USCGC Paul Clark explained

USCGC Paul Clark (WPC-1106) is the sixth cutter. Like the previous five vessels of her class she is homeported in Miami, Florida.[1] She was delivered to the Coast Guard, for testing, on May 18, 2013.[2]

Operational history

On September 13, 2013 the vessel repatriated 66 Cuban migrants to Bahia de Cabañas. Four migrant boats had been intercepted by small Coast Guard vessels in four separate operations over the preceding days. Their passengers and crew were transferred to the larger Paul Clark for repatriation to Cuba.

"Our main concern is the safety of life at sea...Attempting to cross the Florida Straits in a homemade raft or vessel is inherently dangerous" explained Coast Guard Captain Mark Fedor.

Namesake

The vessel is named after Paul Leaman Clark, who served as a fireman in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.Clark was a landing boat engineer attached to during the allied assault on a beach in French Morocco when the craft's two other crew members were wounded by a Luftwaffe fighter. Clark took command of the craft, took the wounded crew members to for medical care and then returned to his duties as a beachmaster, directing disembarkation activity. For his courage he was awarded the Navy Cross.[3]

Notes and References

  1. News: Coast Guard Commissions Third Fast Response Cutter, William Flores . . Rhonda Carpenter . 2012-11-05 . 2013-03-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130324131813/http://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/coast-guard-commissions-third-fast-response-cutter-william-flores/ . dead . The first six FRCs for District 7 will be homeported in Miami; the next six in Key West; and the remaining six in Puerto Rico..
  2. News: Fast Response Cutter, Paul Clark, named after WWII hero, delivered to Coast Guard . . 2013-05-22 . 2013-05-31 . 2013-05-31 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130531223345/http://www.gsnmagazine.com/node/29636?c=maritime_port_security . dead . The Coast Guard accepted delivery of Paul Clark, the sixth vessel in the Coast Guard’s Sentinel-class Fast Response Cutter (FRC) recapitalization project on May 18 in Key West, FL..
  3. News: Coast Guard Heroes: Paul Leaman Clark . . Connie Braesch . 2010-11-02 . 2012-09-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120903063630/http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/index.php/2010/11/coast-guard-heroes-paul-leaman-clark/ . dead . Early into the assault, which lasted from November 8–11, 1942, Clark was unloading a transport when a hostile plane battered his boat with machinegun fire. The heavy fire mortally wounded the bowman and severely injured the coxswain. Showing unsurpassed courage and initiative Clark took control of the boat and withdrew from the beach with the injured crewmember aboard..

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