U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dustin R. Williams.
NEW ORLEANS — The Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless crew will return to their homeport in Pensacola, Florida after completing a 47-day, 8,000 nautical mile patrol, Wednesday.
All 78 crewmembers began their patrol in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, August 31, 2019, and will be reunited with their loved ones, October 16.
Shortly after getting underway, the Dauntless crew was assigned command of a task force conducting Hurricane Dorian relief efforts in the Southeastern United States. As Hurricane Dorian passed north of the United States, Dauntless transitioned south into the Caribbean Sea. There, the Dauntless crew worked closely with Coast Guard air assets stationed in Puerto Rico to achieve operational qualifications, and enhance the capabilities of search and rescue, migrant interdiction, and drug interdiction.
Joint operations conducted by the Dauntless crew and the Royal Bahamian Defense Force in the Caribbean resulted in the interdiction and repatriation of 12 Haitian migrants illegally attempting to enter the Bahamian island of Great Inagua.
Nigel Dakin, royal governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands, met with the command and crew of Dauntless during a port call in Grand Turk. Governor Dakin offered a warm welcome to the island nation, and reaffirmed the close relationship between the Coast Guard and the British territory. Governor Dakin thanked the crew of the Dauntless for their service, and stressed the importance of the work they perform in the Caribbean to the people of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
During this patrol, three crewmembers were promoted. Petty Officer 2nd Class Samantha Rowsey was promoted to the rank of 1st Class; Seaman Apprentice Rylan Ragar was promoted to Seaman; and Fireman Apprentice Ashley Pierson was promoted to Fireman.
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