Criteria All members of the Coast Guard, including Reserve personnel, and all members of other branches of the Armed Forces when serving with Coast Guard units are eligible for this award for service performed... All members of the Coast Guard, including Reserve personnel, and all members of other branches of the Armed Forces when serving with Coast Guard units are eligible for this award for service performed on or after April 1, 1967. The Coast Guard Achievement Medal is given for professional and/or leadership achievement in a combat or noncombat situation based on sustained performance or specific achievement of a superlative nature of such merit that it warrants more tangible recognition than is possible by the Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbon, but which does not warrant a Coast Guard Commendation medal or high award. MoreHide
Criteria The Commandant's Letter of Commendation was originally created to enable the Secretary of the Treasury or the Commandant to address a Letter of Commendation to any individual in the Coast Guard for "m... The Commandant's Letter of Commendation was originally created to enable the Secretary of the Treasury or the Commandant to address a Letter of Commendation to any individual in the Coast Guard for "meritorious service resulting in unusual and outstanding achieve-ment rendered while the Coast Guard is serving under Treasury Department jurisdiction." The current ribbon is awarded to any member of the Armed Forces of the United States, serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard, for an act or service resulting in unusual or outstanding achievement, whose performance is less than that required for the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Coast Guard Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Commandant and designated subordinate awarding authorities to any unit which has distinguished itself by valorous or extremely meritorious servi... The Coast Guard Unit Commendation may be awarded by the Commandant and designated subordinate awarding authorities to any unit which has distinguished itself by valorous or extremely meritorious service not involving combat (but in support of Coast Guard operations), which renders the unit outstanding compared to other units performing similar services. MoreHide
Criteria This award is the unit equivalent of the Secretary of Transportation Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement. On November 3, 1994, Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena awarded the Department of Tr... This award is the unit equivalent of the Secretary of Transportation Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement. On November 3, 1994, Secretary of Transportation Federico Pena awarded the Department of Transportation Gold Medal for Outstanding Achievement to the Coast Guard as a whole. MoreHide
Criteria The Special Operations Service Ribbon is awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard (and certain other individuals) who participate in significant numbers in... The Special Operations Service Ribbon is awarded to personnel of the Armed Forces serving in any capacity with the Coast Guard (and certain other individuals) who participate in significant numbers in a Coast Guard special operation, not involving combat, and who have not been recognized by another service award for the same operation. MoreHide
Criteria The Humanitarian Service Medal is an individual award, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian... The Humanitarian Service Medal is an individual award, presented to individuals who are physically present at the site of immediate relief and who directly contribute to and influence the humanitarian action. The Humanitarian Service Medal is only awarded for service during the identified "period of immediate relief;" eligibility for the Humanitarian Service Medal terminates once (if) the humanitarian action evolves into an "established ongoing operation beyond the initial emergency condition." MoreHide
Criteria This ribbon recognizes the important contributions made by teams and groups below the unit OPFAC level; i.e., boat and aircraft crews, staff elements, Quality Action Teams, etc. All Coast Guard person... This ribbon recognizes the important contributions made by teams and groups below the unit OPFAC level; i.e., boat and aircraft crews, staff elements, Quality Action Teams, etc. All Coast Guard personnel (Regular, Reserve, Auxiliary and Civilian, including non-appropriated fund activity employees) are eligible.The action or accomplishment performed by the team or group must be comparable to that which would merit the Commandant's Letter of Commendation ribbon (or higher) to an individual. To qualify for this award, a member of a team or group must have made a significant contribution to the overall team effort. MoreHide
Criteria The Bicentennial Unit Commendation was awarded by the Commandant to all Coast Guard members (including selected Reservists, civilians, and auxiliarists) who serving satisfactorily during any period fr... The Bicentennial Unit Commendation was awarded by the Commandant to all Coast Guard members (including selected Reservists, civilians, and auxiliarists) who serving satisfactorily during any period from June 4, 1989 to August 4, 1990. MoreHide
Criteria The Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon is awarded to active duty members of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve, inactive duty members of the Coast Guard Reserve, or non-Coast Guard personnel who, und... The Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbon is awarded to active duty members of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve, inactive duty members of the Coast Guard Reserve, or non-Coast Guard personnel who, under temporary or permanent assignment, satisfactorily complete a minimum of 12 months cumulative sea duty. MoreHide
Criteria The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is awarded to United States Armed Forces Reserve component members (or former members) who complete (or have completed) a total of ten years service. This service need n... The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is awarded to United States Armed Forces Reserve component members (or former members) who complete (or have completed) a total of ten years service. This service need not be consecutive, if it was performed within a period of twelve consecutive years. For the purpose of this award service as a member of a Reserve component MoreHide
Criteria The Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to Coast Guard enlisted Reservists on inactive duty who fulfill with distinction the obligations of inactive Reservists, such... The Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to Coast Guard enlisted Reservists on inactive duty who fulfill with distinction the obligations of inactive Reservists, such as excellent attendance at drills, proficiency in rate, and development of leadership qualities for a three-year period. MoreHide
Best Moment
Initially, I was assigned to receive and ship lights to the Lighthouses. Group Mobile had a repair facility that would do maintenance on aids returned from the Station Keepers. The Captain of the Port was a function (at that time) of the Group Mobile Command. We had a member asssigned to COTP go to Vietnam to be a part of the Explosives Detail. I was selected to fill his billet. Spent a month at CGTC Yorktown in PSLE school. COTP Mobile had responsibility for ports located in Mississippi, Alabama & the panhandle of Florida. While asssigned to the team, GM1 Bobby Wilkes was medically discharged and suddenly I was the senior enlisted on the team.
