargo ship in World War II. She was a Liberty type built at Wilmington California as the S.S. Benjamin N. Cardozo
and was quickly converted while still under construction. Commissioned in May of 1943 she served in the South Pacific and
was again modified for transportation of ammunition.
Late in the evening on January 29, 1945 while anchored off Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands her crew was loading
depth charges. Her Commanding Officer and several enlisted crewmen were ashore when a violent explosion rocked the harbor
and the Serpens suddenly disappeared taking with her 193 Coast Guardsmen, 56 Army stevedores and a Public Health Service Doctor.
The blast was so strong that it also killed a soldier ashore. Only two aboard survived. The absolute cause has never been
determined. This incident is the largest single loss ever suffered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Somehow I feel they know that
their sacrifices were "not in vain".
To read more about the USS Serpens, click here.
Coffee Mug available
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| SS Edmund Fitzgerald 12x16 acrylic |
The SS Edmund Fitzgerald was a large ore carrier working the Great Lakes and was tragically lost with her entire crew of 29
men on the night of November 10, 1975. She rests in 530 ft of water of Lake Superior.
Coffee Mug available
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| CGC Iroquois WPG43 - Doomed Voyage - acrylic 16x20 private collection |
The USCGC Iroquois was enroute to Ocean Station Victor via Midway Island for refueling. This is how I view her the day before
her arrival after a beautifully calm passage from Honolulu. On June 29th, 1954 the Iroquois was standing off Midway awaiting
a Navy Pilot to bring them through the reef lined channel. Once aboard, the Pilot took control of the vessel and she slowly
inched her way inbound. A few minutes later she struck the reef and was firmly aground, taking on water. Efforts to pull
her free by the Navy were unsucessful and most of the crew were evacuated ashore. A handful of volunteers remained aboard
to control the flooding and keep her afloat. Several days later she was freed and towed to Honolulu. Once the full extent
of her damage was realized she was towed to the Coast Guard Yard at Curtis Bay MD and placed in "special status",
ultimately being declared a total loss and sold for scrap. My friend George Brenegan (then Fireman Apprentice) was one of
the volunteers that stayed with the ship. This is my thanks to him and his fellow shipmates who did their best in keeping
her afloat with no recognition in return.
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| Moments to Disaster - USN Hospital Ship Benevolence 8/25/50) - acrylic 16x20" PRIVATE COLLECTION |
On the afternoon of August 25, 1950 the Navy
Hospital Ship Benevolence was returning to San Francisco in dense fog after a day of sea trials when she collided with the
S.S. Mary Luckenbach just off the Golden Gate. The Benevolence sank quickly thrusting over 500 of her crew into the frigid
waters. Fortunately, there were no patients aboard. Nearby fishing vessels raced to the scene throwing their catch overboard
in order to bring more survivors aboard. Fisherman John Napoli was one of those and injured his back so severely that he had
to abandon his life long livelyhood. This is my tribute to Mr. Napoli and all the fishermen who sacrificed so much that tragic
afternoon. Twenty-three of the Benevolence crew did not survive. This painting is on permanent display at the San Francisco
North Beach Museum.
Print & Coffee Mug available
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| Old Hyde Street Pier, acrylic 16x20" Private Collection |
This is my vision of the old Hyde Street Pier
located on the west end of San Francisco's Fishermans Wharf. As a young boy I used to spend a lot of time exploring the waterfront
and have many fond memories. Behind the silhouetted 219 foot lumber schooner C. A. Thayer can be seen the cities skyline barely
visible through the lifting fog. The Thayer has been designated a National Historical Landmark and is open to the public.
She is presently undergoing restoration across the bay in Alameda. This painting is in private collection.
Print & Coffee Mug available
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| Chimney Rock Whistle Buoy - 16x20 - acrylic AVAILABLE |
This buoy is probably more accurately called
Drakes Buoy Number One and I am sure that she is presently painted green with a radar reflector. This is how I remember
her though when I was assigned to the Lifeboat Station. I had rounded her many times on the way to various calls for
assistance. Frequently you could see a lazy seal that was resting on the cannister hatch covers "barking" at us as we
passed. Sea Gulls always seemed to be present. This painting is AVAILABLE.
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| Rescue Angel, acrylic 18x24" |
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