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.
20