The Long Blue Line (SUMMER 2021)

SUMMER 2021 

YOUR RETIREE NEWSLETTER & MORE 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 

LTJG NIKKI BARNES IS 

SAILING INTO THE 

SUMMER OLYMPICS 

MUSEUM EXHIBITS UPDATE: 

STEM DISCOVERY 

CENTER

2 SUMMER 2021 

THE LONG BLUE LINE

THE LONG BLUE LINE SUMMER 2021 

3

SUMMER 2021 

Managing Editor: Drew Forster 

Graphic Designer: Scott McGuire 

Contributing Writer: William H. 

Thiesen, Ph.D. 

Chief of the Mess: MCPOCG Vincent 

W. Patton, Ed.D., USCG (Ret.) 

PUBLISHER: 

The Long Blue Line is published 

quarterly by the National Coast 

Guard Museum Association, 

78 Howard Street, Suite A, New 

London, CT 06320 

ADVERTISING: 

Pentagon Publishing, Inc. 2342 Oak 

Rd, Snellville, GA 30078 

Contact Rob Powers 

rob@pentagon-usa.us 

703.828.6414 

PAST ISSUES: 

Current and past issues of The Long 

Blue Line (formerly The Retiree 

Newsletter) are accessible at: www. 

dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/retnews/ 

where you can also subscribe for 

e-distribution of this newsletter 

and other important retiree 

communications. 

Coast Guard Distribution Lists can 

be found at the USCG Public Affairs 

News Room at: www.news.uscg.mil. 

ON THE COVER: 

LTJG Nikki Barnes & Lara Dallman- 

Weiss just after crossing the 

finish line at 2021 470 Worlds 

in Vilamoura, Portugal, where 

they secured their nomination to 

represent the USA at the Tokyo 

Summer Games. 

Photo: Dominik Matesa / Candidate 

Sailing 

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 

6 

8 

10 

11 

12 

16 

20 

24 

26 

30 

36 

42 

50 

60 

63 

64 

65 

IMPORTANT REMINDERS: 

Building the National Coast Guard Museum: 

Thank you to those answering the call 

National Retiree Council Co-Chairs 

Message from the Director 

Coast Guard Pre-Retiree Information: 

How to apply for your retired pay & survivor benefit plan guide 

Reunions, Notices & Items 

of Interest 

COVER STORY | Sailing into the Olympics: Nikki 

Barnes aims for gold in the summer Olympics 

Inside the Exhibits: A glimpse into the National Coast 

Guard Museum's STEM Discovery Center 

Coast Guard Aviation Association is Presented 

the Alexander Hamilton Award 

Welcome Aboard: RADM Richard W. Schneider, Ph. D., 

USCGR (Ret.), President Emeritus, Norwich University 

New London Re-certified as Connecticut's 

Coast Guard City 

Portraits of Service: Coast Guard retiree profiles 

Retirement Notices 

TAPS Notices 

Dept. of Veteran Affairs: Re-adjudication of some 

veteran and survivor claims 

DoD: Uniformed services identification card expiration 

policy guidance 

CG Pay & Personnel Center, Retiree & 

Annuitant Services (PPC-RAS) 

CG Pay & Personnel Center, Retiree & Annuitant 

Services (PPC-RAS) - Directory Assistance & Other 

Important Phone Numbers & Websites 

Find all of this content at longblueline.org 

• CHANGES TO RETIREE & ANNUITANT MAILING/EMAIL ADDRESSES: The CG Retiree Services Program 

Manager, Mr. Robert Hinds, does NOT have the capability to change mailing/e-mail addresses in Direct Access 

(DA). Retirees & Annuitants may change their mailing/e-mail addresses by accessing their DA Self-Service account 

at https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/ or by contacting CG PPC at 866-772-8724, e-mail: ppc-dg-customercare@ 

uscg.mil 

• USCG/PHS/NOAA INPUT FOR LONG BLUE LINE: Submit input to Robert Hinds, Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil. 

Deadline for input for The Long Blue Line Fall (October) 2021 is 20 August 2021. 

Neither the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) nor the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) endorse the National Coast 

Guard Museum Association, Inc., or any other non-federal entity. Further, neither DHS nor the USCG endorse or support 

the products or services advertised in this newsletter, the organizations advertising in this newsletter, or the statements 

of any non- U.S. Coast Guard contributors for this newsletter. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


5

BUILDING THE NATIONAL 

COAST GUARD MUSEUM 

You are Answering the Call – Thank You! 

Dear Retirees, 

In the Spring 2021 issue, CAPT Wes Pulver, USCG (Ret.) and I asked you to get involved in your National Museum. 

We are abundantly grateful to those of you who have responded. 

• Thank you for sharing personal stories - we are proud to highlight four more in this issue’s Portraits of Service, 

beginning on page 36. Enjoy! 

• Thank you to all who are making donations to the campaign and for those of you who have joined our crew 

in the last three months. We appreciate your support! 

Several Retirees have committed to major gifts since our latest issue! This is the kind of momentum we need. 

We are not surprised at all. We know we can rely on our shipmates to step up to accomplish our common goal. I have 

long said, that if we all haul around together, this Museum mission will be completed. 

This summer, we are rolling out a new and exciting opportunity! For the first time ever, you can earn a National Coast Guard 

Museum Challenge Coin. To earn this limited-edition coin, existing Plankowners can upgrade their monthly contribution, 

or refer a new Plankowner. Not a Plankowner yet? Join the program to earn your coin. Learn more on page 35. 

We continue to make incredible progress on our Museum. Our construction documents are 

completed, and we are finalizing permitting. The Coast Guard is leading the Exhibit 

Design which has recently passed the halfway point. For me, one of the most exciting 

aspects of the National Museum will be the STEM Discovery Center, where 

young people may discover and build on their passion for science, technology, 

engineering, and math. I firmly believe that a new generation of Coast Guard 

men and women will find their calling in that hub of experiential learning. 

You can read all about it beginning on page 20. Thank you for being so 

supportive – remember, we need all of us to open the National Coast Guard 

Museum. From Plankowners to Major Gift donors, we all have an opportunity 

to influence this effort. Just get involved. 

Semper Paratus! 

MCPOCG Vince Patton, USCG (Ret.) 

Chief of the Mess 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Be sure to flip to page 35 to learn how to earn your 

National Coast Guard Museum challenge coin! 

The Image above is only a rendering of the future National Coast Guard Museum. With the 

support of dedicated Coast Guard retirees like you, the sooner the Museum will become a 

reality and serve generations to come. This is YOUR Museum! All HANDS ON DECK! 

visit www.coastguardmuseum.org 


7

NATIONAL RETIREE 

COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS 

Inspections of yore – which always conjure up 

memories of “an early hero, role model, and 

kind of a mentor of mine, the late Captain John 

Hearn, USCG (Ret). The Captain’s (D7) personnel 

inspection – moving through the ranks – tongue 

lashing every single one of us for various gigs – 

the good CAPT had a special way with words. I 

first told this story when I relieved his son, BMCM 

Steve Hearn, USCG (Ret), as Silver Ancient 

Mariner 11.) These days, my inspection consists 

of making sure the Coast Guard can find me, pay 

me, and notify me of important changes. I also 

need to make sure my benefits are up to date. My 

checklist is pretty simple: 

• Check ID cards and verify expiration dates 

MCPO LLOYD PIERCE: As Memorial Day has 

passed and the echoes of TAPS fade away, we 

put the rituals of honoring those who have gone 

before us behind and turn to the activities and 

celebrations of summer. We’re not as young and 

agile as we once were. My wife reminds me that 

I’m not as nimble as I think I am (a theory I test 

regularly – and mostly, she’s right). I’m reminded of 

the Navy’s Admiral “Guido” safety messages of the 

80’s and 90’s, documenting the follies and dangers 

of under-thinking situations while overestimating 

abilities. I’ll spare you any stories from my vast 

archive of personal failures, or lectures about 

being careful, and simply wish you a safe summer. 

None of us want to end up as the subject of an 

ADM “Guido” message. 

Our 2021 CG National Retiree Council annual 

meeting is set for early September and is planned 

as an in-person meeting at Coast Guard HQ. 

Please bring any issues or initiatives to your CG 

Regional Retiree Council to get them included 

in the agenda. Feel free to contact our Retiree 

Services Program Manager Mr. Bob Hinds, ADM 

Hathaway, or myself. 

This is a good time of year for an annual personal 

compliance inspection. (No relation to the District 

• Check DEERS enrollment status and contact 

info 

• Check Coast Guard Direct access information 

for accuracy 

• Check TRICARE status/eligibility 

• Check dental/vision coverage 

Timing is everything; open enrollment for medical 

comes in the fall and my retirement date and 

birthday are also in the fall so I can plan changes 

related to those dates. This year I become 

Medicare eligible and it’s an ACTION REQUIRED 

item. Requires a new ID, DEERS update, and 

possible dental/vision coverage update. The only 

action required for TRICARE is to stop payment 

once Medicare takes over. As long as I accept 

Medicare part B – TRICARE for Life (TFL) kicks in 

automatically at no cost. No need for part D – TFL 

takes care of prescriptions. 

I recommend scheduling your own admin 

inspection and checking your coverages and 

benefits. It’s a good time of year for it. With the 

Oct – Dec open season time frame, it’s a good time 

to get prepared and research. This publication 

contains contact information (phone numbers and 

websites) for the agencies you need for information 

and making changes. Up to you, if you need a 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

personal inspection. My wife did my last one and 

I’d gladly opt for the choice of standing nervously 

on the pier in Key West, in the blazing tropical sun; 

in 90 degree heat; and 100% humidity; waiting 

for that salty Ancient Mariner to come find that 

minuscule thread and tiny scuff on my shoe. He 

could reduce you to a jellyfish in four words or less, 

but my wife can scare barnacles off a piling. 

While you’re at it, if you have not added an email 

address to your personal info in the Coast Guard 

Direct Access (DA) system, please do so. Email 

is the only real-time means we have to PUSH 

important information directly to you in between 

quarterly issues of the Long Blue Line. CG Retiree 

Services can PUSH information to retirees via 

GovDelivery, but it only reaches those retirees with 

current email addresses in the system. See PPC 

instructions on how to access/update your DA Self- 

Service account in this issue of the Long Blue Line. 

Have a safe and enjoyable summer! 

Thoughts on retirement: 

"Often when 

you think you're 

at the end of 

something, 

you're at the 

beginning of 

something else." 

–Fred (Mr.) Rogers 

RADM Jeff Hathaway: Not even going to try and 

match Lloyd’s sea stories and words of wisdom this 

time around! Semper Paratus. 

