IN EARLY FALL of 2015 , the Naval War College was decommissioned and scheduled to be auctioned for parts due to budgetary cuts . This is where USCG Auxiliarist and U . S . Navy Veteran Joseph L . Ruffini of Flotilla 014-02-06 comes aboard . While searching online government auction sites , Ruffini discovered the demise of the Naval War College and immediately felt a connection to the cu�er .
Intrigued by the grandeur and history of the vessel , Ruffini took stock of how this purchase might streamline the next chapter in his life . For several weeks he toyed with the idea of taking on the vessel as a refurbishment project , however his current Sea Ray cruiser was all-consuming from well needed upgrades .
Ruffini began to follow the online auction
of the vessel . On the final day of bidding , with li�le time remaining , Ruffini ’ s family convinced him to bid on the barge . He placed his first bid which was $ 100 above the starting price of $ 14,000 . Within moments of the auction closing , a competitive bidder upped the stakes by just $ 20 bucks ! The bidding conflict ensued ,
Ruffini responded raising it another $ 100 . The opposition again , at the last minute , bid $ 20 higher than Ruffini . Frustrated by this game of cat and mouse , Ruffini was determined to see it through and a bidding war was on !
Ruffini bids $ 100 , his opponent adds $ 20 , round after round , lasting over four tiresome hours . Finally , late in the evening with the auction price in the upper thirties , Ruffini knew that it was time to bring out the big guns and level the playing field .
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