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'@@ -99,16 +99,16 @@ After stopping F/V ''Hunter'' off the coast of New York in 1991, ''Adak''{{'}}s boarding team found {{cvt|10771|lbs}} of [[cocaine]] worth over $861 million at the time. This was the third largest cocaine bust up to that date.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/><ref>{{cite news|last=Linehan|first=M.|title=Coast Guard Crew Makes History|year=1991}}</ref> -On the evening of 18 September 1992, ''Adak'' rescued a missing diver off the coast of [[Shinnecock Inlet|Shinnecock]], Long Island. During her search for the missing diver from dive boat ''Captain Midnight'', the crew saw a dim light, which upon investigation turned out to be the flashlight of the missing diver. The diver had been lost for five hours at that point.<ref>{{cite news|title=CGC Adak Rescues Diver Off Shinnecock|newspaper=New York Harbor Watch|date=November 20, 1992}}</ref> +On the evening of September 18th 1992, ''Adak'' rescued a missing diver off the coast of [[Shinnecock Inlet|Shinnecock]], Long Island. During her search for the missing diver from dive boat ''Captain Midnight'', the crew saw a dim light, which upon investigation turned out to be the flashlight of the missing diver. The diver had been lost for five hours at that point.<ref>{{cite news|title=CGC Adak Rescues Diver Off Shinnecock|newspaper=New York Harbor Watch|date=November 20, 1992}}</ref> -In August 1994, ''Adak'' took part in Operation Able Vigil, an effort made up of over 50 U.S. Coast Guard cutters and [[U.S. Navy|Navy]] ships, and many other varied assets, making up the largest Coast Guard led naval operation since [[World War II]]. From 19 August to 23 September 1994, Operation Able Vigil forces rescued over 29,000 Cuban migrants from unsafe rafts and makeshift craft. For her part in the operation ''Adak'' earned the [[Coast Guard Unit Commendation]].<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> +In August 1994, ''Adak'' took part in Operation Able Vigil, an effort made up of over 50 U.S. Coast Guard cutters and [[U.S. Navy|Navy]] ships, and many other varied assets, making up the largest Coast Guard led naval operation since [[World War II]]. From August 19th to September 23rd 1994, Operation Able Vigil forces rescued over 29,000 Cuban migrants from unsafe rafts and makeshift craft. For her part in the operation ''Adak'' earned the [[Coast Guard Unit Commendation]].<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> In April 1996, while on patrol off [[Puerto Rico]], ''Adak'' rescued 118 [[Dominican Republic]] migrants from two dangerously overloaded and unseaworthy boats.<ref name="ReferenceA">USCGC ''Adak'', Welcome Aboard pamphlet</ref> -''Adak'' was witness to the crash of [[TWA Flight 800]] off the coast of Long Island, New York, on 17 July 1996. The cutter was only {{cvt|15|nmi}} away when the crash occurred and immediately headed to the scene.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> -<ref name="ReferenceA"/> ''Adak'' served as the On-Scene Commander for almost 100 rescue craft for the first eight hours of the search and recovery effort.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> For her actions responding to the TWA Flight 800 crash ''Adak'' received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> +''Adak'' was witness to the crash of [[TWA Flight 800]] off the coast of Long Island, New York, on July 17th 1996. The cutter was only {{cvt|15|nmi}} away when the crash occurred and immediately headed to the scene.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> +<ref name="ReferenceA"/> ''Adak'' served as the on-scene commander for almost 100 rescue craft for the first eight hours of the search and recovery effort.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> For her actions responding to the TWA Flight 800 crash ''Adak'' received the Coast Guard Unit Commendation.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> During ''Adak''{{'}}s stateside service she conducted many successful fisheries patrols, enforcing maritime laws and treaties, and ensuring the safety of fishermen. In August 1999, she received the [[Coast Guard Meritorious Unit Commendation]] for her work from June 1997 to June 1999, doing living marine resources patrols. During this time ''Adak'' issued eleven Magnuson Fishery Conservation Act violations, five of those resulting in catch seizures that, together, totalled over $160,000.