MCPO Lloyd Pierce, USCG (Ret): Ipierce38@tampabay.rr.com 

RADM Jeff Hathaway, USCG (Ret): hathaway.cgnrc@aol.com 


9

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR 

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION 

A MESSAGE FROM 

THE DIRECTOR 

TO OUR USCG, USPHS, NOAA RETIREE COMMUNITY, as you may know, the President 

of the United States, Secretary of Homeland Security, Commandant of the Coast Guard, and 

other dignitaries attended the Commencement of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on May 19, 

2021. In his commencement address, the President said: “I’ve never been more optimistic 

about our future,” telling the graduates, “Class of 2021, you have it all, you really do, and 

we need you badly.” The full transcript of President Biden’s remarks is accessible at Remarks 

by President Biden at United States Coast Guard Academy's 140th Commencement Exercises 

| The White House 

As we emerge from the 2020 global pandemic, the President’s remarks are a reminder of our 

organization’s timeless optimism and resilience in staying the course throughout enormous 

challenges. As well, the theme of the Commandant’s 2021 State of the Coast Guard address was 

Stronger Together. I remain committed to fostering a strong, mutually beneficial relationship 

between our active duty and retiree community. I want to ensure that you, as retirees, are 

receiving the timely, needed communications, information, and support to which you are entitled 

– remaining attentive and responsive to opportunities for improvement. 

To that end, I encourage all retirees and annuitants to connect with us and make your voice 

heard through one of our 19 Regional Retiree Councils or the CG National Retiree Council 

Chairs. I’m very much looking forward to hosting this year’s annual meeting of the CGNRC at 

CG Headquarters, 8 – 9 Sep 2021 

Yours in Service, 

Dr. Donna Mischell Navarro 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

COAST GUARD 

PRE-RETIREE 

PRE-RETIREES, RETIREES, SPOUSES, ANNUITANTS, AND SURVIVORS 

ARE ENCOURAGED TO CHECK-OUT THE 2021 RETIRED PAY & SURVIVOR 

BENEFIT PLAN GUIDE: HOW TO APPLY FOR YOUR RETIRED PAY & 

SURVIVOR BENEFIT PLAN GUIDE 

PRE-RETIREE 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/PPC/RAS/retpack.pdf 

This guide, published by the CG Pay & Personnel 

Center (PPC), “provides all of the information 

necessary to navigate through the Coast Guard 

retirement process and assist you in making a 

smooth transition from active duty into retirement.” 

… and contains important information of interest to 

the retiree community. 

A VETERAN'S GUIDE TO 

TRANSITION: 

ACTIVE DUTY TO GOVERNMENT SERVICE 

KINDLE EDITION 

By Thomas Braden 

This book is written by a veteran for other veterans, 

to assist in the transition from Active Duty. 

It specifically addresses the timeline, requirements 

and challenges you must overcome in order to 

gain a position in the federal civil service. 

DOWNLOAD THE DIGITAL 

VERSION HERE AND ENJOY 

ON YOUR DEVICES! 

www.amazon.com/Veterans-Guide-Transition-Government-Service-ebook/dp/B08Z83W9BK 



11

REUNIONS, NOTICES & 

ITEMS OF INTEREST 

! 

USCGC JARVIS (WHEC 725) REUNION SCHEDULED FOR 

JULY 23-26, 2021 HAS BEEN CANCELLED 

2021 CHIEF PETTY OFFICERS ASSOCIATION & ENLISTED ASSOCIATION CONVENTION 

AUGUST 2-5 & 6-8, 2021 

SHORELINE INN & CONFERENCE CENTER 

MUSKEGON, MI 

The 2021 Chief Petty Officers Association & 

Enlisted Association Convention will be held at the 

Shoreline Inn & Conference Center, Muskegon, MI, 

during the 2021 Coast Guard Festival, just minutes 

away from Grand Haven. We'll be able to conduct 

our business 2-5 August and attend the Coast 

Guard Festival main activities 6-8 August. Make it 

a family event and ensure to enjoy all that Grand 

Haven has to offer, and enjoy the Festival as well! 

Learn more at uscgcpoa.org. 

COAST GUARD NATIONAL RETIREE HELP DESK HAPPY 15TH BIRTHDAY 

Happy 15th birthday to the Coast Guard National 

Retiree Help Desk (NRHD). Founded by the Capital 

Area CG Retiree Council in June 2006, the NRHD 

is an all-volunteer staff that supports CG military 

retirees, their families, annuitants, and survivors. 

Each year, Help Desk volunteers respond to 

hundreds of questions—sent by email or phone— 

to guide retirees and their family members to the 

answers they seek. Watchstanders are skilled in 

locating the “official” source of the information 

needed since they are not subject matter experts. 

Their role is to help “connect” people with needed 

information/resources. 

Looking back, watchstanders from the first 

Quarterly Watch List were—Norm Lemley, Bob 

Warakomsky, Bud Schneeweis, Ben Stoppe, 

Dave Du Pont, Bob Gauvin and Al Penn. 

Today’s Help Desk volunteers hail from—California, 

Florida, Maryland, Nevada, North Carolina, 

Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, and the District 

of Columbia. 

The services provided by NRHD align with the CG 

Retiree Services Program’s mission to support, 

monitor, and strengthen CG military retiree 

services and the life-long relationship between the 

CG and CG retiree community. The NRHD offers 

the opportunity for volunteering to continue serving 

the CG and CG military retiree family (the Long 

Blue Line). 

CAPT Bob Warakomsky, USCG (ret) and LCDR 

Dave Du Pont, USCG (ret), founders/ administrators 

of the NRHD, work closely with the CG Retiree 

Services Program Manager (CG-13) and members 

of the CG National Retiree Council to serve as an 

official part of the CG Retiree Services Program 

organization. 

The Coast Guard NRHD “HOTLINE” is at—Toll 

free (833) 224-6743 or (202) 475-5381. E-Mail: 

NRHDesk@gmail.com. 

For additional information, or to volunteer to serve 

as a NRHD watchstander, please contact Bob 

Warakomsky at bopakom@verizon.net or Dave 

Du Pont at David.A.DuPont@uscg.mil. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

UNKNOWN SAR MISSION BY GREAT LAKES 

COAST GUARD RESERVISTS (AUG - SEPT 1984) 

BMC WILLIAM (BILL) NIEFER, USCG (RET) 

BMC Bill Niefer is trying to connect with shipmates 

who served with him in the “Unknown SAR Mission 

by Great Lakes/Coast Guard Reservists.” All involved 

in this rescue mission were CG 9th District and CG 

Channel Island CA. Reservists who worked with CG 

9th District Great Lakes Crews. Many have since 

Crossed the Bar, but many are still with us. Bill may 

be contacted at william.niefer@gmail.com or by 

phone at 716-694-5390 (Land Line). 

BRAVO ZULU TO CDR BEN STOPPE, USCG 

(RET), FOR SERVING AS A MEMBER OF THE 

CGX SCHOLARHIP PROGRAM PANEL 

ALCGPSC 050/21 

SUBJ: ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2021 

COAST GUARD EXCHANGE SYSTEM (CGX) 

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WINNERS 

1. I am pleased to announce the winners of the 

annual Coast Guard Exchange System (CGX) 

Scholarship Program. These scholarships are 

awarded based upon academic achievements, 

accomplishments, interests, and demonstrated 

leadership in both school and volunteer activities. 

2. Two individuals were selected to receive a 

2,000-dollar scholarship: 

a. Lydia Sweeney, daughter of John Sweeney, 

USCG Commander, (Ret.) 

b. Quinlin Haglund, son of Evan T. Haglund, 

USCG Civilian, Associate Professor. 

3. The point of contact for the CGX scholarship 

is Hannah Spring, phone (757) 842-4957 or email 

hannah.spring@cgexchange.org. 

4. Released: RDML S. N. Gilreath, Commander, 

Personnel Service Center. The Service Center for 

our most important resource - Our People. 

MOVING TO NORTHERN VA, DC, AND 

BALTIMORE, MD FACEBOOK GROUP 

MOVING TO NORTHERN VA, DC, AND BALTIMORE, 

MD FACEBOOK GROUP 

Moving to Northern VA, DC, and Baltimore MD 

Facebook group is sponsored by area Coast 

Guard retirees and is designed to assist active duty 

members, retirees, and veterans relocating to the 

Northern Virginia, Washington DC/Baltimore area. 

This is a new group and we welcome newcomers to 

join regardless of what capacity they serve. The larger 

the group, the more assistance we can provide. Our 

goal is to create a network of people and businesses 

to provide insight and information of interest, such 

as schools, youth sports, car pools, rentals, etc. for 

each area in Northern Virginia, Washington DC, and 

Maryland. This is not an official Coast Guard page nor 

is any of the content official Coast Guard information. 

Moving to Northern VA, DC, Baltimore Area 

Information Page | Facebook 


13

BROAD STRIPES 

& BRIGHT STARS 

The Francis Scott Key buoy is lifted by the crane on 

board Coast Guard Cutter JAMES RANKIN, a 175-foot 

buoy tender homeported in Baltimore, June 10, 2021. 

The buoy marks the spot where the ship carrying Francis 

Scott Key, the author of “The Star-Spangled Banner”, 

was anchored during the bombardment of Fort McHenry 

during the War of 1812. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

photo: U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Breanna Centeno 


15

LTJG NIKKI BARNES 

CLASS SAILING 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Sailing into 

the Olympics 

LTJG Nikki Barnes is a member of an 

extremely exclusive club, as a member 

the U.S. Coast Guard who has qualified 

for the Olympic games. For those who 

have followed her sailing career, going to 

Tokyo is the logical next step in a string of 

successes. 

Barnes was born and raised on St. Thomas in the 

U.S. Virgin Islands. She started sailing at the age of 

six and has always been drawn to the competitive 

nature of the sport. Her love of sailing was the 

catalyst for her to attend the Coast Guard Academy. 

A member of the class of 2017, she helped bring 

a National Championship trophy to New London in 

her third class year. Her athletic accolades include 

the Quantum Women’s Sailor of the Year, 2017 

Sportsman of the Year, and being a three-time All- 

American Sailor. 

Currently attached to Sector Miami, Barnes has 

been granted a Support Allowance Billet, which 

allows her to train full time until the end of the Tokyo 

Olympics. 

Nikki’s partner in Tokyo will be Lara Dallman-Weiss, 

who grew up sailing on White Bear Lake, MN. A true 

cross trainer, Lara also excelled at basketball, track 

and field, cross-country and dance. She discovered 

her love for competitive sailing at Eckerd College 

in St. Petersburg, FL. After college, she continued 

to race and work with a diverse array of teams, 

including five years on the professional circuit, until 

she and Nikki joined forces. 

“Training together as Skipper and Crew,” Barnes 

says, “we are combining our knowledge about wind, 

tuning the boat, racing tactics, balance, strategy, 

and winning. Together, we reinforce one of our 

biggest assets—we both never give up.” 

Like all Academy cadets, Barnes sailed in 

“America’s Tall Ship,” the Coast Guard Barque 

EAGLE, in service as a training vessel since it was 

brought to the United States in 1946 from Germany 

following World War II. EAGLE is 295 feet long and 

weighs 1,655 tons, with 23 sails and is the only 

active square-rigger in U.S. government service. 

In contrast, the 470 that Barnes and Dallman- 

Weiss sail gets its name from its length of 470 cm 

(15.42 ft) and weighs approximately 280 lbs. The 470 

is a double-handed monohull planning dinghy with 

a centerboard, Bermuda rig, and center sheeting. 

