MIDDLETOWN — The end of an era was heralded with dignity and appreciation Friday at U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) LORAN-C Station in Middletown. A decommissioning ceremony brought a close to 67 years (33 as LORAN-C) of communication service vital to public and national security.
“Each United States Coast Guard Station holds two unique ceremonies during the course of its existence: the commissioning ceremony bearing the promise for a bright future and the decommissioning ceremony signifying the end of an era, honoring all the men and women who have devoted their time, energy and for some, their lives to fulfill and surpass the aspirations of those who stood in the commissioning ceremony,” ET1 Richard Nutting, master of ceremonies, said. “The decommissioning ceremony is a time-honored tradition and solemn occasion on which we pause to reflect upon the rich heritage of this unit and its service to the Unites States Coast Guard.”
The 1,200 acre station that houses an administration building and transmitting building was originally built, just north of Middletown, by the U.S. Army and used a communication station in the 1950s. On January 19, 1977 it was commissioned and designated as the control station and X-ray transmitting station of the U.S. West Coast 9940 LORAN Chain and commencing operations on April 1, 1977. The station”s sole mission was to provide precise positioning, timing and navigation data through a system of ground-based transmitting stations known as Long Range Aids to Navigation or LORAN. The system was originally developed to provide radio navigation service for U.S. coastal waters. However, Rear Admiral (RDML) Joseph Castillo, Commander 11th District, said that due to its popularity and effectiveness the system was later expanded to include complete coverage of the continental United States as well as most of Alaska.
RDML Castillo said that the three 11th District LORAN stations, which include Middletown, Fallon (NV) and Searchlight (NV) make up 75 percent of the west coast LORAN-C chain providing service to the nine continental states west of the Rocky Mountains and the waters off the west coast. These three stations, he said, are a part of a network of 24 USCG-operated LORAN-C stations that have worked in partnership with Canadian and Russian stations to proved LORAN coverage in the coastal waters of the continental United States, Canada, Alaska and Russia.
RDML Castillo said that LORAN usage peaked in the 1980s with more than a half-million maritime users, 20,000 land users and 100,000 air users. He commended the past and present station crew persons who are referred to fondly as “Loranimals.”
“Like the lighthouses of the past, these stations do not run or maintain themselves. It takes hard work and commitment, two traits that members of LORAN Station Middletown are not lacking,” RDML Castillo said. “Dedicated Coast Guard men and women have excelled in operating and maintaining the LORAN-C signal for over 67 years. Middletown, your diligence and hard work has kept this station broadcasting a reliable signal that for 33 years was the primary and secondary means of determining position and time for three main users: mariners, aviators and telecom service providers. The signal you unfailingly provided was essential to these users” safety. Without your service, marine and aviation operations would have been much more dangerous.”
During its operation, RDML Castillo said that LORAN-C Middletown earned numerous awards including an Operational Performance Award, which is received when a LORAN station meets 100 percent availability for 180 straight days. “Since 1983, LORAN Station Middletown has received 28 Operational Performance awards,” he said.
Since 2007, LORAN-C Middletown has operated under the watch of ETC Scott Greenlaw, officer in charge, who was presented with an award commending his service and leadership. “I”d like to start off by saying thank you to all that have come to witness this event,” he said. “I”d also like to pay homage to the men and women who have come before me in this job, and to the people who accomplished great things alongside them in the quest of ?keeping it on the air and in tolerance.” This job holds for me the greatest honor and reward and has been my greatest privilege.”
ETC Greenlaw said under his command, the station was manned by five personnel, who maintained the grounds, the buildings, five to 10 miles of gravel roads and the transmitter, safeguarding the signal. He said, in reference to the signal, that the tolerance level is one-millionth of a second.
“We of course are saddened indeed by the events of this year and the closure of LORAN. But, these events, tragic as they are to us, portend neither the end of the world nor our future in the Coast Guard,” ETC Greenlaw said. “The men with whom I have served both present and past; to each of them, I offer my thanks and pray that your future endeavors will reflect the accomplishments and the time you have spent here.”
Executive Officer of Navigation Center, Commander Marc Sanders also commended the “Loranimals.” “Loran Station Middletown was established in October of 1976 as part of the U.S. West Coast LORAN-C Chain. The U.S. signal was turned off on Feb. 8 this year,” he said. “Our Coast Guard men and women who stood the LORAN watch, fondly referred to themselves as ?Loranimals,” can be proud of their service to the mission. Today we are here to say: ?Shipmates ? the watch stand relieved.”
LCDR Darrell Wesley led in prayers over the decommissioning. “Today signifies the end or an era and we honor the men and women who have devoted their time and energy and for some, their lives to fulfill the calling of those who stood watch at this station”s commissioning,” he said. “May we, like LORAN Station Middletown, live our lives with similar devotion that when our tour on Earth is over, we may hear ?Well done.”
“Loranimals” who were responsible for maintaining and operating the station including MK1 Joshua Herring, ET2 Muy Khut and ET3 William Yi received pins and were commended for their service prior to lowering the flags that proudly flew at LORAN Station Middletown, marking the end of an era.
RDML Castillo said that LORAN-C transmission ceased at 19 U.S. stations on Feb. 8. He said the remaining five stations will stop transmitting on Aug. 1, 2010. He said the system was terminated because the USCG and the Department of Homeland Security determined that LORAN-C system infrastructure is no longer needed for navigation or as back up the Global Positioning System (GPS) due to advance technology in GPS.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
