Service Photo |
Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USCG Veteran
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Current/Last Rank
Petty Officer Second Class
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Current/Last Primary Rate
GM-Gunner's Mate
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Current/Last Rate Group
Gunner's Mate
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Primary Unit
1968-1969, GM, Squadron One - Division 13, CG Squadron 1
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Previously Held Rate
SA-Seaman Apprentice
SN-Seaman
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Service Years
1966 - 1970
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Other Languages
Spanish
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Official/Unofficial US Coast Guard Certificates
Bluenose
Golden Shellback
Order of Magellan
Order of the Ditch
Order of the Ditch
Order of the Golden Dragon
Rednose
Shellback
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Voice Edition
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1970, American Legion, Post 414 (Life Member) (Angelica, New York)
- Chap. Page
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1990, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 717 (Life Member) (West Palm Beach , Florida)
- Chap. Page
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1998, Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association
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2000, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW)
- Assoc. Page
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2000, CG Sea Veterans of America
- Assoc. Page
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2000, United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
- Assoc. Page
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2016, Coast Guard Together We Served [Verified]
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2018, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 42 (Life Member) (West Palm Beach, Florida)
- Chap. Page
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What are you doing now:
GM2-ELD Supervisor Certification in 6/1969. Â
Medically retired 2008,  VACP SMC-L1 w/A&A 100%, all AO exposure 68-69 medical issues, none of disability from WIA 4/17/69 RPG shrapnel "ALL my disability from "AO" + "Parkinson's Disease". VA-WPB took great care until 3/2019. Corona-Virus covid-19 11/22, hosp. 11/27-12/18/2020Â
WPB-82304 POINT LEAGUE we've lost "11" out of who served on her 4/68-5/16/69 crew  "AO" disease's [7 ]  w/Ischemic Heart Disease [2]-2
004 BM1 [Robert W] Bobby Durrance rip & BMCS Robert W Martin rip;Â [1]-
2012 CS2 Terry [Terrance V] Mann rip; [1]
2018 ENC [William R] Pat Patrick rip; [1]Â
BM3 Paul Stephen Runkle 2002 rip; [1]
1990 SN [Martin James] Marty Haker rip yn3 w/cancer & ischemic heart disease only 40. [1]Â
MDS bone marrow cancer 12/2014 ET2 Dan [Daniel W] Adams rip. [1]Â
CS2Â Rodney W Clark rip; [1]Â
2017 Ltjg Dennis William (Bill) Kushia Kurtz [capt] rip; [1]Â
Ltjg T. M. Alexander rip;Â crew has some "AO" med. issues, [3] 100% VA disabled. survived RPG's, River Mines, AK's & brick to head, leaving VUNG TAU bar, weekly Boston Whaler ditch rides, [3] who do not complain about, talk about their medical issuesÂ
CO LT Wm Harry Norris Capt 30 yrs Legal & JAG mostly west coast retired to CA,Â
Ltjg [Court] Courtney John Storey retired to MN, One of his Uncles won Medal Of Honor WW2 as a Major in USMC was an Atty, didn't have to be on front lines, BMC E Wayne Gray BMCM retired to NC several times NC SP, NC Marine patrol, Yacht Capt & addicted fisherman. all doing well also EN3-2 Dennis H Chamberlain; FN-BM2 Clifford K Hall, GM2 Deryck Edward Pocock running his gunsmith shop in Olivo TX 1994 to present are our survivors.
WHAT CAN YOU SAY? A surprise triple bypass for me 6/4/2018.
