[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 177 (Wednesday, December 19, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2324-E2325]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


 COMMENDING THE WORK OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD'S MARINE SAFETY 
                  OFFICE OF HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, December 18, 2001

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, the events of September 11th demanded a 
great deal from all those involved in ensuring the safety and security 
of our Nation. Countless individuals and organizations were called upon 
to aid our country in this time of need, and many answered this call 
with a great amount of effort and dedication to the American cause.
  I would like to take this opportunity to commend the United States 
Coast Guard's Marine Safety Office of Huntington, West Virginia, the 
recent recipients of the Commandant's Quality Award for 2001. This 
honor rewards the leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, 
information and analysis, human resource focus, process management and 
business results produced by individual U.S. Coast Guard offices. In 
addition, the Huntington office was specifically recognized for their 
development of efficient business practices after the tragedy our 
Nation suffered on September 11th. Despite the fact that this office is 
one of the smallest of the 45 marine safety offices nationwide, their 
newly developed risk assessment plan was praised in Washington for 
their invaluable contributions to the Coast Guard as a whole in this 
area.
  I would also like to recognize the achievements of United States 
Coast Guard Auxiliary member James Perry of Huntington, WV. As the 
communications director for his local office, he was singled out for 
improving that particular office's pager, cell phone and voice mail 
systems, all of which have proven to be crucial for operations in the 
post-September 11th era.
  The article in the Herald Dispatch is included on this hero.

           Coast Guard Office Honored for Business Practices

                            (By Bob Withers)

       Huntington.--The local U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety 
     Office was honored Tuesday for developing efficient business 
     practices that influenced the entire Coast Guard after the 
     terrorist attacks of Sept. 11.
       Master Chief Petty Officer Vincent W. Patton III of 
     Washington, D.C., the Coast Guard's highest-ranking enlisted 
     member, presented the unit with the Commandant's Quality 
     Award for 2001 during a ceremony at the local headquarters.
       The annual honor--patterned after the Malcolm Baldrige 
     National Quality Award, the nation's premier award for 
     performance in business and industry--recognizes commands and 
     major staff elements that, through commitment to customer and 
     employee satisfaction and continuous improvement, serve as 
     examples for other Coast Guard organizations.
       The award encompasses several categories of management--
     leadership, strategic planning, customer focus, information 
     and analysis, human resources, process management and 
     business results.
       Patton said officers in Washington were particularly 
     impressed with the local office's newly developed risk 
     assessment plan.
       ``We needed that information after 9-11,'' he told the 
     members ``When emergency situations arise, we need a frame of 
     reference to

[[Page E2325]]

     measure our use of personnel, money and assets. You have no 
     idea what your plan is doing for us back in Washington.''
       Patton compared the accomplishments of the local unit--one 
     of the smallest of 45 marine safety offices nationwide--to 
     the heroics of the outmanned and outgunned crew of the 
     ``tiny, dinky'' revenue cutter Eagle, which was driven ashore 
     in Long Island Sound in October 1814 in an encounter with the 
     British brig Dispatch. The crew dragged their few weapons up 
     a bluff and continued the battle, using log books for 
     cartridges and returning the enemy's small shells that had 
     lodged in the Eagle's hull.
       Cmdr. Lincoln Stroh, commanding officer of the local 
     office, also honored U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary member James 
     Perry of Huntington, the local office's communications 
     officer, for improving its pager, cell phone and voice mail 
     systems.
       Stroh also praised Perry for working extra hours to help 
     the office meet increased port safety and security 
     responsibilities following the terrorist attacks.

     

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