Stribling, Grady, CWO3

Best Friends
EM3 Minter
EM1 Robert (Bob) Atkinson
MKC Jack Mason
Civ. Mr. Harris, Bouy Maintenance Depot Supr.

Best Moment
Like my 1st enlistment, I reenlisted at the USCG Recruiting Station, Atlanta, GA. As a civilian, I missed the CG. I felt my career was restrained, advancement slow, and I had no medical insurance. No medical insurance became a real concern in 1968 the first year of being married and we both came down with the Hong Kong flu. We were out of work for two weeks. The idea of having children in the near future was out of the question.
I missed the adventure of traveling and making new friends. In addition, my brother, now a Chief Electrician's Mate, would call frequently to encourage me to reenlist
On the day of 20 June 1969, I left my job at lunch time and went to the CG Recruiting Office and without any notice to anyone, I reenlisted as a 2nd Class Electrician's Mate with orders to duty at CG Group / Base Mayport, FL. That afternoon, I told my wife and after the initial shock, she accepted my decision especially when I told her we were going to Florida.

Worst Moment
Petty Officer 1st. Class, Robert (Bob) Atkinson was the Electrician's Mate in charge of the Electric Shop at CG Base Mayport. Bob and I became good friends and lived within rock throwing distance from one another. Six months after I reported on board, Bob had a motorcycle accident one afternoon on his way home from work.The accident left him paralyzed from the waist down. This was a terrible tragedy that ended his career and a great loss to the CG.

Chain of Command
Commanding Officer, USCG Base Mayport, FL.
LT. Morgan C. Hutto USCG
Executive Officer: CWO4 John Westbury
Engineering Officer: MKC Jack Mason

Other Memories
When I made my decision to reenlist, it was clear I intended to make the CG a career and now that I was married, my career had to include my wife. With her support and backing, it was easier to devote myself to meeting the responsibilities the CG placed on me.
Group / Base Mayport introduced me to a part of the CG I hadn't experienced. I was assigned to the Electric Shop at Base Mayport and became one of three electricians to work on the Base as well as the entire Group. We were the only electricians to support CG Units from Brunswick , GA. to Cape Canaveral, FL. Our crew consisted of EM1 Bob Atkinson, myself, and EM3 Buddy Minter. After Bob's accident, Buddy and I had our " hands full" after learning there would be no replacement for Bob. We also became good friends and worked well together. Buddy is the only guy I know that could keep a chew of tobacco under one cheek to save it while eating a doughnut and drinking coffee with the other.
We had to perform all the maintenance and repair work on Base including 3 search and rescue boats and 1 trailered aids-to-navigation boat. Boat 40439 was a steel hull 40 ft. utility boat with 2 Detroit diesel engines and open cockpit. "She was an oldie but a goodie". Boat 40607, another 40 ft. utility boat with a plastic hull and 2 "Smoking" Cummins diesel engines. She was a faster boat but the Engineman (now MKS) spent a lot of time trying to to keep her running. The batteries and electrical systems on all the boats were our responsibility to maintain.
Replacing light bulbs and performing maintenance and repairs to the electrical systems on Base was a matter of routine. In addition, qualified Engineering Department Petty Officers were required to stand "duty"every 3rd day as"Junior Officer of the Day" (JOOD) and "Engineering Watch Officer" (EWO). We assisted the OOD as necessary and checked the readiness of the boats along with maintaining the security of the Base. We also had to qualify as "Boat Engineer", one of the three man crew for every boat that got underway. The Boat Engineer was responsible for keeping a watch on the engines and associated systems, along with making emergency repairs when required. The Boat Coxswain was at the helm and gave directions to his crew.
The Units under the Group Commander's command along with support from the Group Electric Shop can be seen
in My Photos.