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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
DCCM Ron Coombs U.S. Coast Guard (Ret) (1976-1997)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
I grew up in the airline industry and the Vietnam war was still going on, I wanted to go to college and the GI bill was the only way to get there, so I went service shopping down on 7th street in Ft. Worth, Texas. After talking with the Navy and Air Force, I stepped out a side door and saw a small fold out sign that said "Coast Guard". I had no idea what it was. There were two men crammed into a small room. I would run into one again ten years later. The helicopters caught my eye and I signed up. Never did get into aviation, turns out I like ships. Who knew?
I had no fear of boot camp (Alameda) until we were told we were all going on a ship heading for Vietnam. We didn't go. The war ended and we were sent out to save America.
WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
I wanted to be an engineer and took the only Fireman slot out of boot camp. It was to Galveston Texas for further assignment, and they for-furthered my butt all over the group. I lived out of a sea bag for more than a year.
Starting at the small boat station  and qualified on the '40 boat, then off to the CGC Vice for 3 months, then to the CGC Blackthorn for 7 or 8 months and struck DC, then off to the CGC Point Monroe for the next two years. I found a home; one I threw up on regularly! Two weeks after I landed on the 82, I made 3rd class DC. Transfer, not a chance.
My next set of orders sent me to St. Louis and the CGC Foxglove. Six months later blew an engine and they decommissioned the boat and put us all on the CGC Sumac. Working the river was a blast and I finally started to like the Coast Guard. Went from 3rd to 1st class on that boat and in 1979 got my first shore unit. Group St. Pete, Florida. Just when I was having fun and three months from making Chief, orders to the CGC Diligence arrived - Cape Canaveral Florida. Loved that ship. Four years later and on the E-8 list I was sent to Sault Ste. Marie Michigan. Know this, it is very cold there. Ant team support and Lighthouse restoration was the job and it was great for the one month of the year it is warm. While there I had to choose between E-8 and Warrant Mat. (went the Senior Chief route).
Begged my way out of the Soo to the CGC Midget and it was off to the Bearing Sea. Cross-decked to the CGC Boutwell, made Senior, and stayed there for another two years. Received orders to RTC Yorktown maintenance for the next four years, and finished up at TEW / DC school as the Subject Matter Expert.
At 20 plus years and no place to go but but Washington DC, I retired. Folks would ask why I retired at 20 years? I was already a Masterchief, and there were only six of us - I could not see myself bouncing from one desk to another. Two jobs I already had and two others were in Washington DC, not going there! I would have gone gladly to another ship, but was told I had too much sea time!
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
I had orders to go to Vietnam, and didn't go. Went to Grenada instead to fix one of our boats that ran aground. Saw the action but was not part of it. So I was involved in just the drug war.
WHICH, OF THE VESSELS OR DUTY STATIONS YOU WERE ASSIGNED TO, DO YOU HAVE THE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY?
 The Sumac and the Diligence were my favorites, Small crew compliments and all good friends. The Sumac saw work from dawn til dusk and everyone from the skipper on down worked hard. Played hard too, It was the mid seventies and still not too many PC rules. Ran from Cairo, Illinois to St. Louis Missouri, and stopped in a town almost every night. They had bars.
The Diligence had a great engineering crew that could do anything. It also came at the time they shut down Governors Island and I ended up with five DC3's The only time that ship broke down was when we lost a shaft seal, and another when the rudder fell off! We were listed as the top ship for service and we never missed a patrol!
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
 Way too many for one to stand out:
Being abandoned on Passage Island for four days by Air Station Duluth after working on the lighthouse.
Hanging upside down from a crane by my feet to weld up a hole in the barge on the Sumac.
Working the Blackthorn wreck site in St. Pete.
Watching the Challengers last flight and dealing with the aftermath.
Working on lighthouses.
I should just write a book. Oh, I have! Anyone a publisher?
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
My Cutterman's pin brings me the most pride.
My first Achievement award was special at the time because it was almost unheard of for a DC1 to receive one. This was for work at Group St. Pete. My second came on the Diligence, I didn't allow my boats to break and I could fix anything.
Unfortunately the Achievement awards soon turned into a giveaway medal and it lost some of it's luster.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
 Joe Edsel VanAnda. He was my MKC on the Point Monroe, taught me the most about ships engineering plants. He was a slow talker with a stable disposition, but a great ally in a bar fight. He also introduced me to Scotch. I would run into him again in St. Pete when he was the EO on the Steadfast and I was at the group. Fair winds Bud.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Again too many to recount. There was an inspection on the Sumac where we had a short notice from the District Admiral and the whole crew had on the same "Elliott" name tags. Our Warrant noticed after the fourth person, but the Admiral never did! J.J. simply shook his head at me like it was my idea. I'm pretty sure it was.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
 I continue to have three jobs. As a profession I am a marine firefighting and water survival instructor for Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service. I also spent two years working for Norwegian Cruise line America as a safety training officer until they sold my ship. I also teach motorcycle riders for the MSF (35 years doing that) and I do bath and kitchen remodelling. All but the motorcycle stuff I learned while in the Coast Guard.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I am a member of the Patriot Guard Riders but located too far from anything else to be of much use.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
 I am always quick to say that the Coast Guard was anything but military during my time. Don't get me wrong, we were and are a military service. But we were also a brotherhood that served the civilians of the world, and helped our sister services when they needed some professionalism.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
The Coast Guard provides an opportunity to learn, serve, grow and above all do an important job. Never take anything so seriously that you fail to do those things. I have watched my rating (DC) go from the "go to guys" who will jump in and fix anything, to being, well, something less. I hated yard birds working on my boats. If you don't try, you failed.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
All my friends are on this website.
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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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