Coasties hoist the colors underway

GUANTANAMO BAY , CUBA

09.11.2016

Story by Sgt. Sarah Kirby 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Public Affairs

“The time is 10:55,” proclaimed U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Brad Chapman, a machinery technician. By starting the clock the coxswain of the Coast Guard’s Transportable Port Security Boat eased the vessel under way and the flag rose flying for 9 minutes and 11 seconds. The Coast Guard assigned to Joint Task Force Guantanamo flew flags in remembrance of the tragedy that struck the nation on Sept. 11, 2001, by flying Trooper’s U.S. flags on their Transportable Port Security Boats, Sept. 11 on U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
“In commemorating this day, we are remembering the fallen,” said Chapman, “as well as the ones who had fallen ensuing that day. Today we all come together to say what happened has not been forgotten and will never be forgotten.”
This year marks 15 years since the day our nation fell under terror; the worst terrorist attack since Pearl Harbor in 1941 that contributed to the U.S. involvement in World War II. Annually, since 2001 many people recall the very moment they knew our nation was experiencing another pivotal moment in history.
“I remember it perfectly,” said Chapman. “I was in middle school when 9/11 happened. All of a sudden the teacher turned on the TV and said ‘Look at this!’ I didn’t actually see the planes hit the towers but saw the aftermath of them crumbling.”
“September 11 was a big event in not only our nation’s history but for myself,” said U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Kyle Wolowice, a coxswain. “That was the day that I made the decision that I needed to do something more for our country and I decided to pursue a military career.”
On the morning of Sept. 11, the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda orchestrated a series of coordinated attacks killing 2,996 people and injuring over 6,000 after two hijacked commercial airlines flew into the World Trade Center in New York City; a third hijacked airplane crashed into the Pentagon and a fourth went down in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Since 2001, the U.S. and its allied forces have captured thousands of individuals fighting as enemies in an act of security and military necessity, according to the JTF GTMO mission overview statement.
“At JTF GTMO our Coast Guard mission is to be the first line of defense out there on the water,” said Chapman. “For us being down here, we are guarding and protecting our assets who are guarding the detainees. To me, our mission here has more to do with our country’s security, the protection of the Troopers and their families back home. I don’t see us solely being here for the detainees but more so for our nation and the ones we love back home.”

• Date Taken: 09.11.2016
• Date Posted: 09.14.2016 08:58
• Story ID: 209524
• Location: GUANTANAMO BAY , CU