Coast Guard LORAN Stations

[JerryM]

And now for the most feared station in the CG - at least during the '60s - '70s. This is what you might see as you step off the plane at USCG LORSTA French Frigate Shoals. Note the lower left corner of the sign "No Trespassing". Just beyond the sign is the Tennis/volleyball court/rainwater catchment. to the left is an array of wooden water tanks, and off the picture to the right is the barracks (the roof of which is also a rainwater catchment). Fresh water is the major really critical problem you might have in trying to live on Tern Island with no outside assistance. One might also note here that the Island is a wildlife refuge with an emphasis on birds from fairy terns through albatrosses, so the drinking water is heavily laced with bird droppings (BUT we allow them to "sediment" out and the treat the water with Chlorox - there is hardly any noticeable problem in the flavor of the water).

The island itself was a beerdrinker's/fisherman's/beachcomber's/nature lover's/anti-social's dream. I would have been happy to live the rest of my life there (except that it was an unaccompanied tour). I recently spent an enjoyable afternoon with my ETC from that tour, and he feels the same way. I have a number of pictures from FFS and will probably scan and post more later.



Jerry

[fishnfanatic]

And now for the most feared station in the CG - at least during the '60s - '70s. This is what you might see as you step off the plane at USCG LORSTA French Frigate Shoals. Note the lower left corner of the sign "No Trespassing". Just beyond the sign is the Tennis/volleyball court/rainwater catchment. to the left is an array of wooden water tanks, and off the picture to the right is the barracks (the roof of which is also a rainwater catchment). Fresh water is the major really critical problem you might have in trying to live on Tern Island with no outside assistance. One might also note here that the Island is a wildlife refuge with an emphasis on birds from fairy terns through albatrosses, so the drinking water is heavily laced with bird droppings (BUT we allow them to "sediment" out and the treat the water with Chlorox - there is hardly any noticeable problem in the flavor of the water).

The island itself was a beerdrinker's/fisherman's/beachcomber's/nature lover's/anti-social's dream. I would have been happy to live the rest of my life there (except that it was an unaccompanied tour). I recently spent an enjoyable afternoon with my ETC from that tour, and he feels the same way. I have a number of pictures from FFS and will probably scan and post more later.



Jerry

That picture brings back a lot of happy memories.  That was my first duty station out of Basic.  Everyone told me a whole lot of horrible things about the place but I loved it.  Being a young kid from a landlocked state, that gets cold and snow every winter, it was a blast to be able to water ski on New Years Day.  Work wasn't too hard, mostly engineering watches for the deck force, mixed with some Scullery Duty.

The food was always outstanding, the cook always put on a feast.  No separate dining facilities for the CO, XO, or Chiefs, everyone dined as one family.

I was to be on the crew to deactivate the station but left after 7 months for my "A" school.  Sad to know its gone, but glad to have had the experience.  I hear the University of Hawaii still uses it for research.

Moved fishnfanatic's post out of the quote to make it more readable .. Buoy

[fishnfanatic]

WOW!! that picture conjures up many fond memories.

Halfway between Honolulu and Midway Islands.  Literally out in the middle of nowhere. And 500 miles from the nearest help.  You were literally on your own.

That was my first duty station out of basic.  Many people told me many horrible stories about the place.   I think their stories were based upon the fear of the unknown.  They had never experienced it.  I was to be on the crew to decommission the unit.  Something that in a sense, made me sad.  I didn't get to stay my full 1 year tour, I got my "A" school orders and left on Valentines Day in 1979.

Imagine an aircraft carrier, low in the water, making a turn.  6ft above sea level. Thats what the island looked like.  You could see La Parous (sp?) pinicle in the distance, and on a nearby island, you could see rusting landing craft from WWII.  Apparently the Japanese did occupy the island as part of their invasion plans of the Hawaiian Islands.

But for a young kid, from a landlocked state that endured heavy snows or freezing weather in the wintertime.  This was a dream to be able to water ski on New Years Day without the risk of hypothermia.

The food?  The cooks always put on a feast, never had a bad meal.

The fishing?  Outstanding.  The first and only time I've eaten barracuda was there.

Beachcombing?  Like you said, it was a paradise. Lots of Japanese glass fishnet floats coming up on the beach.  It was alway a race to be the first out on the beach in the morning before work.  You could walk around the perimeter of the island in 20 minutes.  I even found a bottle with a note in it.  A special treat was to be the one selected to make an "Island Run".  Thats when a group of people took the station's Boston Whaler and made beach combing visits to the other islands.  I remember on one island a large sea turtle was resting on the beach sunning itself, thought I'd grab a ride.  A ride I got.  I was surprised how fast that huge thing could move.  LOL

Beer Drinking?  Without a doubt.  The place had a nice beach house, with its own refrigerator you could chill out, watch a sunset, talk, and enjoy a cold one.  You had to order your own beer, when I was there, you had to order enough of a supply to last a month.

