Presidential Unit Citation for Huricane Katrina

[ITC Matthew Altieri]

ALCOAST 014/07
COMDTNOTE 1650
SUBJ: DISTRIBUTION OF THE COAST GUARD PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC R091412Z JUN 06/ALCOAST 317/06
1. ON MAY 25, 2006, AT THE COMMANDANTS CHANGE OF COMMAND
CEREMONY, PRESIDENT BUSH PRESENTED THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION
(PUC) TO THE U.S. COAST GUARD FOR MERITORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT AND
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN ACTION FROM AUGUST 29 TO SEPTEMBER
13, 2005, IN PREPARATION FOR, AND RESPONSE AND RECOVERY TO THE
DEVASTATION WROUGHT BY HURRICANE KATRINA. SINCE THE RESPONSE TO
KATRINA WAS AN ALL-HANDS EFFORT, ALL CG ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE,
AUXILIARY, AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO WERE AFFILIATED WITH THE
COAST GUARD AT ANY TIME DURING THE PERIOD (29 AUGUST 2005 - 13
SEPTEMBER 2005) ARE ELIGIBLE FOR THE AWARD.
2. THE COAST GUARD, IN COORDINATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELAND SECURITY AND THE INSTITUTE OF HERALDRY, DEVELOPED THE
DESIGN FOR THIS NEW COAST GUARD-SPECIFIC RIBBON TO BE USED FOR
THIS AND ANY FUTURE AWARD OF THE COAST GUARD PUC. FOR HURRICANE
KATRINA, THIS RIBBON WILL BE WORN WITH A SPECIALLY DESIGNED
HURRICANE DEVICE ATTACHED. A ONE-TIME ISSUANCE OF THE RIBBON AND
DEVICE OR CIVILIAN LAPEL PIN (AS APPROPRIATE) WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO
ALL RECIPIENTS OF THE AWARD. COMDT (CG-1221) WILL SHIP QUANTITIES
OF THE AWARDS TO MLC AND DISTRICT COMMANDS FOR FURTHER
DISTRIBUTION. SHIPMENT OF THE NEW RIBBON WILL BEGIN WITHIN A MONTH.
3. THERE IS NO INDIVIDUAL CERTIFICATE OR CITATION FOR THIS AWARD
AND ONE WILL NOT BE CREATED. INDIVIDUALS DESIRING A COPY OF THE
AWARD CITATION TO THE COAST GUARD WILL FIND IT ON THE MEDALS AND
AWARDS WEB SITE AT HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-W/G-WP/G-WPM/G-PM-1/G-WPM-3/MEDALSANDAWARDS.HTM.
A GRAPHIC OF THE COMPLETED AWARD DEMONSTRATING PROPER PLACEMENT
OF THE HURRICANE DEVICE IS AVAILABLE AT THE SAME WEB SITE.
4. BASED ON INPUTS RECEIVED FROM THE FIELD IN DEVELOPING THE
ELIGIBILITY LIST FOR THE PUC, ALL COMMANDS ARE TO INSTRUCT THEIR
PERSONNEL, INCLUDING CIVILIAN PERSONNEL, TO VERIFY THEIR SERVICE
DATES IN DIRECT ACCESS (SELF SERVICE/EMPLOYEE/VIEW/MEMBER
INFO/CAREER SUMMARY). ANY DISCREPANCIES SHOULD BE REFERRED TO THE
INDIVIDUALS SPO FOR CORRECTION BY 31 JAN 07. SERVICE ENTRIES INTO
DIRECT ACCESS WILL BE PROCESSED SERVICE-WIDE ON OR ABOUT 9 FEB 07.
5. UNIT COMMANDS ARE ALSO INSTRUCTED TO IDENTIFY SISTER SERVICE
PERSONNEL WHO WERE ASSIGNED TO THEIR UNIT DURING THE ELIGIBILITY
PERIOD AND PROVIDE A LIST (INCLUDE RANK, NAME, SERVICE, SSN, DUTY
TITLE, AND TYPE OF ASSIGNMENT) THROUGH THE COAST GUARD CHAIN OF
COMMAND TO COMDT (CG-1221) TO PROCESS FOR SISTER SERVICE
CONCURRENCE. THESE PERSONNEL LISTS SHOULD BE RECEIVED AT COMDT
(CG-1221) BY 09 FEB 07.
6. ELIGIBLE PERSONNEL ARE AUTHORIZED TO WEAR THE RIBBON WITH DEVICE
OR CIVILIAN LAPEL PIN UPON RECEIPT.
7. QUESTIONS MAY BE DIRECTED TO MR. GABLE AT 202-475-5385 OR CWO
LEWIS AT 202-475-5384.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
9. CAPT M. C. COSENZA, ACTING DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT,
SENDS.
BT
NNNN

