Coast Guard Reservist returns home from extended duty

Courtesy Photo | Lt. William Spoon poses at the Gulf Coast Incident Management facility, June 6, 2012. Spoon served on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill response for four years.  

NEW ORLEANS, LA, UNITED STATES

06.03.2014

Story by Petty Officer 2nd Class William Benson 

U.S. Coast Guard District 8       

NEW ORLEANS – A Pittsboro, N.C., resident and Coast Guard Reservist assigned to Sector Delaware Bay, Philadelphia, returned from an extended tour of duty for the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Response, May 30, 2014.

Lt. William Spoon was recalled to active duty in January of 2012 and remained on active status for two years and six months during his second deployment to the largest oil spill response in U.S. history.

“Working on the Deepwater Horizon response has been an extremely demanding and formative experience. I have learned a lot and met a lot of great people,” said Spoon.

Due to his considerable pollution response and environmental expertise, Spoon worked as the environmental section chief. There he oversaw multiple projects that were vital to the response including biological assessments, the operational science advisory team, historic properties, Endangered Species Act consultation and sampling.

Spoon was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal for his performance during the response.

At the conclusion of this deployment Spoon will be returning home and plans to travel and spend time with his family.

• Date Taken: 06.03.2014
• Date Posted: 06.03.2014 11:35
• Story ID: 131926
• Location: NEW ORLEANS, LA, US
• Hometown: PITTSBORO, NC, US