Going ashore

Paul Clinton

After an almost two-year tour of duty in Corona del Mar, Narwhal

commander Lt. John Kidwell will trade his captain’s quarters for a

classroom.

In a May 30 ceremony, Kidwell will step down from the U.S. Coast

Guard cutter Narwhal in a change-of-command ceremony. Lt. James

O’Mara has been named to replace him.

Kidwell didn’t come to the decision easily, saying he would miss a

community he has protected with the Coast Guard cutter.

“It’s going to be hard to leave,” Kidwell said. “I’m always going

to have a place in my heart for the Narwhal, the crew and the

community.”

In the summer of 2001, Kidwell announced he would lead the crew of

the Narwhal on a 41-day journey from New Orleans to Corona del Mar.

The Coast Guard had selected the Narwhal to replace the cutter Point

Stuart.

As the first captain of the 87-foot Narwhal, Kidwell became, in

Coast Guard parlance, “a plank owner.” Kidwell, 32, said he enjoyed

his time in the area, but decided to return to graduate school.

The Coast Guard will send Kidwell to San Diego State to study

educational technology. A master’s is his endgame.

Lt. Cmdr. Bill Rospars, Kidwell’s immediate supervisor, did not

return calls for comment about the move.

The Coast Guard has scheduled a changing-of-the-guard ceremony for

May 30. Kidwell will step aside for O’Mara.

Kidwell, who lives in Laguna Niguel, enlisted in the Coast Guard

in 1991. He grew up in Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma legislature honored him on Nov. 2, 2001, creating a

“John Kidwell Day.”

After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Narwhal was the first

boat to patrol the Los Angeles-Long Beach Harbor area. Rep. Chris Cox

also honored Kidwell at a Nov. 2, 2001, commissioning ceremony for

the Narwhal.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

paul.clinton@latimes.com.