Welcome to the USCGC Mesquite website! First off, I want to clearly state that this site is not affiliated with the United States Coast Guard, or any U.S. government agency. Furthermore, I do not work for the United States Coast Guard, nor have I ever been in active military duty. I'm simply a civilian that is fond of naval history, scuba diving (especially shipwrecks), and designing & developing websites.

My interest with the USCGC Mesquite started while I was attending Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan. I was just finishing up my PADI Open Water Diver Certification when I first heard the news of the grounding. Later, when I discovered the plans to sink her in Lake Superior, I immediately became a USCGC Mesquite expert! I was hooked! I was even fortunate enough to be one of the early divers to dive the Mesquite after she was sunk. But let me tell you this-- at 110 feet, on an October morning, Lake Superior is beyond frigid! Somehow, it was well worth the pain!

Unfortunately, this site is constantly changing (for the better). The new look and feel will take some time to get used to. I think that I've finally incorporated ALL the content from the old site into this one. The only item missing is the old guestbook, which I have replaced with an interactive bulletin board. I found that ex-Mesquite crew members, that once served aboard the Mesquite, had some interesting stories to tell. Furthermore, some of them were trying to contact one another. The bulletin board is a perfect solution for this.

I have recently incorporated living, user-uploadable, user-modifiable "albums" for photos, videos, and newspaper archives. Therefore, this site is now in everybody's hands to feed it with content! Upload your photos, videos and newpaper articles into the appropriate album/gallery, and this site will truly be world-class... but it relies on YOU! The only other chore I have to do is somehow incorporate ALL the data that I have on the grounding and sinking of the USCGC Mesquite. Currently, I have: U.S. Department of Transportation and United States Coast Guard Memos and Documents, Ship's Log and Roster, Navigation Data Sheets, Weather Observation and Operational Summary Sheets, Crew "Witness Statements", Naval Engineering Statistics, and relevant Newspaper Articles.

Bear with me during this changeover process. I urge everybody to post their thoughts and opinions in the bulletin board under the forum, Ideas and Suggestions. I'd love to hear what people think, and value all criticism (constructive and destructive). Thanks!

This site has actually been around since late 1996, when I first became interested in web development. Then, in 1999, I received an award for Academic Excellence from Study Web. I don't know why... the site was in dire need of updating and improvement. I guess I'm flattered.

On a final note, if you have questions, comments or suggestions for this site, either send me an email, or post them on the bulletin board. Also, if you have any pictures, videos, documents, or anything relevant to the USCGC Mesquite that you feel should be added to this site, please upload them to their appropriate albums. If you cannot, please send me an email. I will make every effort to publish these items in a timely manner, and give proper credit.

The majority of this information has been graciously provided by Jim Jackman of Narcosis Corner Divers. If you're interested in diving one of the most intact and preserved shipwrecks in the world, contact Jim Jackman of Narcosis Corner Divers, located in Calumet, Michigan. Click on the link below for more information.