Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) conducted a multi-day visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, focusing not only on its standard port call but also on community service. The visit comes in the wake of the devastating Hurricane Lidia, a Category 4 storm that made landfall less than a week prior to the cutter’s arrival.
The Waesche’s leadership team organized a humanitarian project to support the local community. Crew members volunteered their time and effort in clearing storm debris and downed branches in Parque Lineal, a public park in Puerto Vallarta severely affected by the hurricane.
Officials from the City of Puerto Vallarta were present at the volunteer event to express their gratitude. “The Coast Guard and the members of the Waesche were glad to be of service to Puerto Vallarta,” said Ensign Patrick B. Ober, the cutter’s electronic warfare officer. “It made sense for us to make a community service project, because we wouldn’t want to come for a port call when the local community is in need.”
Following the day’s efforts, The American Legion Post 12 Puerto Vallarta hosted the Waesche crew for a dinner as a token of appreciation. The American Legion Post Commander, Jesse Rivera, expressed his gratitude towards Capt. Robert Mohr, Waesche’s commanding officer, and the crew during the dinner. In a symbolic gesture, Mohr and Rivera exchanged hats, and Mohr presented a Waesche life ring to Murphy’s Pub, signed by the crew members.
“Waesche’s crew appreciated the opportunity to support a community that frequently hosts Coast Guard cutters for port breaks during patrols,” said Capt. Mohr. “We heard about the impacts from Hurricane Lidia, and the crew was extremely eager to lend a helping hand. I would also like to thank the American Legion and city of Puerto Vallarta representatives who made us feel very welcomed throughout our stay in Puerto Vallarta.”
The Waesche, homeported in Alameda, California, is a national security cutter named in honor of Admiral Russell R. Waesche, Sr., who served as the 8th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1936 to 1946. As part of its operational commitments, U.S. Coast Guard cutters regularly deploy along the western seaboard of the United States, Mexico, and North and Central America. They engage in a variety of missions, including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, protection of living marine resources, counterdrug operations, and homeland defense.
This event stands as a testament to the multifaceted role of the U.S. Coast Guard, not just in the realm of national security and law enforcement, but also as a force committed to humanitarian efforts, particularly in regions that share geographical and maritime ties with the United States.
