Jim, I don't think the USCG has never been the subject of a casino chip, otherwise I would have many, many dups <VBG>. The USCG now comes under the control of the Department of Transportation based on a couple of it's primary missions of overseeing the U.S. merchant marine (who, by the way, were included in the Ramada Express tribute) and maintaining all aids to navigation on U.S. navigable waters and safety upon those waters. They still answer to the Secretary of the Navy during time of war.

Maybe someday we can sit down to a beer and you can tell me how you transitted from West Point to the U.S. Navy. I'm sure it would be an interesting story to hear. During Viet Nam the USCG participated in Operation Market Time patrolling the rivers in it's sleek 82-foot patrol boats and providing off-shore bombardment from it's larger cutters in concert with the Navy. Chuck