Everyone:

As some of you know and some of you don't. My good friend & Co-Founder of "On Course" is an actvie duty 22 year veteran Line Officer in the United States Navy.  LCDR Edgar Monge is the Combat Systems Officer on the Navy Crusier USS San Jacinto. Currently they are on deployment. Below is an email from his ship on recent events that they have been dealing with.

LCDR Edgar and his shipmates deserve a sincere "Thank you" for dedicating their service to this country while serving on the high seas. I'm proud to have friends like these and I've known Edgar all of my adult life, and I can only say this for one person. He's 100%! Some may talk the talk, but this cat can "Talk the Talk & Walk the Walk" If he says it, go a head and take it to the bank and "Cash" it. Period!

Keep "Giving them hell men"! There's gonna be one hell of a "Fishing Trip" when you get home!

Please feel free to post any messages you would like for Edgar to receive right here on this board. He's been underway "Standing the Watch" for us for several months now and I know he would love to hear from you!

Thank you....Capt. Scott

-----Original Message-----
From: Cordle, John P. CAPT
Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2010 9:33 PM
To: All Hands
Subject: FW: Press Release: Twice In One Week, USS San Jacinto Disrupts
Piracy Off Somalia Coast

Team San Jacinto, the attached article was just released about our
recent adventures. Several crew members were interviewed by WAVY and
WVEC and San Jac will be on the news at home tonight - TUNE IN!
R/CO

Twice In One Week, USS San Jacinto Disrupts Piracy Off Somalia Coast By
Lt. j.g. Kyra D. Lassiter, USS San Jacinto Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN - USS San Jacinto (CG 56) disrupted nine Somali pirates
from attacking a Maltese-flagged motor vessel May 31, bringing the
cruiser's weekly total to 22 pirates interdicted.

USS San Jacinto responded to a distress call from the M/V Avenue Beauty,
which was transiting 90 miles north of Somalia when she reported that
she was under attack by pirates. Upon hearing gun shots, the vessels
master sounded the general alarm and directed the crew to execute
counter-piracy measures which caused the pirate skiff to call off their
attack and speed away.

USS San Jacinto quickly responded to the attack and followed the pirate
skiff with her helicopter, Proud Warrior 433. Aboard the aircraft,
Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Casey Halliwell tracked the
pirate skiff on radar as it headed south toward the Somali coast at a
high rate of speed.
The skiff, with nine pirates aboard, failed to comply with Proud
Warrior's order to stop. Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class
Corey Whittle fired warning shots across the bow and stern of the skiff,
compelling the pirates to stop their vessel.

In the early morning of June 1, USS San Jacinto sent a boarding team
with U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment and USS San Jacinto
Sailors to the pirate skiff. The boarding team quickly took control of
the vessel and searched the skiff and pirates, who had previously thrown
their weapons, ammunition, and pirate paraphernalia overboard. The
pirates were released in the skiff after the boarding team confiscated
one engine and several gallons of fuel, ensuring they could reach shore
while limiting their ability to continue piracy attempts.

Earlier in the month (May 26), USS San Jacinto rescued five Yemeni
mariners from 13 Somali pirates, while conducting routine counter
narcotics operations 68 miles southeast of Ras Fartak, Yemen. The
pirates were turned over to Yemeni Naval Forces.

U.S. forces conduct Maritime Security Operations (MSO) to help set the
conditions for security in the maritime environment. From security
arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO
complements the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional
nations and seek to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime
environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or
other material.

Give em hell boys!! And a sincere "Thank you" for your service to this country!

Capt. Scott