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> -After the [[September 11 attacks|attacks on the World Trade Center towers]] on September 11, 2001, the Coast Guard tug {{USCGC|Hawser|WYTL-65610|2}}, homeported in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], was the first on scene in [[New York harbor]] and acted as On-Scene Commander.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> ''Adak'' arrived on scene an hour later and took over On-Scene Commander responsibilities.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> For hours ''Adak'' coordinated the evacuation of civilians, transport of firefighters and rescue personnel, and the establishment of security zones to protect other high valued assets from further attack.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> For her part in the response to the attacks of September 11, ''Adak'' received the [[Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award]].<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> +After the [[September 11 attacks|attacks on the World Trade Center towers]] on September 11th, 2001, the Coast Guard tug {{USCGC|Hawser|WYTL-65610|2}}, homeported in [[Bayonne, New Jersey]], was the first on scene in [[New York harbor]] and acted as On-Scene Commander.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> ''Adak'' arrived on scene an hour later and took over On-Scene Commander responsibilities.<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> For hours ''Adak'' coordinated the evacuation of civilians, transport of firefighters and rescue personnel, and the establishment of security zones to protect other high valued assets from further attack.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> For her part in the response to the attacks of September 11th, ''Adak'' received the [[Secretary of Transportation Outstanding Unit Award]].<ref name="Scullin 2010"/> ===Operation Iraqi Freedom=== @@ -116,21 +116,23 @@ The maritime conditions of Iraq and the Northern [[Persian Gulf]] can greatly limit the operations of large naval vessels and warships. Due to this and the Navy's lack of in-shore patrol craft, a large part of the US Navy's request for Coast Guard assistance in Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) centered on the service's shallow-draft patrol boats. Cutters of the 110-foot Island class, also known as WPBs, would serve as the mainstay of shallow-water operations. The deployment of the 110-foot patrol boat ''Adak'' serves as a snapshot of WPB operations in OIF. Deployment of the WPBs overseas would represent the first combat deployment of Coast Guard patrol boats since the Vietnam War, even though other Coast Guard assets had served in operations [[Desert Shield]] and [[Desert Storm]] in the 1990s.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -In early February 2003, the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area Command deployed to the Persian Gulf the WPBs ''Adak'', {{USCGC|Aquidneck|WPB-1309|2}}, {{USCGC|Baranof|WPB-1318|2}}, and {{USCGC|Wrangell|WPB-1332|2}}. The 110s arrived in Bahrain, at the beginning of March, having ridden on board {{MV|Industrial Challenger}} for thirty-five days. On March 5, a heavy-lift crane off-loaded the WPBs taking only six hours to set all four in the water. ''Adak'' ran through sea trials for two days and on 9 March, ''Adak'' and sister ship ''Aquidneck'' deployed to the Persian Gulf followed by ''Baranof'' and ''Wrangell'' on 12 March.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +In early February 2003, the Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area Command deployed to the Persian Gulf the WPBs ''Adak'', {{USCGC|Aquidneck|WPB-1309|2}}, {{USCGC|Baranof|WPB-1318|2}}, and {{USCGC|Wrangell|WPB-1332|2}}. The 110s arrived in Bahrain, at the beginning of March, having ridden on board {{MV|Industrial Challenger}} for thirty-five days. On March 5th, a heavy-lift crane off-loaded the WPBs taking only six hours to set all four in the water. ''Adak'' ran through sea trials for two days and on 9 March, ''Adak'' and sister ship ''Aquidneck'' deployed to the Persian Gulf followed by ''Baranof'' and ''Wrangell'' on March 12th.