Equipped with a spinnaker, trapeze and a large sailarea-to-weight 

ratio, it is designed to plane easily, 

and good teamwork is necessary to sail it well. 

Invented in 1963, it is a World Sailing International 

Class and has been an Olympic class since the 

1976 games. 

The Coast Guard has wholeheartedly supported 

Barnes in her quest for Olympic competition. 

Recognizing her potential to compete on the world 

stage, Barnes was assigned to Sector Miami’s 

Incident Management Division in order to be close 

to the U.S. Sailing Center and allow her to continue 

to train as a competitive sailor. This planning and 

partnership echoes the Service’s approach to 

a young yeoman and elite athlete named Arnold 


17

Palmer, whose superiors allowed him to participate 

in golf tournaments during his service time. 

LTJG Barnes has excelled in her service as well 

as her sailing. In 2018, she was awarded a Coast 

Guard Achievement Medal for her role as a Marine 

Environmental Response branch director during 

Hurricane Irma. Her dedication as a shipmate is 

clear, but the demands of Olympic training made 

it difficult for her to serve as she desired. The 

Coast Guard wanted to support her competitive 

aspirations and Barnes was granted a new billet 

that would allow her to train full-time. 

“Our ability to provide Barnes the opportunity 

to pursue her goal of representing our nation in 

the 2020 Olympics is just one example of the 

Service’s efforts to develop and retain the talented 

women and men who make up the Coast Guard’s 

total workforce,” said RADM Bill Kelly, Assistant 

Commandant for Human Resource at the time. 

Kelly has since become Coast Guard Academy 

Superintendent. “Providing her the ability to train 

full time is indicative of our dedication to our people 

and our service to ensure we have a workforce 

prepared to meet the needs of the Nation.” 

U.S. Code 717 permits members of the Coast 

Guard to compete in and train for the Olympic 

Games, and qualifying events and preparatory 

competition. While it is not uncommon for officers 

from other branches of service to be granted 

similar orders, this marks the first time this has 

been extended to a Coast Guard officer. 

While the Coast Guard has granted Barnes the 

time to train for sailing events, including the 

2020 Olympics, there still remains a critical need 

for funding to make this vision of Olympic gold 

a reality! With this in mind, the Coast Guard 

Academy Alumni Association established the 

Elite Athlete Excellence Fund for the purpose of 

providing financial support to Academy alumni 

who possess both talent and opportunity to 

pursue athletic competition at the professional, 

Olympic or elite level. Barnes is the first Academy 

alum to benefit from this new fund. 

“The boat we have is incredible and we are 

excited to get racing,” said Barnes. “We are so 

thankful for our supporters for helping us to get 

to this point, especially the Coast Guard for the 

opportunity to train and represent the Long Blue 

Line on the world level.” 

Left: Enoshima - Nikki Barnes during round one 

of the 2020 World Cup Series. © Jesus Renedo / 

Sailing Energy / World Sailing 

Right: Barnes and Dallman-Weiss sailing in the 

Trofeo Princesa Sofia Iberostar during its 50th 

anniversary. The event was held in Majorcan waters 

from March 29 to April 6, 2019, and organized by 

Club Nàutic S’Arenal, Club Marítimo San Antonio 

de la Playa, Real Club Náutico de Palma, and the 

Balearic and Spanish federations. ©Jesus Renedo/ 

SAILING ENERGY/50th Trofeo Princesa Sofia 

Iberostar 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


19

INSIDE THE 

EXHIBITS: 

STEM Discovery Center 

AS A HUB OF EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING, THE 

NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM will stimulate 

young minds and motivate the next generation of 

Coast Guard men and women, engineers, scientists 

and innovators through simulated qualifications, 

edifying out-of-classroom experiences and team 

building exercises. The primary goal is to provide 

a comprehensive immersion into Coast Guard life, 

employing highly engaging learning adventures for 

every visitor. 

The student visitor experience will be: 

1. A discovery adventure with inquiry-based 

learning, problem solving, and a memorable 

outcome 

STIMULATING 

YOUNG MINDS AND 

MOTIVATING THE 

NEXT GENERATION 

OF COAST GUARD 

MEN AND WOMEN, 

ENGINEERS, 

SCIENTISTS, AND 

INNOVATORS 

2. An opportunity for live and virtual interaction with 

Coast Guard men and women 

3. An extraordinary and unique experience, which 

cannot be replicated in the classroom and is 

not found in other museums or science centers 

4. An added value that connects and builds on 

student learning outside the museum 

5. Relevant to the student visitors interests and the 

physical world in which they live 

6. Extended and connected digitally via the internet 

and social media 

Science + Technology + Engineering + Math 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

SCENARIO-BASED LEARNING FOR 

STUDENTS AND ADULTS 

The STEM Discovery Center will be the Museum’s 

focal point for educational programming designed 

to go beyond the classroom to teach principles 

of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. 

The Command and Leadership Center is modeled 

on the incident command system and serves as 

the culminating location for activities experienced 

by visiting students. Working together as a team, 

they will use critical thinking to work toward 

a solution to a scenario, based on real-world 

incidents. Coast Guard cases will be selected with 

requirements tailored to the developmental level 

of elementary, middle and high school students. 

Similarly, the STEM scenarios can be customized 

to enable emerging professionals, Coast Guard 

Academy Cadets, and Officer Candidates and 

other adult learners to apply the Service’s unique 

approaches to crisis management. The result 

will be leadership outcomes that are transferable 

to academics, business, and Coast Guard 

operations. 

The STEM Discovery Center consists of the 

Command and Leadership Center, Michael 

R. Bloomberg Mission Briefing Theater, and 

Chief Petty Officer Arnold D. Palmer Simulation 

Center, which function independently or together 

to support a scenario-based group educational 

experience. The Bloomberg Mission Briefing 


21

COAST GUARD QUALIFICATION 

PROGRAM 

Theater is a lecture and media presentation 

space, where groups will be immersed in a Coast 

Guard environment and introduced to the problem 

they need to solve. 

After receiving instructions, groups move 

into the adjacent Command and Leadership 

Center to take on the roles and responsibilities 

of Coast Guard personnel: communications, 

transportation, operations, etc. The Command 

Center accommodates multiple stations that 

correspond to the various roles for the team. 

The space is themed to look and feel like a realworld, 

digital-media-centric rescue coordination 

center. A Museum docent drives the scenario 

and ensures the connections of all the roles for 

participants. 

One of the critical goals of the Museum is to 

deepen the public’s understanding of the Coast 

Guard, either as a casual visitor or for those 

interested in taking a deeper dive into the 

Service. One of the in-depth options for young 

visitors will be to participate in the simulated 

Coast Guard Qualification Program, which 

requires participants to garner knowledge, 

demonstrate competencies, and execute a 

mission in the Simulation Center, named for 

Coast Guard Yeoman, Arnold Palmer. 

The Qualification Program, a guided discovery 

activity that occurs throughout the galleries 

and exhibits, will help visitors grasp the kind of 

education and training that shipmates undergo. 

The program will introduce students to Coast 

Guard operational specialties, significant 

moments in history, STEM connections, and heroic 

figures (past and present). Each qualification will 

vary by operational specialty and mastery level. 

For each qualification, the learning objectives 

will include an introduction to the people, events, 

and technology associated with the specialty; and 

will provide an opportunity for a fun, challenging 

journey into age-appropriate STEM topics related 

to the Coast Guard. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Having met all of the other requirements to earn 

their qualification, participants will return to the 

Palmer Simulation Center for the culminating virtual 

reality experience for the Coast Guard Qualification 

Program. For example, a young person working 

toward their Aviator Qualification may have to 

land a helicopter on a cutter flight deck. A student 

who chooses the Boat Coxswain qual might have 

to navigate a particularly challenging channel. 

A Marine Inspector might have to find a specific 

hazard and determine the proper action to ensure 

the safety of all on board a vessel. 

REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES, LESSONS 

BEYOND THE MUSEUM 

A visit to the STEM Discovery Center will afford 

visitors an exceptional opportunity to explore the 

drama and technical expertise of typical Coast 

Guard operations. By placing students in the shoes 

of a crew member and highlighting the teamwork, 

coordination, and leadership necessary to complete 

missions, they will develop the capacity to think 

critically as they complete complex tasks using the 

skills they have acquired, such as: 

• Estimating the expansion of an oil spill based 

on tides, currents, and wind to determine the 

environmental impact caused by a release. 

• Plotting a sail plan based on the principles used 

by the Automated Mutual Assistance Vessel 

Rescue System to determine the position of 

vessels in distress. 

• Exploring aeronautical engineering concepts 

such as the four forces of flight and engaging in 

computer-based challenges to design efficient 

wing models. Knowing how to control these 

forces with the use of power and flight controls 

are essential to safely flying helicopters during 

search and rescue operations. 

• Conducting search and rescue planning 

exercises involving statistics and probabilities 

for detection and success. 


23

THE NATIONAL COAST GUARD 

MUSEUM ASSOCIATION PRESENTS THE 

ALEXANDER 

HAMILTON AWARD 

On May 6, the National Coast Guard Museum 

Association awarded the Alexander Hamilton 

Award to the Coast Guard Aviation Association. 

The award represents the most prestigious honor 

bestowed by the National Coast Guard Museum 

Association and is named for Alexander Hamilton 

who in 1790 established the Revenue Cutter 

Service—a predecessor of the U.S. Coast Guard. 

The award recognizes an individual or organization, 

which has provided outstanding support to the 

future National Coast Guard Museum. 

The Coast Guard Aviation Association was 

originally slated to receive the recognition in April 

2020. Unfortunately, the National Maritime Awards 

Dinner had to be postponed due to COVID-19, and 

even a year later, the ceremony had to be held 

virtually. In addition to honoring the Coast Guard 

Aviation Association, the United States Merchant 

Marine and the United States Naval Academy 

received the National Maritime Historical Society 

Distinguished Service Award. 

“We are proud to recognize the Coast Guard 

Aviation Association not only for their support of 

the Museum,” said Museum Association President, 

CAPT Wes Pulver, USCG (Ret.), “but also their 

continued dedication to preserving Coast Guard 

aviation history, supporting science and aviation 

education, and recognizing the devoted Coast 

Guard aircrews who risk their lives every day in 

service to our Nation.” 

Center: CAPT Mike Emerson, USCG (Ret.) 

President of the Coast Guard Aviation Association 

with the Alexander Hamilton Award 

Aircraft Images: A sampling of the many historic 

aircraft highlighted on the Coast Guard Aviation 

Association’s website. www.cgaviationhistory.org 

Founded in 1977, The Ancient Order of The 

Pterodactyl, officially known as the Coast Guard 

Aviation Association, has grown to nearly 2,000 

members. Membership is comprised of active 

duty Officers and Enlisted aviators, retired and 

former aircrews, and aviation enthusiasts. One 

of their primary missions is to preserve Coast 

Guard Aviation history. They also put considerable 

emphasis on recognizing heroic and meritorious 

accomplishments of current active duty aircrews, 

and supporting Coast Guard Aviation at the 

National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, 

FL, and other museum exhibitions focused on 

military and aviation. 

