Potter, David, LT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE COAST GUARD.
Spring 1968, the Vietnam war was very hot and heavy. Politicians were screaming about men hiding in colleges. I finished my college degree (B.S., wildlife biology, Washington State University) and had received a research assistant full scholarship to Penn State for a master's degree studying wood ducks. Drove 90 miles,

OCS All the Way!

including changing a flat tire on a snowy road shoulder, to hear my draft board take minimal time to decide I would be drafted if I didn't get into an Officer program.

My father and I (B-52 Command & Instructor Pilot, retired full Colonel) judged this war a politically controlled, tragically lost cause. Left the draft board building trying to remember where I had parked in downtown Spokane, WA, and very much wondering what was next? Both the Air Force and Navy Officer Candidate programs had informed me they were full. I knew things were getting very serious!

After the draft board's "influence" I have to credit God's provision - although I didn't recognize it at the time. Looking for my car on a side street I noticed a Coast Guard recruiting office sign up ahead. Months before my dad had suggested the Coast Guard but, typical young person, I had forgotten about it. Inside I found one man, a Chief Petty Officer still at work. Friendly, he called Seattle for the results of my Navy Officer candidate test. He obtained them and then informed me he could work with me. I was relieved!

After several months of waiting on "pins and needles," I was told to report for induction as a US Coast Guard Officer Candidate, Yorktown, Virginia. O.C.S. is another story but I soon realized I was "second string" in the toughest course work ever. Studied hard for only average grades. (Even had to repeat the Navigation final test having failed the first time. Yet ended up the ship's navigator on my last, third, polar icebreaker patrol on the USCGC Staten Island, WAGB-278.)

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.
Surviving O.C.S., my choice of preferred duty station was decided by a woman, not so unusual for young guys. She soon became my wife (45 years so far). I requested anything out of Seattle and, good duty as I reflect on it got the Seattle-based icebreaker Staten Island, WAGB-278, as a deck officer.

I was the only junior officer on the bridge not a Coast Guard Academy grad and with a Boatswain's Mate Mustang, O-6, Commanding Officer, E.F. Walsh, that made no bones about "eating Ensigns and J.G.'s for breakfast." Joined the ship in Kodiak, AK standing at the brow as a crew member's body was carried off. The story of his loss later told me by the Academy Officer, John Vitt, involved who saved another crew member, reflected badly on the C.O.

I finished my qualification book quickly while standing open ocean bridge watches then in the ice as Trainee under a qualified Officer of the Deck. Many, many times I endured a chewing out by the Old Man, sometimes in front of the enlisted men. Even though I was no baby, raised in a military family, and worked as a farm laborer in summers starting at 15, I found his tirades very hard to take.

He was not liked. It was said he wouldn't go out on the weather decks at night underway. This was a time of drugs on military ships. Bad officers were being fragged in Vietnam. In the Arctic for one, 3-month tour and one 5 month patrol (no liberty in arctic Alaska) with this C.O. on a worn, WW II era ship was hell.

This Captain plus the few dumb and somewhat sadistic 'lifer" Petty Officers - among the many good Petty Officers - I encountered confirmed no way was I making this a career. I must say that the three O-6 C.O.'s after that [Capt. Putzke, Capt. McCormick, Capt. Gershowitz] were all very good bosses. But the die was cast.

My last patrol was with Capt. Putzke who took the time to teach me ship handling. He even coached me coning the ship through the outer approaches to Kodiak harbor. Boy, was I a nervous wreck before he finally had the XO take her to the dock. It was a good trip if being stuck on a ship for 3 months can be termed "good."

As an LTJG, I next went to the Seattle Captain of the Port office, Pier 91 as an Admin Officer, Search and Rescue duty officer [all of Puget Sound] and Oil Spill Response Officer. Worked in the same room as the XO, Lt. Commander Purdy, great guy.

Capt. McCormick and Capt. Gershowitz treated me well. Surprise, Capt. Gershowitz even asked me if I'd stay in.