Wildlife?  An abundance.  I'm sure you remember the "Bosn Birds" and their ability to fly backwards.  And for some odd reason, I felt a sort of ease and comfort whenever a "Fairy Tern" would hover over my head.  They were so pretty, and never attempted to attack or do the other thing to you.  The Gooney Birds?  A laugh a minute.  I remember one night after unloading the last load of full from the fuel barge, some of us took a walk on the beach.  We found sea turtles hatching and making their way to the ocean.  What an experience.  A bunch of us grabbed some flashlights, grabbed some sea turtles, and helped them on their journey to the sea.

Snorkeling?  What a beautiful place to snorkel.  All kinds of life in the water around the island, all kinds of reef fish, stingrays, sea turtles, and....yeah...sharks. 

When you weren't working, there were lots of things you could do.  Tennis on the tennis court shown in your picture, which also doubled as a rainwater catchment system.  Or softball on the corral runway.  It was highly advisable NOT to slide into base.

Like you, I think I could have stay there forever, it was my paradise, and most certainly ranks as on of the top duty stations I served at in my 22 years of service.
Fears?  Completely unfounded as far as I'm concerned.  I have many happy and fond memories of my experience there.

fish

And now for the most feared station in the CG - at least during the '60s - '70s. This is what you might see as you step off the plane at USCG LORSTA French Frigate Shoals. Note the lower left corner of the sign "No Trespassing". Just beyond the sign is the Tennis/volleyball court/rainwater catchment. to the left is an array of wooden water tanks, and off the picture to the right is the barracks (the roof of which is also a rainwater catchment). Fresh water is the major really critical problem you might have in trying to live on Tern Island with no outside assistance. One might also note here that the Island is a wildlife refuge with an emphasis on birds from fairy terns through albatrosses, so the drinking water is heavily laced with bird droppings (BUT we allow them to "sediment" out and the treat the water with Chlorox - there is hardly any noticeable problem in the flavor of the water).

The island itself was a beerdrinker's/fisherman's/beachcomber's/nature lover's/anti-social's dream. I would have been happy to live the rest of my life there (except that it was an unaccompanied tour). I recently spent an enjoyable afternoon with my ETC from that tour, and he feels the same way. I have a number of pictures from FFS and will probably scan and post more later.



Jerry

[JerryM]

And, while I decide if any of the others are fit to scan, here is the French Frigate Shoals Playboy Club:



actually most of the time most of us sat on the patio where we could watch the manta rays cruising the edge of the water and the albatrosses practicing landings

[BuoyJumper]

FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS THEN ...



FRENCH FRIGATE SHOALS TODAY

 

THIS IS A GREAT STORY ON FRENCH FRIGATE .. WELL WORTH YOUR TIME!
Article about living on French Frigate Shoals in 1969 by Bob Urie, USCG

(Jerry I moved these over from Old Guard/New Guard so we would have all the FFS together... enjoy!)

[JerryM]

Curious minds want to know; any surf?? 

The island is pretty well surrounded by reefs and shoals, so most of the surf is broken up some distance away. This shot shows the effect of a typhoon thousands of miles away. Before the event was over, the water was over all but the highest bits of land on the island.

[JerryM]

And here is a shot of the station from the end of the runway the day after the island was under water

[fishnfanatic]

Dunno when you were there, but the porch was also the favorite hangout at the Playboy Club when I was there.  I spent lots of my free time on that porch.

And, while I decide if any of the others are fit to scan, here is the French Frigate Shoals Playboy Club:



actually most of the time most of us sat on the patio where we could watch the manta rays cruising the edge of the water and the albatrosses practicing landings

[Salty68]

Anyone serve on USCG LORSTA Talapulan Island, Busanga, Palawan, Philippines?

[vftb]

We'd stop off at Talapulan and Catantuanas to drop off their beer supply on our periodic runs between Sangley and Vietnam 

[Salty68]

OK, I have another question, how many have been to USCG LORSTA Ulithi?.....I went to take them supplies after Typhoon Ophelia in 1960 which practically wiped them out...Have any of you ever meet CHIN the cook?

[Salty68]

We'd stop off at Talapulan and Catantuanas to drop off their beer supply on our periodic runs between Sangley and Vietnam 

Man, we had Ice Cold San Miguel Beer, on the other side of the Island at Ponzo's General Store & Fish Market...Fresh Fish and Spiney Lobster would come in everyday ......The exchange was $1.00= $5.25 pesos......Last time I checked, it was $1.00 = $50.00 pesos....

[vftb]

I believe that when I was there the exchange rate was about 7:1 and you could get a cold San Miguel for about .50 to .80 Pesos.  That equates to about 7 to 11 cents a beer 

[Salty68]

I believe that when I was there the exchange rate was about 7:1 and you could get a cold San Miguel for about .50 to .80 Pesos.  That equates to about 7 to 11 cents a beer 

 We use to get a 55 gal drum packed with Spiney Lobster for $30 pesos which was about $5.50 US.....We would get a huge freshly caught 20 lb Fish for .50 centavos a lb, $10 Pesos, Less than $2.00 US....

Hey, I was born and raised in the FL keys, so I was eating similar to home.....including the rice..

[TJ Brennan]

Someone please tell me how to post pictures.  I have some from Loran A Station San Salvador that I'll try to post.  But I ain't real smart so I might have trouble!