The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell alongside the HDMS Knud Rasmussen in Evighedsfjorden, or Eternity Fjord. (Seaman Kate Kilroy/U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Campbell made history last week when it became the first medium endurance famous class cutter to be awarded the Arctic Service Medal.
Its crew earned the medal, given for a service period of more than 21 days north of the Arctic Circle, while conducting joint exercises off the coast of Greenland alongside forces from the Royal Danish Navy vessel HDMS Knud Rasmussen.
The crew remained above the 66°33′N line of latitude from August 16 until September 12, while patrolling a total of more than 10,000 nautical miles and reaching as far north as the 72nd parallel, the Coast Guard confirmed.
During the push North, Campbell “assisted in crucial scientific research efforts through its Arctic deployment,” a Coast Guard release said, “deploying numerous International Ice Patrol and National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration buoys into regions that have never been sampled before.”
To no one’s surprise, the imagery to emerge from the cutter’s trek through the Arctic is stunning, with jagged mountains, glacial waters, and the impressive ice formations of Evighedsfjorden, or Eternity Fjord, serving as the deployment’s backdrop.
Bravo Zulu to Campbell’s crew for their trailblazing trek and for earning the Arctic Service Medal, an award that features an engraving of a polar bear positioned under the North Star — easily one of the best medals ever issued to members of the U.S. armed forces.
(Unless, of course, you were Adm. George Dewey, who was awarded the Dewey Medal — a piece of chest candy with his own mustachioed bust — for actions during the Spanish-American War.)
Check out the otherworldly photos below from Campbell’s Arctic exercise.
(Seaman Kate Kilroy)USCGC CAMPBELL ventured into Disko Bay with the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN for joint helicopter training exercises. Disko Bay is known for its heavy concentration of large icebergs calving off the Jacobshavn Glacier. The Jacoshavn Glacier is the primary contributor to icebergs in Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea. CAMPBELL safely navigated the heavy concentration of floating ice, icebergs the size of professional sports stadiums, and launched her OTH cutter boat for training. CAMPBELL also launched her MH-65 helicopter to conduct hoist, rescue basket and landings/take-offs from the KNUD RASMUSSEN. The KNUD RASMUSSEN class of Danish Naval vessel is certified per HOSTEC to land the MH-65 aircraft.(Seaman Kate Kilroy)(Seaman Kate Kilroy)(Seaman Kate Kilroy)(Seaman Kate Kilroy)USCGC CAMPBELL transited south along the west coast of Greenland overnight with the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN and rendezvoused in a position just offshore of Evighedsfjorden (Eternity Fjord). CAMPBELL received KNUD's Executive Officer, Commander Bo Ougaard, on board to serve as ice pilot and provide local knowledge to assist CAMPBELL in safely entering and transiting Evighedsfjorden. Once inside Eternity Fjord, CAMPBELL launched her MH-65 Dolphin aircraft and proceeded up the fjord to the head where the glacier begins.USCGC CAMPBELL ventured into Disko Bay with the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN for joint helicopter training exercises. Disko Bay is known for its heavy concentration of large icebergs calving off the Jacobshavn Glacier. The Jacoshavn Glacier is the primary contributor to icebergs in Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea. CAMPBELL safely navigated the heavy concentration of floating ice, icebergs the size of professional sports stadiums, and launched her OTH cutter boat for training. CAMPBELL also launched her MH-65 helicopter to conduct hoist, rescue basket and landings/take-offs from the KNUD RASMUSSEN. The KNUD RASMUSSEN class of Danish Naval vessel is certified per HOSTEC to land the MH-65 aircraft.
Photo Credits: GM2 Conor FitzpatrickUSCGC CAMPBELL transited south along the west coast of Greenland overnight with the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN and rendezvoused in a position just offshore of Evighedsfjorden (Eternity Fjord). CAMPBELL received KNUD's Executive Officer, Commander Bo Ougaard, on board to serve as ice pilot and provide local knowledge to assist CAMPBELL in safely entering and transiting Evighedsfjorden. Once inside Eternity Fjord, CAMPBELL launched her MH-65 Dolphin aircraft and proceeded up the fjord to the head where the glacier begins.USCGC CAMPBELL ventured into Disko Bay with the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN for joint helicopter training exercises. Disko Bay is known for its heavy concentration of large icebergs calving off the Jacobshavn Glacier. The Jacoshavn Glacier is the primary contributor to icebergs in Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea. CAMPBELL safely navigated the heavy concentration of floating ice, icebergs the size of professional sports stadiums, and launched her OTH cutter boat for training. CAMPBELL also launched her MH-65 helicopter to conduct hoist, rescue basket and landings/take-offs from the KNUD RASMUSSEN. The KNUD RASMUSSEN class of Danish Naval vessel is certified per HOSTEC to land the MH-65 aircraft.USCGC CAMPBELL transited south along the west coast of Greenland overnight with the HDMS KNUD RASMUSSEN and rendezvoused in a position just offshore of Evighedsfjorden (Eternity Fjord). CAMPBELL received KNUD's Executive Officer, Commander Bo Ougaard, on board to serve as ice pilot and provide local knowledge to assist CAMPBELL in safely entering and transiting Evighedsfjorden. Once inside Eternity Fjord, CAMPBELL launched her MH-65 Dolphin aircraft and proceeded up the fjord to the head where the glacier begins.(Kate Kilroy/USCG)(Kate Kilroy)
Observation Post is the Military Times one-stop shop for all things off-duty. Stories may reflect author observations.