Having been a college student trainee, I had a job waiting with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in wildlife refuge management. So I requested and received a 6 month early out.

My wife and I happily departed Seattle for rural Oregon, September 1971.

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 remember several more significant events. One was as we nearly completed my second arctic patrol we diverted to Nome, AK to receive spare parts and food supplies flown in. So we could relieve our sister ship, USCGC Northwind, which had engine troubles. We were extended for two more months, five months total, escorting the experimental ice breaker oil tanker, SS Manhatten, from Pt. Barrow across the top eastward through the Northwest Passage and south to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Manhatten was an experiment to see if Prudhoe Bay oil could be moved by an oil tanker rather than building the oil pipeline across Alaska.

We joined one more modern and one nearly new Canadian icebreaker, the John A. McDonald and the Louis Saint Luran. They broke ice much better than us. One time Capt. Walsh authorized me to radio the St. Luran to free us from being stuck. A beautiful ship, she promptly drove through the solid ice to cut ahead of us making a path for us to follow.

We made New York in mid-November having learned the ice breaker tanker idea was a failure. Liberty there, San Juan Puerto Rico, and Acapulco made up for short rations and many long months at sea. Ran the Panama Canal at night so not much to see. Learned our freshwater evaporators didn't function well with warm seawater so we were stuck with seawater showers, bad news in that hot climate.

We were told the Staten Island was the seventh surface ship to circumnavigate North America. As photography officer I received, and still, have a copy of nearly all pictures our photographer, Petty Officer Meeks took. He was a great guy.

At Captain of the Port I was ordered to travel to one of our 82-foot patrol boats, CGC Pt. Doran as I remember, to investigate it hitting and releasing too many crabs from a commercial holding cage. Pt. Doran's C.O., a Chief, was nervous explaining the situation to me, a young JG. Having served as a Deck Officer, I understood his worries and operational particulars. I subsequently wrote a report absolving him of any negligence. XO Purdy told me Capt. McCormick was very strict on written reports. He and I were relieved when the C.O. signed off on my findings without ordering any changes. I was happy to have done all I could to protect the Chief's career.

Also at Captain of the Port, I was ordered west to Port Angeles, WA to board the 82 footer there to shadow a Communist Block ship's passage to Seattle. Run by a Chief Petty Officer, I became the Senior Officer aboard for the trip. It was made necessary by a recent very high-level political flap on the Atlantic Coast. A Seamen on a Communist ship had jumped over the side to the deck of a Coast Guard boat to get asylum. The Communists demanded him back. The Junior Officer commanding the boat radioed for direction but, as I was told about it, received none before finally deciding to force the man back. I was given clear orders that we would not do that without clear direction should a seaman try it in Puget Sound. The run went smoothly; Chief ran his boat and no one tried to defect. Nice little trip.

On the military side, in the Arctic, we gathered information across the top including north of Russia. I was in the wardroom one morning when word came down that radar contact was coming in very fast. I ran outside in time to see a Mig blast straight in and over us low and very fast. We had seen a few Russian ice patrol prop planes droned over but that Mig zooming overhead really made an impression on me in those Cold War times.

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
Other than being repeatedly chewed out on my first patrol by Capt. E. F. Walsh, I never felt fearful. What happened is I put up with it and, being O.C.S., learned as fast as I could to do things correctly like my peers, all Coast Guard Academy graduates.

There was an incident when a fire broke out below decks on the USCGC Staten Island while in Seattle shipyards. I was the OOD on the quarter-deck dealing as best I could when a very loud "whoomp!" and pressure wave hit me from behind. I really thought we were in trouble then! I quickly learned that the Seattle Fire Department - whom I had ordered called - had used a shaped charge to blow a circular hole through the steel deck near me so they could insert a smoke suction pipe. I never found out if any of our officers authorized that action. But it worked to clear the smoke. The fireman quickly killed off the insulation fire started by workmen. No significant damage was done. I was called to an official inquiry to explain my actions when the fire first was reported. The most significant was that I ordered the liberty party - mustered in dress whites [a large percentage of the crew] - to depart, clear the deck since I knew the Seattle Fire Department was on its way. I also answered for allowing the duty electrician's mate to leave the ship [to use pier telephone] just before the fire broke out. But he had run back quickly and did his job. I never subsequently received any feedback concerning these decisions.