My question is, has anyone seen or heard about the ribbon's precedence? I
can't recall if it was in a previous message or not, but I've dug through all
of my files/email and can't find any info on it.

Matt

[MKC Brandon Andrews]

I cant remember the precedence either, not to mention that the website listed for that exact instruction doesnt work! :rolleyes:

[ITC Matthew Altieri]

Just got this from CWO Lewis at HQ:

The CG PUC is immediately below the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon (LOC).

So now we know.

Also, the link in the message is broken. Here is the correct link:

HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/HQ/G-W/G-WP/G-WPM/G-WPM-1/G-WPM-3/MEDALSANDAWARDS.HTM

[AMTCM John Long]

Also from CWO Lewis IRT whether there is a medal to go with the ribbon.....

"Good Afternoon Master Chief,

There is no medal. The CG PUC is a ribbon with a hurricane device.

v/r

CWO Lewis"

John

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

The CG PUC is a ribbon with a hurricane device.


An an appropriate devise it is too. The malstrom it caused would have nothing less.

I still don't see why everyone got it. Couldn't they have given coins to those not actually participating?

[CWO Eugene Diotalevi (BMC)]

Bill,

Would it make you feel better if they gave you one too?

[MKCM Brett Ayer]

I still don't see why everyone got it. Couldn't they have given coins to those not actually participating?

My Uncle got one in WWII for the invasion of Normandy. He was on a troop ship crossing the Atlantic at the time it was earned. As I remember from his stories, he never did make it to France.

That is the way unit commendations work. I believe his unit had more people in it the than the Coast Guard does as a whole.

Katrina involved a significant effort from a significant number of Coast Guard members. Just because someone was not directly involved with the operation, does not mean they did not contribute to the effort.

For everyone deployed to Gulf Coast, there was someone covering their AOR, backfilling their cubical, or making sure their paycheck ended up in the right place.

I have no problem with everyone getting the ribbon.

Be Safe,

Brett

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Brett, I'm feeling ya....... but I just can't climb on board. In the spirit of giving, I can understand that we're all one Coast Guard. But I did nothing to support the efforts of Katrina. It was very easy to be proud of the work that others did. I'll wear mine to show support of my fellow Coasties who did all the work. But at the end of the day, it's like the 9-11 Medal/Ribbon all over again. The GWOTM, all over again.

[CMC Bruce Bradley]

I'm with ya Stu on this one, believe it or not. I just wish that they would get together and if they are going to hand out all this stuff, then do it all at once. It's getting expensive to keep rebuilding ribbon racks.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Bill,

Would it make you feel better if they gave you one too?

No, because as many thousands on active duty, I was not a participant and did not earn it.

I know this outlook wrankles many, but this is just another of a long list of gedunk awards to make the folks happy. It should only go, like the real PUC, to those people who were in the AO and directly involved. This is what the awards system is supposed to be about.

Besides, who wants a pink ribbon?

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Brett, "For everyone deployed to Gulf Coast, there was someone covering their AOR, backfilling their cubical, or making sure their paycheck ended up in the right place."

I've heard this many times and I can understand that some may feel unappreciated because they did not go, but this is the nature of the service. They should understand that people involved are doing more than just back filling a cubicle. Then again, if volunteers were solicited then why did they not volunteer?

I heard this many times following Vietnam. There were complaints about those volunteering for Vietnam were presented with unit and personal awards. These complaints lead to the abolition of the unit award for SWE points. I recall seeing the notice that people felt it unfair the Vietnam units were getting unit awards and those at home were not. Don't forget, the Coast Guard issued less than a handful of unit awards to its units in Vietnam. None, for the combat units.

I still think someone should do something first.