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -In the days leading up to combat operations, ''Adak'' focused on maritime interdiction operations. Coalition vessels had restricted passage of local watercraft out of the [[Khawr Abd Allah]] (KAA) Waterway, thinking that these vessels might carry [[Naval mines|mines]] or escaping Iraqi officials. By mid-March, local watercraft had attempted several breakouts with fleets of [[dhow]]s and small boats and, on 17 March, a large breakout consisting of sixty Iraqi watercraft attempted to evade Coalition units. With the vessels scattering in all directions, ''Adak'', ''Wrangell'', and their small boats, aided by other Coalition units, managed to corral all of the Iraqi watercraft and board them. None of the vessels carried escaping Iraqi leaders and all had discharged any illegal cargoes typical of small smuggling vessels. After boarding teams had thoroughly searched the dhows, ''Adak'' and the other patrol vessels allowed the watercraft to proceed along a specific route into the northern area of the Persian Gulf.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +In the days leading up to combat operations, ''Adak'' focused on maritime interdiction operations. Coalition vessels had restricted passage of local watercraft out of the [[Khawr Abd Allah]] (KAA) Waterway, thinking that these vessels might carry [[Naval mines|mines]] or escaping Iraqi officials. By mid-March, local watercraft had attempted several breakouts with fleets of [[dhow]]s and small boats and, on March 17th, a large breakout consisting of sixty Iraqi watercraft attempted to evade Coalition units. With the vessels scattering in all directions, ''Adak'', ''Wrangell'', and their small boats, aided by other Coalition units, managed to corral all of the Iraqi watercraft and board them. None of the vessels carried escaping Iraqi leaders and all had discharged any illegal cargoes typical of small smuggling vessels. After boarding teams had thoroughly searched the dhows, ''Adak'' and the other patrol vessels allowed the watercraft to proceed along a specific route into the northern area of the Persian Gulf.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -In the early morning hours of 20 March, Coalition forces initiated combat operations with air attacks against key military targets in Baghdad. The ''Adak'' and ''Aquidneck'' enforced a security zone while the [[USS Higgins|USS ''Higgins'']] launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles into Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-25|title=Officers: Navy Fired Over 300 Tomahawk Missiles During Baghdad Attack|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/officers-navy-fired-over-300-tomahawk-missiles-during-baghdad-attack|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Associated Press|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Wise, James E., Jr., 1930-2013.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/859157885|title=Women at war : Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts|year=2011|orig-year=2006|publisher=Naval Institute Press|others=Baron, Scott, 1954-|isbn=978-1-61251-407-9|location=Annapolis, Md.|oclc=859157885}}</ref> In addition, Coalition forces had to secure Iraq's [[Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal|Khor al-Amaya Oil Terminal]] and Mina al Bakr Oil Terminal to prevent environmental attack by the Iraqi regime. On the evening of 20 March, [[SEAL]] teams supported by [[Polish Special Forces]] personnel, stormed the oil facilities. During the operation, ''Adak'', along with ''Baranof'', maintained security around the terminals to prevent reinforcement or escape by Iraqi military forces. After the SEALs cleared the terminals of Iraqi personnel, weapons and explosives, Coast Guard personnel from Port Security Units 311 and 313 arrived to secure the facilities.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +In the early morning hours of March 20th, -Next ''Adak'' received orders to patrol the KAA Waterway, so by the early morning hours of 21 March, ''Adak'' had steamed up the KAA to serve as a guard ship. In fact, of the 146 Coalition naval units in the Persian Gulf, ''Adak'' stationed itself deepest in enemy territory and served as the "tip of the spear" for Coalition naval forces. During its early morning patrol, ''Adak'' and navy patrol {{USS|Chinook|PC-9|2}} surprised and stopped two down-bound Iraqi tugboats, including one towing a barge, and ordered them to anchor. At first, the vessels raised no suspicions for they ordinarily serviced tankers and smaller watercraft that plied local waters. But the two patrol vessels continued guarding the tugs and a special boarding team composed of Australian and American explosives experts searched the tugs and barge and found concealed within them a total of seventy contact and acoustic mines. Had they been released, the mines could have sunk or heavily damaged Coalition naval vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. The team secured the tugs and ''Chinook'' transported the tug crews back to a Coalition naval vessel for processing. The captain of one of the mine-laying tugs admitted that the sight of the "white patrol boat" had prevented him from deploying his deadly cargo.