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Service Details |
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Current Service Status
USCG Retired
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Current/Last Rank
Chief Petty Officer
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Current/Last Primary Rate
BM-Boatswain's Mate
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Current/Last Rate Group
Boatswain's Mate
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Primary Unit
1985-1989, BM, USCGC Bayberry (WLI-65400)
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Service Years
1969 - 1989
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What are you doing now:
I am a Master Marine Surveyor and occasionally survey tugs & barges as well as other commercial vessels.
Mostly I am retired and enjoying my time and various activities.
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Other Comments:
I am a USCG Merchant Mariner, MASTER 1600 GT OCEANS, and an Able Seaman Unlimited including Lifeboatman.
Upon retiring from the Coast Guard I immediatly flew to Prince William Sound to assist in the Exxon Valdez oil spill as Captain of an ocean tug. I have operated tugs in Cook Inlet Alaska as well as Kodiak, the Aleutians, Puget Sound and all of the Pacific coast. Mostly I was a Tugman in SE Alaska servicing logging camps and towing logs. In 1998 after over 30 years at sea I came ashore for good and continued in the maritime industry ashore.
I am a licensed amateur radio operator (HAM) and enjoy this hobby. Probably too many years talking on maritime radios. I still monitor the HF marine band and listen for the tugs and other ships in the North Pacific & Alaska checking in with COMSTA Kodiak and the WX from Kodiak on 4125khz. Call Sign: W7TUG. I am also a USAF MARS radio operator having transfered from NAVY MARS after the cancellation of the Navy program. New call sign AFA0UE.
 
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1969-1971, BM, Commander Fleet Activities (COMFLEACT)
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1971-1973, BM, USS Enterprise (CVN-65)
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1973-1973, BM, USS Woodpecker (MSC-209)
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1973-1975, BM, Coast Guard Air Station (CGAS) Annette Island
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1975-1978, BM, USCGC Cape Romain (WPB-95319)
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1978-1979, BM, USCGC Munro (WHEC-724)
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1979-1982, BM, USCGC Swivel (WYTL-65603)
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1982-1985, BM, USCGC Sweetbrier (WLB-405)
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1985-1989, BM, USCGC Bayberry (WLI-65400)
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Reflections on CPO Clark's
US Coast Guard Service
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PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE COAST GUARD.
I was attending college in Seattle and my draft number was coming up. It was 1969 and the Vietnam conflict was now in full swing. I went to the Coast Guard Recruiter and tried to enlist to help do my bit. He said he was sorry but had no openings at that time. The Recruiter suggested that I enlist in the US Navy, as they were looking for people, and after 4 years come back and see him. That's exactly what I did and haven't looked back since.
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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.
 | | USCGC BAYBERRY |
I come from a seafaring family and had already sailed aboard ocean tugs as an ordinary seaman at the age of 16. I love seamanship, so in the Navy I became a Boatswain's Mate and while stationed in Yokosuka Japan became a Tug Master as a BM2. When I left the Navy and joined the USCG I remained a BM and followed this seaman's career path. I was fortunate to be the Officer in Charge (Captain) of two Coast Guard Cutters, an Ice breaking tug in Maine, and an inland buoy tender in Seattle, WA.
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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?
 | | CTF77 Viet Nam |
While in the Navy I served two deployments aboard ship in Viet Nam under CTF 77 in 1972 and 1973. I was there when the peace treaty was signed in Jan 1973.
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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?
 | | USS KITTANING YTB 787 Yokosuka, Japan |
Fondest memories, while I was stationed in Yokosuka Japan, I earned my Tug Master certification.. I was a BM2 responsible for the safe operations of YTM's & YTB Docking Navy ship's and towing barges in Tokyo Bay.
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FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
I was aboard the USCGC Sweetbrier WLB405, an ocean buoy tender home ported in Cordova, Alaska. It was 1985 and I was the Chief Boatswain's Mate and Command Chief. It was my third year of a three year tour. We got underway for Honolulu, Hi to go through Navy re-fresher  | | USCGC SWEETBRIER WLB 405 |
training. Unknown to me my appendix had ruptured before we even got out of Prince William Sound, Alaska. For the ten day transit I felt ill but stood my watches all the way. I had no idea what was wrong. When we docked in Pearl Harbor I went to sick bay and they couldn't figure it out. I remember it well as it was my 35th birthday. About 0200 I had the corpsman take me to the Army hospital. They seemed puzzled as well and decided to open me up. They found the ruptured appendix, and I has a temperature of 104! They pronounced imminent death and had my wife flown in from Alaska. Three weeks later I woke up and the Army doctor said I should be dead. She said she never saw anyone with my constitution to live before. It was one heck of an ordeal and I am thankful for making it.
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WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
 | | OIC Afloat Insignia |
My proudest achievements were being assigned as Officer in Charge of two Coast Guard Cutters, for a total of seven years. I was awarded the USCG Achievement medal for my four years as OIC of USCGC BAYBERRY Seattle, Wa. Specifically it was awarded for organizing and taking charge of the fire party at North Base Seattle when the Alaskan shipping company next door had a fire that threatened North base and the two cutters moored there as well as the 13th Dist. armory on the 3rd deck of the building.
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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?
 | | CGC Swivel Rockland, Maine |
OIC afloat of USCGC Swivel and USCGC Bayberry. Permanent Cutterman with 18 years of sea duty.
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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?
 | | Boot Chief CGC Munro |
No one person specifically, but a collection of the people I admired because of their leadership and knowledge, those who guided me through the ranks to become who I am.
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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?
I am a licensed Merchant Marine Master and the day after retiring I flew to Prince William Sound, Alaska to command an ocean tug in support of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. I continued to sail aboard tugs all along the West Coast and Alaska until 1989 when I moved from Alaska back to my home state of Washington in what was the culmination of over 30 years at sea. Currently I operate heavy equipment and heavy haul trucks. I have owned and operated my own trucks as well, even hauling to Alaska from the lower "48".
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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 US Coast Guard Tug Association., American Legion, National Association of Fleet Tug Sailors, and Navy/Marine Corps MARS Radio.
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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?
 | | Tug Seahorse Alaska |
The Coast Guard inspired me to truly be my best and excel in my duty assignments. I always strive to be professional and still do to this day. Attention to detail and successful completion of the task has always been my goal. I am very proud of ship handling skills which I used as an Alaskan Tug Captain.
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BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE COAST GUARD?
I enjoy logging on and seeing who I might recognize. I was referred by a shipmate and continue to search for those I have served with. I have even had some great exchanges with Coasties whom I have a lot in common with as well as similar experiences. I was honored to be featured in the Profile of the Day section. Above all TWS is a way to stay involved and remember some of the best years of my life.
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IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.
 | | .Change of Command CGC Swivel Rockland,Maine |
I enjoy looking up shipmates as well as reading other members experiences I like the documenting of my service. DB 6/30/2016
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