<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<!--/* //NOSONAR */--><html  lang="en-US">
<head id="Head"><meta id="MetaDescription" name="DESCRIPTION" /><meta id="MetaKeywords" name="KEYWORDS" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width,initial-scale=1" /><title>
	USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon
</title><link id="css3605" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/module.css" /><link id="css5184" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/desktopmodules/ArticleCS/styles/NavyUnit/style.css" /></head>
<body>
    <main>
    <div>
    <div class="adetail print" itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/NewsArticle">
    <img alt="U.S. Navy Logo" class="print-logo" src="/Portals/_default/Skins/NavyTheme2/Resources/img/OfficialNavyLogoInverted.svg">
    <div class="container">
        <div class="body-section">
            <h1>USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon</h1>

            <div class="body-text">
                
                    <img alt="USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon" class="featured-image-print" src="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/01/2003068890/600/400/0/220831-N-NO999-0001.JPG" />
                
                <p>


<!--image-->



<div class="media-inline media-inline-xlarge media-inline-center  " style="max-width:1460px">
    
    
    
    <a href="#pop6301964" class="popup" data-width="1460" data-height="973">
        <div class="image-wrapper">
            <div class="overlay"></div>
            <img src="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/01/2003068890/1460/1280/0/220831-N-NO999-0001.JPG" alt="NA" class="img-responsive" />
        </div>
    </a>
    
    
    
        
        
        
        <div class="minfo">
            
            
            <span class="caption">
                Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, presents Capt. Michael Concannon, USS Hershel "Woody" Williams Gold Crew Commanding Officer, with the United States Coast Guard Special Operations Service ribbon while Gold Crew members look on in front of the Light Ship at United States Coast Guard Base Portsmouth. The award recognizes the Gold Crew's multi-service, multinational maritime security operations achievements during their last deployment.
            </span>
            
        </div>
        
        
    
    
</div>


<!--popup-->

<div style="display:none">
    
    <div class="media-inline-popup" id="pop6301964">
        <div class="media-inline-img-container"><img src="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/01/2003068890/1460/1280/0/220831-N-NO999-0001.JPG" alt="NA" class="img-responsive" /></div>
        <div class="info">
            <span class="title">
                USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon
            </span>
            <div class="caption" style="max-width:1460px">
                Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, presents Capt. Michael Concannon, USS Hershel "Woody" Williams Gold Crew Commanding Officer, with the United States Coast Guard Special Operations Service ribbon while Gold Crew members look on in front of the Light Ship at United States Coast Guard Base Portsmouth. The award recognizes the Gold Crew's multi-service, multinational maritime security operations achievements during their last deployment.
            </div>

            <div class="bottom">

                <div class="social">
                    <span class="subhead">SHARE IMAGE:</span>
                    <div class="a2a_kit a2a_default_style social-inner" data-a2a-url="https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/Photo-Gallery/igphoto/2003068890/" data-a2a-title="USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon" data-a2a-media="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/01/2003068890/1460/1280/0/220831-N-NO999-0001.JPG" data-page-url="https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/News-Stories/Article/3146406/uss-hershel-woody-williams-gold-crew-awarded-uscg-special-ops-ribbon/">
                        <a class="a2a_button_facebook social-link" aria-label="Share on Facebook">
                            <span class="fa fa-facebook"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_x social-link" aria-label="Share on X">
                            <span class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></span>
                        </a>
                        <a class="a2a_button_email social-link" aria-label="Share by emailing content">
                            <span class="fa fa-envelope"></span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <script type="text/javascript" defer src="https://static.addtoany.com/menu/page.js"></script>
                </div>

                <div class="action">
                    <div class="action-item download-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_download.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://media.defense.gov/2022/Sep/01/2003068890/-1/-1/0/220831-N-NO999-0001.JPG" title="USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Download Image</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    <div class="action-item detail-link">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_link.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <a href="https://www.usff.navy.mil/Press-Room/Photo-Gallery/igphoto/2003068890/" title="USS Hershel “Woody” Williams Gold Crew awarded USCG Special Ops ribbon" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="action-frame article-link">
                            <span>Image Details</span>
                        </a>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item photographer">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_photographer.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>Photo By: Caitlin Mazzola</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                    
                    <div class="action-item virin">
                        <div style="background-image: url(/DesktopModules/ArticleCS/Images/media_info.png)" class="icon"></div>
                        <div class="action-item action-frame">
                            <span>VIRIN: 220831-N-NO999-0001</span>
                        </div>
                    </div>
                </div>
            </div>
        </div>
    </div>
    