One last incident was my first, and only, stack fire. What a sight! Way late at night underway in the Arctic when suddenly the sky lit up bright! I, the JOOD, stepped out the open port bridge door and saw the biggest "roman candle" ever - flames and sparks shooting up into the black night. Immediately the OOD ordered me to call Capt. Walsh. He answered the phone immediately. I blurted out "Captain, stack fire like crazy!" All he said was "sound general quarters" which the OOD did. My general quarters' billet was on the bridge so I stood out of the way watching the other officers handle it. The snipes, truly our beloved engineering folks, quickly snuffed out the stack fire and all returned to normal. Except for a day or so later Capt. Walsh walked up to me and said, "Mr. Potter, stack fire like crazy??" My only response was "yes sir." He just walked away without further comment. But probably thinking "O.C.S.......!"

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
My favorite assignment was serving as the Captain of the Port X.O.'s (Lt. Cdr. Purdy) Administrative Officer. My desk was immediately behind the X.O.'s desk. Formally in front of others, he and I talked informally most days. He often leaned back in his chair to hand me paperwork, like the Federal Register, to read and discuss. He assigned many unusual jobs such as leading our safety supervision of dynamite loading at Dupont, WA, serving on a court marshal board at District 13 headquarters, the previously mentioned accident investigation and defector run as well as several others.

My least favorite was the first arctic patrol, three months, just trying to survive at sea learning many things my peers, academy junior officers already knew before coming aboard - while being seasick upon entering open water from the ice or land. This under the often haranguing of a miserable, mean, bully of a Captain, as above. It was hell.

Also "least favorite" was going to sea the first time rolling along in the Gulf of Alaska out of Kodiak, AK being both seasick and hungover. Not good!

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I have already described lots of this. Capt. Walsh sure impacted me greatly. He was the first evil boss I had to work for at close quarters. He forced me to endure.

Another thing that impacted me was having to do things I did not fully know how to do. In college, I did things after being taught how to do them. The Coast Guard represented the real world where you often must begin doing things before you really know all about how to do them.

A couple of examples: I was assigned as a Search and Rescue Duty Officer involving 24-hour watches for all of Puget Sound, WA. It involved commanding, outside normal working hours, several 40-foot patrol boats at Pier 91 and three 82-foot patrol boats stationed around Puget Sound. First time I assumed the watch after hours I was somewhat flustered about the responsibilities. But it all worked out as the men running the radio watch and the patrol boats knew what they were doing.

Another vivid example occurred in the Arctic when I was assigned to be the Boat Officer in charge of a landing craft to do something; I forget what. I had never been in one of these boats let alone driving it in the ocean. Before departing, the Operations Officer, Lt. Glen Haines [good guy], took me aside to warn that Capt. Walsh would be watching and whatever I did do not ram the side of the ship as I came alongside. I said I sure would be careful. I am sure many others were also seeing what I could do. Since I had run a family water ski boat for many years, I had some idea what to do. Ended up carefully approaching the ship and laying alongside with only the slightest, gentle bump. Since it was a smooth job no one had any comments.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Last of the '60s and early '70s was not a good time to be a young person in the military. Off the ship, in Seattle, we shed uniforms as fast as we could.

I endured too much bad treatment in O.C.S., from my first C.O. and bullying academy Junior Officers. Off

Great CO: Capt. Putzke, Naval Arctic Research Lab, Barrow AK

duty drinking, at a party, I once faced one of them down who was very angry and in my face holding my shirt front. I dared him to take the first punch before I knocked the stuffing out of him. He looked at me and then walked away. I was angry and ready. All of this abuse plus being forced to give up civilian life and my master's degree.

