U.S. Coast Guard Station Sheboygan receives prestigious award

U.S. Coast Guard Station Sheboygan was awarded the Coast Guard’s esteemed Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award during a ceremony presided over by Capt. Luann Barndt, commanding officer of Sector Lake Michigan.

Station Sheboygan is the only Coast Guard unit on Lake Michigan to receive this highly coveted award over the past year.

The Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award is awarded for exceptional performance and a grade of 90 percent or higher during an arduous weeklong inspection. Included in the inspection was the examination of the response boats, crew knowledge tests, execution of practical drills and assessment of the unit’s training plan.

The award is named for the first general superintendent of the U.S. Life-Saving Service, which was later incorporated into the U.S. Coast Guard. Sumner I. Kimball was appointed to the position of general superintendent in 1878 due to his persuasive efforts in convincing Congress to improve upon what was a system of volunteer based life-saving stations.

Kimball’s elevated standards laid the foundation for modern day Coast Guard small boat stations.

This award, as well as a correlating team award that was presented to the station’s crew, is the result of months of hard work and an overall high level of excellence in executing all Coast Guard missions.

Station Sheboygan’s officer in charge, Boatswains’ Mate Chief Marcus Evans said, “The receipt of the Sumner I. Kimball Readiness Award is a reflection of the hard work by the entire crew. This is the evidence of the pride that the entire crew has not only in Station Sheboygan but in their service of our nation.”

Station Sheboygan is a multi-mission small boat station that executes all Coast Guard missions to include Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and Homeland Security.