1st ship & Mentors  WAGB-279 Eastwind 66-67  Lt Joe Cooley [Capt] 62-98, BM3 Jack Crowley [bmcs] 57-88, rip 5.19.2017; Lt Geo Watts .a[Cdr] 60-85, rip 7.1.2016; MENTORS GMCS jOHN HENRY MACORIMICK, 4-8/67 GM-A sch ORDNANCE & AMMUNITION, GROTON, CT, CO CWO3 Bob Fleming [cwo4] 75; GMCM D J GINGERY [gmcm]; FTC Fred Schacht [ftc]; GMC Carl Jerry DeLair [gmc] 53-74 rip; FT1 Brian Kelley [cwo3] 61-81; GM1 Robert Carpenter [gmc] 57-79 rip 11.11.2018; Squadron One 82304 Pt League BMC Wayne Gray [bmcm] 57-90, & BMCS Robert W Martin  49-70 rip, BM1 Robert W [Bobby] Durance [BMC] 57-77 rip, Lt William Harry Norris .a[Capt] 61-95,  Last mentor Marine Port Safety Detachment Sta-ELD Concord, Ca 69-70 BMC James Tom Hanks [bmc?] 53-??, [4 daughters] LT James Morgan acting CO a.65[cdr]Â
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Other Comments:
Units : CG Training CG Cutters CG Bases USN Training USMC Training Recruit Training Cape May Group Base Boston W279 Eastwind Boston GM A School Groton W64 ESCANABA New Bedford COTP & PSU-301 Group Boston maa [not Cape Cod ] USN Fleet Airborne Electronics S.E.R.E. Warner Springs  USMC 29 Palms wpns USN Coronado USMC Camp Pendleton wpns   USCG Squadron#1 Training Alameda RON#1 Pt.Young 82303 An Thoi Cat Lo Pt.League 82304 Cat Lo Cam Ranh Bay  82304 Pt League Div-12 2 patrols 9/28-10/23-27/68-on MSTS SS GREEN SPRINGS Div-12 to SASEBO &-
10/27/68 to 12/27/68 in SASEBO shipyards then SASEBO to DIV-12 ON M/V TRANS-COLORADO 12/28/68 to 1/5/69 USN NAVSUPPACT SASEBO JAPAN  RON#1 PT.League 82304  SEALORDS SCATTOR Train RVN To Replace Program   RVNS Navy 2-5/69   RON#1 Div-13 spare boat crew WIA 4/17/69  U.S.C.G.  Explosive Loading Supervisory School ELD  Concord   C.G. Marine Port Safety Detachment Concord maa ELD USN-USMC  names NWS-NAWS- NAD-NOD-NAVMAG Port Chicago-NAVWPNSTA Seal Beach North we had US Army too
Rank : Petty Officer Second Class
RankInsignia : Gunner's Mate
MOS : Gunner's Mate-w/ELD at MPSD-Concord Ca maa
Years : 5/2/66-5/1/70 Reserve 7th-1970, 9th-1971, 3rd 1971-72
GCM: 1hr late Rochester-Boston flight 12/67 AWOL NJP no GC medal
Country: 10 days restricted to base United States of AMERICA
Location: NWS CG Marine Port Safety Detachment ELD Concord Ca
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1966-1966, SA, USCG Group Boston
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1966-1967, SN, USCGC Eastwind (WAGB-279/NRFB)
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1967-1967, GM, USCGC Escanaba (WHEC-64)
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1967-1968, GM, USCG Group Boston
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1967-1968, GM, USCG Captain of the Port Boston
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1968-1968, GM, Coast Guard Training Center Alameda (Staff)
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1968-1968, GM, Squadron One - Division 11, CG Squadron 1
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1968-1968, GM, USCGC Point Young (WPB-82303)
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1968-1968, GM, Squadron One - Division 13, CG Squadron 1
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1968-1968, GM, USCGC Point League (WPB-82304)
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1968-1968, GM, USCGC Point League (WPB-82304)
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1968-1968, GM, NAVSUPACT Sasebo
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1968-1969, GM, Squadron One - Division 13, CG Squadron 1
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1968-1969, GM, CG Squadron 1
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1968-1969, GM, Squadron One - Division 12, CG Squadron 1
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1968-1969, GM, USCGC Point League (WPB-82304)
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1969-1969, GM, Squadron One - Division 13, CG Squadron 1
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1969-1970, GM, USCG Marine Safety Detachment Concord
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1970, American Legion, Post 414 (Life Member) (Angelica, New York)
- Chap. Page
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1990, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 717 (Life Member) (West Palm Beach , Florida)
- Chap. Page
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1998, Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association
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2000, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW)
- Assoc. Page
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2000, CG Sea Veterans of America
- Assoc. Page
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2000, United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
- Assoc. Page
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2016, Coast Guard Together We Served [Verified]
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2018, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 42 (Life Member) (West Palm Beach, Florida)
- Chap. Page
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- Akers, Frances Jean, PFC, (1969-1970)
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- Akers, Gerald Wayne, SP 5, (1967-1969)
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- Austin, Gene W, SSG, (1965-1976)
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Reflections on PO2 Beckwith's
US Coast Guard Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE COAST GUARD.
