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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
PO2 Tim Green U.S. Coast Guard (1968-1972)
PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE COAST GUARD?
 A good friend of mine was in the Coast Guard. He was stationed in Groton, Connecticut, so almost every weekend he was home. I figured what the heck, it beats the draft and it would keep me out of Vietnam, or so I thought. Little did I know!
At the time I was in the North Bellmore, New York fire department and doing all the things young men do to include having my own band. Our thing was doing all the Beatle songs of the day. I was the drummer and one of the singers.
WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK.
 I received orders to report to the pre-commissioning detail for the USCGC Sherman (WHEC-383) right after boot camp. After spending a year on the Sherman I reported to Engineman School in the Great Lakes, graduated as a Third Class Engineman and received orders to report to Portland, Maine and the USCGC Castle Rock (WAVP-383). The 'Rock,' as we affectingly called it, was a unique ship at best, a salty crew and a terrific skipper.
After a few years on the ship it was off to beautiful Southeast Asia for sun, fun and war games. This was not in my plans, but looking back it made me grow up. I was a different person when I came home.
My last duty station was South Portland Base where I was a Second Class Engineman until my discharge five months later.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
The Rock received orders in 1971 to report to Coast Guard Squadron Three in Vietnam. But before we actually made it to Vietnam, we suffered an engineering casualty and sank at the pier in Singapore. We made repairs and continued on our way to the villiage of An  Thoi on Phu Quoc (Phú Quốc) Island arriving on July 9, 1971.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is the largest island in Vietnam and lies off the southernmost coast. If you look at a map of the area, it appears that the island is off the coast of Cambodia. But how could that be, because we were told that the United States was not in Cambodia?
An Thoi had a small U.S. base which serviced some old Coast Guard 82 footers and assorted navy craft, which were turned over to the South Vietnamese Navy as part of the Vietnamization plan. There was also a small airstrip. One of the more interesting things about island was a South Vietnamese POW prison where savage and systematic tortures reportedly took place. Today, it is one of Vietnam's major tourist attractions.
The mission of Coast Guard Squadron Three was to assist U.S. Navy forces in 'Operation Market Time,' which was the interdiction of communist arms, munitions and food traffic along the coastline of Vietnam. The squadron's other duties included off shore fire support for South Vietnamese who were searching for Viet Cong hiding in the hills, resupplying Coast Guard and Navy patrol boats, and search-and-rescue operations.
 At night we would watch the helicopters firing tracers into the jungle followed by rounds of 50 cal. machine gun fire. Repairs were made on the metal runway at night because during the day the troops would be sitting ducks, but at night every time a welder would strike an arc on the metal runway, machine gun fire would come out of the jungle, the choppers would appear and then we would go to general quarters. Welcome to the war!
There wasn't much to do on the island with the exception of a small club where Captains and officers would go to, and being the boat engineer on the small boat, we got a chance to get off the ship and go ashore for a little while.
We did go to the island of Con Son, which housed a Coast Guard LORAN station. It was our little paradise in the middle of the war where we could get some in-country R & R to have beer and burgers. Our skipper was the best, and anything he could do to make our deployment more comfortable, he did.
During Market Time patrols our mission was to board all vessels in search of contraband and weapons. Our patrol area would go from the south  Vietnam/Cambodia border on the south coast to half way up the east coast region.
We would respond on our 22 foot motor craft, which included an officer, Vietnamese officer interpreter, gunnersmate, boat coxin, two seaman and boat engineer. We all carried M-16's, side arms and shot guns in case any trouble came about. As the Small Boat Engineers I was responsible for making sure it ran well. It wouldn't be too good if we were making a hasty retreat and the motor crapped out. Being on the ship was a secure feeling, but riding in a 22 foot fiberglass boat in the Mekong Delta was a different feeling all together.
I remember on our first mission we were informed that these fishing boats, Chinese junks or fishing trawlers, that we were going to board could possibly have self-destruct devices on them that they would activate when we got along side. What did I know, and I volunteered for this!
We never had any problems with the missions, but other units over there did have board trawlers operated by the Viet Cong and the cutter Sherman sunk a trawler a few years before. It's funny that I was on the Sherman out of boot camp, and got off to go to Engineman School just before their deployment to Vietnam. No matter what I did, I was destined to go to Vietnam.
We didn't lose any shipmates in combat, but I lost many classmates and friends from high school. It didn't matter what unit or place in country you were, we were all brothers fighting the same enemy.
The Rock was transferred to South Vietnam Navy in December 1971 and served as RVNS Tran Binh Trong (HQ-05). When South Vietnam collapsed at the end of the Vietnam War in April 1975, Tran Binh Trong fled to Subic Bay and served in the Philippine Navy until 1985 as BRP Francisco Dagohoy (PF-10). I heard it was sold for scrap metal.
OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH ONE WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
Many things stand out over four years in the Coast Guard, but the one thing that stands out the most was a Vietnamese sailor, who attended Enginemen School with me in Great Lakes, remembered me when he saw me in Vietnam.
We were in Vung Tau and the old Cook Inlet was tied up next to us. I boarded the Cook Inlet with other members of the Castle Rock to see how the Vietnamese were doing with the transition when this little Vietnamese sailor came up to me and said hello and asked me if I remembered him. Seeing as they all looked the same, I said no and he informed me that he went to Enginemen School with me. It was hard to believe he remembered me, but a nice feeling to know he did.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
Many things stand out over four years in the Coast Guard, but the one thing that stands out the most was a Vietnamese sailor, who attended Enginemen School with me in Great Lakes, remembered me when he saw me in Vietnam.