Owing to large investments of member sweat 

equity and financial commitment, the Association 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Thank you Admiral, and thanks to the National Coast Guard Museum Association. On behalf of 

a grateful association, I am pleased to accept the Alexander Hamilton Award. CGAA is proud 

to contribute to a National Museum that celebrates our extraordinary heritage and shipmates. 

— CGAA President, CAPT Mike Emerson, USCG (Ret.) 

Beginning in 2015, the National Coast Guard 

Museum Association brought together key 

Coast Guard affiliated partners, including the 

Pterodactyls, to form the Museum Exhibit Advisory 

Panel. This volunteer effort was instrumental in 

creating the major storylines for the future National 

Coast Guard Museum – Defenders of our Nation, 

Enforcers on the Seas, Lifesavers around the 

Globe, Champions of Commerce, and Protectors 

of the Environment. The group also developed 

ideas for exhibits, stories, objects and experiences 

for each of these storylines. 

has an impressive list of accomplishments. 

These include supporting historical research 

for books and museums, creating a world-class 

website documenting the history of Coast Guard 

Aviation, providing support for numerous memorial 

monuments, and their most ambitious effort - The 

Phoenix project – museum quality restoration of 

an HH-52A that was accepted by the Smithsonian 

Institution, for display at the Udvar-Hazy Air and 

Space Museum. In total, the Pterodactyls have 

provided 22 aircraft and support funding at 13 

other aviation museums around the country, 

enabling millions of visitors to see and learn about 

the Coast Guard. Additionally, they have been very 

strong advocates in supporting STEM Education 

through the Norm Scurria STEM Scholarship 

program. 

As he presented the award to the 

Pterodactyls, Admiral James Loy, 

USCG (Ret.), National Coast Guard 

Museum Association Director and 21st 

Commandant of the United States Coast 

Guard said, “The Coast Guard Aviation 

Association has excelled in preserving 

history and recognizing the hard work 

and heroism of Coast Guard aircrews 

past and present. The Ancient Order 

of the Pterodactyl has been vital to our 

exhibit and program planning, and we 

look forward to continued collaboration as we bring 

the Museum to life.” 

In accepting the award, the CGAA President, 

CAPT Mike Emerson, USCG (Ret.) replied, “Thank 

you Admiral, and thanks to the National Coast 

Guard Museum Association. On behalf of a grateful 

association, I am pleased to accept the Alexander 

Hamilton Award. CGAA is proud to contribute to a 

National Museum that celebrates our extraordinary 

heritage and shipmates.” 

Past recipients of the Alexander Hamilton Award 

include: James J. Coleman, J.D. Power III, Boysie 

Bollinger and the Honorable Thomas J. Ridge. 


25

Welcome 

Aboard! 

RADM Richard W. Schneider, 

Ph. D., USCGR (Ret.) 

President Emeritus, 

Norwich University 

t the time of his retirement and his 

service of 28 years as President of 

Norwich University, Dr. Richard W. 

Schneider was one of the nation’s 

longest serving college presidents. 

Throughout his experience in 

the military and academia, he 

epitomized Norwich’s Guiding Values and unique 

position in the landscape of American higher 

education. Norwich is the birthplace of the Reserve 

Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), and has prepared 

thousands of commissioned officers to serve in 

all of the military branches of the United States of 

America. 

Dr. Schneider is a 1968 graduate of the U.S. Coast 

Guard Academy. He was commissioned as an 

ensign in the Coast Guard and served eight years 

of active duty, including a tour of Vietnam, and 

retired from the Coast Guard Reserve as a Rear 

Admiral, the most senior Coast Guard Reservist. 

Following release from active duty in 1976, he 

became the Executive Officer of the College of 

Marine Studies at the University of Delaware, 

during which time he completed his Ph.D. In 1986, 

he joined Drexel University as Vice President of 

Research and later as Senior Vice President for 

Administration. 

The National Coast Guard Museum Association is 

proud to welcome such a dedicated patriot, with 

a proven passion for excellence, as the newest 

member of our Board of Directors. 

“RADM Schneider is a visionary leader who rises to 

challenges,” said Susan Curtin, Board Chair. “The 

Museum Association is fortunate to have someone 

with his service record and his experience to help 

us develop the National Coast Guard Museum.” 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


27

In July 1992, Dr. Schneider became the 23rd 

President of Norwich University. During his tenure 

he spearheaded major improvements on multiple 

fronts. Academically, four colleges now offer 39 

different undergraduate majors, nine of which 

are degree completion programs offered online. 

Other accomplishments include: doubling the 

undergraduate enrollment to 2400, increasing 

student selectivity, and reducing acceptances 

from 93% to 68.7%. He established the College 

of Graduate and Continuing Studies, which now 

enrolls 1500 online students in 23 programs as 

well as professional development certification 

programs. Schneider made substantial additions 

to the physical plant by constructing 10 new 

buildings and renovating almost 97 of campus 

buildings all through successful fundraising 

campaigns. 

"I feel so honored to help build the National Coast 

Guard Museum," said RADM Schneider. "This 

Museum allows the Coast Guard to tell the story of 

the men and women who have served before us 

and will inspire young people to join us and serve 

America in the future. This Museum will help teach 

America why our Coast Guard is so important to 

our Nation. Semper Paratus!" 

Under President Schneider's leadership, the 

National Center for the Study of Counter Terrorism 

and Cyber Crime at Norwich University was 

created in federal statute. The center is part 

of the Norwich University Applied Research 

Institutes, a separate non-profit research and 

development corporation under the direction of 

the Norwich University Board of Trustees. NUARI 

has conducted more than $50M in externally 

funded research. 

In his retirement, Dr. Schneider continues his 

public service. In addition to joining the Museum 

Association Board, he continues to serve in his 

26th year as a trustee of the United States Coast 

Guard Academy and lead Vermont Governor 

Phil Scott’s COVID-19 response team for all of 

Vermont higher education. Dr. Schneider lives in 

Vermont with his wife Jaime, and in their spare 

time they enjoy being with their 15 grandchildren. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


29

On May 20, Coast Guard Commandant 

Admiral Karl L. Schultz, renewed New 

London's certification as Connecticut's 

Coast Guard City. Senator Chris Murphy and 

Congressman Joe Courtney enthusiastically 

renewed their commitment to the Museum project. 

Prominent local political and business leaders 

joined together with other museum supporters for a 

wonderful evening adjacent to the site of the Future 

Museum and slip that will be occupied by USCGC 

EAGLE when the Museum is built. 

New London has ties to the Coast Guard that 

date back to the first ten vessels of the Revenue 

Marine Service; ADM Schultz recounted Alexander 

Hamilton calling for these vessels to be built, one of 

which was the ARGUS, built and commissioned in 

New London. The City’s connection to the Service 

continued to grow, serving as an effective Forward 

Operating Base defeating the rum runners in the 

1930’s, to the establishment of the Coast Guard 

Academy on the Thames River. An important 

element of this shared history also includes New 

London City Pier, immediately adjacent to the 

National Coast Guard Museum, as the future 

homeport for the USCG Barque EAGLE. “Our 

timeline for moving EAGLE down to City Pier is 

about 2024,” Schultz announced. “I think that’s 

going to be a really good thing for the waterfront.” 

Schultz reminded the crowd that every other 

Armed Service has a National Museum, with 

the exception of the Coast Guard. “We’re really 

excited, because we have a story to tell with our 

forerunners. We need our National Museum right 

here on the waterfront,” he said gesturing to the 

Museum site just 50 yards from where he was 

standing. “We’re excited to be here, recognizing 

the ties we have with New London. It’s my privilege 

to have signed the re-certification of New London 

as a Coast Guard City. That’s just emblematic of 

the continued strong partnership ahead.” 

NEW LONDON 

RE-CERTIFIED AS 

CONNECTICUT'S 

COAST GUARD CITY 

proclamation designating Connecticut’s Coast 

Guard City, New London Mayor Michael Passero 

carried on the theme of shared history and 

collaboration between the city and the Service. He 

briefly retold the story of how city leaders donated 

land to establish the Coast Guard Academy in the 

early 20th century. “This partnership continues to 

be strong to this day. In 2015, the city once again 

donated a parcel of land, just to the north of here, 

for the construction of the National Coast Guard 

Museum, another testament to the bond between 

the city and the Coast Guard.” 

Congressman Joe Courtney commented on why 

the downtown waterfront location was chosen. 

“The vision is so perfect for this city and for the site 

with all of its intermodal potential. We’ve got work 

to do, but tonight’s a really important exclamation 

point that we’re going to make it happen.” 

Senator Chris Murphy summed up the ceremony 

and the promise for the city and the region 

perfectly: “I’m just so thrilled that we are cementing 

and once again formalizing this partnership. We live 

our connection with the Coast Guard every single 

day here in New London. I can’t wait to be back 

here very soon to further formalize that connection 

when we cut the ribbon on this Museum.” 

Top: ADM Karl Schultz, New London Mayor Michael 

Passero, Senator Chris Murphy, Congressman Joe 

Courtney, and Sue Curtin pause for a photo on the 

State Pier during the re-certification ceremony of New 

London as a Coast Guard city 

Below: The 295-foot Barque EAGLE, a flagship of the 

U.S. Coast Guard, is homeported in New London. In 

addition to serving as a training vessel for cadets, 

The EAGLE is the only active-duty sailing vessel in 

America's military, and one of only two commissioned 

sailing vessels, along with the USS Constitution. 

In response to the presentation of the official 


THE LONG BLUE LINE


31


THE LONG BLUE LINE

REASON TO 

SHELL-EBRATE 

LT Milanese and a Texas Game Warden carry a 

rehabilitated turtle from a transport truck to a Texas 

Game Warden small boat at Station Port Aransas. 

The turtle will be transported safely out to sea. 

Various local volunteers helped rescue over 400 

cold-stunned sea turtles, who were then transported 

to local rehabilitation centers. 

photo: U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan Dickinson 


33


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Earn Your 

NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM 

CHALLENGE COIN 

Today! 

Calling all current Plankowners: For the first 

time ever, you can earn a limited edition 

Museum Challenge Coin! 

Simply recruit a new Plankowner or upgrade your gift by at least 

$5 per month. The Museum Association hopes to double the 

current number of Plankowners by the end of this year! When 

your friend signs up, just ask them to indicate they found out 

about the program from you. Limit one coin per person. 

For a limited time, all new Plankowners 

will earn a Museum Challenge Coin! 

Join us to help us build the National Coast Guard 

Museum with a monthly gift through Opening Day! With 

strong leadership from MCPOCG Vincent W. Patton, 

Ed.D., USCG (Ret.), more than 1,500 people have 

heeded the call to join this popular recurring giving 

program. Join today to earn your Challenge Coin! 

RECRUIT. 

UPGRADE. 

SUPPORT. 

