50413_QDLog.qxd 8/28/07 8:03 AM Page 1 the QuarterQuarterdeckdeck LogLog Membership publication of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association. Publishes quarterly –– Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall. Not sold on a subscription basis. The Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association is a 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 22, Number 2 Summer 2007 Looking For USCG Vietnam Vets 25th Anniversary of “The Wall” to be celebrated November 10-12, 2007 Jan Scruggs survived the Memorial passed the Senate in just Vietnam War, many of his com- seven minutes on April 30, 1980. rades did not. In 1969, he served On July 1, 1980, President Jimmy a tour of duty in Vietnam where Carter signed the bill into law. he was wounded and decorated The dedication to the memory of for bravery. In 1979, he and his those who served was rewarded wife saw a movie about the when on November 13, 1982, the Vietnam War called the “Deer Vietnam Veterans Memorial was Hunter.” This conjured up memo- dedicated. ries of his perilous days in A VISIT TO THE WALL Vietnam. He once said of his Set in the grassy park of service in Vietnam, “The bitter- Constitution Gardens, the Wall is ness I feel when I remember car- neither prominent, grand, nor rying the lifeless bodies of close imposing. Rather, it is simple, friends through the mire of thoughtful, and profound. It is a Vietnam will probably never sub- place to remember those who side. I still wonder if anything served during a turbulent time in can be found to bring any purpose American history. It is also a place to all the suffering and death.” for the nation to heal its wounds. Scruggs struggled for a year in The Vietnam Veterans Vietnam to escape the clutches of Memorial Wall contains the names death. He now found himself of the 58,249 men and women committed to a different struggle, to enshrine the memo- (continued on page 24) ry of those who fought and died in Vietnam. In late 1979, Scruggs met with a group of Vietnam vet- In This Issue erans in Washington, D.C. He expressed his belief that ordinary American citizens would donate money to build a memorial to those who fought and died in Vietnam. Jan Main Story Page 1, 24-25 Scruggs and a group of fellow veterans formed the From The President Page 2 & 26 From The Vice President Page 3 Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF). The objec- From The Secretary-Treasurer Page 3 tive of the group was to create a tangible tribute to those Notices & Association News Pages 5-15 & 29 Americans who served in the Vietnam War. The tribute Feature Stories Pages 16-25 would take the form of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. From The Service Officer Page 26-27 The site selected for the memorial, at the base of the Ship’s Store Pages 28-29 Lincoln Memorial, seemed perfect. The bill which grant- Chieu Hoi LM Presentation Page 30 ed the VVMF two acres at the foot of the Lincoln CGCVA Membership Form Page 31 50413_QDLog.qxd 8/28/07 8:03 AM Page 2 From the President Settling Down Since the end of the Reunion/Convention my time has been consumed with a life- style transition. I have been a tumbleweed since 1960 when I graduated high school and joined the U.S. Air Force. Coast Guard Combat Veterans After one hitch I returned to Association the civilian world for ten months of rambling before OFFICERS joining the U.S. Coast Guard Paul C. Scotti Paul C. Scotti, LM, National President for twenty-six more years of Terry O’Connell, National Vice President vagabondism. Military retirement did not change my Baker W. Herbert, LM, National Secretary nomadic penchant. For the next sixteen years Liz and I Bill Ross, National Treasurer roved fulltime in a motorhome. Well, that has come to an end in July when we took root in Central Florida, Palm BOARD OF TRUSTEES Bay specifically. The Scotti Nomads bought their first Chairman: house and the motorhome is up for sale. I had promised PNP Gil “Frenchy” Benoit, LM Two Term: Liz a house one day and have fulfilled that obligation. Of E.P. “Ed” Burke, LM course, because motorhomes come furnished we have no Ernest “Swede” Johnson. LM furniture; but then, I didn’t promise her furniture. So if One Term: you plan on visiting us—bring a chair. PNP Robert J. Maxwell, LM Michael Placentia Daughter of the Coast Guard When my daughter bought me a book from an antique ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE* store I was appreciative. When it is titled, “Daughter of National Secretary the Coast Guard” I