the QQuuaarrtteerrddeecckk LLoogg Membership publication of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association. Publishes quarterly — Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Not sold on a subscription basis. The Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association is a Non-Profit Corporation of Active-Duty, Retired, Reserve, 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 28, Number 4 Winter 2013 New USCG Headquarters Building Named St. Elizabeth’s Complex Formally Pays Tribute to Memory of Coast Guard Hero Douglas A. Munro “By his outstanding leadership, expert planning, and dauntless devotion to duty, he and his courageous comrades undoubtedly saved the lives of many who otherwise would have perished. He gallantly gave up his life in defense of his country.” So ends the Medal of Honor citation for Signalman 1st Class Douglas A. Munro, the only member of the nation’s oldest continuous sea-going service to be awarded America’s highest military honor. On Nov. 13th, the Coast Guard paid tribute to this legendary hero, designating its new headquarters the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building. The ceremony came just two days after Veterans Day, a day in PNP Ed Swift admires the bronze bust of Douglas A. Munro at the Nov. 13th which we honor those who have Coast Guard Headquarters Building Naming Ceremony. worn the uniform and defended our freedoms. This significance was not lost on U.S. Marine In This Issue Corps Col. Barney Barnum, a Medal of Honor recipient who attended the ceremony. For him, both Veterans Day and the Cover Story Page 1 & 20 ceremony served as a perfect time to rededicate “to the principles From the President Page 2-3 our great country stands for and what veterans have fought to From the Vice President Page 3 protect and preserve.” From the Secretary/Treasurer Page 4 As a Medal of Honor recipient himself, Barnum shared his From the Auxiliary President Page 5 thoughts on why it is important to educate the public about the Notices & Association News Page 6-19 dignity and honor behind the Medal of Honor and recipients like Feature Stories Page 21-29 Munro. “The Medal of Honor stands for, or represents, the metal of Ship’s Store Page 30 CGCVA Membership Form Page 31 Continued on page 16 From the President Greetings Shipmates: We are nearing one year since we held the 2013 Reno Reunion. I take great pleasure in announ- cing two items that were brought up at the membership meeting have been accomplished. First Coast Guard Combat Veterans Assn. and foremost, the Association has produced a challenge coin, OFFICERS and you will want to get yours National President — Michael Placencia, LM now. A special ad appears in this National Vice President — Stephen Petersen, LM issue and every coin purchased Mike Placencia National Secretary/Treasurer — Gary Sherman, LM, benefits the Association. Also, in this issue you will find the ad we ran in the Vietnam BOARD OF TRUSTEES Veterans of America magazine in the Nov/Dec 2013 issue Chairman — PNP Ed Swift, LM and it will repeat in their Mar/Apr 2014 issue. Two-Term — William Figone, LM & Floyd Hampton, LM One-Term — E.P. “Ed” Burke, LM & Ernest “Swede Johnson, LM ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE* National Secretary/Treasurer 3245 Ridge Pike Eagleville, PA 19403 Phone: (610) 539-1000 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.coastguardcombatvets.com *use the Administrative Office for contact with the CGCVA on all matters. THE QUARTERDECK LOG Editor In Chief — PNP Ed Swift, LM (Send submissions to [email protected] ) AUXILIARY OFFICERS National President — Betty Schambeau National Vice President — Beverly Johnson National Secretary/Treasurer — Mimi Placencia APPOINTED OFFICERS By-Laws — Thomas W. Hart, LM; Convention Planners — Floyd Hampton, LM; Steve Petersen, LM; Bob Hellers, LM; and Mike Placencia, LM; Membership — PNP Joe Kleinpeter, LM; Parliamentarian — Terry Lee, LM; Historian — PNP Paul C. Scotti, LM; Service Officers — President Placencia stands proudly next to the USCG flag at Thomas Huckelberry, LM and Floyd Hampton, LM; Budget the Bakersfield, Calif. Veterans’ Day parade. Director — Gary Sherman, LM; Chaplain — Vince Patton, LM; Master at Arms — Ed Floyd, LM; Webmaster — Bill Wells, LM; Nominating Chairman — Bill Figone, LM; Next QD Log deadline is May 1, 2014. Cape May Liaison — Terry Lee, LM Please email articles and photos to the editor at: [email protected] From the President (cont.) I cannot recall a time when I have been prouder, as I am Cape Cod, Mass.; Jacksonville, Fla.; and Tampa, Fla. The today, to be associated with the Coast Guard. A generation