April 15, 2021
It’s finally time to ask for your help, and we really need it right now. We’ve had some major accomplishments over the past few months, but now one setback.
In a short period of time, we accomplished the following items:
- Managed to get Congress to author legislation called the Cutter Conveyance Improvement Act of 2021 – giving ownership of the Adak to the USCGC Adak Historical Society.
- Congressman Gus Bilirakis agreed to sponsor the legislation. (Traditionally, the military would have to dispose of excess property through a GSA auction or by giving or selling the property to a foreign country. This act gives the Coast Guard a new third option.)
- Spoken with the Commandant of the Coast Guard about the possibility
- We re-engaged with the City of St. Petersburg to discuss providing the Adak a home, as Clearwater is looking less like a possibility at this point, due to location limitations. I have been assured either city could easily become a temporary home, until a permanent home is identified.
- St. Petersburg has thrown out the potential possibility of an area near the Coast Guard base in St. Pete. If granted, this location would allow the Adak to potentially have a building in the future to house a larger Coast Guard, Armed Forces and “Life-Saving Museum.” Being that this location is next to Albert Whitted Airport, this greatly increases the likelihood of accessibility to historical aircraft, which could become exhibits at the museum in the future, as well.
- We published the website. See https://uscgcadak.com or savetheadak.com
- We have formally requested to embed two videographers on the Adak for the final patrol of the cutter to document it’s last voyage. Approval is TBD.
As I previously mentioned, there is a new setback, however. The Coast Guard has essentially started a ticking clock, though I cannot believe that this would be intentional, based on several of the items mentioned above. The Coast Guard has notified congress of their intent to utilize the Foreign Assistance Act to dispose of the cutter and they intend to transfer ownership of the Adak to the country of Indonesia.
This does not mean our efforts are over, by any means. We are not accepting this decision and there is still time to stop it.
Clearly, it does not appear that consideration was given to the idea of transferring a national historic September 11th tribute/ future 9-11 memorial to a nation plagued with radical Islamic terrorism and how that might come off to 9-11 victims and survivors, or veterans and current service members who served in the Global War on Terrorism.
Ultimately, we will continue in our efforts and I will keep you informed as things move forward. At this time, there are several ways you can help!
1. Please share our website and tell others about the Adak by visiting savetheadak.com or https://uscgcadak.com
2. Donate here. (Donations to the USCGC Adak Historical society are tax-deductible, as we are a 501(c)(3) organization and this project is expensive.)
3. Contact your Congressional representative and ask them to help stop the Adak from being given to another country. Click here to find your representative.
4. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard by calling 202.372.4630 and ask them to reconsider giving the Adak to Indonesia.
3. Contact your Congressional representative and ask them to help stop the Adak from being given to another country. Click here to find your representative.
4. Contact the U.S. Coast Guard by calling 202.372.4630 and ask them to reconsider giving the Adak to Indonesia.
In the meantime, I wish you all fair winds and following seas!
Respectfully & Semper Paratus,
James P. Judge
Founder & Executive Director
Founder & Executive Director
USCGC Adak Historical Society, Inc.