| INDIA 63 May to July |
At 17 I was bored with high school, not ready to go to college, signed up for volunteer draft at 17 into US Army. My parents would not co-sign for the Army, didn't want me to go to Vietnam, even though my dad and 7 uncles & 2 aunts & 1 grandfather served in uniform during WWII, all with overseas duty except Grandpa. USCG was all my parents would co-sign for. to allow me to enlist at 17, they thought it would keep me from going to Vietnam.
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WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING.
I moved around a lot. After boot camp, I volunteered for VN at each duty assignment and was sent to Group Boston instead. From there transferred to the Eastwind (WAGB-279). After Deep Freeze 67 on the Eastwind, I went to GM "A" School. On graduation I requested RON#1, I got | Ordance School |
orders to the Escanaba (WHEC-64). Shortly after arriving, I applied for Squadron 1 and the Skipper was pissed that I wouldn't give WHEC-64 a chance. He had me transferred after 1 Weather Station Bravo patrol. To 1st District, sent me to Captain of the Port-Port Security Unit Base Boston. It was a great duty station, seems I was the only PO who lived on base, I was made MAA. every night & weekend off, very expensive for a young PO3. Ran into LT Geo Watts he was OPS officer W-279 when I was there 66-67, now stationed 1st District HQ's Aide to Admiral & working on Law degree. I asked if there he could help me get transferred to Squadron#1, a couple months passed, received orders last week of Jan. or 1st week of Feb. I went to RON#1 April 68 and rotated home May 69. I was WIA 17APR69 shrapnel from RPG 1st day off 82304 in Div-13 Cat Lo RVN. USCG gave me the chance to prove to myself to be a man & not a boy, not to fear to do any job put in front of me, because anything could be done, with thought, drive & focus, that I now had. I think, being stationed in San Francisco area & Calif. being so anti-VIETNAM anti-Sailor-Soldier -Marine in 69-70. was the only reason I didn't re-enlist. Well maybe going from McHale's CG Ops in Vietnam, to spit & polish conditions at NWS, from the relaxed duty conditions we had in RON#1. It was very hard for me going back to a spit & polish environment, routine, with dress inspections, with USCG sharing space on a USN-USMC AMMO storage base. It had many names, CG Marine Port Safety Station, NAVWPNSTA or NWS or SEAL BEACH or PORT CHICAGO Concord, Calif. USCG in SQUADRON#1 mostly we did the job of Market Time & gun support missions, some firefights, really big ops 22-23-24 Sept 68, lots of bodies, we were called in by a coastal spotter north of Phan Thiet, for 2hrs we laid in 50cal, over 4500 rounds, 80 m79 40mm grenades. That usually did not happen, usually, we were surprised but ready for. All time was relaxed, casual dress, shorts, T-shirts, not like any of 6 duty assignments I'd had since enlisting Sometimes delivering a USN Seal Team with LSSC to their mission & we were there to do our job but SQUADRON#1 crews were more like the old McHale's Navy-Coast Guard on TV, I was ready for a change.
