Mary Harriette Coughlin, a teacher for 36 years at Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Europe and Asia, died unexpectedly Tuesday in Adana, Turkey. She was 61. The cause of death is unknown, according to a news release from DODDS-Europe.

Coughlin taught at Würzburg, Germany, and at Clark Air Force Base, Philippines, and in Japan from 1968 until 1991. She taught information and media at Mons, Belgium, from 1991 until 1996 and had taught the same subjects ever since at Incirlik High School, Turkey.

The school plans to establish a memorial fund to purchase books in her name. For more information, call Sandra J. DiQuinzio or Susan Ransom at (+90) 322-332-7563 or DSN 314-676-6330.

A funeral is being planned in Savoy, Ill., at Morgan’s Funeral Home. Flowers, cards and donations for a memorial fund or favorite charity should be sent to Patricia Miller, 9191 Tarleton Circle, Brooksville, Fla. 34613.

USS Bonhomme Richard halts pirates

The amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard recently chased away two boatloads of pirates attacking a group of Kuwaiti fishermen in the northern Persian Gulf.

The San Diego-based Bonhomme Richard received a bridge-to-bridge radio call from one of the fishing dhows under attack, and the 44,000-ton warship turned and sped toward the scene, according to a U.S. Navy Central Command news release.

When the Bonhomme Richard arrived, the pirates fled in their two Boston whaler speedboats. “With 44,000 tons of combat power chasing after them, they got out of there in a hurry,” said Bonhomme Richard’s commander, Capt. J. Scott Jones.

The Bonhomme Richard recently delivered humanitarian supplies to Indonesian tsunami survivors and is currently providing protection for Iraqi oil terminals. The ship also is a base for maritime-interdiction operations against vessels suspected of supporting terrorists.

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