Worst Moment
One of the Group Mobile members was operating a crane on the dock, traveling backwards. Apparently, he did not remember that the boom had been removed. As he cleared the building, he turned the crane forward and the counterweights in the rear caused the crane to topple into the water. The command designated me to take pictures of the scene and when the crane was lifted from the water, BM1 Hawkins was in the crane with his hands still on the control handles. His wife, Theresa, had been notified and she was constantly crying and wanting to jump into the water where "Hawk" was. Several of us went to New ORleans for his funeral.
Chain of Command
The Group Commander Mobile/COTP Mobile was CDR Daniel Charter. The XO at Base Mobile was LT Larry Myhre while the Deputy Group Commander was CWO James Comerford.
Other Memories
Since retiring, I have become friends with CWO Tom Schmidt that was at Mobile, but assigned to the CGC Salvia at the same time. Both of us live in the Nashville, TN area and quarterly have a luncheon with other Coasties living the area.
Criteria The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members in the Regular Coast Guard or the Coast Guard Reserve for proficiency in rating, sobriety, obedience, industry, c... The Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal is awarded on a selective basis to enlisted members in the Regular Coast Guard or the Coast Guard Reserve for proficiency in rating, sobriety, obedience, industry, courage and neatness throughout a specified period of active military service (from May 17, 1920, to June 30, 1934, and from November 1, 1963, to December 31, 1979, the period of service was four years; for all other periods, including the present, it is three years). MoreHide
Criteria The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service... The National Defense Service Medal is awarded for honorable active service as a member of the Armed Forces during the Korean War, Vietnam War, the war against Iraq in the Persian Gulf, and for service during the current War on Terrorism. In addition, all members of the National Guard and Reserve who were part of the Selected Reserve in good standing between August 2, 1990, to November 30, 1995, are eligible for the National Defense Service Medal. In the case of Navy personnel, Midshipment attending the Naval Academy during the qualifying periods are eligible for this award, and Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) Midshipmen ae only eligible if they participated in a summer cruise that was in an area which qualified for a campaign medal. MoreHide
Criteria The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspa... The Vietnam Service Medal was awarded to members of the Armed Forces of the United States who served at any time between July 4, 1965, and March 28, 1973, in Vietnam or its contiguous waters or airspace; or, for any period of service during the same time period in Thailand, Laos, or Cambodia or the air spaces thereover and in direct support of operations in Vietnam. MoreHide
Criteria The Coast Guard Marksmanship Ribbon are issued under the same criteria as the U.S. Navy, but Coast Guardsmen use a .40 cal SIG-Sauer P229R DAK pistol instead of the Navy's M9 pistol. The Coast Guard i... The Coast Guard Marksmanship Ribbon are issued under the same criteria as the U.S. Navy, but Coast Guardsmen use a .40 cal SIG-Sauer P229R DAK pistol instead of the Navy's M9 pistol. The Coast Guard issues two ribbons, known as the Coast Guard Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon and the Coast Guard Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon. The Marksmanship Device is awarded for qualification at the higher levels of sharpshooter and expert. Like the Navy, for those who receive an expert qualification, the Marksmanship Medal is awarded instead of the Marksmanship Ribbon. MoreHide
Initially, I was assigned to receive and ship lights to the Lighthouses. Group Mobile had a repair facility that would do maintenance on aids returned from the Station Keepers. The Captain of the Port was a function (at that time) of the Group Mobile Command. We had a member asssigned to COTP go to Vietnam to be a part of the Explosives Detail. I was selected to fill his billet. Spent a month at CGTC Yorktown in PSLE school. COTP Mobile had responsibility for ports located in Mississippi, Alabama & the panhandle of Florida. While asssigned to the team, GM1 Bobby Wilkes was medically discharged and suddenly I was the senior enlisted on the team.
One of the Group Mobile members was operating a crane on the dock, traveling backwards. Apparently, he did not remember that the boom had been removed. As he cleared the building, he turned the crane forward and the counterweights in the rear caused the crane to topple into the water. The command designated me to take pictures of the scene and when the crane was lifted from the water, BM1 Hawkins was in the crane with his hands still on the control handles. His wife, Theresa, had been notified and she was constantly crying and wanting to jump into the water where "Hawk" was. Several of us went to New ORleans for his funeral.
The Group Commander Mobile/COTP Mobile was CDR Daniel Charter. The XO at Base Mobile was LT Larry Myhre while the Deputy Group Commander was CWO James Comerford.
Since retiring, I have become friends with CWO Tom Schmidt that was at Mobile, but assigned to the CGC Salvia at the same time. Both of us live in the Nashville, TN area and quarterly have a luncheon with other Coasties living the area.