I walked away with nothing: no recognition, no award, and no party. Only one small positive event was my last C.O. [Capt. Pautzke] asking me to re-up. I refrained from laughing at him; he was a good guy.

I am most proud of surviving! A wildlife biologist is prone to seasickness on the bridge conning the ship in the open ocean and in the ice. With Coast Guard Academy peers.

I guess I am proud of qualifying without delay as an Ice OOD - Office of the Deck. And being made Ship's Navigator for my third arctic patrol - even as my Quartermaster Chief Petty Officer took care of things for me; a good guy.

After all these years, I am proud - since I had to serve - to have made the grade in the U.S. Coast Guard. Best outfit going.

It confirmed to me years later that I had "made the grade" when I was promoted to a 0-3, Lt., a billet in the Inactive Reserve even without having a unit in which to drill. More and more I can remember the good guys rather than the bad.

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After the above was written, I read in Together We Served that one fellow received an Arctic Service Medal for his icebreaker duty. It caused me to presume I was due one also what with three patrols, 11 months polar service, did some checking without success. Finally, I thought to go through the official U.S. Coast Guard web site to reach out. In 2017 I emailed Captain Mike Barton of the reserve officer issues in Headquarters, Washington D.C. He immediately sent my information to Ms. Day, Medals, and Awards Personnel Division. Without delay, she - bless her heart! - checked records and on Sept. 14, 2017, wrote a letter [and a DD-215 to amend my existing DD-214.] Ms. Day wrote "After reviewing the documentation you provided, we have determined you earned the Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon with O device, Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal, and Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon. The awards are enclosed." She ended with, "It is a pleasure and an honor to issue these awards in recognition of your service to our Nation and the United States Coast Guard." Some final thanks made and made me feel good! Quite healing, for sure.

I was quite surprised and gratified by this news. Of course, it's a wonder why these awards never were sent me back in the 1970s or put on the DD-214. I had stayed in touch via the inactive reserve. Indeed I was offered and accepted a promotion to Lt., O-3, while in the inactive reserves and had orders to a San Francisco-based patrol boat should I be called back to duty.

Anyway, it is thanks to Together We Served for making this happen. Thank you to all for making TWS work for all of us!

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?
I guess I covered this pretty well previously. No badges or other recognition.

What I will highlight are the good guys. And I sure mean the Enlisted men as well as the Officers. Lots of good guys!

As in my previous question answer, in Sept. 2017 I requested a review. Coast Guard Headquarters in D.C. found and awarded me three awards. Better late than never!

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
I remember a number of good guys. But I don't remember anyone who made a significant positive impact on me. I suppose that was because I'd already graduated college and begun a career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service when the draft board forced me into the military. Do my time and get back to my life's work was my attitude. It worked out, thank you, God.

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.
Aboard the USCGC Staten Island [WAGB-278] Capt. Putzke, Lt. Glen Haines, Lt. Bill Prell, Lt.j.g. Al Hudson, Lt.j.g. Wayne Six, Lt.j.g. Jim Soland, Lt. John Vitt, Lt.j.g. Brahmwel, Ens. Jim Pennington, Ens. Fred Schmidt, Ens. Ralph Yates. First Class Yeoman J. J. Begert, Second Class Photographer Meeks.

Yates was an Academy engineering officer who became a good friend. Two single women lived in the apartment across the hall from my wife and me in Seattle. One of them, nicknamed "Bubbles," was introduced. Ended up she married Yates, hopefully forever.

Begert has already been mentioned. Meeks did a great job when I was the Photography Officer.

Putzke was my second, and very good, C.O. afloat. He took the time to teach me rather than just rant and rave like first C.O. E. F. Walsh did.

Haines was an operations officer. Treated me well. Even tried to help me along. Same with Hudson.

Prell and Soland were Acadamey engineering officers. Great, friendly: One in-port, I joined them - and one other non-friend officer - renting a house. Plenty of partying and dirt bike motorcycle riding times! Blown out stereo speakers; motorcycle and car accidents. Great in-port!