VISIT: 

coastguardmuseum.org/Plankowner 

info@coastguardmuseum.org www.CoastGuardMuseum.org @USCGMuseum @USCGMuseum @USCGMuseum 


35

PORTRAITS OF SERVICE 

There are thousands of untold stories that are not in the history books. The Long Blue Line is a 

fantastic platform to share your personal journeys from the diverse mission sets of the Coast Guard. 

In this new feature, we are excited to provide a place where readers can share their Coast Guard 

story. We’ve made it easy for you with a simple questionnaire. Turn to our Call for Stories on p. 50 

or visit coastguardmuseum.org/retirees to TELL YOUR STORY and read full-length versions of the 

stories that follow! 

family of 11. He washed dishes, tended animals, 

shined shoes, slept on the floor working as a live-in 

servant, and took any other job he could find. 

Working during the day, he paid to attend night 

school to complete his high school education and 

eventually began taking accounting courses at 

Far Eastern University. In 1955, he enlisted in the 

Coast Guard, thereby beginning a 27-year career. 

After early tours at Base Alameda and Base 

Ketchikan, Bernardo sailed in five cutters: 

BITTERSWEET, KUKUI, WINNEBAGO, ARBUTUS, 

and SASSAFRAS. His sea sickness caused him to 

lose 20 pounds every time he went out to sea, but 

he joked that it was better than being poor! 

MCPO Frank Bernardo, 

USCG (Ret.) 1932-2021 

Norfolk, VA 

MCPO Francisco “Frank” Bernardo grew up in 

poverty and lived through the Japanese occupation 

of the Philippines during WWII. Through fierce grit 

and determination, he would later go on to become 

the second person of Asian descent to reach the 

reach the rank of E-9 Master Chief Petty Officer. 

When the Japanese invaded his village in 

Pampanga, he saw and felt the brutalities of war. At 

the age of nine, his local school was shut down for 

three years. When the company where his father 

worked closed, Frank would regularly go without 

food for days and worked to help support the 

His final duty assignment was at Coast Guard 

Headquarters from 1970 to 1983, where he ran 

the executive dining room, entertaining world 

dignitaries and got to meet two U.S. Presidents, 

Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. 

MCPO Bernardo led a remarkable life with his wife 

of 61 years, Helen. Together, thanks to the Coast 

Guard, they were able to send their children to 

college and even see their grandchildren become 

college graduates. He owned two businesses 

and according to his daughter, May Britton, 

“He owned two homes, three RVs, boats, and a 

couple Mercedes—he loved his Mercedes. He 

was making up for not having toys when he was 

a child!” 

This Portrait of Service was contributed by May 

Britton, as her father died on March 12, 2021. He 

will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 

September 8. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

Regina Asaro, 

Annuitant 

Newport News, VA 

Anyone who sailed in EAGLE between 2001 

and 2013 likely remembers Auxiliary Boatswain’s 

Mate Rich Asaro. He spent 6-9 weeks of each 

of those summers, teaching celestial navigation 

to a generation of cadets increasingly raised on 

the internet. Between lessons on using a sextant 

and navigating the historic vessel without modern 

technology, some of those shipmates probably 

heard about Asaro’s 30 years of active duty service, 

culminating in the rank of Captain with two tours as 

Commanding Officer. 

By his side from the early days of his career, was 

his wife of 43 years, Regina. As a girl growing up 

in Queens, NY, travel for Regina consisted mainly 

of trips to New Jersey or Connecticut for twirling 

competitions. Little did she know that life as a Coast 

Guard spouse would open her world to tours as far 

away as Guam, California, Alaska and Panama. 

Rich Asaro was the definition of a lifelong learner, 

earning his Master’s degree from Wesleyan 

University in 1972, shortly after graduating the Coast 

Guard Academy in 1968. He had a highly decorated 

career, primarily in Marine Safety. Among his many 

awards, Rich earned the Meritorious Service Medal 

twice, as well as the Coast Guard Commendation 

Medal. As they moved from one duty station to the 

next, Regina pursued nursing degrees, earning 

her Bachelor’s from Cal State LA and her Master’s 

in Psychiatric Nursing from University of Alaska 

Anchorage. 

She found her calling in victim assistance, which she 

pursued professionally as the Director of a California 

rape crisis center and as a psychiatric nurse at the 

National Institutes of Health in Washington, DC. 

Wherever the Coast Guard took the Asaros, Regina 

found volunteer opportunities locally, as well as with 

the National Organization for Victim Assistance. 

After Rich retired in 1998, the couple continued to 

travel, often on cruises. He also volunteered as a 

docent at the Mariners Museum and Jamestown 

Settlement. Regina is sure he would have continued 

his Auxiliary service at the National Coast Guard 

Museum. “He would have loved being a docent at 

the National Museum. He never stopped learning.” 

CAPT Rich Asaro, USCG (Ret.) and his wife Regina, 

on a cruise before his passing in 2014. 


37

CWO3 Robert Halton, 

USCG (Ret.) 

Vero Beach, FL 

On that terrible day in November 1963, when 

President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in 

Dallas, TX, several young Coasties were in the Day 

Room at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore, MD 

watching the tragic story unfold on television. The 

Officer of the Day came into the room and started 

pointing at several of them, issuing instructions to 

follow him. 

“We followed him outside and the next thing 

we knew, we were on a bus to Washington, DC 

to participate in the State Funeral Ceremony,” 

explained CWO3 Robert Halton, USCG (Ret.). 

“When we arrived at the Congressional Office 

Building, it was pretty late at night. It's an 

understatement to say that we were met by utter 

pandemonium and confusion. Police, journalists, 

photographers, flood lights, light-bulbs flashing all 

around us.” 

Halton goes on to describe how they were herded 

into the building like cattle amid the chaos. Over 

the next three days and nights, they stood guard 

at rigid attention, with their M1 rifles, around the 

President's casket in half-hour shifts. People from 

all over the country streamed past the casket to 

pay their respects. The sadness of the mourners 

stays with him to this day, some were crying 

hysterically. 

“That experience was a very emotional time for me. 

Unlike the other services, the Coast Guard had 

no Ceremonial Honor Guard at that time,” Halton 

shares. “Kennedy’s assassination apparently 

became the impetus to stand up our own CHG.” 

Within a few weeks, a group of young recent 

graduates from Cape May appeared at the Yard in 

Baltimore, selected for its proximity to the Capitol, to 

form the beginnings of today’s CHG. “We obviously 

weren't trained as today's CHG to carry out these 

functions. However, we did our duty, as ordered, 

and we did it well.” Halton says, “In my home office, 

I proudly display an old, framed, water-stained 

letter, signed by the Commanding General of the 

Military District of Washington, acknowledging my 

participation as a member, as it turns out, of the 

‘initial’ U.S. Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard.” 

CWO3 Halton retired on November 1, 1981 after 21 

years of active duty. 

Honor Guards from the Nation’s Army, Navy, Marines, 

Air Force and Coast Guard stood at attention 24 

hours a day throughout November 24-25, 1963 as 

President Kennedy lay in state. 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

a Chief Petty Officer. He finished his active duty 

career in Sector New York on Staten Island. 

In 2008, CPO Gibbs felt a calling to full-time ministry 

and transitioned from Active Duty to the Reserve. 

“For me, it’s always been military, God, country, 

family,” he says. The 2007 recession had brought 

a lot of stress on Gibbs and his wife, Wendy, raising 

five children. “It was time for a change.” 

He pursued training in law enforcement to help 

pay the bills and continue his lifelong dream of 

becoming a commissioned officer. 

CPO Jered Gibbs, 

USCG (Ret.) 

Portersville, MS 

Jered Gibbs followed in the footsteps of his 

three older brothers when he joined the U.S. Navy 

in 1992. During his service time with the Navy, he 

learned a lot about the Coast Guard, which inspired 

him to make a career move and join the Service in 

1999. He says he wishes he’d started out in the 

Coast Guard. 

Beginning at Barnagut Light, he moved on to serve 

in DECISIVE out of Pascogula, MS. Serving for three 

years in Destin, FL, Gibbs advanced to become 

“I was just as active once I joined the Reserve. I was 

called up to work regularly at BSU New Orleans,” 

Gibbs describes how his experience changed. “I 

felt none of the stress, but all of the fulfillment.” 

About a month after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill 

began, Gibbs was called to serve in the first Coast 

Guard asset on scene, USCGC OAK. Morale was 

pretty low when he arrived and he was informed 

that he was called up because they heard he was 

a minister, which he gladly did. 

For the past six years, he has been the pastor at 

Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Cuba, AL. 

In 2019, life changed dramatically for Jered and 

his wife, Wendy, when she suffered a pulmonary 

embolism. As a result, she remains in a coma today, 

with Jered as her primary caregiver. 

Gibbs closes, “She’s a fighter, we’re trusting and 

believing in our faith.” 

CALL FOR 

STORIES 

Tells us your incredible Coast Guard 

stories and what the National Coast 

Guard Museum means to you, and 

your profile may be featured in the 

next issue of the Long Blue Line. 

1 2 3 

Carefully remove 

the envelope and 

questionnaire from 

your magazine 

Fill in the 

questionnaire 

Or visit www.coastguardmusuem.org/retirees 

Place in the mail 

(no postage 

necessary if 

mailed in the U.S.) 


39

photo: U. S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Matthew West 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

WRENCH IN 

THE PLANS 

A crew member aboard the Coast Guard Tall Ship 

Barque EAGLE (WIX 327) performs maintenance 

on one of the cutter's generators. The EAGLE is one 

of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in 

the United States military today and is the seventh 

Coast Guard cutter to bear the name in a line dating 

back to 1792, including the Revenue Cutter Eagle. 


