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An up close and personal interview with U.S. Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
LCDR John Sprague US Coast Guard (Ret) (1960-1982)
WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE MILITARY?
My Dad, who was an Engineer (drove diesel engines) on the New York, New Haven and Hartford Rail Road in New England, had a friend (actually a drinking buddy), who was a Coast Guard recruiter in Providence Rhode Island in the late 50's, early 60's. I wanted to "go on the rail road", following a family tradition. My Grandpa and Dad, along with all my uncles were on the rail road. Dad said naww, join the Coast Guard and I did Oct. 1960. My Dad retired (medical) after 45 years. His Dad, my Paw retired with 50 years. My uncles retired with 40 plus years. I really had never thought about the service, any of them. The recruiter said the CG was the hardest to join. Thought it was BS. Found out later in my career that he was telling the truth. Much higher standards for enlistments in the CG over the other 4 branches. As an aside, most don't know, you can not get help politically (influence) by your Representative and or Senator at the CG Academy. Strictly merit, academics, etc. Other branches use PI (political influence) filling their academy classes. Was then and remains today.
BRIEFLY, WHAT WAS YOUR SERVICE CAREER PATH?
Boot Camp at CG Receiving Center, Cape May, NJ as Seaman Recruit, E-1.
Oct. 60. Graduated Seaman Apprentice, E-2 Feb. 61. While at Cape May, 6 100 man Companies were sent to Wash. DC to march in JFK's inaugural.
Stood in freezing weather in front of the reviewing stand and listened to him give his famous speech on "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country".
Qualified in Boot Camp for Radioman School at CG Training Center, Groton, CN. Spent 7 months in school and graduated Radioman Third Class Petty Officer RM3 E-4.
First job...The USCG Cutter CARTIGAN WPC132 in Panama City, Fl., Oct. 61
Met and married my wife of 48 years in 62. Promoted to RM2 E-5.
Transfered to the Primary Radio Station at New Orleans, NMG Jul. 63
First child born Feb. 64. Re-enlisted for 6 years.
On to the District Office in New Orleans Jul. 64
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Orders back to Groton as an Instructor at RMA school Nov. 64
Second child board Oct. 65. Promoted to RM1 E-6 Apr. 66
Moved School from Groton to Govenors Island, N.Y. Oct. 67
Transferred to USCGCutter COURAGEOUS Dec. 68, in San Juan, PR as RM in Charge. After 1 year transferred to the Primary Radio Station at CG Base San Juan, made Chief Petty Officer RMC E-7 and was accepted to Officer Candidate School.
Third child born Mar 70. Moved family back to states Sep. 70 to attend OCS
Graduated OCS as Ensign O-1 in Jan. 71. Assigned to the USCG Cutter COOK INLET WMEC-384 in Portland, Me.
The ship deployed to Vietnam Apr. 71. We turned it over to the VN Navy in Dec. 71 and flew home in time for Christmas.
Assigned as CCGD8 Assistant Readiness Officer in New Orleans Jan. 72.
Promoted to LTJG O-2 and later assigned as Operations Officer on the USCG Cutter DEPENDABLE WMEC 622 in Panama City, Fl., May 74. Made LT O-3.
Transferred to CCGD13 Seattle as Operations Center/Rescue Coordination Center Chief May 76
Transferred to USCG Station Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Wa. Jul. 79 as Commanding Officer.
Made LCDR O-4 and retired 1 May 1982 having served 21.5 years continuous active duty, including 4 years as an instructor at RMA School and on 4 ships.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS? IF SO, COULD YOU DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH WERE SIGNIFICANT TO YOU?
Yes. As an Ensign right out of OCS, my ship deployed to Vietnam together with another Cutter to Squadron Three. We left the US in April 71 and arrived in the Combat Zone in July 71. Along with the normal missions, Gunfire Support, Medical assistance, Surveillance and Interdiction among others, we were tasked to "Vietnamize" or turn over the ship to the Vietnamese during our deployment. Basically, train the VN Navy crew to operate the ship and decommission it, so they could re-commission it in the VN Navy.
I was the Communications Officer for the ship and handled all the classified documents on board which was substantial as we had to have on board all the War related "stuff" as well as all our peacetime material a lot of which was not needed/used on USN ships. The chore was to have current information available on board at sea when so much of the material would come on board already compromised due combat activities occurring on shore. "Old stuff", compromised, unusable stuff, had to be destroyed, lots of it, caused a continuous "burn barrel" operation on the fan tail. Never used burn barrels in the states.
The day before we turned over the ship, I had two big bags of material to destroy. Tied up in downtown Saigon, couldn't use the barrel. Tried to get a vehicle to take the "stuff" to a disposal facility in town. None available. Myself and one of my radiomen toted the big bags over our shoulders, along the streets of town, walking to the facility. At stop lights, while waiting to cross streets, US Army jeeps would pull up full of VN Army and their families driving around town. Unhappy campers we were!!
