NEW ORLEANS – A Southern Pines, N.C., resident and Coast Guard Reservist assigned to Sector North Carolina, Wilmington, N.C., returned from an extended tour of duty for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response, Feb. 26, 2014.
Petty Officer 1st Class Carol M. Smith was recalled to active duty in Jan. 14, 2011 and remained on active status for three years and four months during her first deployment to the largest oil spill response in U.S. history.
“It was an opportunity to put my skills to good use and acquire new skills,” said Smith.
Due to her considerable pollution response knowledge, Smith worked o a Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Technique Team in Alabama. There she conducted daily oil surveys on the Alabama beaches and determined the best cleanup process.
Smith was awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for her performance during the response.
At the conclusion of this deployment, Smith will be returning home, and providing pollution responder training to the United States Coast Guard.