Thursday, 30 September 2004, was a very emotional day in the lives of the crewmembers of the USS Tornado (PC-14) and of four Richmond Council Navy League members who were on board the ship pierside in Little Creek, Virginia.
In the presence of the crew assembled forward on the main deck, commanding officer Lieutenant Commander Dennis Burke awarded a Navy Achievement Medal to Navy Counselor First Class Ronald Duplanty, described by one of the Tornado's chiefs as the best career counselor he ever had encountered. Petty Officer Duplanty was transferring to an aircraft carrier.
Richmond Council of the Navy Leauge President Joe Moschetti presented Lieutenant Commander Burke with a framed reproduction of an 18 August 2004 Richmond Times-Dispatch story by feature writer Bill Lohmann about the Tornado's cruise up the James River from Little Creek the previous day.
At 1030, Lieutenant Commander Burke formally transferred the Tornado to the U.S. Coast Guard, making her the USCGC Tornado (WPC-14). The Navy surface force flag came down and was replaced by the Coast Guard flag. Although a happy occasion for the Coast Guard, the Tornado's Navy sailors left a beloved home, and the Navy Leaguers said farewell to close friends. There is consolation in the fact the ship was transferred to a sister maritime service.
The Tornado is the last ship of the Cyclone (PC-1) class of patrol craft, commissioned in June 2000. Plank owner Chief Quartermaster Bryan Ramsey was still a crewmember on the day of the transfer.
Moving to another ship is not a new experience for the Tornado's, Navy crew. On 13 July 2003, they were flown to the Iraq area of operations, where they served on board the USS Chinook (PC-9). The Chinook's crew manned the Tornado until a 6 January 2004 sea swap put both crews back on their respective home ships.
The Richmond Council's association with the Tornado began in December 2001, when Lieutenant Antonio Hull became commanding officer in a ceremony attended by several council members. Lieutenant Hull had become a friend of the council while he was operations officer of the USS Carter Hall (LSD-50), a ship "adopted" by the Richmond Council in 1997. The council adopted the Tornado in February 2002.
In adopting a ship, the Richmond Council of the Navy League appoints a member to serve as liaison with the ship's crew. The member stays in close touch and looks for ways in which the council can assist the ship. An award is made to the ship's sailor of the year at the council's annual honors night. After consultation with the ship's leaders, contributions are made to the morale, welfare, and recreation fund for the purchase of specific items not provided through Navy-appropriated funding. Crewmembers are invited to other council functions. Three crewmen attended the Richmond Council's Navy Day luncheon on 13 October 2004 at the University of Richmond's Jepson Alumni Center.
The Tornado's visit to Richmond in August 2004 was the second in three years. On the way up and down the James River, the Tornado passed replicas of Jamestown ships being used in the filming of a movie. On each visit large crowds welcomed the ship at Richmond's Intermediate Terminal. Local citizens were able to tour the ship, and the crew enjoyed a catered supper with Navy Leaguers and some special guests.
The Navy crew formerly assigned to the Tornado now is a unit designated Patrol Coastal Crew (PCC) Foxtrot. They reported on board the USS Whirlwind (PC-11) the week of 4 October. These units will rotate, with shore time for off-the-ship training and other duties. PCC Foxtrot now reports to a regional support organization, rather than to an amphibious group.
The Richmond Council wishes both the Navy and Coast Guard crews fair winds and following seas as they embark on their new assignments.
Commander Tucker is a board member of the Richmond Council of the Navy League.