Coast Guard antics

You have to realize, they do things under orders. Someone told them to go do what they were doing.
My brother was an officer in the USCG. One of his biggest gripes was to rip a beautiful cruiser apart looking for drugs. Generally when they did a destructive search, it came from a "tip" there was drugs onboard.
He told me horror stories of cutting into bulkheads with chain saws, to find nothing. Doesn't seem right, but happens under orders never the less.
He was attached to the drug intradiction detail though. I'm sure standard coasties don't do destructive searches.
 
Oh snap, you just didn't pull out the "just following orders" excuse? Seriously?

Dude, It's about the difference between right and wrong. Prison guards gassing, burning, shooting, or otherwise executing Jews in WWII claimed they were innocent because they were "just following orders"

A-holes generating wakes in no wake zones just to rock boats to get bilge pumps to switch on, are knowingly causing harm. There is no probable cause for the CG to be doing this crap.
 
22 posts to Godwin. Not too bad.
 
Mike Blake said:
DO you really know what they were doing? DID you ask? I wouldn't trust these people at all. Funny thing Is I used to have respect for them. Then in 2003 I had bad dealings with them (another story).
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OK, now you have our attention. So what did you get caught doing?
 
You're so cute src, invoking Godwin on me, when #21 pulled out the infamous excuse.
 
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Woody said:
OK, now you have our attention. So what did you get caught doing?
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Does anyone have to get caught doing something? Maybe in your eyes! Sorry no I was boarded while I was anchored out in the gulf. Minding my own business when 5 idiots in the pumpkin came over and made me get into the water the a life vest on. Was that orders? or just overzealous?

That was the day I lost ALL respect for them.
 
LTD.330 said:
Oh snap, you just didn't pull out the "just following orders" excuse? Seriously?

Dude, It's about the difference between right and wrong. Prison guards gassing, burning, shooting, or otherwise executing Jews in WWII claimed they were innocent because they were "just following orders"

A-holes generating wakes in no wake zones just to rock boats to get bilge pumps to switch on, are knowingly causing harm. There is no probable cause for the CG to be doing this crap.
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Not to just be arguing but....did you ever serve in the military?

Military persons have what is called lawful orders. They don't have the "right" to refuse them, nor distinguish between right and wrong! They go to the brig if they disobey a lawful order. This is debated upon during times of war and peace, what exactly defines a lawful order. But generally if a commissioned officer gives a lawful order you do it whether you like it or not. Otherwise, how in the world would you get a person to charge a beach, or perform in a losing situation without question?
Persons in the military don't have the luxury of doing what they want, like we do in the civilian sector. I served in the Navy for 6 long years, reason I got out was to have the same rights as everyone else......as a civilian! haha

Kind of a stretch to bring in the jews of WWII, but heck, ok.
 
No, I've never served in the military, but I see your point islandhopper. Not to further derail this thread, but what constitutes the "lawful" in lawful orders? Would being ordered to break the law (creating waves in no wake zones, conducting warrantless searches) be considered lawful?
 
The CG is not part on military, unless there is a war, at that time they come under the Navy... So the CG abides by civial laws, such as probable cause. If they break the law, just as with the police, they can and will be held acounable... As was suggested earlier, if you see them doing something you believe is wrong, contact their superiors and report the incident. I still believe it was just horse play, and they need to know they are accountable for their actions... As far as what is a lawful order, when I was in the military I used my judgement to determine what was or was not a lawful order. For instance, during peace time, I would not break any civil or local laws even if directed by a superior....
 
LTD.330 said:
You're so cute src, invoking Godwin on me, when #21 pulled out the infamous excuse.
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#21 said "following orders", you went to Nazi, that's why you got the Godwin. I can't imagine you expected anyone to accept the comparison as rational.
 
Well, I asked our son who's an Officer in the USCG and although not a "boat guy" he said he found it very hard to believe that they would have had orders to do such a thing, he did put it a bit stronger than that:) Bored youngsters at horseplay probably, which as he also said is most inappropriate behaviour. However, just as all the armed services have a few "bad apples" the USCG is not exempt. That said, I am sure if you're out at sea and your boat's sinking you would be more than pleased to see them!
 
src said:
#21 said "following orders", you went to Nazi, that's why you got the Godwin. I can't imagine you expected anyone to accept the comparison as rational.
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I knew well a man from Germany, he fought on that side during WW2. He said he did things he didn’t want to, he also said he saw men killed for refusing to follow orders and participate in certain things…he cried hard when he told me that. Things aren’t so simple to judge sometimes.
 