winning bid will be announced on the CGCVA website and has passed since I wore the uniform, but riding on a registration information will be available in the upcoming Veterans’ Day parade float (built by veterans of all services) Quarterdeck Log magazines. If we can get at least 120 will always be special — and in my adopted hometown of registrations, who attend all the events, and stay at the host Bakersfield, Calif. Naturally, I chose the seat next to the hotel, we can definitely have one outstanding 30th anniver - USCG flag. Later in the month, I attended the 25th sary celebration. Let’s make it happen! anniversary of the Vietnam Veteran Memorial in Finally, I am pleased to make the following appoint - Sacramento, Calif. — my real hometown. A couple of ment: Terry Lee , our Cape May Liaison, has agreed to be things bear mentioning: 1) When the Army Band played the Association Parliamentarian. Thanks Terry. Semper Paratus, I was the only one standing representing Until next time, I wish you good health and high spirits. OUR service (another proud moment); and 2), I ran into Your Shipmate in Service, Michael Placencia four high school classmates — two Army and two Navy. And in a moment of reflection, it was 30 years ago that I was a Senior Chief Yeoman at CG Air Station Sacramento. It seemed like it was only yesterday. The Association will be celebrating its 30th anniver - sary at our 2015 Reunion. The Planning Committee reviewed 13 proposals from hotels in 10 cities up and down the east coast. Many were respectable and worthy of consideration. It was agreed to narrow the list to only four and continue our CGCVA President Mike Placencia flanked by two high school classmates; Dennis negotiations. The four semi- “Doc”Kaufman (Navy) on the left and Phil Rios (Army) on the right. They reunited finalists are: Buffalo, N.Y.; at the 25th anniversary of the Vietnam Vet Memorial in Sacramento, Calif. From the Vice President Greetings Mates: assnociation. The 2015 Reunion/Conven - Since 2015 is the CGCVA’s 30th Anniversary, we trust tion continues to be a challenge that we will have an event that will be long remembered. It for Mike and myself. By the time will also be a time where the newer combat vet members of this printing, the four site will have an active role during the reunion. Their inclusion finalists will all have been visited in our association will be an asset that will enhance us in by our membership. A first hand the coming years. Hopefully, each of you will be able to evaluation of the facilities is recruit at least one new member to help sustain our most helpful and we are membership. Please keep this in your thoughts. fortunate to have members living Mike and I are totally committed to carrying out the in the areas being considered missions that we were assigned. Semper Paratus. Steve Petersen conduct visits at no cost to our Steve Petersen The Quarterdeck Log 3 Vol.28, No.4 From the Secretary/Treasurer We Could Really Use YOUR Help! Anyway, if you can stuff and mail an envelope, the I remember going into the Coast Guard and someone told me the general rule for anyone entering the military was Coast Guard Combat “never volunteer for anything”. Maybe that was good advice Veterans Association needs upon entering active duty but the “general rule” for after your you. I hope you will please tour of duty is “Please volunteer!”. consider volunteering for We need your help, specifically for the duties of Small this vital Association job. Stores Manager and Webmaster. For those of us who serve BTW, I will be the stock on committees and hold office, we signed up for those duties point of our new CGCVA and are happy to carry them out. What we were not expecting Challenge Coins so see the was that some of those who volunteered just can’t fit these description and photos of duties into their busy schedules, especially if they are still this beautiful coin on page Gary Sherman working full time. Or in the case of our Webmaster, they 30 of this issue and order have been doing it for so long, they deserve a break and one for yourself (or do some early Christmas shopping someone else needs to step up. for next year). Small Stores Manager Needed Webmaster Needed The Small Stores job has come back to my office and I am As for Webmaster, some tech experience is neces - filling orders as quickly as I can. This is an easy job where sary. You do not have to be able to write computer code you receive orders, forward the payment to the National but some advanced computer experience is required. If Treasurer, stuff the order in an envelope and take it to the post you have designed and maintain your own website on office.