In this documentary series, the U.S. Coast Guard members spoke with Captain Mike Campbell, he was the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron’s (HITRON) first aviation engineer officer from 2001 to 2005, and HITRON’s Commanding Officer from 2017 to 2020. This is part one of a two part interview with Campbell. The Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Leer másHITRON History Series: Captain Mike Campbell[…]
ASTORIA, Ore. — The USCGC Steadfast (WMEC 623) and crew returned to their Astoria homeport, Tuesday, following a 69-day counter-narcotics patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. USCGC Steadfast’s crew disrupted the flow of illegal narcotics on three separate occasions during their patrol preventing a combined total of more than 7,500 pounds of cocaine, valued at Leer másUSCGC Steadfast returns home after counter-narcotics patrol[…]
In this documentary series, the Coast Guard spoke with other HITRON member, the Rear Admiral USCG (Ret) David Kunkel. David W. Kunkel was retired as a U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral in 2008 with 35 years of military service and played a pivotal role in standing up the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON). Kunkel is Leer másHITRON History Series: David Kunkel, Rear Admiral USCG (Ret)[…]
In this documentary series, the U.S. Coast Guard spoke with retired Captain Walter Reger, the third commanding officer of HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron). HITRON operations started as an experiment in 1998 to halt the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. Drug trafficking organizations primarily used «go-fast» boats, high-speed smuggling vessels capable of traveling Leer másCaptain Walter Reger, Coast Guard HITRON history series[…]
Newport, R.I. — The crew of the USCGC Campbell (WMEC 909) and a MH-65 Dolphin aircrew from HITRON returned to homeport in Newport, Rhode Island, Friday after a 60-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean to support Joint Interagency Task Force South. With the assistance of an embarked MH-65 Dolphin aircrew from Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Leer másUSCGC Campbell returns home after counter-drug patrol[…]
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The USCGC Bertholf (WMSL 750) and HITRON crews returned to Alameda with $14M seized in cocaine after traveling over 18,000 nautical miles during a 77-day counter-narcotics patrol throughout the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Saturday. Bertholf’s crew conducted multiple boardings of suspected drug-smuggling vessels while patrolling international waters off the coasts of Central and Leer másUSCGC Bertholf and HITRON seized $14M in cocaine[…]
MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland (WMEC 904) offloads approximately 5,363 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $101 million in Port Everglades, Friday, along with 11 suspected smugglers who were apprehended to face prosecution in federal court by the Department of Justice. The drugs were interdicted, during five separate cases, in the Leer másCoast Guard offloads more than $101 million in cocaine[…]
Video by Cmdr. Ace Castle Interview and edition by Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Stanton In this documentary series the Coast Guard spoke with the Cmdr. (Ret) Patrick Merrigan who was the Mission Commander for the first HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron). Merrigan retired as a USCG Commander with 30 years of military service. He Leer másMission Commander (Ret) for the first HITRON Patrick Merrigan[…]
Interview by: Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Stanton.Edited by: Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Stanton. In this documentary series from the HITRON (Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron), Coast Guard spoke with Captain USCG (Ret) Richard Bates. Bates was the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) platform manager for Coast Guard headquarters aviation forces during the transition from Leer másCoast Guard HITRON history series Captain Richard Bates[…]
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Capt. Janet D. Espino-Young is scheduled to relieve Capt. Mark R. Vlaun, as the Sector Commander of Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Thursday, during a change-of-command ceremony at Naval Station Mayport. Commander of Coast Guard 7th District Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson will preside over the ceremony. Espino-Young reports to Sector Jacksonville from Coast Guard District Leer másCoast Guard Sector Jacksonville to hold change-of-command[…]
