He flew commercially but in first class. The government had offered a business class seat but he told them that he'd arrange his own travel arraignments to Jamaica. When he landed at Sangster airport he was brought back to his youth. Dr. No was filmed in Kingston and the surrounding areas. If he has the time he might be able to see some of these sites. One can only dream. Knowing that he has no luggage to claim he leaves the terminal for the fresh air of Jamaica. By the time he ventures out onto the sidewalk, he was surprised to find a Jamaican Defense Force vehicle there waiting for him. A very tall thin man was leaning up against the Explorer holding a cardboard sign with his name written on it in marker. Rick steps up to the man and gives him the once over.
"Hello. I'm Commander Rodgers. I'm the X.O. of the USCGC Hamilton assigned temporarily to the JDF CG."
"Good afternoon Sir. My name is Horace Thomas Petty Officer first class. I'm here to take you to your ship. But first, we need to get you checked in with the JDF command here in Montego Bay."
"Very well. I already have my gear so I have nothing to else wait for." Rick said.
"Good. Hop in and we'll get you checked in."
P.O. Thomas opened and closed the passenger door for Rick and then quickly moved to get into the driver's seat. Soon they were off and heading to JDF HQ. Petty Officer Thomas pulled into a parking spot right in front of the JDF CG offices.
"Commander Rodgers welcome to outstation Montego Bay. I'll bring you in to meet the base C.O." Thomas said.
"Thank you."
They left the Explorer and climbed the stairs that led to the office area. Once inside P.O. Thomas walked up to a spacious office which Rick thought had to be the base commanders. He knocked on the door and waited.
"Enter."
"Commander Walker I have Commander Rodgers here. Is it alright for him to enter?"
"By all means, show him in." The Commander rises from his chair waiting for Rick to enter. When he does Walker was right about him he a very tall but a lean man. Salutes are rendered and returned and both men sit down.
Rick sees an older man clad in his dress whites. The only thing that separates their uniforms is the fact that Commander Walker wears a light yellow sash and a lanyard of the same color draped from his shoulder to his chest.
"That will be all Petty Officer Thomas. You're dismissed." Thomas left and at the click of his office door Commander Walker started to speak.
"Commander Rodgers it's a pleasure to finally meet you. I have been reading up on you and your career. You are a very dedicated guardsman."
"Thank you, sir. I have been reading up on you as well. You have taken over this command when the JDF was not that popular and made the best of it. My hat is off to you sir."
"Thank you, Commander. But the problem we're facing now is the number of drugs that are being moved through our country without any intervention. After you have been checked in, I'm sure that you want to run some drills on your ship. I also understand that this is your first time as an X.O. It's a tough job so good luck to you. Now let's get you checked in."
The process of checking in took about an hour and a half. When he was finished Rick was met by P.O. Thomas waiting at attention as he left the base commanders office. From there he bid farewell to Commander Walker and was brought out to the dock where his ship the Hamilton was waiting for him.
Xx
He walked out onto the dock. She's beautiful. She is 328 feet long, displaces three thousand two hundred fifty tons, and at top speed could attain twenty-eight knots. She'd seen service in Viet Nam, rescued countless people who had sent out distress calls, and earned the Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation for rescuing one hundred thirty-five Haitians from the sea after their sailboat capsized and sank. Ten years ago she had been overhauled in 1988, and the Hamilton completed a three-year fleet renovation and modernization that provided the ship with modern weapons and electronics systems. All spaces and machinery were also completely overhauled and refurbished. The new technology enables Hamilton to operate seamlessly with the United States Navy.
In March 2007, Hamilton assisted the Sherman in the largest recorded maritime drug bust in history. The two vessels intercepted the Panamanian-flagged fishing vessel Gatun in international waters and were able to recover twenty metric tons of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $600 million retail. The seizure was the largest drug bust in U.S. history and the largest interdiction at sea.
The C.O., Captain Ricciardi watches his X.O. as he walks along her port side He is just watching him as he marvels at the ship he's been assigned to. He keeps pace as they walk down the side of the ship and after about ten steps but he needs to tell him that if he keeps walking he'll end up in the Caribbean Sea.
"She's a beauty, isn't she?" The Captain says as a way to make Rick stop walking.
"Oh yes, I'm sorry sir!" Rick stops faces the Captain and renders a sharp salute. The Captain just chuckles as he returns it.
"Commander, why don't you come aboard and then we'll get better acquainted?"
"Sounds good Sir." Rick turned around and headed for the gangplank. Once there he saluted the colors and then he walked up to the main deck and saluted the C.O. once again officially. The Captain returned the salute.
"Welcome aboard Commander Rodgers."
"Thank you, sir."
Let's head to your quarters and get you settled in. Then I'm sure that tomorrow you'll want to run through the crew. Maybe set up a couple of drills for them to get them and yourself squared away."
"That'd be a good place to start sir."
"Rick when it's just us, please call me John."
"Okay, John." Rick tried it on for size and John cracked a small grin.
Xx
The Hamilton sliced through the water like a knife through hot butter. They were responding to a mock sailboat in distress call out and at the speed they were moving at they'd shave off five minutes off their previous time. He was just about to ask for a course correction to save more time when the radio came to life.