[MKCM Brett Ayer]

Brett, "For everyone deployed to Gulf Coast, there was someone covering their AOR, backfilling their cubical, or making sure their paycheck ended up in the right place."

I've heard this many times and I can understand that some may feel unappreciated because they did not go, but this is the nature of the service. They should understand that people involved are doing more than just back filling a cubicle. Then again, if volunteers were solicited then why did they not volunteer?

I heard this many times following Vietnam. There were complaints about those volunteering for Vietnam were presented with unit and personal awards. These complaints lead to the abolition of the unit award for SWE points. I recall seeing the notice that people felt it unfair the Vietnam units were getting unit awards and those at home were not. Don't forget, the Coast Guard issued less than a handful of unit awards to its units in Vietnam. None, for the combat units.

I still think someone should do something first.

Bill,

I don’t disagree with you in general, but in this case you need to remember that members who deployed were also given the Armed Forces Medal or the Humanitarian Service Medal (or both). If the PUC was the only award given, I would be onboard with your logic.

The individual awards were given to recognize the members; the PUC was given to recognize the Coast Guard. In that context, I believe it is the right thing to give it to everyone.

On another note, I know many people that volunteered and were not allowed to go. In my mind they were the ones that had the hard job. I can think of nothing harder than warming the bench, when you really want to be in the game :)

Be Safe,

Brett

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I agree with Master Chief Ayer,

I would love to have gone. I have been an EMT and Ski Patroller for 20 years. That is why I joined the Coast Guard - to help people. As an OIC there is no way they would have sent me down there, but I would have gone in a minute. I did send my XPO down, that means I had to do his job as well as mine while he was gone. So do I feel I deserve the PUC, yes. Everyone played some role, even though MC Wells hates to hear that argument, it is a valid one. From the Master Chief Aviation Survival Tech who trained the guys that performed those rooftop rescues to the NESU guy who made sure there were backup parts being ordered to fix the boats - it was a TEAM COAST GUARD effort.

[BMCM Stuart S. Slesh]

Dave, I'm telling you ......I did nothing. I made two phone calls to offer up some of my people, who didn't go. I've been at the forefront of other storms, but this one says Katrina. If it said the storms of 2005 I might feel differently. But I really didn't do anything for Katrina. I didn't go. I didn't send anyone. I didn't divert any unit funds. I didn't send any supllies. I didn't even watch it on T.V. I didn't do anything......other than be part of the "Team Coast Guard" that did respond.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Brett,
I don’t disagree with you in general, but in this case you need to remember that members who deployed were also given the Armed Forces Medal or the Humanitarian Service Medal (or both). If the PUC was the only award given, I would be onboard with your logic.

Perhaps I am old fashioned. When an award is given for a particular event then it should go to only those who were the active players. The rest should appreaciate that they were able to lend support even if on the fringes, but do they really deserve the same recognition. No, of course not.

If everyone is to receive equal recognition then why have an awards system. This was a topic of discussion by the House Armed Forces committee in 1942. They worried about awards and medals being deluted because of the over awarding of them. They were correct with the high point of abuse coming (for the other services) during Vietnam.

Even the citation for the PUC is confusing. Does it not mention the 4000+ who served there?

This was a screw up from day one. The PUC should have gone to those physically involved and on scene. If the Coast Guard wanted to give something to everyone the HSM could have been issued again as it was before. Even that would not have been a correct action.

I can only hope the Coast Guard takes proper aim before it shoots in the future.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

From the Master Chief Aviation Survival Tech who trained the guys that performed those rooftop rescues to the NESU guy who made sure there were backup parts being ordered to fix the boats - it was a TEAM COAST GUARD effort.

Dave, How many degrees of separation should there be?

An example. In the early 1980s, I (with two other GMs) rewrote and implemented large changes in small arms marksmanship training. Most of them, in base, are still being used today. I introduced the TRANSTAR tragets to the Coast Guard training instead of the bullseye (although they are the same in principle) and created change in training philosophy (most of it was canned later by people with less experience and knowledge).

Should I get a cut of the awards and acclaim for everytime the training was used? Did not a female BM2 get an award in New Orleans for keeping bandits off the base with a weapon? I thought I was part of "Team Coast Guard" as well. Not so?

