QUARTERDECK LOG Edward B
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the Membership publication of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association. Publishes quarterly –– Winter, Spring, Summer, andQuarterQuarter Fall. Not sold on a subscription basis. The Coast Guarddeckdeck Combat Veterans Association is aLogLog Non-Profit Corporation of Active Duty Members, Retired Members, Reserve Members, and Honorably Discharged Former Members of the United States Coast Guard who served in, or provided direct support to combat situations recognized by an appropriate military award while serving as a member of the United States Coast Guard. Volume 20, Number 3 Fall 2005 Improvise... Adapt... Overcome! Hurricane Wilma Fails to Dampen Spirits at CGCVA Tampa Convention As Mare and I packed for our plane flight to Tampa, I felt these changes, or at least why they were necessary, it really was a lot like the Clint Eastwood character, Marine Corps Gunnery an ongoing challenge for us, requiring considerable latitude Sergeant Highway, in the movie Heartbreak Ridge. One of his and flexibility. Again, and throughout the next four days, it trademark lines was, “Improvise... was improvise and adapt, and each time Adapt... Overcome!” we overcame what could have been On October 18th, the weather forecast potential show-stoppers. It was a bit for Florida was very shaky as yet anoth- reminiscent of my 30-plus years active er storm, this one Hurricane Wilma, duty in the Coast Guard when things did- churned off Mexico. Dozens of predic- n’t always work out as originally tions, several showing a path of potential planned but somehow the end result was destruction across central Florida, even better. That’s how I looked at this seemed to spell doom for the CGCVA’s convention — some things weren’t 20th Anniversary Convention & Reunion working out as anticipated but the only days before it was scheduled to changes that were being made, many on start. I had received several e-mail mes- the fly, were resulting in creative alterna- sages from concerned CGCVA members, tives, even some upgrades. And, most many asking if the convention had been importantly, those who attended were cancelled, plus phone calls from several emjoying themselves and all the activi- others. My answer was a decisive “No!” ties available to them. but it couldn’t help me from wondering if For a complete look at the Tampa the long-planned reunion would be a convention, go to pages 8-19. washout. I decided not to worry about (Left) Taylor Lapham proudly displays things I couldn’t control and continued to some of his collected USCG patches. pack. Waiting at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., the following morning, I continued to monitor the weather forecasts and even got a call on my cell phone from a con- cerned CGCVA member just as I was boarding my plane. Again, I assured him that the convention was still on. I got aboard and wondered how best to improvise, adapt, and over- come. The answer — a Bloody Mary, or maybe two. It turned out to be the right decision because less than two hours later we were in Tampa, Florida, enjoying a beautiful 82-degree sunny day. Things were looking up. Upon arriving at the Busch Gardens Holiday Inn, I met with convention planners Bob Maxwell and Ed Burke who briefed me on various issues. A pre-convention meeting that evening with the Association officers and trustees called for a myriad of changes from our original plans but we all took it in stride. And, while the attending members and guests weren’t aware of The outside “Hospitality Suite” at the Tampa Convention. From the President Greetings All: Thank you all for voting me your president for the new term. It will be very difficult to fill the shoes of those before me and I want to thank everyone in advance for the help they are going to provide. Swifty has left the organization in excel- lent shape. Thanks Swifty and Mare for all you have done and will continue to do. Despite the few problems we had, the reunion was great. It was nice to see everyone had that old Coast Guard ''CAN DO'' Coast Guard Combat Veterans spirit. It was especially nice to have VADM Thad Allen, his Association dad (a retired USCG chief damage controlman) and his broth- er-in law (a retired USCG captain) spend several days with us. OFFICERS I hope they enjoyed a mini family reunion and that VADM Gil “Frenchy” Benoit, LM, National President Allen was able to get some much needed R&R before going Paul C. Scotti, LM, National Vice President back to New Orleans to deal with the problems there. Baker W. Herbert, LM, National Secretary-Treasurer I spent several days in Seattle recently, courtesy of Kent Bradley, an old icebreaker buddy. We tried to get to