SINCE JUNE 5TH 1965, THE COAST GUARD HAS BEEN IN PORT O'CONNOR.WITH A TOTAL STAFF OF 38 MEMBERS, THESE LIFE SAVING PROFESSIONALS SCAN A VAST TERRITORY. KEEPING WATCH FROM THE EAST BOUND SITE OF THE COLORADO RIVER, UP THE VICTORIA BARGE CANAL.

IT CONTINUES ALL THE WAY TO SUNDOWN BAY TO SEVERAL MILES OUT INTO THE GULF WATERS.

TRAINING FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD IN PORT O'CONNOR IS INTENSE. THOSE WISHING TO JOIN THIS ELITE GROUP, MUST QUALIFY BY PRACTICING RESCUE MISSIONS. THEY ARE ALSO TRAINED TO BE AN EMERGENCY MEDICAL TECHNICIANS AMONG OTHER DUTIES.

ALWAYS BEING PREPARED TO GO AT A MOMENTS NOTICE..

I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THIS U.S. COAST GUARD CREW IN ACTION. GOING ABOARD THEIR 41 FOOT VESSEL FOR PATROL.

AND JUST AS THERE ARE RULES FOR THE ROAD, THE SAME HOLDS TRUE FOR THE WATER WAY.

BUT WHAT ABOUT WHEN A CALL COMES IN FOR SOMEONE IN DISTRESS, NEEDING RESCUE ASSISTANCE. IT WOULD SEEM THAT FINDING LOCATION WOULD BE DIFFICULT. BUT WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, SEARCHING FOR THE VICTIMS IN MUCH EASIER.

<"The cell phones now......alot of them have GPS, built into them. So as soon as they call a 911 operator, we get their position. If they have a vhf radio, they call us up, we can get their position based on different radio towers.">

AND DESPITE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AND THE CALMNESS OF THE WATERS, WEATHER CAN CHANGE IN AN INSTANT. THAT'S WHY THIS COAST GUARD KEEPS A CLOSE WATCH ON WEATHER CONDITIONS.

BUT ONE IMPORTANT FACTOR TO REMEMBER IS THAT THIS HOMETOWN COAST GUARD CREW STRESSES SAFETY. ENCOURAGING BOAT OWNERS TO TAKE BOAT SAFETY CLASSES WITH THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY. IT'S THAT OUNCE OF PREVENTION THAT CAN SAVE LIVES ON THESE COASTAL WATERS.