How America's Aging Icebreaker Trudged Through Its Last Mission

Normally true on the CASREP, however the Polar Star does not go on military missions. Under the Antarctic Treaty, that is not allowed; Operation DEEP FREEZE is strictly and legally an operation by various military forces to resupply US National Science Foundation and its US Antarctic Program. Those military forces (Navy cargo handlers, USAF transport planes, Air Nat'l Guard Chaplains, and USCG icebreakers) are monitored closely in order to maintain compliance with the Antarctic Treaty. This is the only operation the Polar Star goes on, and its not military. Additionally, the difficulties have been highlighted in multiple open-source USCG documents, as well as National Geographic's "Antarctica: Continent 7" tv series. The USCG has been rather open and honest about their icebreaker difficulties, including open-source articles of awards being given to engineering department members for their work in keeping the plant running that describes in detail what they did. Would I tell people the problems? Probably not, but I'm not a USCG line O-6 who has to command an at-times (read often) suffering crew in a breaking ship, or the Admirals who make those calls. USCG and USN do things a bit differently. Interestingly, as I typed "Admirals", I recalled that one Admiral came on board who had actually been an ENS on the Polar Star.
Yes, I was on board during the deployment written about. Yes, it was like living in an earthquake for two or so weeks, while crushing 70+ miles of ice, on water restriction for 90%+ of time time due to both the causes the article listed and due to the Antarctic Treaty. I do wish, speaking as a Chaplain, that I could have done more for that crew while there; 24 hours, for 3 weeks, repairing damage while underway during ice ops caused difficulties that can be imagined, and work in my swimlane was constant. Good folks though, overcoming extreme and harsh difficulties. I'd go to sea with CAPT Davanzo again in a heartbeat.

When I submitted CASREP's they were classified. This CO is broadcasting ship's weaknesses. USCG ice breakers have vital military purposes. Trying to make political points by promoting new construction should not risk OPSEC.