While awaiting the turnover ceremonies, standing on deck, tied up in the main dock, downtown Saigon, our sister ship in the squadron stern to stern with us, a B-40 rocket, launched from the jungle across the river from us, comes flying over our heads. Missed us, the obvious target, and hits a VN guard shack off the bow of the ship. Some damage, no one hurt. No damage to either ship (CASTLE ROCK and us, COOK INLET).
38 years later, both ships were awarded the COMBAT ACTION RIBBON..similar to the USN ribbon, for that action. Took awhile!!
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
As a fresh caught Ensign, standing my first Officer of The Deck watch underway in the middle of the Pacific ocean, en-route to Vietnam with nothing visible on the ocean any where near us, after completing 3 of my 4 hours of watch, middle of the afternoon, I hear: 'Bridge. Lookout. Periscope bearing 010 and closing at 1000 yards!!'
Having spent the last three hours worrying my butt off on what I was going to run into (nothing out there), or what I was going to screw up, I immediately grabbed the general alarm, got on the 1MC and hollered,'Battle Stations, this is not a drill!'
The CO, XO and OPS boss were in the bridge in two nano-seconds. We had been preparing for entering the combat zone for months and, of course, this was the first time the ship had been called to General Quarters other than training since WWII.
The CO relieved me of the CONN of the ship and I remained with the DECK and we all were on the binoculars. The sub submerged about 500 yards ahead of us, we maintained course, and it disappeared. Later, the sub re-emerged about 1000 yards astern of us and continued on its voyage.
I was embarrassed, thinking I overreacted. All three, CO, XO and my boss, the Operations officer praised me for what I did. Later the guess was that it was a Navy sub returning to Pearl Harbor from the Combat Zone.
WERE ANY OF THE MEDALS OR AWARDS YOU RECEIVED FOR VALOR? IF YES, COULD YOU DESCRIBE HOW THIS WAS EARNED?
Just one, and not sure I would say Valor. I received the USCG Commendation Medal with Operational Distinguish Device, Silver O, for leading a fire fighting team on a burning Gasoline and Naphtha tanker near St Croix, US Virgin Island. in 1969. The tanker (MS Mobil Apex) British, was fully loaded next to the refinery in Christiansted, St. Croix. The fire started just as the tanker finished loading, having filled 13 tanks of alternating high test gas and naphtha. The fire was in a pump room next and below from the last tank. It got out of hand and the crew abandoned ship and their fire fighting. A civilian tug was used to tow the vessel away from the dock and out of the port to prevent any explosion destroying the refinery if not the island. My ship, the USCGC COURAGEOUS was on standby in San Juan, P.R. 6 hours away. The tugs crew got scared as they towed because of numerous explosions on the rear deck of the tanker. Instead of passing the towline to us, as planned, they dropped it as soon as they saw us coming and took off. We retrieved the towline, came along side and spent 3 days with one other smaller cutter from PR, and put the fire out. All of the stern castle of the tanker, which had accommodations for 50 paying passengers, along with the entire engine room, was destroyed. We didn't have enough fire teams to cover all the areas needing attention when first aboard, so I was given a team to try to get over the top of the stern castle to fight the Class A fires breaking out in that area. All other teams were fighting Class B and C fires inside the living spaces and in the engine room. We had been told by Mobil that one man was missing and to try to find him. We looked everywhere, even in the large coolers/freezers down below. After the ship was salvaged much later, he was found at his fire station in a passageway forward of the engine room, over the last tank. An explosion had knocked him down and the ceiling and wall materials had covered him up with our crew-members walking on/over him the whole time we were on board. All our teams lost facial hair, uniforms, shoes, etc. The ship damaged or destroyed most of our fire fighting equipment. Mobil Oil came aboard much later and completely re-outfitted the ship with new firefighting equipment. They also provided the funds to replace all the uniform items lost by our crew.
OF THE MEDALS, AWARDS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES OR DEVICES YOU RECEIVED, WHAT IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
Of course my highest award, the Commendation Medal for fire fighting, as described herein, would have he most meaning. Not a trained firefighter in the CG, I am very proud of the job my team did of St Croix.
Receiving my Cutterman's award for 5 years sea duty had special meaning as well. It represents time spent working on 1 125ft, 2 210ft and 1 311ft Cutters, many, many wonderful, challenging and rewarding experiences.
The Command Ashore device, very special meaning. Three years, 24/7, with a fantastic, hardworking, hard charging crew.
Waiting 38 years for the USCGC COOK INLET W-384 to get it's COMBAT ACTION RIBBON for what happened on Dec. 21st, 1971, is very meaningful to me also.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
I think Fred Siegel, CWO4 COMM, Ret. We were instructors together at RMA school in Groton, CN. for about 3 years and another year after we moved the school to NY on Governors Island. We worked together and in different phases of the school, but were friends on and off base. We studied together and through that study regime, were able to make Chief Radiomen, in what most would consider, long before our time.