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IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
I enjoyed combat operations & anytime I/we could do more taking Boston Whaler in the ditches to do damages to VC on anything skipper would let us do. I know a couple of my RON#1 mates had trouble dealing with some of the combat issues after returning stateside. Six of | Boston Whaler in use |
my cousins who were in VN came back and served as Police officers, 30 to 40 years. We have lost several of my last boat 82304 crew, all issues to do with Agent Orange exposure. Ischemic heart disease took BM 2004, Bob Durrance, he served 20yrs got out and was a school teacher in Brownsville, TX. MDS Myelodysplastic Syndromes bone marrow cancer took ET Dan Adams 2014 out in Washington. Last 6 months he was getting a blood transfusion every week. I have AO-Parkinson's & WPB VA is currently treating me since 10/2014. I have had symptoms since 2007. I dragged my feet and had a hard time forcing myself to go in to get treatments for symptoms & not doing anything for the cure of the disease. My deck officer from USCGC EASTWIND LT Joseph Cooley [retired as Capt in reserves] & Acting Director of VA unit in the Philippines, he was forceful in his emails to get me to VA & use the Medical treatment I had earned. He & my business partner Lt Mike Brown also kicking me in the ass to get into VA. However, if I was asked to volunteer again I would do it all over again the same, Maybe I'd drink more beer and less ice tea. Might have had less AO exposure if I had. There were many Vietnamese who we treated medically, several wounded, that wasn't VC or NVA. Sometimes the boarding for Market Time OPS was overwhelming. An RVN Navy liaison PO2 shot a kid in the hand, firing a warning shot with a 45, at the boat, the little boy was on.
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OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
The best: SQUADRON #1 82304 Pt League, Div-13 HQ, 82303 Pt Young Div-11. All the duty was always an adrenaline rush, ALWAYS!! On the 82304 Pt' League at shipyards in SASEBO, JAPAN for an overhaul, standing duty 24 hours on 8 days off, CO LT Wm H Norris could not have been any better with LIBERTY for his crew, when we were in Sasebo, while on a break from the WAR. The USN/USMC had Cinderella liberty, back on base 0000 or 0100, we had 24 hour liberty, in civvies as long as we were off the streets, out of the bars, restaurants & clubs before USN -USMC SP's started picking up USN & USMC who were not back on base or their ships. Usually, that meant staying in the Japanese area of Sasebo, not where everyone usually goes. It was rush even when WIA 17APR69. I didn't know it happened until an hour later in the bunker. Sure I felt the hot flash of the explosion but that was all till later in the bunker, I put a hand on my knee & leg was wet above the knee to boot. It [Vietnam] was the best duty I served in USCG, Vietnam always was a rush, in a firefight, even waiting for something to happen, in small Boston Whaler with 3 Coasties running up a ditch or canal, to small or to shallow for anything bigger it was great. Now, the added comfort, being on 82'r with all the firepower was great, but we always had "AC", a "shower", a "hot meal", with a "good cook" [not ALL units] COTP-PSU Boston MAA great duty before Vietnam. It was a good time & very expensive for PO3. ELD-PSU Concord MAA was great duty after VIETNAM, earning the CG Commendation with 'O" devise for operations, remembering to stay in Walnut Creek area, not so anti-sailor, anti-soldier as in Oakland & San Francisco. But it was expensive for a PO2 in Calif., not like the men & women have it now. 1970 GM2 w/3 years was paid about $500 a month. 1st job after USCG was Union Const & take home was over $600.00 weekly [5x more per month] I bought a new [70 Camaro SS], got married [bought her a new Buick Lesabre, bought a new home, and bought 2 snowmobiles. All things that couldn't happen 70-72 on what the CG was paying me in Concord California even with the pay raise for making E6. Worst: WHEC-64 Escanaba, One weather station BRAVO Sept-Oct 67 with a stop in Thule, Greenland & Argentia, Newfoundland on the worst riding ship in CG. I was only there 7 weeks 34 days at sea. It also sucks to be north of the Arctic Circle should be blue nose but not there the minimum 21 days [CG requirements] to get the service ribbon. WAGB-279 Eastwind in Ross Sea w/ 30'-40' seas covered w/ 3' slush ice was gravy compared to the Escanaba patrol.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Combat in Vietnam, what a rush it put you in. I had small rushes, driving fast, doing 1/4 mile runs at the track, but nothing like being shot at or shooting back & w/M60 or Browning M2HB 50 cal, even Tommy guns we had, firing them put you in a | nothing like having M2HB 50 cal Browning |
