Posted on 05/14/2012 2:41:49 PM PDT by DFG
Orlando Morel was 6 years old when he and his mother left Haiti on a crowded small wooden boat destined for America. Now 24, Morel remembers the blue of the ocean everywhere. And the hunger.
When a piece of bread fell into the water, Morel quickly scooped it up. "I will never forget that taste," he said, recalling the salty, soggy bread.
Nor will he forget when the Coast Guard showed up in a white boat and rescued him, his mother and other passengers.
Eternally grateful, the rescue led Morel to join the Coast Guard, and on Wednesday he will graduate from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. He will serve on a cutter out of Florida whose mission will include migrant interdiction in the very waters where Morel was rescued nearly two decades ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Nice story
Great story. Thanks for posting.
An extraordinary young man - glad he’s an American.
Stories like this young American’s, make me so mad
at the race baiters and agitators.
I am proud to have this young man stand beside me
as a fellow citizen.
Pay it forward Ensign, thanks for your service
Officer on deck!
I grew up in the small coastal town of Warrenton, Oregon. There is a very large CG presence there for a very good reason. The mouth of the Columbia river, lots of sports and commercial fishing boats, and one of the most dangerous bar crossings in the world.
I’ve had many friends saved by the CG, the sight and sound of those rescue choppers was very comforting while growing up. The ocean terrified me, (I almost died clam digging at age 9) when you have many dozens of friends, aquaintences, and other locals in a small community die at sea, it tends to adjust your view on things.
I served 20 years in the military, Army, Army Guard, and Air Guard. I can honestly say that my 20 years probably had much less positive effect on the American public than some one term low ranker in the CG did. Those guys earn their pay bigtime and my hat is off to them.
Thank you for your service, that was nicely said in truth.
Thank you.
It is good to know it is in good hands.....aye!
Semper Paratus (Official)
You have to go out....You don't have to come back!
(Unofficial)
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