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +Coalition forces initiated combat operations with air attacks against key military targets in Baghdad. The ''Adak'' and ''Aquidneck'' enforced a security zone while the [[USS Higgins|USS ''Higgins'']] launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles into Iraq.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-03-25|title=Officers: Navy Fired Over 300 Tomahawk Missiles During Baghdad Attack|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/officers-navy-fired-over-300-tomahawk-missiles-during-baghdad-attack|access-date=2020-10-29|website=Associated Press|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Wise, James E., Jr., 1930-2013.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/859157885|title=Women at war : Iraq, Afghanistan, and other conflicts|year=2011|orig-year=2006|publisher=Naval Institute Press|others=Baron, Scott, 1954-|isbn=978-1-61251-407-9|location=Annapolis, Md.|oclc=859157885}}</ref> In addition, Coalition forces had to secure Iraq's [[Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal|Khor al-Amaya Oil Terminal]] and Mina al Bakr Oil Terminal to prevent environmental attack by the Iraqi regime. On the evening of Marc [[Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal|20th]]<nowiki/>h, [[SEAL]] teams supported by [[Polish Special Forces]] personnel, stormed the oil facilities. During the operation, ''Adak'', along with ''Baranof'', maintained security around the terminals to prevent reinforcement or escape by Iraqi military forces. After the SEALs cleared the terminals of Iraqi personnel, weapons and explosives, Coast Guard personnel from Port Security Units 311 and 313 arrived to secure the facilities.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -Throughout 21 March, the captain and crew of ''Adak'' experienced a great deal of excitement. At 06:00, Australian and British frigates began naval fire support operations in what became known as "Five-Inch Friday". The warships poured nearly 200 rounds of {{convert|4+1/2|in|spell=in|0|adj=on}} and {{convert|5|in|spell=in|0|adj=on}} shells into the Iraqi defenses while ''Adak'' screened the vessels to ensure that no unauthorized watercraft approached. During this time, Mackenzie and his men felt buffeting from the explosions of hundreds of bombs and shells lobbed on shore. British [[Royal Marines]], supported by US Navy and [[Royal Navy]] hovercraft, commenced the amphibious assault on the [[Al-Faw Peninsula]]; the largest amphibious operation carried out since the [[Korean War]].<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +Next ''Adak'' received orders to patrol the KAA Waterway, so by the early morning hours of March 21st, ''Adak'' had steamed up the KAA to serve as a guard ship. In fact, of the 146 Coalition naval units in the Persian Gulf, ''Adak'' stationed itself deepest in enemy territory and served as the "tip of the spear" for Coalition naval forces. During its early morning patrol, ''Adak'' and navy patrol {{USS|Chinook|PC-9|2}} surprised and stopped two down-bound Iraqi tugboats, including one towing a barge, and ordered them to anchor. At first, the vessels raised no suspicions for they ordinarily serviced tankers and smaller watercraft that plied local waters. But the two patrol vessels continued guarding the tugs and a special boarding team composed of Australian and American explosives experts searched the tugs and barge and found concealed within them a total of seventy contact and acoustic mines. Had they been released, the mines could have sunk or heavily damaged Coalition naval vessels operating in the Persian Gulf. The team secured the tugs and ''Chinook'' transported the tug crews back to a Coalition naval vessel for processing. The captain of one of the mine-laying tugs admitted that the sight of the "white patrol boat" had prevented him from deploying his deadly cargo.