United States Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn
WAGL-391, WLB-391
The USCG Cutter Blackthorn (WAGL-391) was a 180-foot Iris Class Seagoing Buoy Tender. It tragically sank at 8:20PM on January 28, 1980, at the entrance to Tampa Bay in Florida, near the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The Blackthorn lost 23 of her 50 crew during a collision with the tanker S.S. Capricorn. The collision led to the largest single loss of life the Coast Guard has ever suffered during peacetime. The Blackthorn and her crew have been memorialized through the creation of a wayside park at the north approach to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in St. Petersburg, FL.
I had the good fortune to notice the sign while driving the bridge, and I stopped to visit and find out what the park was about. Once there, Kelly and I paid our respects and enjoyed the peaceful view of the entrance to the bay. It's hard to believe that such a beautiful setting could be so cruel to 23 servicemen who made the ultimate sacrifice - the sea is an unforgiving master. May God bless the Coast Guardsmen lost on that night. There names, as inscribed on the USCGC Blackthorn Memorial, are included below. There legacy lives on through many lessons the Coast Guard leadership took to heart - they have made major procedural and training changes to protect the service from ever suffering a similar tragedy. They'll never be forgotten.
The full story of the USCGC Blackthorn, including details of the fateful night are available in the Eighth District's Blackthorn Memorial website.
Coast Guardsmen Lost
In memoriam of the follow servicemen, lost in the sinking of the USCGC Blackthorn
| SS1 Subrino I. Avila | SA Glen E. Harrison |
| SNGM Randolph B. Barnaby | MK1 Bruce M. LaFond |
| MK2 Richard D. Boone | FA Michael K. Luke |
| SA Warren R. Brewer | MK1 Danny R. Maxcy |
| QM2 Gary W. Crumley | SA John E. Prosko |
| DC2 Daniel M. Estrada | SA George Ravolis Jr. |
| EM2 Thomas R. Faulkner | ET1 Jerome F. Ressler |
| SA William R. Flores | CWO2 Jack J. Roberts |
| SS3 Donald R. Frank | ENS Frank J. Sarna |
| DC3 Lawrence D. Frye | EM3 Edward F. Sindelar, III |
| QM3 Richard W. Gauld |
MKC Luther D. Stidhem |
| SA Charles D. Hall |
Key to rank and rating codes:
| SA - Seaman Apprentice (Enlisted E-2) |
EM2 - Electrician's Mate 2nd Class (Non-Com. E-5) |
| FA - Fireman Apprentice (Enlisted E-2) | MK2 - Machinery Technician 2nd Class (Non-Com. E-5) |
| SNGM - Gunner's Mate [Seaman] (Enlisted E-3) | ET1 - Electronics Technician 1st Class (Non-Com. E-6) |
|
SS3 - Subsistence Specialist 3rd Class (Non-Com. E-4) [Rating now known as Food Service Specialist - FS] |
SS1 - Subsistence Specialist 1st Class (Non-Com. E-6) [Rating now known as Food Service Specialist - FS] |
|
QM3 - Quartermaster 3rd Class (Non-Com. E-4) |
MK1 - Machinery Technician 1st Class (Non-Com. E-6) |
| DC3 - Damage Controlman 3rd Class (Non-Com. E-4) |
MKC - Chief Machinery Technician (Non-Com. E-7) |
| EM3 - Electrician's Mate 3rd Class (Non-Com. E-4) |
CWO2 - Chief Warrant Officer 2 (Commissioned Warrant Officer W-2) |
|
QM2 - Quartermaster 2nd Class (Non-Com. E-5) |
ENS - Ensign (Junior Grade Commissioned Officer O-1) |
|
DC2 - Damage Controlman 2nd Class (Non-Com. E-5) |
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