rush. It was like being in Untouchables TV show or roaring twenties movie during prohibition. War was a rush, no matter what anyone says, you might be scared during or afterward but shooting and participating in a firefight is something you'll never forget. As civilian only big rush besides driving fast was getting in cage w/165-175 lb Colorado Cougar, pictures attached to my profile. A good friend had her since she was 8-10 weeks old. I did all welding on the cage, my youngest daughter & I built 12' x 40' x 6'h run attached to iron cage providing her more space. She ate 6 lbs beef & chicken each morning & 2 lbs night. She was an expensive pet, really scared me once, I was inside cage finishing up welding in pass-through for feed/water bowl near ground level, like in a jail door for food tray or handcuff hookup & Sheena didn't like my welding in her cage. She came up with opened jaws & clamped on my head like she had her soccer ball toy, not hard just getting my attention but I still had marks where four eye teeth made contact.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Purple Heart Combat WIA as Coastie, Combat Action Ribbon & 2 Navy Unit Commendations. The PH came not playing in the rivers & ditches, Charlie hit Cat Lo my 1st day off the 82304 Pt League, laid in several RPG B40's rounds, after GQ finished several hours later, several Swift | base Cat lo COAST GUARD Squadron#1 sign |
boat sailors had to be medivaced to Vung Tau, to our Hosp ship. Three were crotch to belly, not great condition. myself & several others were taken care of by CPO Corpsman & staff. I had shrapnel in my left leg, adrenaline was great, as I didn't know I'd been wounded until several hours after it happened. When I put a hand on my knee, it felt wet & it was, about 4" above the knee down to my boot. There were one large hole and 2 small ones, 16 tiny punctures, lots of blood, no pain till I tried walking. While serving on 82303 Pt Young & 82304 Pt League, & Base Cat Lo Div-13 with TF-115. Antarctica service medal on the W279 Eastwind with TF-43. Earning Coast Guard Unit Commendation w/'O' devise at CG Marine Port Safety Station/ELD & USN-USMC names Port Chicago, Seal Beach North, NWS, NAVWPNSTA Concord, California.
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OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
| Vietnam Combat Craft Crewman CNO Vern Clark all TF115 authorized to wear |
Being in Coast Guard Squadron#1 Vietnam, wounded, receiving Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon as Coast Guardsman. Receiving 2 Navy Unit Citations while in Coast Guard w/ Squadron #1. Received from US Navy Swift Boat-Riverine forces group Vietnam Combat Craft Crewman Badge & letter from CNO Admiral Vern Clark saying that ALL USCG Squadron#1 crewman had qualified & served honorably, had earned this BADGE. Strange thing Admiral Vern Clark was my business partners [LT Michael S. Brown] 1st Skipper on the USS Spruance DD-963 during 1985-86. Received Antarctica Service Medal for Deep Freeze '67. I think the 4 years I served with all duty stations I was able to serve on, I couldn't ask for more from the Coast Guard. My only issue was having to extend my enlistment 2 years to get GM1 stripes, I did not do. Receiving the Coast Guard Commendation Ribbon with 'O' device for high tempo operations & safety that this unit performed at for so long.
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WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
LT Joe Cooley was Deck Officer on the Eastwind & was 1st Squadron #1 Vietnam CG person I knew. When I arrived on the Eastwind, I was a 17-year-old kid w/ no direction. During the next 8 months, on Deep Freeze '67, he helped turn me from a wild kid | USCGC EASTWIND WAGB 279 Deep Freeze 67 |
w/ the wrong attitude into a young man. One who had focus, drive & knew where he was going & what he was going to do. BM3 Jack Crowley helped me get thru learning what I needed to be promoted a good seaman. Jack served almost 31 years, 57-88. Capt Joe Cooley stayed in reserves for 34 years I think. He retired a Captain, while in USCGR he worked for VA 30 years & was Acting Director for VA Manila, Philippines when he retired. He was part of the driving force who got me to let the VA take care of my Agent Orange exposure and Parkinson's Disease medical issues. I'm glad I listened to Capt Joseph Cooley & LT Mike S. Brown, his business partner. We worked together 1993-2008. Both my son in laws work with him currently. VA WPB & Delray has made my life easier & has made things easier for my wife of 47 years with me getting proper medical treatments. WPB-VA medical-dental almost has me back to being healthy for 100% disabled or as healthy as I can be with Parkinson's Disease, Sleep Apnea & several other medical issues WPB VA & Delray Beach VA treats me for that I'd been dealing with since Dec.07 but I didn't go to VA till March '14.