read it. Written by Betty Baxter and P.O. Box 544 6629 Oakleaf Drive Westfield Center, OH 44251 published in 1938 it is a tale about two high school girls Phone: (330) 887-5539 who help solve a mystery of smuggling on Lake E-mail: [email protected] Michigan. One girl is the daughter of the skipper of the Website: www.coastguardcombatvets.com Coast Guard station, the other is the daughter of the local *use the Administrative Office for contact with the newspaper owner. The setting is Lake Haven, Michigan. CGCVA on all matters Research reveals that the fictional town is really Grand Haven, Michigan (Coast Guard City USA). The “Old AUXILIARY OFFICERS Guard” is portrayed with a couple of rescues, one using a Shirley Ramsey, National President breeches buoy to save crewmen from a grounded freighter Rene O’Connell, National Vice President and the other in the launching of a pulling boat though the Jane Maxwell, National Secretary-Treasurer surf to get to a foundering tug. Betty Baxter wrote twen- THE QUARTERDECK LOG ty books for teenage girl readership, including a three- PNP Edward B. Swift, LM, Editor-In-Chief book series involving the adventures of Becky Bryan, another Coast Guard daughter. Now you have a little APPOINTEES more literary trivia to take up space in your mind and I Thomas W. Hart (By-Laws); William G. Miller, LM (Chaplain); PNP Robert J. Maxwell, LM, (Convention (continued on page 26) Planner); Patrick E. Ramsey, LM and Floyd Hampton (Membership); Mike Placencia (Parliamentarian); Paul C. Next QD Log deadline is Nov. 1, 2007. Scotti, LM (Historian); Josh Sparrow (Awards); Thomas Huckelberry and Floyd Hampton (Service Officers) Please e-mail material to the editor at: [email protected] 50413_QDLog.qxd 8/28/07 8:03 AM Page 3 From The Vice President Hail to the Fajita We are pleased to have heard of the recent satisfactory completion of the Chieu Hoi, LM, tour of duty at USCG Station Monterey, CA. Kudos are in order for MK2 Justin Parker for his Supervisor (acting) duties of sharing the Sabine River Fajita with his active duty colleagues. We trust that Garret Conklin will take full advantage of the capabilities of Chieu Hoi and continue the enjoyable practice of his caretaking predecessors. Terry Helpful Websites The internet website “Fred’s Place” has long been a repository of Coast Guard current news, old news, sea stories and a meeting place for active duty Coasties and old veterans. www.fredsplace.org with over 48,000 registered members is a must place to visit. Here’s some other websites worthy of a look-see: Bill Wells’ Coast Guard warrior site: www.aug.edu/~libwrw/Welcome.html patriotfiles.org/CoastiesRule.html jacksjoint.com www.coastguardchannel.com Patch from Point Cypress (WPB- www.cgsva.lbbhost.com/index/html 82326). Sent by D. J. Wilfong From the Secretary Secretary’s Report The Quarterdeck Log Boosters are keeping us in business. Crossed The Bar Tremendous thanks to all participants. Eugene B. Floyd Regarding questions I’ve received regarding the mailing times of Joined: 6-1-1990 CTB: 4-21-2007 the QD Log, we mail at the end of each season. Please consider combining your ship’s/station reunion with the James P. Haddicam, LM CGCVA Reunion in April 2009 in Reno, NV. Our convention plan- Joined: 5-26-1997 CTB: July 2007 ner, Bob Maxwell, can get your group an excellent room rate and Howard A. Hoover with enough notice, other accomodations. Members of other groups Joined: 6-7-2001 CTB: January 2007 don’t have to be members of the CGCVAto attend our reunions and the only activity they are unable to participate in is the CGCVA John W. Leather, LM Business Meeting. Something to think about. Joined: 12-14-1990 CTB: 7-5-2007 Regarding address changes, please let me know every time you Walter R. Nasmyth, LM move, even if it’s only for a few months. Our computer is unable to Joined: 9-20-1990 CTB: 4-18-2007 accomodate more than one address and we don’t want you to miss getting your QD Log. John M. Ortblad, LM Joined: 12-3-1990 CTB: unknown Dues Information Arthur L. Paulie, LM As previously reported, CGCVA dues have been increased by Joined: 4-11-2000 CTB: 6-1-2007 $2.50 per year (or a total of $30.00 for a two-year membership). This of course does not apply to Life Members. For those desiring Jack A. Pfeifer Joined: 7-4-1989 CTB: 3-11-2007 to become Life Members, our rates have remained the same as before: Under age 30 ($200); 31-40 ($185); 41-50 ($165); 51-60 Norman Rabkin ($145); 61-70 ($115); 71-80 ($85); 81-90 (50); and 90 and older (no Joined: 8-25-1992 CTB: 7/29/2007 cost).