Sometimes, this country makes me proud. This is one of those times.

THAT COULD HAVE BEEN YOU ELIAN!!!

NewportBarGuy: Sometimes, this country makes me proud. This is one of those times.

Strangely enough, he was initially sent to Cuba by the Coast Guard as a child while his mom was sent to the U.S. Wut? And how did he end up in the U.S. later? I really want to hear that backstory.

Good for this guy. Sounds like a decent human being.

coco ebert: NewportBarGuy: Sometimes, this country makes me proud. This is one of those times.

Strangely enough, he was initially sent to Cuba by the Coast Guard as a child while his mom was sent to the U.S. Wut? And how did he end up in the U.S. later? I really want to hear that backstory.

"Between 1991 and 1995, there was a dramatic increase in the number of undocumented migrants interdicted by the Coast Guard. During this period, over 120,000 migrants from 23 countries were interdicted. Haitian migrants began increased departures after a 1991 coup in Haiti. These migrants were processed for asylum claims first on ships, then at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO). Those that were identified as leaving for economic reasons were returned to Haiti. The camp eventually became a magnet for those departing seeking food, shelter, and a chance to get into the U.S. During this time, the camp at GTMO contained over 12,000 migrants." Source

Everyone picked up was sent to Cuba to be interviewed, his mom was sent directly to the States for medical treatment.

Great job young man. Knowing how proud your Mom would be must be a spectacular feeling. I look forward to all that you will do with your life.

Well he took one of our jerbs

Stars and Stripes HTML FU is weak today.

To bad the coasties of today are pretty much the thugs of the sea. Damn Der Homeland Bullshurity.

We used to have a girl in TFD who was Coast Guard. Can't remember her login, but she LOVED George RR Martin's Game of Thrones series. Haven't seen her for a while, I guess she was lost at sea.

If I wasn't a sociopath I would probably feel something other than rage after reading this.

He really is a very good potential officer. He's been in the ship simulators here on the USCGA where I provide training in to all the cadets. While the graduation is going on 1/8 mile away on campus, I'll be training the next level of officers in prospective co/xo school. Fair winds and following seas to you all.

digitalpirate: If I wasn't a sociopath I would probably feel something other than rage after reading this.

Nah, you probably wouldn't feel anything at all.

Just great. Now they got an inside man, who is gonna let all his homies slip through to get free housing and health care.

....Once he gets to the fleet he'll then proceed to fark up in a way only an Ensign can.

Deacon Blue: We used to have a girl in TFD who was Coast Guard. Can't remember her login, but she LOVED George RR Martin's Game of Thrones series. Haven't seen her for a while, I guess she was lost at sea.

Semper Gumby. She's good people. I used to drink with her when we were stationed in Kodiak.

cool story, cadet.
/CGA '00

-1 subby for failing to use appropriate hero tag.

They see me floatin', they Haitian...

/Got nothing

You know who else joined organizations that rescued them?

Vet: did you serve?
Bat patron: Yes. I was in the Coast guard.
Vet: You must be very proud of yourself, miss.

Good for him! He should have a very good career in the Coast Guard. Bilingual and compassionate... He'll do great.

/Best friend is CGA '00 grad

coco ebert: NewportBarGuy: Sometimes, this country makes me proud. This is one of those times.

Strangely enough, he was initially sent to Cuba by the Coast Guard as a child while his mom was sent to the U.S. Wut? And how did he end up in the U.S. later? I really want to hear that backstory.

I think because his mother was in need of major medical care and he had no relatives in the U.S. he was sent to a family member in Cuba instead of foster care here. When his mom recovered they were reunited.

"After the rescue, Morel wound up being sent to Cuba ... a single mother named Louise Jackson, wound up adopting him."

Stop that.


"It can only happen in America."

What a load.

"So, you chose to imitate your emancipators, huh?"

barefoot in the head: "After the rescue, Morel wound up being sent to Cuba ... a single mother named Louise Jackson, wound up adopting him."

Stop that.


"It can only happen in America."

What a load.

He was found in the middle of the ocean either he had family in Cuba or Cuba was closer so he had to be sent there as the U.S. Navy took him mom and tried to save her life, plus they paid to have him come and visit with his mom many times where a woman a U.S. citizen decided to take him in so he would not be sent back to Haiti.

F.Y.I. the U.S. takes in more immigrants than all the worlds Countries put together every year and STILL some asshats cry foul when we turn people away even though if we didn't we would be shoulder to should people.

SweetDickens: To bad the coasties of today are pretty much the thugs of the sea. Damn Der Homeland Bullshurity.

Derping it up this early? I like the dedication, 6/10.

KimNorth: barefoot in the head: "After the rescue, Morel wound up being sent to Cuba ... a single mother named Louise Jackson, wound up adopting him."

Stop that.


"It can only happen in America."

What a load.

He was found in the middle of the ocean either he had family in Cuba or Cuba was closer so he had to be sent there as the U.S. Navy took him mom and tried to save her life, plus they paid to have him come and visit with his mom many times where a woman a U.S. citizen decided to take him in so he would not be sent back to Haiti.

F.Y.I. the U.S. takes in more immigrants than all the worlds Countries put together every year and STILL some asshats cry foul when we turn people away even though if we didn't we would be shoulder to should people.

You've reminded me that, in addition to the "smart" and "funny" tags, we need a "SHUT UP YOU COCK" tag.

ERNesbitt: Good for him! He should have a very good career in the Coast Guard. Bilingual and compassionate... He'll do great.

/Best friend is CGA '00 grad

Your BFF zabbers ?

He's lucky they picked him up after my time on a cutter interdicting Hatians. We had to return them to Haiti, as they weren't eligible for asylum then. It was really heartbreaking to have to do it.