SCORPIO said:
Was at the boat today and observed the CG doing some odd manuvers at the marina. First, my marina is on a tidal canal with the slips parallel to the canal, with both an inner and outer basin.
The CG large RIB was loitering in front of several boats, then moved into the inner basin and went from one end to the other. Each time, they would back up HARD, throwing a noticeable wake. Then they would sit there for a few minutes. Then they would exit the inner basin and return to the canal. They would then turn hard circles just a few feet in front of the docked boats while accelerating HARD and throwing a substantial wake . The canal is a no wake zone BTW. They would then sit and loiter for a few minutes then proceed down the docks and repeat the manuver. This went on for over an hour. I was one of the few people at the marina and they were watching me watch them.
Finally when they were in front of my boat and doing their routine, I asked what they were doing. The reply was, 'we are checking for oil slicks'.
They were deliberately throwing wakes at the docked boats to see if anyones bilge pump would kick on and then watch for a slick.
There were no slicks before they started and there were non after either. They were basically 'prospecting' for someone to fine. I could perhaps understand the manuvers if there were a visable slick or a report of one, but there was none. This was not only a waste of their time but it made it rather uncomfortable on the boat during that time. My phone was dead or I would have taken a video of the their antics.

Has anyone else ever seen the CG do this?
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OK so to get back to the OP statement. A couple of questions. 1) Did you write down the date, time and place? 2) Did you call the USCG and file a complaint with the duty officer? If not, why not?
 
Woody said:
I knew well a man from Germany, he fought on that side during WW2. He said he did things he didn’t want to, he also said he saw men killed for refusing to follow orders and participate in certain things…he cried hard when he told me that. Things aren’t so simple to judge sometimes.
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Isn't that the truth! When the Brits in WW2 got to parts of the Rhine many Germans cheered they were all for Sir Winston. Not all Germans supported Hitler at all. A classic case of when "good men stand by and do nothing".
Surely a lesson to us all that if we don't stand up and be counted those with extreme views do and run rough shod over the rest of us.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
BritLady said:
Isn't that the truth! When the Brits in WW2 got to parts of the Rhine many Germans cheered they were all for Sir Winston. Not all Germans supported Hitler at all. A classic case of when "good men stand by and do nothing".
Surely a lesson to us all that if we don't stand up and be counted those with extreme views do and run rough shod over the rest of us.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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Is this happening right now in the USA? Forgive the political shot over the bow!
 
AKBASSKING said:
OK so to get back to the OP statement. A couple of questions. 1) Did you write down the date, time and place? 2) Did you call the USCG and file a complaint with the duty officer? If not, why not?
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I did note the date, time and place. I did not get the boat ID or call the duty officer because I didn't think it would do anything other than waste my time. I once called the cops when I witnessed an assult. I got a summons to the trial (4 hours away out of state) and was told the guy would plead out and I would not need to testify. I was also told if I didn't appear, my drivers license would be revoked. So I took a day off work, unpaid, went to the trial and he pled out and they didn't need me.
Long story short, I didn't feel this was enough of a problem to invest a great deal of time with. I was curious if this is now SOP, thats why I asked the question on the forum. From what I've learned, its NOT SOP, and if I see it happen again, I'll get video and forward to the CG duty officer. BTW phone was dead at time this was happening.
 
LTD.330 said:
No, I've never served in the military, but I see your point islandhopper. Not to further derail this thread, but what constitutes the "lawful" in lawful orders? Would being ordered to break the law (creating waves in no wake zones, conducting warrantless searches) be considered lawful?
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Yes, as wrong as that seems.

Being directed by a "commissioned officer" soley makes it lawful, by military standards.
 
BritLady said:
Well, I asked our son who's an Officer in the USCG and although not a "boat guy" he said he found it very hard to believe that they would have had orders to do such a thing, he did put it a bit stronger than that:) Bored youngsters at horseplay probably, which as he also said is most inappropriate behaviour. However, just as all the armed services have a few "bad apples" the USCG is not exempt. That said, I am sure if you're out at sea and your boat's sinking you would be more than pleased to see them!
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I agree with this. "People" will do what they want to a point. BUT, everything that subordinates do under an officers command is responsible to that officer in charge. They have standing orders to follow, and then are amended by the officer in charge.
That's why the Captain of the ship, is held responsible for everything that happens aboard the ship!

I don't think a commissioned officer directed his subordinates to go beat up the marina. I'm sure they took it upon themselves to do it in the manner that they did. However, I'd wager a bet that "someone" told them to go find the source of the oil slick in the marina.
 
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