41

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION RETIREMENTS 

RETIREMENTS 

ADAMS, JENNIFER 

AGUEROS, ERIK 

ALDERMAN, RYAN 

ALMOND, DAVID 

ALPER, ELIAS 

ANDERSON, MISTIQUE 

ANDERSON, MORRIS 

ANDERSON, JOHN 

AUSTIN, PATRICK 

BAENEN, RICHARD 

BAILEY, CARRIE 

BALINGIT, REX 

BARKLAGE, KEVIN 

BARRAGAN, SAMUEL 

BARRIOS MONTILLA, MARCEL 

BARRY, PAUL 

BARTEAU, JONATHAN 

BARTH, MICHAEL 

BASKETT, CAITLIN 

BAZZEL, JERRY 

BEADLING, COLIN 

BEDNORZ, ERIC 

BELEW, JUSTEN 

BENAVENTE, JOSEPH 

BENTON, MICHAEL 

BESHEARS, TERRY 

BIRD, STEPHEN 

BIRD, RYAN 

BLANCO, DANIEL 

BLANCO, JULIAN 

BORRIES, DONALD 

BOURNE, KARA 

USCG 

BREIDENTHAL, HALLIE 

BREWER, JORDAN 

BRODEUR, JOSHUA 

CDR 

SKC 

SK1 

CAPT 

BM2 

OSC 

MK2 

BMC 

MKC 

MECM 

MKC 

BM1 

CDR 

LTJG 

ET3 

BMC 

SN 

PSC 

OS3 

MK1 

SN 

ASTCS 

ET2 

OSC 

MK2 

CSC 

CDR 

ET1 

BM2 

ISC 

ELC4 

ME3 

LTJG 

AMT2 

MK2 

05-01-2021 



































BROWN, PATRICIA 

BROWN, ROBERT 

BRYANT, CHRISTOPHER 

BURKHARDT, JOEL 

BUSHMAN, BRANDON 

BUSSJAEGER, MICHAEL 

BUTCHER, AARON 

CABAN, LEIZA 

CADIZ, DAVID 

CAIRES, PETER 

CANCEL, WILLIAM 

CANCHOLA, CARSTEN 

CARTER, TRAVIS 

CASANOVA, EDWIN 

CASLER, ERIC 

CAVIGLIANO-BRADY, AUSTIN 

CHAMBERLAIN, CRAIG 

CLARK, CHRISTOPHER 

CLARK, DARAH 

CLARK, HUNTER 

CLAVNER, RICHARD 

CLEA, JAMES 

CONANT, CHARLES 

COREY, DONALD 

COWDREY, LINO 

CURROW, LORRAINE 

DAES, DAVID 

DANLEY, CLIFTON 

DAVIS, PHILIP 

DEES, ERIC 

DELEON, BRADFORD 

DEPASCALE, RICHARD 

DEVAULT, CHRISTOPHER 

DIAZ, ELLIOT 

DILLON, MICHAEL 

SKC 

BM1 

IT1 

GMC 

SN 

MKC 

MKC 

BM2 

BM1 

BM1 

ET2 

FN 

CAPT 

HS1 

CDR 

YN3 

LT 

AET3 

BM2 

ET2 

MSTCM 

ISC 

ET2 

BM2 

FN 

YN1 

BMC 

PS2 

AMTC 

BM1 

BM2 

YNC 

MK2 

MK1 

ITC 





































THE LONG BLUE LINE

DONNELLY, ELISABETH 

DOYEN, CHRISTOPHER 

DOYLE, DAVID 

DUKE, ROBERT 

EDGINGTON, TIMOTHY 

ENGLISH, JASON 

ESPARZA, JAY 

ESPINOSA, LESLIE 

FAVELA, CHARLES 

FEDERER, JERROLD 

FENDL, JOHN 

FIGUEROA, SARAH 

FLEMING, JOHN 

FRANK, WILLIAM 

FRIVANCE, JASON 

GALAT, NANCY 

GALBRAITH, JAMES 

GALLASPY, CHRISTOPHER 

GATES, JONATHAN 

GAZEY, CHRISTOPHER 

GERMAN, RONNY 

GILMORE, DANIEL 

GOMEZ, ERNEST 

GOODEN, DEMETRIUS 

GORDNIER, JOSHUA 

GRAHAM, ADAM 

GRAHAM, DANIELLE 

GRANADOS, KATHERINE 

GRANT, STEPHEN 

GRAY, MICHAEL 

GRIDER, ALEK 

GRIFFIN, STEVEN 

GRIMES, MICHAEL 

LTJG 

HS3 

MST1 

ITC 

BM1 

HSC 

MK3 

YNC 

HSC 

LT 

BM2 

YN2 

BM1 

MK2 

OSC 

HS3 

ETC 

IV1 

SN 

MAT4 

ASTCM 

MST3 

MEC 

FN 

HS2 

OSC 

MK2 

YN2 

EMC 

HSC 

AMT3 

CDR 

ENG2 


































GRIX, RENEE 

GRODER, EVAN 

GRONDIN, GERARD 

GRUBE, RONALD 

GRUSSING, SOLOMON 

HAIR, KEVEN 

HALLER, ALEXANDER 

HANNA, PAUL 

HENDERSON, JUSTIN 

HENDRIX, JOSEPH 

HERNDON, DAHLIA 

HESS, MARK 

HESSEN, JAMES 

HILL, ERIC 

HIPPAUF, MARK 

HNATOW, JENNIFER 

HOFFMAN, PETER 

HOHMAN, ROBERT 

HOLLIS, ANGELA 

HOLLMEYER, DAVID 

HOVEY, ROBERT 

HOWELL, JOSEPH 

HULSEY, ADAM 

HURD, GORDON 

HUTTON, AEDAN 

IHDE, NICHOLAS 

JENSEN, KARINA 

JOHNSON, MCKENZIE 

JOHNSON, TIMOTHY 

JONES, CAREY 

KADLEC, RICHARD 

KAWAIAEA, MICHAEL 

KAYLOR, EDWARD 

YNC 

ME3 

DC1 

BM1 

SN 

AMT2 

AMT2 

MSSE4 

OS3 

MST1 

HS2 

LT 

BM2 

BM2 

EM3 

CDR 

CDR 

SK2 

MSSD4 

MSSD4 

AST2 

MK1 

IT1 

MK1 

MK3 

ME3 

CADET 

SN 

BMC 

YN1 

MK2 

AMT1 

GMCS 


































RETIREMENTS 



43


KAZMIERSKI, MEGHAN 

KELLER, ZACKARY 

KELLEY, PATRICK 

KIDDER, KENNETH 

KNEEN, RAYMOND 

KNUTSEN, KENNETH 

KOSTRZEWSKI, GREGORY 

KRAISS, KALE 

KRAMEK, JOSEPH 

KRUMFOLZ, STEPHEN 

KUHN, JOSHUA 

KULP, JOSEPH 

LACKS, LENELL 

LADOMIRAK, DAVID 

LALONDE, RANDALL 

LANGE, JASON 

LANHAM, JENNIFER 

LAURIA, SALVATORE 

LEE-ELLIOTT, TASHONA 

LEONARD, ERROLL 

LESKO, ROBERT 

LEWIS, WILLIAM 

LINDNER, JACALYN 

LIVESAY, RYAN 

LOFTIS, JON 

LONG, MICHAEL 

LUCCI, BRITTNEY 

LUCE, BRIAN 

LUERAS, MANUEL 

LUNDGREN, NICHOLAS 

LUTTRELL, MARGARET 

MACKILLOP, MATTHEW 

MADLE, KEITH 

MALLOY, MARTIN 

MARKS, GREGORY 

MARTIN, JESSICA 

MARTIN, LAWRENCE 

MARTIN, MICHAEL 

MARTINEZ, WALTER 

MARTINEZ, LILLIAN 

MARTINEZ, PHILLIP 

MCCARTY, MICHAEL 

MCCONNELL, PAUL 

MCCOY, FRANK 

MCELHANY, GRADY 

MCELROY, JAMES 

MCKINNON, ROY 

MCNEAL, AARON 

MEDINA, ISAAC 

MENNIE, TERESA 

MERRILL, SCOTT 

IT3 

AMT3 

PA1 

PS2 

MKC 

BMC 

AMT2 

SN 

CAPT 

MK1 

BM1 

MST1 

LCDR 

BOSN4 

PS2 

ISC 

YN1 

CS3 

CS3 

CS1 

MSTC 

SK1 

YN1 

MST2 

MKC 

ENG3 

OS1 

SK1 

GM1 

MK3 

SN 

LT 

MK1 

CAPT 

MK1 

ETC 

BM1 

ET1 

AMT1 

HS3 

EMCS 

LCDR 

CDR 

CSCS 

MK2 

LT 

MK2 

OSC 

BM2 

SN 

GMC 




















































MERRITT, ERIC 

MERRY, TIMOTHY 

MILES, STEPHEN 

MILLER, NATHAN 

MILLER, MATHEW 

MONTANO, ANTONIO 

MOONEYHAM, CLIFFORD 

MOREFIELD, MICHAEL 

MOREHEAD, DAVID 

MORNEAULT, TRENTON 

MORRIS, JEREMY 

MORRON, KEVIN 

MUELLER, TYLER 

MUENTES, DAVID 

MULLINS, PARKER 

MUNIZ, SAMANTHA 

MUSSEL, MARK 

MYDLAND, DARIN 

NASH, TRAVIS 

NATIVIDAD, DEREK 

NEFF, BAILEY 

NEWLIN, NEIL 

NEWTON, ROBERT 

NGUYEN, VINCENT 

NOEH, HENRY 

NORTON, TAYLOR 

NYE, LAURIE 

OBLINGTON, KERWIN 

OBRIEN, JAMES 

OLIVIERI, JOSE 

OUDRAAD, GERALD 

OUTLAW, MICHAEL 

OWEN, ALAN 

PARKER, JON 

PARREY, ALEXANDER 

PATTON, PHILLIP 

PAULK, JESSE 

PENTONEY, DYLAN 

PEREZ, CARIB 

PETRO, JOHN 

PFAFF, CRAIG 

PHILLIPS, JOSEPH 

PICKERING, JARROD 

PIROS, ROBERT 

PITTS, JAMES 

PLANTE, PATRICK 

PLUMMER, CHRISTOPHER 

POLACK, JOHN 

POPLAWSKI, JAMES 

PRATT, RODNEY 

PRUITT, DAVID 

MST1 

MKC 

ISC 

HSC 

BM2 

EMC 

ENG4 

LCDR 

CS2 

ME2 

BMC 

BM1 

ME2 

OS1 

MK3 

MST2 

LT 

DC2 

BM1 

BM2 

MKC 

ETC 

FS2 

LT 

OS3 

ITC 

LCDR 

BM2 

F&S4 

INV3 

BM1 

PS1 

MKC 

LCDR 

BM1 

MK2 

MST3 

AET2 

MST2 

F&S4 

OS1 

BM1 

AET1 

ET1 

ISS4 

MST2 

HSC 

MKC 

HS3 

LT 

BM2 





















































THE LONG BLUE LINE

QUINLAN, HARRY 

RALLS, DILLON 

RATHIBHAN, MICHAEL 

REES, KYLE 

RICE, JASON 

RICHARDSON, RODNEY 