And GITMO was just REFTRA in those days.

KimNorth:

He was found wound up in the middle of the ocean either he had family in Cuba or Cuba was closer so he had to be sent wound up there
FTFY

F.Y.I. the U.S. takes in more immigrants than all the worlds Countries put together every year and STILL some asshats cry foul when we turn people away even though if we didn't we would be shoulder to should people.

Please insert relevance here (offer valid only in the U.S.) >>>

TheOther: ERNesbitt: Good for him! He should have a very good career in the Coast Guard. Bilingual and compassionate... He'll do great.

/Best friend is CGA '00 grad

Your BFF zabbers ?

well the 2 most logical choices as BFFs are CGA grads as well, so they probably wouldn't have said something like that. But I hereby label this thread as a CGA 2000 party

taoistlumberjak: KimNorth: barefoot in the head: "After the rescue, Morel wound up being sent to Cuba ... a single mother named Louise Jackson, wound up adopting him."

Stop that.


"It can only happen in America."

What a load.

He was found in the middle of the ocean either he had family in Cuba or Cuba was closer so he had to be sent there as the U.S. Navy took him mom and tried to save her life, plus they paid to have him come and visit with his mom many times where a woman a U.S. citizen decided to take him in so he would not be sent back to Haiti.

F.Y.I. the U.S. takes in more immigrants than all the worlds Countries put together every year and STILL some asshats cry foul when we turn people away even though if we didn't we would be shoulder to should people.

You've reminded me that, in addition to the "smart" and "funny" tags, we need a "SHUT UP YOU COCK" tag.

Oh pumpkin having a bad day : (

TFA doesn't address it, but the last time I checked, you need to be a U.S. citizen in order to be a commissioned officer and kids don't usually become naturalized citizens. Wonder how they pulled this off.

KimNorth: barefoot in the head: "After the rescue, Morel wound up being sent to Cuba ... a single mother named Louise Jackson, wound up adopting him."

Stop that.


"It can only happen in America."

What a load.

He was found in the middle of the ocean either he had family in Cuba or Cuba was closer so he had to be sent there as the U.S. Navy took him mom and tried to save her life, plus they paid to have him come and visit with his mom many times where a woman a U.S. citizen decided to take him in so he would not be sent back to Haiti.

F.Y.I. the U.S. takes in more immigrants than all the worlds Countries put together every year and STILL some asshats cry foul when we turn people away even though if we didn't we would be shoulder to should people.

plonk

he was legally adopted by a US citizen making him a good ole 'Merican. He can be a Coastie, but if he leaves the service he won't be able to pursue the Presidency.

I hope he has a long and wonderful career in the Coast Guard.

And even if he can't pursue the Presidency, isn't a high Coast Guard officer one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? That always struck me as preferable, job-wise, to being President. Lots of the power, more privacy for your family and you don't have to worry which clothes to pick out, since there's a uniform.

SpiderQueenDemon: I hope he has a long and wonderful career in the Coast Guard.

And even if he can't pursue the Presidency, isn't a high Coast Guard officer one of the Joint Chiefs of Staff? That always struck me as preferable, job-wise, to being President. Lots of the power, more privacy for your family and you don't have to worry which clothes to pick out, since there's a uniform.

No, the Commandant of the Coast Guard is not a member of the Joint Chiefs, although he does get the same special pay rate and permanent rank as if he was one. He arguably has more power and authority than any of the individual service chiefs though, because he actually commands his force, whereas the other service chiefs are only in their service's administrative chain of command (training and non-deployed service support units fall under him, but not the bulk of their fighting forces).

95BV5: TFA doesn't address it, but the last time I checked, you need to be a U.S. citizen in order to be a commissioned officer and kids don't usually become naturalized citizens. Wonder how they pulled this off.

you need to check again then. Legal aliens can certainly become officers if they are already in the process of becoming citizens. In July 2002, President Bush also issued an executive order that made noncitizen members of the armed forces eligible for expedited US citizenship.

I thought people in the coast guard had to be able to swim.

SuperNinjaToad: you need to check again then. Legal aliens can certainly become officers if they are already in the process of becoming citizens. In July 2002, President Bush also issued an executive order that made noncitizen members of the armed forces eligible for expedited US citizenship.

I learned something today. The last I had heard, citizenship was still a requirement for a regular (not reserve) commission. It was also a requirement for a TS clearance for that matter; indeed, even being married to a non-citizen tended to get in the way of TS clearances in my day, but I digress.

Even American Samoans, who are born U.S. nationals, had to fill out the citizenship paperwork and swear the oath of allegiance in order to be commissioned. That was one of the only reasons for them to bother converting to citizen, as they already carry U.S. passports and have full employment rights as nationals.

The real story is that a Haitian got a job.

/congrats, dude. Genuine American dream stuff there.

SuperNinjaToad: 95BV5: TFA doesn't address it, but the last time I checked, you need to be a U.S. citizen in order to be a commissioned officer and kids don't usually become naturalized citizens. Wonder how they pulled this off.

you need to check again then. Legal aliens can certainly become officers if they are already in the process of becoming citizens. In July 2002, President Bush also issued an executive order that made noncitizen members of the armed forces eligible for expedited US citizenship.

There's a large difference between enlisting for citizenship (which we've allowed since the Civil War) and the citizenship requirement for commissioning. Part of that is security clearance eligibility, which most foreign nationals do not hold. When I was involved in this, non-citizens weren't even eligible for promotion to E-5, an enlisted pay grade. You had to be naturalized to be promoted to that. However, we've had an expedited process since Shrub's daddy was in the navy.