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> + +Throughout March 21st, the captain and crew of ''Adak'' experienced a great deal of excitement. At 06:00, Australian and British frigates began naval fire support operations in what became known as "Five-Inch Friday". The warships poured nearly 200 rounds of {{convert|4+1/2|in|spell=in|0|adj=on}} and {{convert|5|in|spell=in|0|adj=on}} shells into the Iraqi defenses while ''Adak'' screened the vessels to ensure that no unauthorized watercraft approached. During this time, Mackenzie and his men felt buffeting from the explosions of hundreds of bombs and shells lobbed on shore. British [[Royal Marines]], supported by US Navy and [[Royal Navy]] hovercraft, commenced the amphibious assault on the [[Al-Faw Peninsula]]; the largest amphibious operation carried out since the [[Korean War]].<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> During the landings, an Iraqi PB-90 patrol boat had been cruising upstream on the KAA Waterway and positioned itself where it could threaten low-flying Coalition helicopters and provide early warning reports to land-based Iraqi forces on the Al Faw Peninsula. To engage the PB-90, the Coalition command center vectored in an [[AC-130 gunship]], which destroyed the Iraqi vessel. Afterward, a Coalition helicopter spotted three surviving crewmembers floating down the KAA and notified ''Adak'' of their location. ''Adak'' conducted Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) operations, recovered three hypothermic Iraqis at 8:30, and transferred the prisoners to an Australian naval vessel for processing. Coalition experts later identified the men as warrant officers from Iraq's Republican Guard.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -After Coalition forces wrapped up the initial phase of combat operations, Coalition planners focused on opening the KAA Waterway to vessel traffic. Wrecks from the [[Iran–Iraq War]] and the First Gulf War still littered the KAA and its shores, but mines proved a greater concern. Some mines still remained in the waterway from Operation Desert Storm. Minesweeping operations began on 22 March, with navy [[Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion|Sea Dragon]] helicopters towing minesweeping sleds along the waterway. Mackenzie received orders for ''Adak'' to join sister ship ''Wrangell'', and navy patrol craft ''Chinook'' and ''Firebolt'' to escort US Navy and Royal Navy minesweepers up the KAA. The process proved slow as the minesweepers proceeded at a rate of {{convert|3|kn|spell=in}} up the {{convert|40|mi|spell=in|adj=on}} channel to the Iraqi port of [[Umm Qasr]]. The patrol boats had to stand off {{cvt|1000|yds|0}} from the minesweeping vessels and they often had to station themselves upriver from the minesweepers. On several occasions, the minesweepers located mines in waters previously navigated by the WPBs and, on one occasion, ''Adak''{{'}}s crew listened as the patrol boat contacted a mine that came to the surface and failed to detonate.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +After Coalition forces wrapped up the initial phase of combat operations, Coalition planners focused on opening the KAA Waterway to vessel traffic. Wrecks from the [[Iran–Iraq War]] and the First Gulf War still littered the KAA and its shores, but mines proved a greater concern. Some mines still remained in the waterway from Operation Desert Storm. Minesweeping operations began on March 22nd, with navy [[Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion|Sea Dragon]] helicopters towing minesweeping sleds along the waterway. Mackenzie received orders for ''Adak'' to join sister ship ''Wrangell'', and navy patrol craft ''Chinook'' and ''Firebolt'' to escort US Navy and Royal Navy minesweepers up the KAA. The process proved slow as the minesweepers proceeded at a rate of {{convert|3|kn|spell=in}} up the {{convert|40|mi|spell=in|adj=on}} channel to the Iraqi port of [[Umm Qasr]]. The patrol boats had to stand off {{cvt|1000|yds|0}} from the minesweeping vessels and they often had to station themselves upriver from the minesweepers. On several occasions, the minesweepers located mines in waters previously navigated by the WPBs and, on one occasion, ''Adak''{{'}}s crew listened as the patrol boat contacted a mine that came to the surface and failed to detonate.