"USCGC Hamilton this is JDFCG outstation Montego Bay how do you read over?"
"Loud and clear Montego Bay." The radio man answered.
"We have several distress calls from a yacht named The Sea Witch. Florida hull number FL-3471-JB. Respond forthwith.
"Petty Officer Hall, set a course to intercept this yacht. Come about to 78 degrees." Rick ordered.
"Aye, aye sir."
John knew that they were going to be completing the mock rescue exercise soon. But when the ship started to make a slight turn in another direction, he became curious. Heading out of his quarters he went up to the bridge and entered as Rick had just given the order to come about to 78 degrees.
"So Rick what do we have?"
"A distress call from The Sea Witch. She's taking on water and is at latitude 18.546348 longitude -78.756259, GPS coordinates are 18° 32' 46.8528'' N 78° 45' 22.5324'' W. We should arrive in less than fifteen minutes."
"Carry on Commander."
"Aye, sir."
Captain Ricciardi takes a step back and silently observes how the crew interacts with Rick in command. By the time the cutter arrives at the scene the yacht is listing to starboard and taking on water heavily. Rick gives the order for the divers to ready the Kodiak. The first mate can see four people clinging onto the bow of the ship. If they don't act fast, they will go down with the yacht.
"Away crew commence rescue operations," Rick said into the radio mic.
"Aye, sir." Is the reply from the lead guardsman in the Kodiak.
Within minutes the Kodiak launches and the crew of three are moving towards the yacht. Rick and Captain Ricciardi watch through binoculars as the team reach the ill-fated yacht. The rescue goes off without a hitch and everyone is in the safety of the Kodiak. On the way back the rescue crew and the family of four watches as their yacht succumbed to the depths of the Caribbean Sea.
"Welcome aboard the USGCS Hamilton," Rick said to the people who were rescued from the yacht as they entered the bridge.
"Thank you so much for being as fast as you were getting to us. I don't know what we would have done if it weren't for you coming to save us." The older gentleman said to the captain.
"We were just doing our job sir. Please be my guest and head down to the galley to get some warm food. You look like you are all hungry." Captain Ricciardi said.
As the family left for the galley John asked Rick if he was alright.
"Rick you seem to be a little lost. Are you alright?"
"I am. I was just thinking about this rescue. If we needed to leave from homeport we'd never get here in time. The fact that we were out here training saved valuable time and maybe lives."
"Sometimes it just works out that way Commander. But aren't you glad we were that much closer to help these people?"
"Yes, sir. Are you going to take command?"
"No Rick. Bring us back to port. Take care of the paperwork and if you need me I'll be in my quarters."
"Aye, sir."
Xx
By the time they got back to port Rick had decided that the training they completed and the job they had just responded to deserved a reward. As the ship was secured to the dock, he had made an announcement over the PA system.
"All hands report to the conference room amidships."
By the time he arrived at the conference room he realized he should have held his meeting out on the flight deck. The number of personnel that was assembled in the conference room was more than it could hold.
"Can I have everyone's attention please?" Rick almost shouted over the chatter.
The guardsmen quieted to a low roar and waited for their X.O. to continue.
"Today's exercise turned into an actual rescue mission. I am proud of every one of you with the way you handled yourselves during this real-life operation. Since you have stepped up and met this challenge head on I am granting everyone liberty. The personnel assigned to a watch will be relieved by the next watch and will be free to leave the ship once they have been relieved. Shore leave ends 0600 on Monday morning. That is all."
The number of smiles that were on the sailor's faces was beyond description. Rick knew that they needed a break and this was the best way he could think of to give it to them. Captain Ricciardi sat at his desk and was listening to the speaker as it communicated Rick's order. He thinks that Rick will be a welcomed addition to this ship and crew.
Xx
The men were almost fighting each other to get off the ship and get to where ever they were going to. They hadn't had liberty in over a month and with this liberty, Rick knew that there were going to be incidents but he was hoping that his crew was going to keep their heads about themselves. He hoped.
He remembers when he was in college one spring break during his junior year he came down to Jamaica with Phillip. They had spent time going to all of the touristy locations and doing all the touristy stuff. It was something he never experienced in his life before and the people and atmosphere made the experience only that much better in his mind. The next year in his senior year, he had done it again only this time he had come alone. Phillip had a family emergency that he had to take care of and was unable to go with him.
He looks out from where he stands on the bridge and he sees the last of the crew leaving for liberty call. He remembers a club that he went to in Montego Bay and wonders if it's still open. If he remembers correctly the name of it was Taboo. He was last there way back when and even though he was in college he hoped to meet someone on spring break. It never happened but he was hopeful then. Now he only wants to take in the atmosphere and whet his whistle for a while. As he watches the last of the sailors move off the gangplank and onto the dock he heads back down to his quarters and starts to change into civilian clothes. He thinks it's better if he goes in civies rather than in a uniform. He wants to be incognito in a way and being dressed this way will bring less attention to himself. But by the time he gets his shirt changed he realizes that he is representing The United States Coast Guard and he should be representing his country by wearing his class "A" uniform. He rechanges his shirt, straightens his gig line and takes one last look in the mirror. He's ready.
He salutes the flag, then the watch on duty and heads for the gangplank. He knows the club he wants to go to and hopes that it's still there and open after all these years.