    
</div>













<style>
    #cboxClose {
        position: absolute;
        top: 5px;
        right: 5px;
        display: block;
        background: url(/desktopmodules/articlecs/images/media_popup_close.png) no-repeat top center;
        width: 40px;
        height: 40px;
        text-indent: -9999px;
    }

        #cboxClose:hover {
            background-position: bottom center;
        }

    .me-plugin {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100%;
    }
</style>
<script type="text/javascript">

    var gih = 0;
    var giw = 0;
    var pup;
    var g_isDynamic = false;

    function popupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize) {
        if ($(ibox).hasClass('dgov2popup-info')) {
            // This block is included once, so is shared by all media tokens.
            // this block is how we execute the special resize for dgov2's slideshow popup
            dgov2slideshowPopupResize(ibox, w, h, doResize);
            return;
        }

        if (!g_isDynamic)
            return;

        var isMobile = window.matchMedia('(max-width: 1200px)').matches;

        if (isMobile) {
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: "100%", height: "100%" });
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width('100%');
            $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height('auto');

            $(ibox).find(".info").css('height', 'auto');
            return;
        }

        var iw = w;
        var ih = h;
        var ww = $(window).width();
        var wh = $(window).height();
        var hextra = 40;
        var wextra = 360;
        var hborder = 120;
        var wborder = 120;
        var maxw = ww - wextra - wborder;
        var maxh = wh - hextra - hborder;
        var ratio = Math.min(maxw / iw, maxh / ih);

        iw = Math.floor(iw * ratio); // use floor to avoid overflow scrollbar
        ih = Math.floor(ih * ratio);

        //        console.log(iw + " " + ih + " --- " + (iw + wextra) + " " + (ih + hextra))

        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").width(iw);
        $(ibox).find(".img-responsive").height(ih);

        $(ibox).find(".info").height(ih);

        if (doResize)
            $.colorbox.resize({ width: iw + wextra, height: ih + hextra });
    }

    $(window).resize(function () {
        if (g_isDynamic && pup !== undefined)
            popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
    });

    $(window).load(function () {
            $(".popup").click(function () {
                giw = $(this).data('width');
                gih = $(this).data('height');
                pup = $($(this).attr('href'));
                g_isDynamic = $(this).data('dynamic') === 1 ? true : false;

                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, false);

                var w = "768px";
                var isMobile = $(window).width() < 768 ? true : false;
                w = "auto";
                if (isMobile)
                    w = "100%";

                const isDgov2Slideshow = $(this).attr("data-isdgov2slideshow") != undefined;
                const isDGOV2 = false;
                const slideNumber = parseInt($(this).attr('data-slide-number'));
                const slideIndex = slideNumber - 1;
                //console.log("slideNumber for popup", slideNumber)
                const popupThis = this;
                $(this).colorbox({
                    className: 'inline-popup', fixed: true, transition: "none", opacity: .9, inline: true, width: w, height: 'auto', maxWidth:"80%", maxHeight:"100%", close: isDgov2Slideshow || isDGOV2 ? "<i class='fas fa-times' />" : "X", onClosed: function () {
                    },
                    onComplete: function () {
                        var popupHeight = jQuery(this.href.substring(this.href.lastIndexOf("#"))).outerHeight(true);
                        if (jQuery("#colorbox").height() < popupHeight) {
                            jQuery("#colorbox").height(popupHeight);
                        }
                        if (g_isDynamic) {
                            if (!isMobile) {
                                bodyScrollLock.disableBodyScroll(this);
                            }
                        }
                   
                        // for popup having data-isdgov2slideshow attr (see above)
                        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
                            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-3146406';
                            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-3146406';
                            dgov2slideshowPopupInit({
                                numSlides: 0,
                            startingSlideIndex: slideIndex,
                                popupSelector: popSelector,
                                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
                                slideshowMediaId: 3146406,
                        });
                giw = $(popupThis).data('width');
                gih = $(popupThis).data('height');
                pup = $($(popupThis).attr('href'));
                popupResize(pup, giw, gih, true);
            }
            $(window).resize();
        },
        onClosed: function () {
        pup = undefined;
        if (g_isDynamic)
            bodyScrollLock.enableBodyScroll(this);

        if (isDgov2Slideshow) {
            const popSelector = '#dgov2popup-target-3146406';
            const ssSelector = '#dgov2slideshowId-3146406';
            dgov2slideshowPopupDestroy({
                popupSelector: popSelector,
                slideshowSelector: ssSelector,
            });
        }
    }
    });

    });

