Coast Guard cutter crew conducts volunteer service during Puerto Vallarta port visit after Hurricane Lidia impacts region

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Uranga | U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crewmembers participate in cleaning up Parque Lineal, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, during a port call, Oct. 16, 2023. The clean-up project was organized by the Waesche command with support from the American Legion Post 12, to help the local community after the impact of Hurricane Lidia. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard B. Uranga)  

PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISCO, MEXICO

10.16.2023

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Richard Uranga 

U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico — U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) conducted a multi-day visit to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Oct. 16 and supported the community during their port call by volunteering at a local park damaged by Hurricane Lidia, a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall less than a week before Waesche's arrival.

Waesche's leadership team organized the project, and the crew volunteered their time supporting the humanitarian project by clearing storm debris and downed branches within Parque Lineal, a park in Puerto Vallarta.

Representatives from the City of Puerto Vallarta attended the volunteer event to participate and thank Waesche's crewmembers for their efforts.

"The Coast Guard and the members of the Waesche were glad to be of service to Puerto Vallarta," said Ensign Patrick B. Ober, Waesche's electronic warfare officer. "It is what makes the Coast Guard stand out around the world as a force for good. It made sense for us to make a community service project, because we wouldn't want to [only] come for a port call when the local community is in need."

The American Legion Post 12 Puerto Vallarta hosted Waesche's crew for dinner following the clean-up project.

The American Legion Post Commander Jesse Rivera thanked Capt. Robert Mohr, Waesche's commanding officer, and the crew during the dinner for their selfless service to Puerto Vallarta. Mohr and Rivera exchanged hats, and Mohr also gave a Waesche life ring to Murphy's Pub signed by the crew members.

"Waesche's crew appreciated the opportunity to support a community that frequently hosts Coast Guard cutters for port breaks during patrols," said Mohr. "We heard about the impacts from Hurricane Lidia, and the crew was extremely eager to lend a helping hand. I would also like to thank the American Legion and city of Puerto Vallarta representatives who made us feel very welcomed throughout our stay in Puerto Vallarta."

Homeported in Alameda, California, Waesche is a national security cutter , named after Admiral Russell R. Waesche, Sr, who served as the 8th Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard from 1936-1946. U.S. Coast Guard cutters regularly deploy along the western seaboard of the United States, Mexico, and North and Central America, conducting search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, living marine resource protection, counterdrug operations, and homeland defense operations.

• Date Taken: 10.16.2023
• Date Posted: 10.24.2023 13:44
• Story ID: 456422
• Location: PUERTO VALLARTA, JALISCO, MX
• Hometown: ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, US