Brahmwel, from my O.C.S. class, was an engineering officer whom I did not treat well. I feel I should apologize to him if I ever make contact. I did wrong.

Six, whom I've contacted thanks to TWS, and Vitt were Academy bridge officers, peers on the bridge. They treated me fairly and also tried to help/guide me.

Schmidt and Pennington were Academy deck officers junior to me. By then I knew the ropes. We three got along fine.

At Captain of the Port Seattle: Capt. McCormick, Capt. Gershowitz, Lt. Cmdr. Purdy, and Lt.j.g. Dick, whose last name I have forgotten. Three super good supervisors!

McCormick and Gershowitz were my C.O.s. Patient, intelligent and effective leaders. I got along with them fine. Capt. Gershowitz even asked me if I would re-up in the Coast Guard. [But, by law, the US Fish and Wildlife Service was holding my old job open for me.......]

A peer officer, Dick was an easy-going worker and friend. He took me salmon fishing in his ski boat in Puget Sound. I caught the only fish.

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?
A good guy I haven't yet mentioned was Yeoman First Class J. J. Begert. Very capable, a friendly guy always joshing, starting false rumors and running around. Very important after months cooped up looking out at snow and ice.

One night about 2 a.m., I was the Junior OOD in mixed open water and ice conning the ship zig-zagging around big chunks of ice at slow speed trying to stay close to the intended course. The OOD, Al Hudson, was inside the bridge. We routinely drove from outside at an exposed bridge wing. I rounded a turn intending to hit and break off a small neck of ice extending from a large chunk. Hit it fine but it did not break off! Even at slow speed, the ship slid up on the ice coming to a shuddering stop healing sharply to starboard. As we slide off backward the OOD came running out to see what I had done. He and I were worried that I had awakened the C.O. and we'd get a fanny chewing. Lucked out, must have been sound asleep. The rest of the watch was uneventful.

Next night Yeoman Begert requested permission to come on the Bridge. The first time he'd ever done that. I approved and turned to see him coming up the ladder wearing a life jacket and a big grin. Laughingly I asked him just what the hell he was doing? Still all smiles, he said he'd come up to see because the crew wanted to know if "Potter" was driving again? Did they need life jackets? Or to hook up their "seat belts" in their racks? Begert happily informed me that I had rolled more than a few of them out of their bunks last night. Ha, ha, ha. I told him to get the hell off the Bridge as I, and others laughed. What a great memory of a good guy!

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?
While in the Coast Guard, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service was required by law to hold my employment and award me the salary step increases I would have earned had I not been in the Coast Guard. I returned to them [ 32+ year career]. I was happy they

Kirsten & Dave Potter enjoying retirement. Scuba class in Guam. Dive Master became a great friend.

met that commitment.

From Seattle, my wife and I U-Hauled to the "paradise" of rural south-central Oregon on the dry east side of the Cascade Mountains to Klamath Falls, Oregon. I joined the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuges as a Junior Assistant Manager, GS-7, Sept. 1971.

Back then transfers were required for promotions. I served on wildlife refuges in Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Illinois, and, finally, settled into 21 years as a refuge and wetlands manager in North Dakota. We raised our three kids there.

After many years managing fee-owned and conservation easement lands in North Dakota, I started asking for details about other jobs. I served details in our Denver Regional Office, in Main Interior in downtown Washington D.C. and the US Bureau of Reclamation in Loveland, Colorado. Interesting, informative; good details.

In1993 I was sent to Guam as the first on-island refuge representative during the process of establishing the Guam National Wildlife Refuge on former secret Navy land at Ratidian Point [abandoned sosus site] within Anderson Air Force Base. Part of this assignment was to fulfill an upper-level manager development assignment. And part of it was because I could talk correctly with Navy officers and Air Force officers [Dad career B-52 pilot, retired O-6] both Services were big factors in the refuge establishment. I enjoyed three more assignments to the Guam Refuge as acting refuge manager in the 1990s plus two later trips as a volunteer. I made some life friends in Guam to this day. Last trip some great scuba dives with very good folks.

