Good morning! I hope everyone is doing well across the world! I wanted to provide a few updates about Coast Guard Cutter EMLEN TUNNELL since we started our journey in Philly for the cutter’s commissioning ceremony on October 15, 2021.
Since then, we have traveled over 14,000 nautical miles from Key West, Florida to Manama, Bahrain where the cutter is homeported. The transit took us 99 days and we traveled to 12 foreign countries along the way. Despite some challenges with winter weather and COVID-19, the crew was able to experience some extraordinary port calls and safely sail EMLEN TUNNELL through the Strait of Gibraltar, Mediterranean Sea, Suez Canal, Red Sea, Arabian Sea and Persian Gulf until we finally made our way to the Kingdom of Bahrain.
While here in the Middle East, TUNNELL and her crew work for the U.S. Navy to support and defend international partnerships, regional stability, and the free-flow of commerce. Our missions are fast paced and exciting. TUNNELL is still the fastest boat of her class here in Bahrain, consistently living up to her namesake and embodying our ship’s motto of “offense on defense.” We call our small boat “Gremlin” after Emlen’s nickname in the NFL. I attached a few photos from our various adventures. I apologize in advance for the poor quality; we have a hard time sending large files off the ship.
Thank you for the important role you play in the legacy of Emlen Tunnell. Please forward along to anyone we may have missed and feel free to contact us any time. My Executive Officer and I are available to answer any questions or public affairs inquiries. Sending you all my best wishes as we approach the holiday season!
V/r
LT Patrick Kelly
Commanding Officer
CGC EMLEN TUNNELL (WPC 1145)
Emlen Tunnell CGC / Model ship building
Model Coast Guard Cutter Emlen Tunnell
Model builder John Bullock has constructed a model of the United States Coast Guard cutter Emlen Tunnell for the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum. John, a friend of the museum, is a member of three prestigious model-ship-building clubs: the Ship Model Society of New Jersey, the Philadelphia Ship Model Society, and the Nautical Research Guild.
The Coast Guard commissioned the Emlen Tunnell, a 154-foot Sentinel-class cutter, on October 15, 2021, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. John has informed us that the scale of his model, now completed, is 1/48, which makes it about 40 inches long(see photo above). We’re excited to announce that this one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia is on display at our museum, located in the Radnor Township Municipal Building at 301 Iven Avenue in Wayne, Pennsylvania 19087. The museum is open from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and by appointment Saturday and Sunday.
Emlen Tunnell, a 1942 Radnor High graduate, went on to become a World War II hero and the first African American and first defensive player elected to the NFL Hall of Fame. To the best of our knowledge, he is the only professional athlete whose name graces a military ship.
John, a lifelong resident of Delaware County, graduated from, Drexel Hill’s Monsignor Bonner High and was later inducted into the school’s baseball hall of fame
For more information, contact Jim Vankoski at (610) 909-4919 or vankoski21@comcast.net. Or visit the museum online at www.delcosportsmuseum.org. Paypal donations accepted on line.
USCGC Emlen Tunnell
Emlen Tunnell videos
Life and Times of Emlen Tunnell Part 1
Life and Times of Emlen Tunnell Part II
Emlen Tunnell video Part 3
Emlen Tunnell USCG FRC Coloring Contest
In keeping with our mission of acknowledging excellence, preserving the heritage of our local sports history by recognizing and rewarding such excellence, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum is happy to announce the winners of the United States Coast Guard Emlen Tunnell Fast Response Cutter “Connecting Generations” coloring contest.
Emlen Tunnell Cutter Ship Commissioning 10/15
CLICK ON IMAGE TO EXPEND VIEW
Response Cutter Coloring Contest
Fast Response Cutter Coloring Contest
This will be in the May edition of The Delaware County Magazine and The Main Line Chronicles delcomag.com and mainlinechronicles.com
Check out this 1minute 20-second video on how the Emlen Tunnell Fast Response Cutter Ship will perform
FRC 45 delivered to the USCG in Key West
The honors keep coming for the late great Emlen Tunnell: At the beginning of 2017, the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum located at 301 Iven Avenue Wayne, Pa 19087 commissioned sculptor Jennifer Frudakis Petry to create a seven-foot bronze statue to the memory of WW II and NFL hero. The committee has been pleasantly surprised that its foresight has been validated by a number of honors conferred on Emlen since that contract was signed: In July 2017, NFL analyst Gil Brandt selected Emlen as the top NFL safety of all time. This occurred just prior to Emlen's fans celebrating the 50th anniversary of his being the first African-American inducted into pro football's Hall of Fame. Next came during the Delco Veterans Freedom Medal Award Dinner when a special video tribute produced by SLDC board member Brad Nau was played in his honor. Thirdly prior to the 2020 Super Bowl Emlen was named one of the NFL's top 100 players of all time. And most recently, comes the announcement from the United States Coast Guard that a new Sentinel-Class Fast Response Cutter designed to serve a multi-mission role will be named for Delaware County's own Steward's Mate 1st Class Emlen Lewis Tunnell. The tentative Commissioning Date is to take place on October 15, 2021, in Philadelphia. This latest announcement truly attests to the fact that one of America's hidden heroes will not remain hidden much longer.
Prior to the 2020 Super Bowl, in recognition of the NFL’s 100th anniversary, blazers were presented to the All-Time 100 NFL players still living and to the family members of the deceased players. One Delco player present that day to accept his blazer was Billy “White Shoes” Johnson. At a later date, accepting for the late Emlen Tunnell of Radnor, Pennsylvania, was Mialee Anderson, goddaughter of Emlen’s recently departed niece, Catherine Robinson. Mialee, on behalf of her godmother, has generously donated the blazer shown above to the Sports Legends of Delaware County Museum, making it part of the museum’s permanent collection. It’s quite impressive that two of the top 100 players in the history of the NFL come from our very own little piece of the world: Delaware County, Pennsylvania. For more information.
Contact Jim Vankoski 610-909-4919 vankoski21@comcast.net www.delcosportsmuseum.org
<- Emlen Tunnell Statue Dedication Program Books -> View Gallery Below:
Emlen Tunnell, in full Emlen Lewis Tunnell, (born March 29, 1925, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died July 23, 1975, Pleasantville, New York), American gridiron football player who in 1967 became the first African American to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Emlen Lewis Tunnell, sometimes known by the nickname “The Gremlin”, was an American professional football player and coach. He was the first African American to play for the New York Giants and also the first to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Date of death: July 23, 1975 Position: Defensive back
If your club or organization is interested in displaying and learning about any or all of the Delaware County Sports Rarities, or other ones-of-kind artifacts, contact a museum curator to arrange a special showing for your group.
For more information.