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -It took about a week to complete mine-clearing operations on the KAA and with Umm Qasr in Coalition hands, cargo vessels could begin steaming into the Iraqi port. Naval combat operations concluded near the end of March, but ''Adak'' joined the other WPBs to continue their force protection role and served as escorts while the navy salvage vessel {{USNS|Grapple|T-ARS-53|2}} and the tugboat {{USNS|Catawba|T-ATF-168|2}} removed obstructions in the waterway. On 28 March, Coalition forces sent the first shipload of humanitarian aid into Umm Qasr on board the shallow draft [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] [[RFA Sir Galahad (1987)|''Sir Galahad'']] under the escort of ''Adak'', ''Wrangell'', a minesweeper and patrol craft {{USS|Firebolt|PC-10|2}}. ''Adak'' and its crew continued escort duties along the KAA into early April. On 11 April, ''Adak'' escorted Iraq's first commercial shipment on board {{MV|Manar}}, which carried 700 tons of [[Red Crescent Society]] aid of food, water, medical supplies and transport vehicles. Meanwhile, ''Adak'' received orders to return to base and, on 12 April, ''Adak'' redeployed to Bahrain after completing a thirty-five-day non-stop deployment to the NAG.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> +It took about a week to complete mine-clearing operations on the KAA and with Umm Qasr in Coalition hands, cargo vessels could begin steaming into the Iraqi port. Naval combat operations concluded near the end of March, but ''Adak'' joined the other WPBs to continue their force protection role and served as escorts while the navy salvage vessel {{USNS|Grapple|T-ARS-53|2}} and the tugboat {{USNS|Catawba|T-ATF-168|2}} removed obstructions in the waterway. On March 28th, Coalition forces sent the first shipload of humanitarian aid into Umm Qasr on board the shallow draft [[Royal Fleet Auxiliary]] [[RFA Sir Galahad (1987)|''Sir Galahad'']] under the escort of ''Adak'', ''Wrangell'', a minesweeper and patrol craft {{USS|Firebolt|PC-10|2}}. ''Adak'' and its crew continued escort duties along the KAA into early April. On April 11th, ''Adak'' escorted Iraq's first commercial shipment on board {{MV|Manar}}, which carried 700 tons of [[Red Crescent Society]] aid of food, water, medical supplies and transport vehicles. Meanwhile, ''Adak'' received orders to return to base and, on April 12th, ''Adak'' redeployed to Bahrain after completing a thirty-five-day non-stop deployment to the NAG.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom" /> -On 9 April, organized resistance had ceased in Baghdad, followed in mid-April by a cessation of resistance in most other Iraqi cities. On 1 May, President [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] announced the end of combat operations in Iraq and the Coalition’s offensive operations came to a close. During OIF, ''Adak'', its sister ships and their crews brought many vital capabilities to the theater of operations. The patrol boats operated for many hours without maintenance in waters too shallow for most naval vessels and served as the fleet's workhorses in boarding, escort duty, force protection and maritime interdiction operations. The characteristic white hulls of the WPBs also provided a less antagonizing presence in a highly volatile region. As in past Coast Guard combat missions, such as Vietnam, Coast Guard patrol boats and personnel exceeded all expectations in shallow-water and in-shore maritime operations. Given the frequency that hostilities erupt in the world's littoral regions, shallow-draft Coast Guard units and their specialized personnel will continue to play an important part in future naval operations.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom"> +On April 9th, organized resistance had ceased in Baghdad, followed in mid-April by a cessation of resistance in most other Iraqi cities. On May 1st, President [[George W. Bush|George Bush]] announced the end of combat operations in Iraq and the Coalition’s offensive operations came to a close. During OIF, ''Adak'', its sister ships and their crews brought many vital capabilities to the theater of operations. The patrol boats operated for many hours without maintenance in waters too shallow for most naval vessels and served as the fleet's workhorses in boarding, escort duty, force protection and maritime interdiction operations. The characteristic white hulls of the WPBs also provided a less antagonizing presence in a highly volatile region. As in past Coast Guard combat missions, such as Vietnam, Coast Guard patrol boats and personnel exceeded all expectations in shallow-water and in-shore maritime operations. Given the frequency that hostilities erupt in the world's littoral regions, shallow-draft Coast Guard units and their specialized personnel will continue to play an important part in future naval operations.<ref name="Tip of the Spear: Combat Operations of Adak and the WPBs in Operation Iraqi Freedom"> {{cite news | url=http://www.coastguardchannel.com/spclFeatures/cghistory/events/Adak.shtml '