This note was issued aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter Androscoggin (WHEC-68) in April 1970 for use while the Androscoggin waslocated at Ocean Station Echo. Why the note was made is unclear. It was apparently used in the ship's exchange while at sea at that location. Theattached picture is of SK1 Charles Quam and RM2 David Reiland at the ship's exchange during her Vietnam tour in 1969.

The note is mimeographed with the embossed seal of the Androscoggin in the window on the right side of the note. The ship's crestappears in the center. There are two signatures. The left signature is John A. Tolejko, quartermaster. The right signature is George H. Ulrich, Jr,the personnel officer. The back is blank.

The Ocean Stations were a multi-national chain of ships at set locations that reported surface and upper air meteorological observationsfor use in weather forecasting. They were primarily located in the North Atlantic and North Pacific. In addition to their weather reporting function,these vessels aided in search and rescue operations, supported transatlantic flights, acted as research platforms for oceanographers and monitoredmarine pollution.

Ocean Station Echo was located in the mid-Atlantic. US vessels typically served 3-4 week tours at one location. The Androscoggin wason station for this tour 3-26 April 1970.

For more information about the MPC Gram, see:
MPCGram@yahoo.com