    
    $(".popup-slideshow").colorbox({
        inline: true,
        onComplete: function () {
            SlideshowInit();
            $.colorbox.resize();
            // stop scrollbar from flashing
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow", "");
            $("#cboxLoadedContent").css("overflow-y", "hidden");
        },
        onClosed: function () {
            $('.slideshow-gallery').trigger('slideTo', 0);
        }
    });
    
    });
</script>






PORTSMOUTH, Va. – It was an April Fool’s Day for the ages and perhaps the signature moment for the USS Hershel “Woody” Williams (ESB 4) Gold Crew recently being awarded the United States Coast Guard Special Operations Service (SOS) Ribbon during a presentation last week by Coast Guard Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday.<br />
<br />
On April 1, HWW Gold Crew members, alongside their Marine Corps and Coast Guard tri-maritime service partners, boarded a Brazilian-flagged vessel and made what would turn out to be the second largest non-containerized trans-Atlantic drug bust in history.</p>

<p>The drug interdiction was obviously a big deal. Not only did the Chief of Naval Operations Tweet out a BZ to the HWW Gold crew, news outlets around the world reported about the exploits that included apprehending seven traffickers and seizing a staggering 13,228 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $350 million street value.</p>

<p>Significant as it was, the ballyhooed bust was hardly the only measure behind the Hershel “Woody” Williams’ Gold Crew earning the special operations ribbon.</p>

<p>The award, presented on August 22 by Lunday, Commander, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, at United States Coast Guard Base Portsmouth, recognized HWW’s overall exceptional support of several tri-maritime service operations from February to April 2022. In addition to the counter-narcotics, additional efforts included maritime security operations (MSO) as well as the crew’s corporate energies put forth to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing off the west coast of Africa.</p>

<p>The ship also participated in Obangame Express 22. Taking place on West African seas, this year’s iteration was a six-day, 32-nation exercise – the largest ever multinational maritime exercise – designed to improve regional cooperation by focusing on maritime domain awareness, information-sharing, and tactical interdiction across all participant militaries.</p>

<p>Upon completion of the exercise, HWW Gold conducted MSO patrols off the coast of West Africa with African partner nations and interdicted a foreign-flagged vessel engaged in IUU fishing. As a result, $6 million in fines were issued.  </p>

<p>Gold Crew commanding officer, Capt. Michael Concannon, expressed excitement for his crew as he said the distinction is not often awarded to maritime units.</p>

<p>“The crew and I appreciate the Coast Guard’s recognition for the successful tri-maritime operations conducted off the coast of Africa,” Concannon said. “The successes from Obangame Express and the MSO patrols go a long way to show African partners that the U.S. is committed to regional stability assistance.”</p>

<p>Established on July 1, 1987, the United States Coast Guard Medals and Awards Manual says the SOS Ribbon is awarded to U.S. armed forces members who participated in a major Coast Guard operation of a special nature not involving combat.</p>

<p>To be eligible, SOS Ribbon nominees must be attached to a participating unit and have to be present no less than 21 non-consecutive days during the period the unit is engaged in the special operation. If the operation is less than 21 days, personnel must serve the entire duration. Additionally, the tactical commander within the appropriate area commander’s area of responsibility must specifically recommend SOS Ribbon candidates.</p>

<p>Expeditionary sea base ships are critical in supporting the deployment of forces and supplies to provide prepositioned equipment and sustainment with flexible distribution</p>

<p>As part of Expeditionary Strike Group 2, USS Hershel “Woody” Williams is the second Lewis B. Puller-class ESB and is currently forward deployed to Souda Bay, Greece. The first U.S. Navy ship assigned to the U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) area of operations, HWW is a highly flexible platform that consists of both U.S. Navy Sailors and Military Sealift Command civilian mariners and may be used across a broad range of military operations supporting multiple operational phases.</p>

<p>For more information about Expeditionary Strike Group Two or USS Hershel "Woody" Williams please visit:  <a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="0" href="https://usg01.safelinks.protection.office365.us/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.c2f.usff.navy.mil%2FOrganization%2FExpeditionary-Strike-Group-ESG-2%2F&data=05%7C01%7Cwilliam.p.taylor.civ%40us.navy.mil%7Cd03f29bbf8514dc09b4b08da8b908de1%7Ce3333e00c8774b87b6ad45e942de1750%7C0%7C0%7C637975750209461076%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=j9SqfpcV%2FFvim3k9GNxGD%2BNL2okVGTuIogPMUASm5Ls%3D&reserved=0" id="LPlnk707278" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.c2f.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Expeditionary-Strike-Group-ESG-2/</a></p>

            </div>
            
        </div>
    </div>
</div>
<script>
    window.print();
</script>
    </div>
    </main>
</body>
</html>