July 12, 2024: In Response to Shannon Norenberg, Linda Fagan Refuses to Offer Care to Survivors of Operation Fouled Anchor, Tells Survivors to Go Help Themselves

July 12, 2024

NEW LONDON, CT

On Wednesday night Shannon Norenberg, the whistleblowing U.S. Coast Guard Academy SARC, announced that she no longer intends to resign from her position at the Academy, and accused Coast Guard leader Linda Fagan of “perpetuating an ongoing, life-threatening emergency” by not offering medical care to survivors of the Operation Fouled Anchor coverup.

On Friday morning Connecticut newspaper The Day published a statement released by the Coast Guard in response to Norenberg’s latest public salvo:

The Coast Guard’s Response to Norenberg’s Letter:

“Ensuring a safe and supportive workplace is central to the Coast Guard’s continuing effort to strengthen our culture, become intolerant of harmful behaviors, and ensure accountability and transparency. The Service remains keenly focused on providing the workplace climate that all of our members expect and deserve.

“The Coast Guard wants every victim who needs help to reach out for support. Any member or former member can go to a Vet Center for treatment, and be seen the same day, without the need for any documentation of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). The CG-6095 form is not required by the Vet Center, or to file for disability compensation benefits. MST-related services are available for most veterans, including those who received an Other Than Honorable discharge or served for fewer than two years. Veterans can contact a Veterans Benefits Administration MST outreach coordinator at their local VA regional office who can help file an MST-related disability compensation claim.

“While the Service wants every victim to get support, we are also mindful that victims are not all the same and all have different experiences and desires. Some Fouled Anchor victims have expressly stated their desire to not be contacted about their case again by the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is also limited in its ability to reach out to individuals involved in past cases to avoid conflicting with an ongoing investigation by the Office of the Inspector General. However, if any Coast Guard victim, from Fouled Anchor or otherwise, is in need of care, they are encouraged to reach out to their servicing Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) or Victim Advocate Program Specialist (VAPS).”