Later, after retirement, and about 15 years, we hooked up again, visiting in Bartow at his house and in Panama City at mine. This was during the time he was establishing the famous "Fred's Place" on the Internet, where Old Coasties come together. I think he has over 60,000 members now on his web site, of which, I am one.
One other I should mention is LCDR T. B. Irish Ret. He was my XO on USCGC COURAGEIOUS in San Juan, PR. He was instrumental in getting my appointment to OCS in 1970. I had tried and failed two times before that and I feel that without his assistance and interest in me and my family, I would not have had a chance for a commission in the USCG.
CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE THAT WAS FUNNY AT THE TIME AND STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
I remember as a new Third Class Petty Officer (RM3), having just reported on board the USCGC CARTIGAN WPC-132 (built in 1927), in Panama City, Fl., right out of Radio School, the First Class Boatswains Mate, J.J. Galligar held a little indoctrination class for all newly arrived Seaman and Petty Officers. He would line the new men up along the main deck in front of the bridge of the ship and give them a rundown on how things are and were going to be on "his ship". Some of the instructions included what might be charitably referred to as "sea stories".
One was, he was on patrol in a CG 83ft. boat off Jones beach in Long Island, NY, during the war. The beach was packed and he had to order "Set condition Zebra, batten down all the hatches!!" There was a yellow cloud coming off the beach and the crew had to protect the boat from it. He said later that the cloud was eventually determined to be non-hazardous and nothing more than the beach-goers/swimmers "peeing" ashore and in the water, as there were not enough "heads" (restrooms) available to them!! He was a salty old BM1 with 28 years in and had non-stop stories to tell.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT JOB?
I stayed in the Maritime field. I was a purchasing agent for a small destination nowhere cruise-line in Panama City, Fl. After a year at that, I became the lines Operations Manager. Later when the ship left Florida for Mississippi, I moved over to the port and started as a forwarding agent for cargo for a Steam Ship Agency. Later became the Port Manager for that Agency.
In 1990, my wife decided we were going to open a Steak/seafood restaurant.
After spending the next 5 years, working 24/7 and writing checks to everyone in town but ourselves (we were still able to eat!!), we sold the business and went full-time RVing. Ended up Grand-baby chasing around the southeast, with 3 children and 9 grandchildren, easy to do.
Finally settled in Milton, Florida, near Pensacola, finished a Master Gardener Course with the County and the U of F, and settled down.
Am in the process of restoring a 65 (early) Mustang, 289/4V Coupe. 18mo project started in Apr. 09, still at it. I had done a 68, 302, Coupe in the mid 80's which I drove for 2 years after the 2 year renovation. Sold it to my oldest son who drove it for another 5 years before his wife wrecked it in DC on the ice.
Also have 2 acres with lots of fruit trees, laying hens and again, grand-kids to maintain.
WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
Member of 14 groups on CG Channel Community on-line. Turns out, the comments on the various groups provide current information which is difficult to get even through contact with the formal organizations. Big help, especially with Vets needing info on disability processes and programs, VA and otherwise.
Over the 30 years since retiring, I think I have been a member of just about all the various association. Not active anymore. Have contact with a number of them still, with chapters in my area.
Depending on circumstances, time and energy, focus and interests change.
Mine have, especially in the social arena, which is the basis for most associations. Could say, I have moved on to other interests.
HOW HAS MILITARY SERVICE INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND CAREER?
I left high school and went right into the CG. It was my life, my only career. Since retirement, family and friends became more important. I have been "retired" longer than the time I was in. I didn't pursue a second career, although I did many things to earn a living to supplement my pension.
The CG gave me the possibility to be a good man, father, husband and citizen. If I accomplished those deeds, or not, will be for others to decide after I am gone.
I thank my Dad, the CG, my wife and friends over the years for the positive way they influenced my life.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR THOSE THAT ARE STILL SERVING?
Never ever say to yourself: "I can't do that, take that, be that" as in try to make Second Class Petty Officer while a Third. You will never know if you can do it or be it, until you are one.
Always strive for the next level in all aspects of your career and never miss or avoid, for any reason, an opportunity to progress, be promoted, or take a new job.
If you work hard and fair, take care of yourself, your shipmates, those above and below you, you will be successful.
IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU MAINTAIN A BOND WITH YOUR SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
I am relatively new at TWS. Still reviewing. So far, I have enjoyed the contacts I have found with old shipmates after all these years. The site is so much more comprehensive than all the other groups/sites I visit. There are so many more opportunities to share and view information that I expect it will be some months before I have the full picture of what is available. I will have to cut back on time spent with other groups, most visited very in-frequently, but visited even so, to spend more here.
A disabled wife, and disability issues myself, limit the time to sit at the terminal.
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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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