RIEDEL, JENNIFER 

RIVERA, JOSE 

ROGERS, JERRY 

ROLDAN, SANTIAGO 

ROSA-NEGRONI, JEAN 

ROTHFUSS, DAMON 

RUBIO, ALEJANDRO 

RUDOLPH, JOHN 

RUFFIN, STUART 

SAGE, DAVID 

SAJOVIC, MARK 

SANDBERG, MORGAN 

SANDERS, MICHAEL 

SCARPELLI, JOSEPH 

SCHELLHAMMER, JAMES 

SCHINAGL, ANDREW 

SCOTT, MEGAN 

SEFCIK, NIKKI 

SERRATO, JULIET 

SHEAROUSE-KNUDSEN, AUSTIN 

SHIELD, LUKE 

SMALLEY, JUSTIN 

SMITH, TODD 

SMITH, VANSEN 

SMITH, JUSTIN 

SOLANO, MICHAEL 

SPURLOCK, PATRICK 

STAHL, ERIC 

STAL, IAN 

STEPHENS, MARK 

STEWART, MATTHEW 

STIXRUD, BENJAMIN 

STONECIPHER, CHAD 

STOUT, MYLES 

SURBER, WESLEY 

SUROZENSKI, JULIANNE 

TEAGUE, BRYAN 

TERRY, WILTON 

TOM, JEFFREY 

TORDT, GEOFFREY 

TORREZ, MIGUEL 

TORTORA, MICHAEL 

TUTEN, ROBERT 

UNRUH, DEVIN 

VANWYNGAARDEN, ROBERT 

BM1 

AET2 

MK2 

AMT3 

OSC 

MK2 

PERS4 

BM2 

ISCS 

DV2 

FN 

BM3 

GM1 

SN 

HS3 

MK1 

LT 

SN 

YNCS 

F&S4 

MKC 

AETC 

CADET 

CADET 

HS2 

SN 

MK2 

SK1 

MK1 

GM2 

MK2 

DC2 

SN 

LCDR 

LCDR 

ME1 

MKC 

MST1 

ET2 

BM1 

MK3 

FN 

MSSE3 

MKC 

IT1 

MK2 

LCDR 

OSC 

ET1 

SKC 

MK2 




















































VARGASHERNANDEZ, EDGAR 

VASQUEZ, JOEL 

VAZQUEZ, ANGEL 

VAZQUEZ, FERNANDO 

VELEZ, LUIS 

VELLA, MARK 

VIEIRA, ALEXANDRA 

WADLEY, CORY 

WALMSLEY, JOHN 

WALTZ, STEVEN 

WARNER, PAMELA 

WARNER, JOHN 

WATSON, MICHAEL 

WATTS, BRANDON 

WESTFALL, EDWARD 

WHITESIDE, ROBERT 

WIGGINS, STEPHEN 

WILDMAN, BARRY 

WILKES, STEVEN 

WILLIAMS, KEVIN 

WILLIAMS, SAMUEL 

WILSON, LOGAN 

WOODS, AARON 

YADRICK, DAVID 

YOUNG, TAJA 

ZEALY, GRADY 

MK3 

AET1 

MK1 

SK1 

MK1 

MKC 

SN 

BMCM 

BM3 

MSTC 

YN2 

BMCM 

PERS4 

EM1 

CAPT 

LCDR 

AST1 

CSC 

MSTCM 

ITC 

AET2 

YN3 

INV4 

CDR 

CS1 

LCDR 




























RETIREMENTS 


45


USPHS 

ALFORD-MORALES, SAMANTHA 

ALTEKRUSE, SEAN 

ATENCIO, KATHLEEN 

AUDAIN, GETTIE 

AUHL, HERMAN 

AUSTIN, BRADLEY 

AXT, DAVID 

BLACKMON, LYNDALL 

BLACKSTONE, BRADFORD 

BRADLEY, CHRISTOPHER 

BROOKS, CHERYL 

CLAVERIE, ELIZABETH 

COLOBONG, JUNIO 

COOK, BRENDA 

CRAIG, CHARLES 

DELONG, WALTER 

DERBIS, JANELLE 

DOUGHERTY, CINDY 

DUNVILLE, RICHARD 

ELKER, KEVIN 

ENEVER, LORI 

ENGELSTAD, DAVID 

FRAZER, NICOLE 

FUTCH, WILLIAM 

GIBERSON, SCOTT 

GIROUX, JENNIFER 

GLYDWELL, ANTHONY 

GRANT, ANITA 

HAINES, JESSICA 

HALL, JOHN 

HANDER, CANDACE 

HARDIN MOORE, KELLY 

HAYES, EUGENE 

HENNESSY, JODI 

HESSELGESSER, DANIEL 

HILE, KERRY 

HUNT, CHRISTOPHER 

HURLBURT, DEBRA 

IGNACIO, JOSELITO 

JOHNSTON, ALBERT 

KRUSZKA, PAUL 

LANDREAU, JAMES 

LANGHAM, GREGORY 

LAWRENCE, LISA 

LINSTEADT, VILMA 

MANN, DOMINIC 

MARTINEZ, ROGER 

MENDELSON, MICHAEL 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

LCDR 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

RADM 

CDR 

LCDR 

CAPT 

LT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

LCDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CDR 

CDR 

CDR 

LCDR 

CDR 

CAPT 

















































MERRILL, CLARICE 

MOOLENAAR, RONALD 

MURRAY, CHRISTINA 

OLIVER, LISA 

PERRY, ANTHONY 

PROHASKA, KEVIN 

REISSMAN, DORI 

ROBB, MELISSA 

SCHWARTZ, ERICA 

SCOTT, VALERIE 

THOMPSON, BETSY 

THORNTON, VENITA 

TROUT, DOUGLAS 

VU, CHAU 

WALKER, MELLISSA 

WELKA, MELINDA 

WHITEHART, JONATHAN 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

RADM 

LCDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

LCDR 

LCDR 



















THE LONG BLUE LINE

BRENNAN, RICHARD 

CIMILLUCA, SEAN 

NOAA 

RDML 

CDR 



SILAH, MICHAEL 

RADM 04-01-2021 

RETIREMENTS 

COAST GUARD TRANSITION ASSISTANCE 

PROGRAM (TAP) 

TAP prepares Service Members separating or retiring from the Coast Guard for their transition to 

civilian life. All eligible SMs are required to complete the standardized components of the TAP. 

These components are 1) Pre-separation Counseling and 2) the Transition Seminar, encompassing 

the Transition Goals, Plans, and Success (GPS) core curriculum. 

dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Health- 

Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/Office-of-Work-Life-CG-111/Transition-Assistance-Program/ 

TRYING TO CONNECT WITH A FELLOW 

USCG, USPHS, OR NOAA RETIREE? 

If you need help connecting with a USCG, USPHS, or NOAA 

retiree, you may provide the individual’s name (and rank/ 

paygrade if known), along with your contact information to: 

Robert Hinds, CG Retiree Services 

e-mail: Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil 

phone: 202-475-5451 

(An attempt to contact the individual and provide 

your contact information will be made by email) 



47


THE LONG BLUE LINE

STATION BODEGA 

BAY-NOT FOR 

THE BIRDS 

Seaman Tyquise Parker poses for a portrait photo while 

underway near Coast Guard Station Bodega Bay, CA— 

the remote setting for Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds. But 

Station Bodega Bay is not for the faint of heart. It's a 

multi-mission unit and one of only 20 designated surf 

units in the Coast Guard. 

photo: U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Giles 


49

TAPS 

TAPS 

DEPENDENT TAPS: To place a Dependent TAPS notice in The Retiree Newsletter, provide the dependent’s 

name, relationship to retiree, date of passing, and city/state to Robert Hinds at: Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil or 

phone: 202-475-5451. 

A current Coast Guard Master Decedent Affairs Officer (DAO) & Military Funeral Honors (MFH) Coordinator 

Roster is accessible at: dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/retiree/docs/DAO_%20MFH_Master_Roster_. 

xlsx?ver=2018-09-07-140443-903. 

CG MFH Guidance is accessible at: dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/psc/psd/docs/Military%20Funeral%20 

Honors%20Guidance.pdf?ver=2017-03-24-102439-577. 

If you need additional assistance on Casualty & Decedent affairs matters, you may contact Mr. Brian Behlke, CG 

Casualty Matters Chief, at Brian.R.Behlke@uscg.mil , or by phone at: 202-795-6637 (office) or 571-266-2375 

(24x7 work cell). 


