A large Coast Guard delegation joined Birdon in Bayou La Batre for the first three Waterway Commerce Cutters, new ships that will replace vessels that have been working for more than 60 years. Master Chief Phillip N. Waldron said the cutters, part of the new Chief Petty Officer Class, are built to keep America’s inland waterways moving and support the nation’s economic flow. The first three ships will honor veterans recognized for extraordinary service: • Master Chief Alan Thiele, the fifth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard • Chief Warrant Officer Fred Permenter, who rescued several men thrown overboard in 1951 • Chief Boatswain’s Mate Samuel Wilson, who led a dangerous 1979 rescue in Alaska With welding foreman Emily Vice guiding them, the veterans’ families burned their initials into steel plates that will become part of each cutter. Reporting by Lawrence Specker #wielding #coastguard #veterans #economy