We were in Vung Tau and the old Cook  Inlet was tied up next to us. I boarded the Cook Inlet with other members of the Castle Rock to see how the Vietnamese were doing with the transition when this little Vietnamese sailor came up to me and said hello and asked me if I remembered him. Seeing as they all looked the same, I said no and he informed me that he went to Enginemen School with me. It was hard to believe he remembered me, but a nice feeling to know he did.
But my fondest memories were on the USCGC Castle Rock (WHEC-383). My two best friends EN3 Joe Loiseau and QM3 Rich Brown were a pleasure to be around. Rich was a volunteer fireman on Long Island, as was I so we had a lot in common. Joe was a funny guy always joking around. We would all go out on liberty together and Joe would watch over us because he didn't drink. It was always a lot of laughs over nothing special. We spent the Vietnam Deployment together and both made it home in one piece.
Of course in this photo taken years later we changed a little bit.
OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICE YOU RECEIVED, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE ONE(S) MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
 All of the medals that I received had to do with the Vietnam Conflict. Most people did not know that the Coast Guard was in Vietnam, so to have these medals was proof that I was there and that I did serve in combat operations.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
EN3 Joe Loiseau had the biggest impact on me. Joe was with me in B2 Engine room on The Rock. We worked together, socialized together and had a great bound between us. While in Singapore Joe and I were taking our service wide exam for 2nd class. We were returning to our ship when we heard General Quarters being sounded as we approached our ship. Not having any idea what was going on we went aboard to find our engine room taking on water. We assisted with trying to stop the large flowing of water, which was finally stopped by divers from an Australian Navy Ship moored nearby. Joe and I were under investigation as to why this happened and were detained from leaving. This made Joe and me closer because we were in this together.
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?
 The Castle Rock Sinking Incident, though not funny at the time, did make us laugh later on. We were getting close to the time to leave Vietnam, when I was approached and told about the investigation and told that Joe and I wouldn't be going anywhere soon. I went up to Joe and told him of which he looked at me with this dumb look on his face and said what do you mean we can't go home.
At our reunion recently we laughed about how we all went home in three groups, and I was in the 4th group by myself. After 40 plus years we finally found out what happened in the engine room and what caused the problem. See Joe, it wasn't your fault after all.
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?
After my discharge I went back to the fire department and in 1984 became the Chief of the North Bellmore Fire Department. It was not a paying job because all of Long Island is volunteers. I did however become a paid County Fire Marshal in March of 1984.
In August  of that year my department was alerted of a house fire at 0530 hrs. When I drove up I saw a huge, out of control fire with flames gushing through every window. During the fighting of the fire, firemen came upon the bodies of two adults. The investigation and arson squad arrived and the long process of how, why and who were responsible started. I was only in the marshal's office for 6 months, but because I was the first on scene I became part of the investigation. It is very interesting to work investigations to see how everything comes together to form a case. Although the case still hasn't been solved, it all came from an apparent drug deal gone bad which resulted in a double murder and arson. I would love to go on about some other cases, but due to laws involving sensitive or unsolved cases its better I leave well enough alone.
I retired in 2002 after having served 36 years and am currently working part time as the Fire Safety Director at the NY Institute of Technology.
My real passion in life is building classic cars and music. When the Beatles arrived in 1964 I got hooked on the music scene.  I started a band of which I played drums and sang. My father played drums, so I guess I know where I got the talent. I played in a few other bands before I went into the service.
When I got discharged I played in a few bands, but my playing time took off around 1989. I formed Beatles cover band and 25 years later I am still playing songs of the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. I don't like much of the new music out there, but I enjoy what I'm doing. It is fun to play the music I grew up with and it keeps me young at heart.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
 I recently joined the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association (CGVA) and was a member of the American Legion Police Post 1050.
The major value of CGVA is the camaraderie and kinship we have in shared wartime experiences, regardless of which war we fought in.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER?
I feel that all able bodied young men should do at least two years in the military. In the short time I was in the Coast Guard I grew from a kid to a man.
 The discipline I learned in the service helped me become a leader as I rose through the ranks of fire captain, fire chief and fire commissioner. Understanding leadership principles also increased my abilities to work on crimes associated with arson.
I've learned to appreciate family values as well as the needs of others. I also learned flexibility: I do not take things for granted nothing things can change at the drop of a hat.
BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE COAST GUARD?
My time was during the draft and the Coast Guard was more appealing than the Army or Marines. There was also the traditional mission: Search and Rescue, assisting during natural disasters and keeping inland and contiguous ocean waterways open for navigation. Today those traditional missions include more dangerous ones:  keeping drugs, illegal immigrants and especially terrorists from entering our country. For this I applaud you. Keep up the good work!
Then there is the world economy which is not doing well and if you are in the service you are still getting a pay check, a roof over your head and three meals a day. Funny, if you told me 40 years ago I'd be talking up the Coast Guard like this I'd have called you crazy. But the truth is, the US Coast Guard is the best military service if you want to help others who really need your help.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
If it hadn't been for Togetherweserved.com, I would not have known about my reunion and seeing my shipmates after 40-some years.
Looking back at my time in the Coast Guard, I feel it wasn't a bad thing to do and I am honored to have served my country and be an honored Veteran.
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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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