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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
SN Fred Connerley US Coast Guard (1965-1971)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
 The Coast Guard's role in the world appealed to me. At that time they had sent me my draft papers and I had my "If your heart is beating you pass" checkup. I passed and had two weeks to enlist in any branch of the military I wanted. I gave it a lot of thought and came up with the Coast Guard.
I did not want to take the draft. I was not being given a deferment for college because I had to work my way through college so I could only go part time
So I went down to enlist and I was told that there was a two year waiting list. I made a deal. I asked the recruiter if he would let me take the test and then put me ahead of the people I scored above. Well I took the test and he put me in within two weeks.
It all worked out for the best. The Coast Guard gave me a million memories.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
I wanted to see as much of the world as I could and I did that. My main interests wer mathematics and chemistry and I was also interested in cosmology. That is why I wanted to become a Quartermaster. That is until I returned to the States from Sangley Point and Vietnam.
My  selection was Yerba Buena Island. They had a good carpenter shop. I became the maintenance man for the Admiral and aides. He was a very nice person and I liked him very much.
I remodeled his house and repaired 3 others. I went to many of our lighthouse stations. I went to Farallon Island for 3 months to remodel the lighthouse .
I had taken the test for QM3 but when it came through I was asked to stay at the base which I was very happy to do. I was the only military person in the shop and we repaired every other station in the district or close to it. I was filling a Chief's shore structure maintenance billet although I took the test just to prove I could pass it.
I had a great time though!
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
 When we were in Satahip for logistics support the camp went on alert and we were forced back out to sea. We had been going into the Thai Navy dock for rudder repair but as we were entering the river out of Satahip to Thailand we suffered a steering casualty. With an incoming ship heading straight for us, it was not a good time for this to happen.
I was at the helm and we had a harbor pilot on board. The CO was on the wing of the bridge when I yelled out "steering casualty"! The CO came back in and asked, "What did you say?" I yelled out again, "Steering casualty Sir!" He got on the phone to the engine room and said, "All back Emergency!" That means either reverse, we are going to hit something or, the engine is going to blow up trying. Neither one of those were good options.
We reversed just in the nick of time. Our anchor crew on the bow watched as we missed the incoming ship by about 10 feet.
WHICH, OF THE VESSELS OR DUTY STATIONS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 When I was on the Nettle we were at Battan Loran Station in the Philippines. I took the barge to the beach and saw the Radioman standing there. We went back to the station to have a beer. Well about 10 minutes later it came in on the radio that the Nettle had gotten underway without me. We made a call to the ship to tell them that someone was missing. I could hear the CO in the background laughing and saying, "You tell him we will wait but he will have to get out here by himself."
So I went back to the beach and I hired a native to give me a ride in his canoe one mile out of the bay to get back to the ship. Well everyone manned the rail, laughing like crazy watching me ride a hollowed out log back to the ship! The person laughing most was the CO.
It cost me 5 pesos but it was worth it.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
 My service at Sangley Point on Wake 169, Nettle and the Great Liberty. My duty at YBI where I changed rate and working in the carpenter shop mentioned previously. After traveling many thousands of miles at sea already, a land base sounded good to me. I really enjoyed it.
WERE ANY OF THE MEDALS OR AWARDS YOU RECEIVED FOR VALOR? IF YES, COULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW THIS WAS EARNED?
On many days and in many places the whole crew should have been given a handful of medals, but my memories of the time with my brothers was reward enough.
I was part of the Secret Service protection for a seven nation summit conference and received a certificate of merit for that. That was nice.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 The Unit Citations for service in Vietnam and awards of thanks for security at the Seven Nation Summit meeting in Manila. Presidential Certificate of Merit Award. All the support awards from the Department of Fisheries and Game for all the assistance the Buttonwood gave when we installed animal protection signs on every island in the Hawaii chain all the way to Midway.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Several people stick in my mind. The CWO4 that I stood QM bridge watches with. The XO was a great guy. The best was my CO. They all gave me the chance to sharpen my Loran fix and RDF skills since navigation was my interest.
The one that I miss most was a very good friend of mine called Tiny. A real nice guy who loved his San Miguel beer and Tanqueray rum.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
 If you have ever watched the movie Mr. Roberts, you will know what it was like for us. The Nettle was the sister ship to the Army FS Jeep Carrier used in the movie. We were a small ship full of characters. I had many things happen to me that reminded me of Mr. Roberts and the Ensign Pulver movie. At least we didn't have a palm tree on the bridge.
It still makes me laugh.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
Before joining the Coast Guard I was in construction and I went back to it. I also drove a truck for several years as a truck test driver for NATC in Nevada. Then I went into casino work and made it to shift manager. I am now semi-retired.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
 I do not belong to any particular association but I miss the association I had with my fellow shipmates. It is a great membership and we all paid our dues!
I was manning the hotline for 'Nam vets. I was lucky enough to receive a call just as a brother was loading his pistol. I knew him, so I knew were he lived. I left the hotline immediately and I got there just in time and fortunately things turned out okay.
He has become one of my very good friends!
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
Try to do it right the first time - that can be very important. Remember there is more than one way to do things. You have heard before about your way, my way and the military way.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
 If you are now serving in the military, remember it is an important experience and nothing on the outside can compare to it. From the friends you make to the times you share together. You will have these memories FOREVER. Keep very good records of everything. When writing about an event, remember that 75% of events in your time are not always documented at the time they happen. So many things happen so quickly that they all tend to run together. If not documented, none of them can be proven so keep them in your in a journal to help jog your memory if you can.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
I have been able to contact many members who I had lost track of. All great guys. I have also had a chance to recall many things, from my work as a Carpenter's Mate to many other things I could fill a book with.
It's been nice to see that some of my best friends stayed in for 40 years and retired as well admired people.
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact TWS Voices HERE.
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For current and former serving Members of the US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Reserve, TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource enabling Coast Guardsmen to re-connect with lost Shipmates, share memories and tell their Coast Guard story.
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selection was Yerba Buena Island. They had a good carpenter shop. I became the maintenance man for the Admiral and aides. He was a very nice person and I liked him very much.