[BMC Ken Gouge]

I was on patrol in the carribean at the time and we were slammed by the tropical storm which later became Katrina. We did nothing extraordinary except head to a different AOR to relplace a cutter that was closer and thus diverted to LA. So I would like a "tropical storm" distinguishing device for mine please... :rolleyes:

Bill, you seem angry? I was in Korea (post war obviously) and there was a presidential unit citation merely for being assigned to the 2nd ID. I think the distinction between a presidential unit citation (or any other CG wide award) is that you didn't actually have to be there. I think that it should be ranked lower than a personal or unit award achieved at the expense of your own time and effort, but seeing who's handing it out (ie. POTUS) I don't think that'll happen.

I think it is easier to just think of these ribbons as service stripes on your ribbon bar. They are worth no points for SWE or anything so why worry. My only concern is that somewhere in our service there is a sneaky little guy who owns a good portion of VANGARD, and profits everytime someone gets their ultra-thin ribbons re-done :D

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Bill, you seem angry? I was in Korea (post war obviously) and there was a presidential unit citation merely for being assigned to the 2nd ID. I think the distinction between a presidential unit citation (or any other CG wide award) is that you didn't actually have to be there. I think that it should be ranked lower than a personal or unit award achieved at the expense of your own time and effort, but seeing who's handing it out (ie. POTUS) I don't think that'll happen.

Ken, No angry, but concerned for the future. The expectations by everyone in the Coast Guard are certainly raised. What happens in the future when another event comes about and the whole Coast Guard is not given a ribbon? There will be a wholesale moan of 'That's not fair, I had to answer someone else's phone for a whole week.'

I am surprized at the people who should know better than to present a mass award including those in CGHQ who should have certainly known better.

I have no idea why the 2ID would present a PUC for peace time operations. My late brother was a tank driver/mechanic at Monsoon in 1968-69. He used to send me clipping of fire fights with the North Koreans.

I believe the Coast Guard got two PUCs (I'd have to check) in Vietnam and you definitely had to be there for the time period specified. I wasn't.

I think we should have gotten one just putting up with the Vietnamese we had to "train." Ever spend weeks on a 82 with 22 people (10 Americans and 12 Vietnamese) during the monsoon with seas during between 10-15 feet. The VNs, for the most part, stayed sea sick the entire patrol with lasted from 4 to 5 days.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

What happens in the future when another event comes about and the whole Coast Guard is not given a ribbon? There will be a wholesale moan of 'That's not fair, I had to answer someone else's phone for a whole week.'

I am surprized at the people who should know better than to present a mass award including those in CGHQ who should have certainly known better.


So who wants to tell the President to not present HIS award to the Coast Guard?

The precedent was set a long time ago when unit awards were created. Do we not present the Meritorious Unit Commendation to the person who was attached to the unit for 1 or 2 less days than someone else because the ship was underway and they were at the pier waiting for the ship to return?

We as a service were awarded the Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award and the Humanitarian Service Medal in 1994, now I know I wasn't actually on scene pulling people out of the water in the Carribbean, does that mean that I shouldn't wear the awards that I am entitled to out of principle?

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

The precedent was set a long time ago when unit awards were created. Do we not present the Meritorious Unit Commendation to the person who was attached to the unit for 1 or 2 less days than someone else because the ship was underway and they were at the pier waiting for the ship to return?

If the person was not aboard the ship, they did not participate and should not be eligible for the unit award. Example, in 1978 my WHEC was in Boston for the blizzard. I was at GI in school. The ship was presented the HSM for their work in the city. I was not eligible because I wasn't there. It is as simple as that.

We as a service were awarded the Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award and the Humanitarian Service Medal in 1994, now I know I wasn't actually on scene pulling people out of the water in the Carribbean, does that mean that I shouldn't wear the awards that I am entitled to out of principle?

Principle is just another word for ethics. For someone to display awards they did not earn is an ethical quandry. The two you mentioned are worthless because they were awarded to everyone. The awards should have gone to only those who were pulling people out the water.

Ask yourself where is the carrot if everyone gets something. One thing people have forgotten is the mass givaways began with the implementation of TQM in the Coast Guard. One of the principles of TQM is to create awards and hand them out frequently. Unfortunately, this outlook collides with the purpose of military concepts about awards and medals. Simply being does not justify an award. I suppose we could paraphrase the old saw, "I have an award, therefore I am."

