{"id":2242,"date":"2017-01-20T01:50:39","date_gmt":"2017-01-20T06:50:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.petebarrett.com\/?p=2242"},"modified":"2017-01-26T17:30:53","modified_gmt":"2017-01-26T22:30:53","slug":"so-that-others-may-live-the-us-coast-guard-cape-disappointment-for-the-american-worker-project","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.petebarrett.com\/?p=2242","title":{"rendered":"So That Others May Live… The US Coast Guard Cape Disappointment for The American Worker Project."},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\"\"<\/b><\/span>So picking up where we left off,\u00a0 our ongoing travels this fall took\u00a0us all over the Northwest, ranging from the Oregon coast up through Washington State and onward into Canada to Whistler BC. \u00a0Which brings me to this current post and latest installement into The American Worker Project.<\/p>\n

Over the course of several cold mid November days, I had the distinct honor and privilege of working with the brave men and women stationed at the United States Coast Guard Station, Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Washington.\u00a0\u00a0 After making contact with the station’s Commanding Officer LCDR Tom Condit, I was invited there to document the hard working members of the motor lifeboat rescue teams that patrol the turbulent waters off Cape Disappointment.<\/p>\n

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\nA little bit of history for those who are not familiar with aptly named Cape Disappointment\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Located at the mouth of the Columbia River where it meets the Pacific Ocean,\u00a0\u00a0 Cape Disappointment is known as one of the most treacherous and deadly waterways in the western hemisphere.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Commonly referred to as \u201cThe Graveyard of The Pacific,\u201d the waterways in the area are so turbulent that since their discovery in 1792, well over 2000 shipwrecks have occurred and over 700 lives have been lost.\u00a0\u00a0 The reason for this, is an occurrence that happens when the large waves emanating offshore from Japan and the Aleutian Islands, charge across the Pacific and collide with the strong currents flowing from the mighty Columbia River, culminating over the bar at the mouth of the river near the jetty.\u00a0\u00a0 The result is incredibly turbulent water and high surf that is unpredictable and extremely unforgiving.<\/p>\n

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When someone is in trouble at sea, \u00a0stranded, \u00a0alone and taking on water, it is the US Coast Guard who answers the call. \u00a0They will go out in extremely adverse conditions and lay their lives on the line to rescue those in need. \u00a0As you can imagine this requires lots of training in often intense and hostile situations, so that they may be prepared to take on this task regardless of the conditions.<\/p>\n