Cle Elum BOARD OF TRUSTEES to visit the grave of USCG Medal of Honor recipent Douglas Chairman: Munro but just my luck — the pass was closed because of snow PNP Ed Swift, LM and a rock slide. I did, however, visit the Coast Guard Museum Two Term: of the Northwest at Base Seattle. The museum curator, CAPT PNP Robert J. Maxwell, LM E. L. Davis, USCG (Ret.) is quite the historian and gives you Terry O’Connell the full 50-cent tour. One Term: More next newsletter. Recurit, recruit and most of all, Ernest “Swede” Johnson. LM spread the word about what the COAST GUARD does for a Robert L. MacLeod, LM living. Sempar Paratus! Frenchy ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE* National Secretary-Treasurer P.O. Box 544 6629 Oakleaf Drive Westfield Center, OH 44251 Phone: (330) 887-5539 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.coastguardcombatvets.com *use the Administrative Office for contact with the CGCVA on all matters AUXILIARY OFFICERS Shirley Ramsey, National President Linda Benoit, National Vice President Jane Maxwell, National Secretary-Treasurer THE QUARTERDECK LOG Edward B. Swift, LM, Editor-In-Chief Josh Sparrow, Assistant Editor APPOINTEES Mike Placencia, Parliamentarian; E.P. “Ed” Burke, By- Laws Chairman, Budget Director and Convention Planner; William G. Miller, LM, Chaplain; PNP Robert J. Maxwell, LM, Convention Planner; Patrick E. Ramsey, LM, Membership Chairman; Robert F. MacLeod, LM, Ways & Means Director; Tom Huckelberry, Service Officer; and Bill Wells, Web Master. Next QD Log deadline is Feb. 1, 2006 From the Editor (and Immediate Past President) Thank You All! ing members, Gil Benoit and Paul Shipmates: Our Association Scotti, are now serving as our presi- is one we can all be quite proud dent and vice president. They both of. We’ve enjoyed 20 years of have tremendous credentials and camaraderie and good fellow- have been actively involved in the ship, plus we’ve been the archi- CGCVA’s growth the past 20 years. tects of many projects to sup- Please give them the support you port the Coast Guard. have always provided and they will I’ve always enjoyed being lead our Association into a most pro- an active CGCVA member, ductive third decade of good work serving as the QD Log editor towards CGCVA members and the for more than 11 years, and rep- entire Coast Guard. resenting our Association as Also, please welcome on board both president and vice presi- new trustee Terry O’Connell and new dent. Now, as I stand relieved Parliamentarian Mike Placencia. as president, I wish to thank all My thanks to all who have con- the fine CGCVA members who tributed to the Coast Guard Mutual have helped me over the years. Assistance Hurricane Katrina Fund. Our magazine remains a power- Your donations have been used to ful communication tool and his- assist humdreds of Coast Guard fam- torical reference due to the ilies impacted by the tragedy. many exceptional articles and Also, my thanks to the entire photos submitted for publica- Andrus Family for their generous tion by the membership. All of donations and continued support! our officer and trustee positions Semper Paratus! Swifty are completely voluntary so my sincerest thanks to all who have chosen to help lead the CGCVA during not only my term but throughout the past 20 years. My thanks to our superb Auxiliary, whose members have donated incredible amounts of time, money and energy to support CGCVA projects. And thanks to every CGCVA member who has taken the time to “talk up” our Association and look for new members. We’re all very different people but we’ve all joined together to make our Association a very strong and solvent one. Thank you all for your continued support as we start our second 20 years. Unexpected Recognition As proud as I am to have served in a leadership role with the CGCVA, I couldn’t have been more pleased or surprised when our Association was presented the Coast Guard Distinguished Public Service Award from VADM Thad Allen at the Tampa Convention. Having the CGCVA recognized for its 20 years of service to the Coast Guard is a tremendous honor and the award is a testament to the work done over the years by you, the members. This is the highest public service award that the Coast Guard can bestow upon an individual or organization and it is the equivalent of the Gold Lifesaving Medal. Congratulations everyone! Bravo Zulu! As We Move Ahead I am delighted to see that two of our Association’s found- The Quarterdeck Log 3 Vol. 20, No. 3 From the Secretary-Treasurer Tampa Convention Swift, has investigated several ways to save money but none Thank you Swifty for giving the Association so much of were deemed desirable since it would entail either producing your time as our President and QD Log Editor.