[CWO Chris Sparkman (BMC)]

Just received these today at the station. Nice little gold hurricane, but really what caught my eye was the colors of the ribbon. Boise State colors :) Brought back great memories from the bowl game. :D

As for participation and distribution. Well...If I remember correctly there were two different 911 ribbons or medals. Maybe it was just a ribbon and then a medal, anyhow. Maybe they should have done something like that.

Hell, if the President issues a Presidential Unit Citation, I'm going to follow order and put it on. He is the Commander-In-Chief. Who am I to tell him...no, I don't think so. Like Master Chief stated earlier, I'll wear it proudly as part of "Team Coast Guard". I'm sure that awards were given to the hero's who were on scene conducting business.

Did I play a part, you bet. I supported the XPO going back with phone cards, clothes, water, etc. that was raised by the Local Chiefs Mess and the Chief Association. I gathered the crew and talked about donating to the Katrina fund, over 50% of the crew donated any where from 5$ to 100$ a month. Some of those contributions are still going today.

Did I do as much as the folks who were hands on involved, no way. Did those folks get recognized????....I sure hope so, if not someone really dropped the ball.

CS

[OSC Jeff Alger]

Didn't we have this exact same discussion in 1992 concerning the DOT Gold?

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

I'd say tje Katrina ribbon should have been awarded to those with direct involvement... About the same criteria as the Humanitarian Service Medal.... Speaking of which, the CG itself did not follow its own guidelines when they awarded it to everyone in the CG years ago...

If you're going to hand them out to everyone, regardless if they did anything or not, what meaning/value do they have?

Wray... :cool:

[PACS Steve Carleton]

I'd say tje Katrina ribbon should have been awarded to those with direct involvement... About the same criteria as the Humanitarian Service Medal.... Speaking of which, the CG itself did not follow its own guidelines when they awarded it to everyone in the CG years ago...

If you're going to hand them out to everyone, regardless if they did anything or not, what meaning/value do they have?

Wray... :cool:

Master Chief,

Throughout this discussion, you never asked whether there was other recognition for those who did have direct involvement, and I suspect you already know the answer.

There were Air Medals, MSMs, Commendation Medals, Achievement Medals, Armed Forces Service Medals and Humanitarian Service Medals.

Just because I wasn't in Theater with direct involvement doesn't mean that I didn't pull 17+ hour days to attend briefings and Conference Calls with the Area Commander and senior staff while 6 of my staff and 2 of my Reservists were deployed.

My people who were there, were awarded properly for their personal actions. May I remind you that in one way or another, the hurricane response was an "All Hands" evolution CG Wide>

The COMMANDER IN CHIEF awarded HIS Unit Citation to the Coast Guard as a whole, period!

If you have a problem with that, write HIM a letter, I'll even give you the mailing address if you need it.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

The hours put in to cover others is a non-issue. It is part of the job. We've all done it at some point. I once put in 32 straight hours in support of a beseiged Army unit in Vietnam. We regularly put 12-15 hour days during a 7-month shipyard availability.

Wray asked about the value of something that was given to everyone for just because. It was a good idea to provide some recoginition for those who stayed home, but they could have been handled at the local level for their involvement there.

As for the personal awards passed out for those directly involved. Well, many know my sentiments about that. I will say nearly as many Air Medals, DFCs, and others were handed out for the one-week operation as for all of WWII; a time when many more people were directly involved.

People forget that awards are more about writing than deed. There was a time when the Coast Guard did not know how to give awards; today it does not know when to stop. There should be some middle ground somewhere.

[BMCM Wray Gillette (Ret)]

Steve,
Like Bill said, a few extra hours of work by you to cover missing personnel is a non issue... Do you think every person that received the award did the same thing? Please lets get real here.

I was sharing my opinion about this award.. and perhaps others.. no need for me to write the President about it... Awards to a retired member are meaningless...

I have had direct & indirect participation in many a hurricane, SAR ops, salvage ops AtoN ops, MEP ops,.... etc... Please don't come off as a "high and mighty" to me.. I have no idea what "operational" units you have been at, (got me curious now) but,... I will be glad to list mine if necessary, or you would like to see them.... and the positions I held at them.... (most of which I was OIC)

Wray... :cool: