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Date: Tue, 9 Sep 2008 12:00:03 -0700 (PDT)
From: Bryan Fisher   mariner719 at yahoo.com
Subject: Error in your STORIS photo collection

Dear Joe,

As an ex-Coastie radioman (CW lives!) and a veteran of many a trip to Kodiak 
and the 'vicinity' (5 AlPats), I wanted to compliment you on your fine web 
page.

However, I also wanted to let you know that you've been duped by someone 
('someone' keeps passing this photo around in error) that the picture you 
have posted as 85066_03.jpg is STORIS.  It is NOT.  This is a frame from a 
film of USCGC CITRUS when she was attempting to stop a drug runner off the 
northern California coast back in the 1980s.  I spent a lot of time on 
boarding teams and we watched this film several times as part of our 
training.  During the film, CITRUS was attempting to force the drug runner to 
heave to, without success, while running alongside.  The drug runner first 
set themselves on fire and then turned hard aport and rammed CITRUS 
amidships.  You'll notice the smoke from the fire, and you'll also notice the 
spar-colored stack, the ship's name painted across the sterm rather than on 
her quarters, and the lack of STORIS's distinctive 01-level deckhouse.  This 
is CITRUS...painted white and redesignated WMEC 300, it's true, but this is 
NOT STORIS.

By the way, the shots of STORIS are really beautiful, especially when she's 
hauled out and her hull is repainted.  She looks brand-new!  My brother (MK3, 
in STORIS 1974-1976) will enjoy looking at them.

Semper Paratus & 73s

Bryan Fisher
ex-RMC, USCG
NXFN / NRUO / NMW43 / NMC / NLVS / NYCQ / NBTM / NRV / NMEL / NHWR