USCGC TAMAROA being restored in Baltimore. We were driving around areas rarely visited and I noticed an odd-looking Coast Guard vessel near one of the huge-mongous Naval supply vessels. Odd because it was so old-fashioned looking and just did not fit the neighborhood. Turning around, we found ourselves is a parking lot for Sam's Club and Wal-Mart. Thus the shopping carts in the image are all too freaking authentic. Tamaroa herself was a Navy fleet tug during WW2. Served with distinction in the Pacific and was turned over to the Coast Guard after the war. She continued to serve with extreme distinction and has a real 'chest' full of ribbons from both services. There is a web site for the group doing the restoration with quite a bit of history on her. www.tamaroa.org. I have a feeling Tamaroa and I nearly crossed paths. After getting out of the Navy, I stayed on as a reservist. Our drill hall resembled a ship not in the least. Thus the CO of the unit was agitating to have an excess ATF (Oceangoing Fleet Tug: like this one) transshipped to Raystown Dam in Pa. The dam was in the planning stages and there was talk about having a USCG station on it. It's a big, very big lake. Thus the Coast Guard would have custody of the ship during most hours, but we would take over on the odd weekends. They could have been very odd indeed. I give the man credit for thinking out of the box and being foresightful: our unit was slated to man an ATF in case of war. Familiarity with the type beforehand would have been invaluable. Not sure if the USCG established a station on the dam or, if so, what they are cruising in. An ATF would have been 'dam' impressive to see. BTW: If you saw "Perfect Storm," Tamaroa participated in the rescue of the air crew of the a/c that went down: for real. Thanks for viewing. Enjoy. (That's an order, darnit!)