 April 07, 2005
Deceased is Seaman Apprentice James L. Asnin, 23, of Sitka, a member of Acushnet's Deck Department. "I was saddened when I received the initial report on this situation," said Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, adding, "My heart goes out to his family, who are suffering tremendous grief over the loss of their son." Asnin, who suffered head trauma, was located by Victoria police in a parking lot in the inner harbor. He was then transported to Victoria General Hospital. The Victoria police are conducting a criminal investigation into the incident. Vice Adm. Johnson said, "The Coast Guard will cooperate fully with Victoria police while they conduct the investigation." Acushnet was returning home after completing three weeks of training at Naval Station Everett in Washington. The training program was a compilation of seamanship and navigation, damage control, and engineering casualty control training that Coast Guard ships conduct every two years. Victoria was the ship's only port call on the voyage home. "We were looking forward to this port call and returning home to Ketchikan," said Capt. Paul E. Wiedenhoeft, Acushnet's commanding officer. "My crew and I are devastated by this tragic loss." Asnin is the son of Lee and Morced Asnin of Sitka, and has one brother, Jayson.
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