In his spare time, MST3 Jason Bernz enjoys surfing at the Rockway’s; during one afternoon he rescued two youths caught in a rip tide who were being dragged out to sea; neither knew how to swim. He also volunteers with at-risk veterans aboard Launch 5, a former NYPD Harbor patrol boat now in private ownership and which also happens to be a USCG Auxiliary facility put into service by the NYPD Harbor Unit.
MST3 Bernz is presently on deployment in Georgia with the US Coast Guard’s National Strike Force working on the salvage of the Golden Ray, a 656-ft cargo ship. The Golden Ray has been lying on her side since she went aground last September while carrying over 4,000 Hyundai vehicles. This salvage operation is one of the largest and most complex in modern maritime history.
Overall, had it not been for that Auxiliarist who approached me at Cape May, I never would have had any of these amazing opportunities. My only regrets are not getting the name of the Auxiliarist from TRACEN Cape May so I could thank him and not joining the Auxiliary earlier in life.
A TALE OF TWO STORIES