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LIST THE NAMES OF OLD FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH, AT WHICH LOCATIONS, AND RECOUNT WHAT YOU REMEMBER MOST ABOUT THEM. INDICATE THOSE YOU ARE ALREADY IN TOUCH WITH AND THOSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE CONTACT WITH.
BMC Wayne Gray RON#1 82304 Pt League the youngest BMC in the USCG 1968 only being 26 yrs old with just 8 yrs in service. Of course, he stayed in for 32 plus years. His replacement BMCS Martin who was in 28 yrs, when he got to VN & brought | whec-64 in weather station 'Bravo' mild conditions |
music to 82304. It could have been, should have been at-on Grand Ole Opry. His guitar & banjo could smoke when he got to play "I'm 60's + 70's rock & roll then & now", but he was a good-great banjo. EN2 Dennis Chamberlain [a small world he lived 1 mile away from me, my mom was Librarian at the high school he went to. ET2 Dan Adams, BM1 Bobby Durrance, EN2 Dennis Chamberlain we were the 4 Musketeers drinking group. BMC Bobby Durrance served 20 became a school teacher in TX. Ischemic Heart Disease took him 2004 rip. ET2 Daniel Adams, MDS bone marrow cancer took him in 2014. Rest In Peace. Still, in contact with EN2 Dennis Chamberlain at TN, now a retired Pipe Welder & BMCM Wayne Gray NC. Retired NC State Police Marine Patrol officer & retired Boat Capt. [still, active 11/2018 was in Miami working Yacht Capt + 10yrs on me] CAPT Wm Norris he made Capt 11/13/1985, was in Calif last I heard & had just retired from USCG JAG/Legal in 1995 with 35+ years & last 10yrs as Capt. Served 1st Dist, 11th Dist, 12th Dist, Pacific areas JAG leader. BMC Tom Hanks Marine Port Safety Station-ELD Boarding Concord Calif & his family. H was in charge of the night shift on the docks, and safety & storage of ammo-bombs being loaded on ships going to VN. Also, SA Dennis Page, who went on to be GM1 in four, retired GMCM, I guess I & GM2 De Orio were a good tutor/mentor to get Dennis started, we still email regularly. Capt. Joseph P. Cooley Jr. was Lt & deck officer when I served with him on the WAGB-279, 1966-67 just after he returned from Squadron#1 as plank owner div-11 An Thoi 1965-66, he served 35, made Capt 2/29/1984. In USCGR he worked for VA Manila, the Philippines was Acting Director when he retired. We still email often, Joe and Jan just had 50th Nov 2017 in London.
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CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
| Mount Erebus McMurdo |
Playing football on the ice at McMurdo Station, Antarctica falling through one of the barrel size ice pockets full of water. Fringe benefits were the Corpsman providing you with a couple airplane mini bottles of booze to thaw out.
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WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
Metal fabrication certified & tested, a welder for pressure vessels, in aluminum, stainless steel & iron-steel. First in manufacturing-welding-finishing products for 7 yrs, installation of products for 5 yrs, management. Changed metal products, went into the design, sales of products for 7 yrs. VP sales & design 17 yrs. Supplied | Pt League after running fire fight capture freighter |
Home Depot with hurricane products. We also supplied high-end railings, doors, stairs, balconies, gates on hi-end homes & mansions in Florida. And on the Islands of the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Albany at Ernie Els & Tiger Woods resort. Several homes for Nicklaus Family, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, #24 Jeff Gordon, General Alexander Haig. Too many to list but a few. Medically retired with Parkinson's disease, balance issues, tremors, did not allow me to continue going to construction job sites. VA totally retired me w/VACP-SMC-L1 100% disabled with A&A care since 2014. I've missed my work, the interactions with customers, staff, fabricators, installers but health conditions wouldn't allow me more than a couple hours a week, walkers & rollers don't work on stairs or ladders & someone would have to drive me, my tremors & balance issues, do not allow me to drive currently.