2001 I enjoyed another interesting detail as acting refuge manager to the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge [Battle of Midway site.] I can report the "Gooney Birds" (Laysan albatross) and many other bird species are doing very well. Exterminating rats was a big help and removing lead paint [chips poisoning birds] has and will help a great deal. Later returned one trip as a volunteer. Saw great progress in many areas.

2001 I was to be reassigned to a staff job in the Denver Regional Office. With 3 years Coast Guard and 32 1/2 with Fish and Wildlife, I bailed out at age 54 1/2 as a refuge and wetland management district complex manager, GS-14.

Retirement has been great. I have enjoyed two volunteer trips back to the Guam Refuge and one back to Midway Atoll Refuge. Lots of backpacking and rafting trips, including down the Grand Canyon, and beach camping on the Big Island, Hawaii.

To fill time, I gave substitute school teaching a shot and found I love it. [Oregon allows folks with any college degree to get a special, limited teaching license if sponsored by a school district.] I'm in my 15th year as a Klamath Falls Public Schools substitute teacher. I've done everything from high school honors chemistry only once, to early childhood education, 3 to 5-year-old kids. I've come to be often used in special education elementary classes - enjoy that the most. But I do all other elementary level classes. Decided to not endure the stress of trying to help older students. Finished that in 2018 after 18 years of substitute teaching. Still do tutoring at my church's after-school program.

I am busy with my church and various local and national conservation efforts. National Audubon Society flew me to D.C. twice to join others lobbying Congress folks.

Life is good.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Together We Serve is the only Coast Guard group I've encountered. I enjoy reading folks' reflections and scanning the other military stories. TWS has, so far, facilitated one contact with a shipmate - which I much appreciate.

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?
Well O.C.S. and shipboard survival surely toughened me up! It was a very fast and steep maturing curve even as I had four summers experienced as a farm laborer, ages 15-18 and worked through high school.

My dad was a career bomber pilot [flew in the Berlin Airlift and piloted loaded B-52s during the Cold War, retired full Colonel] so I grew up understanding the military approach. Dad sure taught me the value of good Sergeants [our Petty Officers] to an Officer's success.

My Coast Guard time solidified me on an approach of letting the good ones alone to do their job and keep me out of trouble. I well understood the O.C.S. teaching that Petty Officers could let you "run on the rocks" literally or figuratively if you failed to treat them with respect. And I sure served with many good ones that helped me along.

In the civilian world, they call this "delegating." Many civilian delegators take time to learn you can not delegate the final responsibility. Whether conning the ship through dangerous ice, running a large wildlife refuge, or being the teacher with several paraprofessional aides assisting, the approach is the same.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE COAST GUARD?
These days nobody is forced to join the military. It is a free choice. She or he should avail themselves of the excellent opportunities (and benefits and retirement) that military service offers.

I have told more than one young person who doesn't know where they are going in life that a military service is a great option. Especially true if you are young and have only a high school education. I go on to say that if you want the satisfaction of saving lives and otherwise helping people, the U.S. Coast Guard is the best outfit. If I get the chance I tell them that the Guard is highly selective so if you can make it in you will most likely serve with a large majority of good, hard-working people.

If the youngster is interested I point out that course work, including higher education, is available right at your unit in the Coast Guard. (And I sometimes mention the Navy.) Promotions are based on good work on deck as well as on correspondence courses. Enlisted promotions can happen based on your hard work in the Coast Guard in my experience. And I sure hope it still is that way!

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US Coast Guard

It has caused me to think about things I have not in many decades. I have grown to be proud of the U.S. Coast Guard and to dwell on the three out of four great C.O.s I had and the other great people and experiences.

The Hurricane Katrina response sure made me proud. Before her, after 9/11 I offered to come back to help after reading there was a need. To the Coast Guard's credit, I received a call from a respectful Petty Officer saying "thanks but no thanks." Much better than the normal "no response."

KC 1.4.21