THE BLACKTHORN TRAGEDY - Terror Came in the Night

[BuoyJumper]

After my discharge from the Coast Guard in 1970, I got readjusted to civilian life and got busy raising a family.  I really couldn’t imagine how anything that happened involving the Coast Guard could have much of an impact on my life, boy was I wrong.

I got up one morning in January of 1980 in my home, at that time in Richardson, Texas, poured my morning mug of coffee and sat down on the sofa to watch the morning news on television.  I could not believe my eyes, I was dumbfounded, how could such a tragedy happen?  The Coast Guard cutter BLACKTHORN homeported in Galveston, which I had seen a few times while vacationing in Galveston and a sister ship to the ship I had served on, had been in a collision in the Tampa Bay ship channel.  The BLACKTHORN had rolled over and sunk following the collision with about half of the crew onboard the reporter stated. 

I was not prepared for the nightmares that followed.  I could see myself sitting on the BLACKTHORN’S towing bit, dressed in my bell bottom jeans and navy blue utility jacket to shield me from the cool night air, sipping a hot cup of coffee from a GI crap brown Melmac coffee mug as I had done so many times before on my ship, as I watched the lights of Tampa/St. Pete fade into the horizon.  I could see myself sitting on the mess deck with my shipmates excitedly anticipating getting home and celebrating a belated Christmas with the family.  I could also see myself thrashing around in the darkness desperately seeking for a way out of my capsized ship, hearing the wail of the collision alarm and then I would be jolted awake by the emotion.

Many years later after the nightmares had subsided, I stumbled on an article about the BLACKTHORN and after reading it decided to research the tragedy.  In researching the tragedy I read the Coast Guard published report on the findings by their investigative team, I read a college thesis on the collision, newspaper articles and eye witness testimonies and what frustrated me was that I had all the facts but nobody had told the story.  When I learned that my friend’s cousin had served on the BLACKTHORN that is when I decided to write the story of that night of horror and tragedy which I have titled “Terror Came in the Night”.

To those families whose Coastie died that night, I pray you have found peace and know that your loved ones have not been forgotten.  Every January there is a Coast Guard Memorial Service at memorials established in Galveston and Tampa.  Every cadet graduating the Coast Guard Academy has studied the tragedy in depth so that hopefully nothing like this will ever happen again.  They are remembered by all who have served or are serving in the Coast Guard.

For those who survived that terrible night I hope your soul is comforted and those memories have faded.  The BLACKTHORN was a fine ship, but as a ship she was merely a conglomeration of steel, miles of electric cables, deck plates, motors, generators and valves but it was all of you who served on her that gave her life and she lives on in you and I thank you for your service. 


 
Ron Wilkins
USCGC MESQUITE
1966-1970           

[BuoyJumper]

[Salba]

Ron:

Nice Job. Well written, good citations and cross references, use of photos.  Bravo Zulu shipmate.

In memory of those who have gone before us, from their deeds and lessons, we have all learned.

 \

Blackthorn remembered.
Best Wishes

[Crazy Horse]

Great story


 

[vftb]

First time I've sat down long enough to read the whole thing.  Well done Buoy   

[EX-CG-GM]

I dunno....I'm starting to wonder.  Could Ron REALLY have been a Coastie?   He seems awfully talented in a lot of different areas....not like some other Coasties I've known......me, for instance!   

Excellent job Ron!   

[JerryM]

Thanks, Ron, that is the best article I have seen on this tragedy.
If I recall correctly, there was an RD (3 or 2) Jack Roberts on the Chincoteague during my time there (66-69), and I have often wondered if he was the Bosn lost with the Blackthorn.

Jerry

[Square Knot]

 

Thank you very much, Buoy, for your presentation of the Blackthorn Story. As we've talked before about her, I was stationed aboard her some 24 years before the collision, but once you've spent time aboard a ship, she is forever "My Ship". And so it goes with the CGC Blackthorn WAGL 391, My Ship, may she rest in peace. But most especially, the members of the crew who lost their lives that night, may they be sitting at the throne of God forever.

John Estep
CGC Blackthorn WAGL 391
Nov. 1955 to Apr. 1956

[Eupher6]

Thank you very much, Buoy, for your presentation of the Blackthorn Story. As we've talked before about her, I was stationed aboard her some 24 years before the collision, but once you've spent time aboard a ship, she is forever "My Ship". And so it goes with the CGC Blackthorn WAGL 391, My Ship, may she rest in peace. But most especially, the members of the crew who lost their lives that night, may they be sitting at the throne of God forever.

John Estep
CGC Blackthorn WAGL 391
Nov. 1955 to Apr. 1956

Here here. 

There is a brotherhood and a bonding among those who serve the Nation together. When you experience the same difficulties, the same conditions, the same challenges together, that bonding continues beyond the time spent.

Thanks to all those who have served, and who continue to serve.  \

[Katie]

Dear Mr. Wilkins,

My name is Kathryn Eident and I am a graduate student in Journalism at Boston University. I am currently helping my Uncle, a survivor of the USCGC Cuyahoga, research for a book he is writing. The article you wrote on the USCGC Blackthorn is an excellent resource--well written and researched. I was wondering if I could get an email copy of it for my Uncle to read to help him with his own book. I had a difficult time reading it/downloading it on the website it is currently posted on. Would it be possible to get the article in an email in a Word attachment?

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Eident
kaeident@bu.edu

[BuoyJumper]

Dear Mr. Wilkins,

My name is Kathryn Eident and I am a graduate student in Journalism at Boston University. I am currently helping my Uncle, a survivor of the USCGC Cuyahoga, research for a book he is writing. The article you wrote on the USCGC Blackthorn is an excellent resource--well written and researched. I was wondering if I could get an email copy of it for my Uncle to read to help him with his own book. I had a difficult time reading it/downloading it on the website it is currently posted on. Would it be possible to get the article in an email in a Word attachment?

Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Kathryn Eident
kaeident@bu.edu

Katie, nice of you to stop in and thank you.  PLEASE do not call me MR. WILKINS that's for O's and I'm no O .... 

No problem on getting the article on the MS Word format.  I will email the pages to your bu email from my coastie6670@yahoo address.  Be looking for them as often times emails with attachments will be dumped into your bulk mail.  I will not include the photos just the article unless you feel your uncle would like them too, in that case just email me and I will get those off too.

Again thanks and please extend an invitation to your uncle to join our Coastie crew here at usmilnet.

Buoy

[Salba]

Mr. Wilknins!

 

I'll have you know I had two parents two!   Thank you Katie for making my day!  Buoy is certainly an elder deserving of the Mr. title... but next time perhaps just call him old fart... it'll make him feel better!

Best Wishes and good luck to you and your uncle on his project.

Salba who was both an enlisted and an officer!   

[BuoyJumper]

Mr. Wilkins!

 

I'll have you know I had two parents two!   Thank you Katie for making my day!  Buoy is certainly an elder deserving of the Mr. title... but next time perhaps just call him old fart... it'll make him feel better!

Best Wishes and good luck to you and your uncle on his project.

Salba who was both an enlisted and an officer!   

Buoy is certainly an elder deserving of the Mr. title    Youngsters ........ Geesh! 

[EX-CG-GM]

Mr. Wilkins.........Sir, we are so honored to be in your company, Sir.   

And since you are now a Mr. Wilkins, here's a salute......

 

[BuoyJumper]

EX ... since you are my ELDER, I have no choice but to call you MR ROBBINS SIR ......  

  SO HERE'S AN APPROPRIATE SALUTE FOR YOU ....