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WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Lm-CGCVA Coast Guard Combat Veteran Association; lm-DAV, Disabled American Veterans, lm-VFW, Veterans of Foreign Wars; lm-MOPH, Military Order of Purple Heart #717; lm-AL, American Legion same post 48yrs; lm-CGSV, Coast Guard Sea Veteran; lm-CGCC, Coast Guard Community Channel, lm-"CG-TWS" Coast Guard Together We Served,. I | PB County 2015 Purple Heart & VFW bus Memorial Day thru Veterans Day |
only hope to live as long as they show for me in the file another 100 years. HA HA HA HA they show me as PD thru 2115 or 2215? I represented the U.S. COAST GUARD WIA PH Veterans for 7 months on a Palm Tran Bus in PALM BEACH COUNTY Florida, MOPH & VFW, the bus had a MOPH-VFW wrap-40' photo with WIA Vets pictures all over the PURPLE BUS from Memorial Day to Veterans Day MOPH & VFW were VSO veteran service officers, who helped me through the process of being VACP disability rated & all appeals I went thru. The 1st process took 4.5 months & got a 70% rating; 1st appeal 3 months, got 100% rating, 2nd appeal, 1 month added Aid & Attendance to 100% rating. [ VACP SMC-L1 + A & A ].
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
| my Family missing grandson in the oven Memorial Day 2015 |
Being in the Coast Guard has shown me, that there is nothing I couldn't do if I tried and put my mind to it. Work at it, I will get it done. Always start a job, a project, with a good attitude & focus on what you are going to do, everything else works itself out. My WAGB-279 Eastwind & WHEC-64 Escanaba shipboard duty-work & watches ran 80-84 hours weekly while at sea. My Squadron#1 duties on 82303 Pt Young & on 82304 Pt League ran 84 to more than 100 hours weekly, a several times more than 120 hours. Now I can say I served at a couple duty stations where it was hard to get more than 36 hours in for the week. COTP-PSU-BASE Boston as maa & CG Marine Port Safety Detachment ELD-Boarding maa, Concord, Calif. USN & USMC base was NWS, NAVWPNSTA, Seal Beach North, Port Chicago.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE COAST GUARD?
A great place to start and earn your college tuition or make it a career. Two of my nephews tried to do career move in the service but got cut in the shrinkage move Obama made during his last 5 years. Both had between 11-12 yrs in and both were | RADM William M. Benkert my first CO & great man |
PO1 (E6). One had just finished 3 years as a US Navy recruiter. Don't figure for me, but should not have happened, both had good fitness files, all have passed CPO exams. Three [3] others survived Obama cuts 1 enlisted 2001 USAF Combat Corpsman EMT pending E-8 promotion, His brother 2006 USN, Sailor of the year 2007, Sailor of the Quarter a few times, changed rates from AE2 to PS2 currently PS1 & Division Commander RTC Great Lakes pending E-7, has been a khaki E-6 for a while with 5 USN Achievement Medals, another enlisted in 1999 been Sailor of the Year & Sailor of the Quarter several times, been a khaki E-6 pending promotion to E-7 HMC a while, with 6 USN Achievement Medals, all have great qualifications, but looks like some ahead, on active duty, need to retire, to allow others to move up, in pay grade.....
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
| TWS and the US Coast Guard & Big Pets |
It has allowed me to make connections with several old friends-shipmates I had not spoken with in a long time. TWS has allowed me to post tributes to several past Officers and Enlisted shipmates no longer with us. My 1st skipper Capt Benkert, retired RADM Upper, he served 1940-1978 spent his last 8 at HQ's with 2 stars and he loved his work. I even made contact with trainee I mentored who served with me at Concord Marine Port Safety Detachment/Station - ELD Boarding, who made it to GM1 1st 4 years & as GMCM Dennis Page in 20yrs. KC 5/13/19
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