USCG 

ADAMS, WILLIAM 

ERIE, PA 

ALEJANDRO, ANTHONY 

BOERNE, TX 

ALLEY, WILLIAM 

SWANSEA, MA 

ALRED, RICHARD 

STOCK BRIDGE, GA 

AMANN, DONALD 

HAYWARD, CA 

AMOS, JAMES 

WAXHAW, NC 

ANDERSON, GEORGE 

BLYTHEVILLE, AR 

ANDREWS, RICHARD 

NEWBURGH, IN 

ARRINGTON, WILLIAM 

AHOSKIE, NC 

PSC 

CAPT 

EMCS 

CWO3 

MK2 

LCDR 

HSC 

CDR 

CWO4 

RET. 07-01-2005 

TAPS 03-27-2021 

RET. 08-01-1993 


RET. 03-01-1974 


RET. 05-01-1980 


RET. 07-01-1994 


RET. 07-01-1980 


RET. 07-01-1980 


RET. 07-01-1981 


RET. 02-01-1982 


ASHWORTH, ROBERT 

MYSTIC, CT 

BARDELL, FREDRICK 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 

BAUMRIND, STEPHEN 

CHARLESTON, SC 

BEAL, WILLIAM 

SEMINOLE, FL 

BEAUDIN, LYNN 

SPRING HILL, FL 

BEERS, WILLIAM 

REPUBLIC, WA 

BENNETT, JIM 

SPOKANE, WA 

BERG, SYVERT 

NEW RICHLAND, MN 

BERNARDO, FRANCISCO 

ALEXANDRIA, VA 

CAPT 

ETC 

CAPT 

CAPT 

FS1 

CWO4 

YN1 

SK1 

FSCM 

RET. 07-01-1989 


RET. 09-01-2011 


RET. 08-01-1997 


RET. 04-01-1996 


RET. 01-01-1979 


RET. 11-01-1979 


RET. 03-01-1963 


RET. 02-01-2011 


RET. 09-01-1983 



THE LONG BLUE LINE

BLAKENEY, ALBERT 

CRP CHRISTI, TX 

RMC 

RET. 04-01-1976 


COFFEY, DUDLEY 

NEWPORT NEWS, VA 

CWO4 

RET. 08-01-1982 


TAPS 

BOGLE, AUBREY 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 

CDR 

RET. 08-01-2001 


COLACI, ANTHONY 

COLACI, ANTHONY 

SK2 

RET. 12-01-1969 


BOGUCKI, VINCENT 

DAVIDSONVILLE, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 09-01-1975 


COLEMAN, JOHN 

ADRIAN, MI 

YNCS 

RET. 11-01-1994 


BONDS, FREDDIE 

BALTIMORE, MD 

HSC 

RET. 07-01-1995 


CORBETT, LELAND 

NORTH EAST, MD 

LCDR 

RET. 08-01-1988 


BRESCHINI, RALPH 

LAKEWOOD, OH 

RM1 

RET. 02-01-1979 


CORNELL, JAMES 

ST. AUGUSTINE, FL 

LCDR 

RET. 01-01-1976 


BREWTON, CHRISTOPHER 

SITKA, AK 

LCDR 

RET. 01-01-1999 


COSTELLO, JOHN 

SPRING, TX 

CDR 

RET. 10-01-1996 


BROOKS, JAMES 

GARLAND, TX 

LCDR 

RET. 07-01-1992 


COTTON, DAVID 

VAIL, AZ 

FS2 

RET. 11-01-1992 


BROWN, RICHARD 

LINCOLNTON, NC 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-1985 


COUCH, GARY 

LAS VEGAS, NV 

PERS3 

RET. 06-01-1991 


BURROUGHS, WILLIAM 

HARRISON, TN 

AD1 

RET. 07-01-1995 


COULTHURST, ERIC 

COLUMBIA, SC 

PS1 

RET. 10-01-1998 


BUTLER, COLON 

EDENTON, NC 

CAMERON, JAMES 

PINEDALE, CA 

CAMPBELL, KEITH 

AIKEN, SC 

CANNELLA, DONATO 

STATEN ISLAND, NY 

CARMONA, BIENVENIDO 

SAN DIEGO, CA 

CARRIER, RICHARD 

BAYFIELD, WI 

CARTWRIGHT, ROLAND 

BROOKLYN, NY 

CATHEY, HAROLD 

LARGO, FL 

CHATTERTON, RAY 

KNOXVILLE, IL 

CHESNAVAGE, ALBERT 

BALTIMORE, MD 

CLARK, WILMER 

GRANT-VALKARIA, FL 

CDR 

SK1 

YN1 

EM2 

YNCM 

CWO3 

BMCS 

YNCS 

MK1 

YNCS 

CDR 

RET. 07-01-1983 


RET. 01-01-1976 


RET. 11-01-2012 


RET. 02-01-2007 


RET. 01-01-1987 


RET. 09-01-1973 


RET. 10-01-1968 


RET. 03-01-1988 


RET. 12-01-1992 


RET. 10-01-1959 


RET. 05-01-1984 


CRAFT, JOHN 

AVONDALE, AZ 

CREEF, WILLIAM 

MANTEO, NC 

CREWS, EMORY 

CARSON CITY, NV 

CRIMMINS, JAMES 

MUSTANG, OK 

CRUZ, MANUEL 

BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI 

CRUZ, ANANIAS 

GLEN BURNIE, MD 

CUGGINO, STEVEN 

NORWAY, MI 

CURTIS, BRIAN 

ST MARYS, GA 

CUSHMAN, DALE 

PORT ANGELES, WA 

DAVIES, RONALD 

OLNEY, MD 

DAVIS, GERALD 

N CHARLESTON, SC 

CWO2 

BM1 

RMC 

CWO4 

ET1 

FSC 

BMCM 

LT 

ADCS 

CAPT 

CAPT 

RET. 03-01-1978 


RET. 01-01-1972 


RET. 09-01-1975 


RET. 04-01-1986 


RET. 02-01-1977 


RET. 04-01-1994 


RET. 09-01-1980 


RET. 04-01-1977 


RET. 12-01-1962 


RET. 08-01-1987 


RET. 07-01-2002 




51

TAPS 

DAVIS, JOHN 

BOX ELDER, SD 

YN1 

RET. 02-01-2001 


FARRAR, HENRY 

PALMER, AK 

BMC 

RET. 08-01-1967 


DAVIS, BRIAN 

SPARTANBURG, SC 

MST1 

RET. 06-01-2004 


FESKE, ROBIN 

WEBSTER, TX 

AST1 

RET. 03-01-2001 


DECENZO, JOHN 

SARASOTA, FL 

BMC 

RET. 05-01-1966 


FINCHER, KENNETH 

MEAD, OK 

HSC 

RET. 05-01-1977 


DEFELIX, HECTOR 

PANAMA CITY BCH, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 11-01-1976 


FORD, DONALD 

WILMER, AL 

AMTCM 

RET. 08-01-2000 


DEGROW, LYNN 

GRAND HAVEN, MI 

CAPT 

RET. 12-01-2004 


GASKILL, RUSSELL 

CEDAR ISLAND, NC 

BMC 

RET. 08-01-1977 


DELGADO, ROBERT 

CULPEPER, VA 

MKCM 

RET. 07-01-1989 


GASPA, GEORGE 

EAST FALMOUTH, MA 

EN1 

RET. 10-01-1973 


DEMANN, GERALD 

ELK RAPIDS, MI 

PSC 

RET. 01-01-2014 


GERVELL, WILLIAM 

COLORADO SPGS, CO 

CWO2 

RET. 07-01-1987 


DENNONCOURT, ARTHUR 

CHICOPEE, MA 

FN 

RET. 07-01-1950 


GIBLIN, MICHAEL 

FLINT HILL, VA 

CWO3 

RET. 07-01-1989 


DIPASQUALE, PHILIP 

MONEE, IL 

PSC 

RET. 04-01-1995 


GOMER, EDDY 

GROVE CITY, OH 

MK2 

RET. 11-01-1984 



DIRIENZO, CHARLES 

MURRELLS INLET, SC 

DIX, JOHN 

BELTON, KY 

DIXON, GEORGE 

DURHAM, NC 

DODD, DALE 

BRIDGEPORT, WV 

DOUGLAS, JOHN 

YUMA, AZ 

DUFFY, ROBERT 

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL 

DUNN, JACK 

MULBERRY, AR 

DUPRE, DYLAN 

SUMMERVILLE, SC 

ELLIOTT, RALPH 

BERLIN, MD 

ELLIOTT, RANDALL 

LAS VEGAS, NV 

ETTLE, ROBERT 

FRANKLINTON, LA 

CDR 

MKC 

EMCM 

LT 

CWO3 

FSC 

LCDR 

MK3 

MKC 

BOSN4 

CDR 

RET. 04-01-1989 


RET. 05-01-1998 


RET. 06-01-1966 


RET. 11-01-1972 


RET. 08-01-1988 


RET. 04-01-2017 


RET. 09-01-1973 


RET. 04-01-2021 


RET. 04-01-1974 


RET. 03-01-2003 


RET. 07-01-1981 


GOODICK, ROBERT 

DAYTONA BCH, FL 

GORDON, FRANK 

CHAPIN, SC 

GRABOYES, ARNOLD 

VALLEJO, CA 

GRIFFIN, BRIAN 

SUTHERLIN, OR 

GRIFFITH, CARL 

SCIO, OR 

HAMEL, JOSEPH 

FAYETTEVILLE, NY 

HAND, EARL 

ROSEBURG, OR 

HARRELL, MAYNOR 

PMBK PINES, FL 

HARRISON, WILLIAM 

MERCHANTVILLE, NJ 

HART, THOMAS 

MELBOURNE, FL 

HARTMAN, JAMES 

EDENTON, NC 

BMC 

CDR 

BMC 

CWO4 

ET1 

BMCM 

CDR 

PSS4 

DCCS 

CWO4 

FSCM 

RET. 08-01-1982 


RET. 02-01-1995 


RET. 12-01-1971 


RET. 02-01-1986 


RET. 07-01-1976 


RET. 02-01-1975 


RET. 07-01-1972 


RET. 07-01-1995 


RET. 01-01-1984 


RET. 08-01-1977 


RET. 08-01-1987 



THE LONG BLUE LINE

HEALY, DANIEL 

EMMAUS, PA 

BMCS 

RET. 08-01-1996 


KOCEJA, GARY 

MILWAUKEE, WI 

MKC 

RET. 11-01-2008 


TAPS 

HEYDE, JOSEPH 

GREAT FALLS, MT 

RMC 

RET. 11-01-1965 


KUBIAK, FRANK 

GULFPORT, MS 

CWO2 

RET. 09-01-1967 


HORNE, MALLORY 

KINGSLAND, GA 

RMCS 

RET. 10-01-1985 


KUBO, STANLEY 

CONCONULLY, WA 

MKC 

RET. 05-01-1982 


HUGHES, WILLIE 

MEMPHIS, TN 

PS1 

RET. 06-01-2008 


KUTIN, RAYMOND 

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 

ENCS 

RET. 02-01-1970 


IGNACIO, MARIANO 

KANSAS CITY, MO 

FS1 

RET. 05-01-1977 


LANGE, FRANK 

HONOLULU, HI 

LCDR 

RET. 09-01-1985 


JAMES, CHARLES 

PLACENTIA, CA 

YNC 

RET. 05-01-1980 


LARSON, DENNIS 

LENNON, MI 

EMC 

RET. 12-01-1997 


JAYCOX, FRANK 

VICTORIA, TX 

BMC 

RET. 10-01-1982 


LEAR, GEORGE 

DIAMONDHEAD, MS 

BM1 

RET. 12-01-1981 


JENNINGS, JOHN 

RIVERBANK, CA 

CWO4 

RET. 08-01-1986 


JOACHIMI, HERMAN 

LAKE CITY, FL 

AE1 

RET. 07-01-1978 


JOHNSON, MICHAEL 

ORANGE CITY, FL 

JONES, JERRY 

HENDERSON, NV 

JOST, MARK 

BICKNELL, IN 

KANYER, WALTER 

LEBANON, TN 

KENNEY, HALEY 

MALDEN, MA 

KENNOVIN, COLIN 

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL 

KETNER, JASON 

WEST HAMPTON, NY 

KEYPORT, MITCHELL 

PESHTIGO, WI 

KILBURN, CHAD 

CAIRO, WV 

KINDLEY, ALLEN 

OCEAN PINES, MD 

KNOX, JAMES 

PHILADELPHIA, PA 

CDR 

BMC 

YN1 

QMC 

SN 

BMCS 

SN 

EMCS 

MK2 

MKC 

MKC 

RET. 11-01-1981 


RET. 12-01-1983 


RET. 06-01-1993 


RET. 07-01-1975 


RET. 12-01-2012 


RET. 03-01-1996 


RET. 07-01-1995 


RET. 06-01-1998 


RET. 01-01-1988 


RET. 04-01-1996 


RET. 06-01-1981 




53

TAPS 

LEHNERT, LARRY 

RALEIGH, NC 

ELC4 

RET. 08-01-1988 


MASSMAN, GERALD 

SALOME, AZ 

RM1 

RET. 11-01-1976 


LEWIS, JOSEPH 

BALTIMORE, MD 

MKC 

RET. 02-01-1978 


MATHEWS, MATT 

NEW PORT RICHY, FL 

ASTC 

RET. 11-01-2002 


LEWY, EDWARD 

PITTSBORO, NC 

CDR 

RET. 12-01-1978 


MATLOCK, AARON 

GRAYSON, GA 

SKC 

RET. 10-01-2002 


LILLY, DAVID 

GLOUCESTER, VA 

EMCS 

RET. 08-01-1974 


MATSON, RONALD 

HICKSVILLE, NY 

PS1 

RET. 06-01-2000 


LONGMIRE, JAMES 

NAPLES, FL 

ATCS 

RET. 08-01-1980 


MAUCH, ANDREW 

GRAY, WA 

BMC 

RET. 04-01-1979 


LOWE, TIMOTHY 

LEESVILLE, LA 

MSSD2 

RET. 09-01-2017 


MCCUE, PETER 

TACOMA, WA 

CWO2 

RET. 08-01-1977 


LOWENSTEIN, H 

WILMINGTON, NC 

SN 

RET. 01-01-1959 


MCKEITHEN, THOMAS 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-1989 


LUNA, TROY 

SUFFOLK, VA 

LCDR 

RET. 11-01-2012 


MCKERNEN, RAYMOND 

SANIBEL ISLAND, FL 

YNC 

RET. 11-01-1960 


LUZAME, ALFREDO 

BEAVER CREEK, OR 

FSC 

RET. 09-01-1982 


MCKINLEY, BRADEN 

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, CA 

IVC 

RET. 08-01-2002 



MAEHLER, CHARLES 

PEARL RIVER, LA 

MANSFIELD, JURIL 

ARCADIA, FL 

QMCM 

MAT2 

RET. 06-01-1976 


RET. 12-01-1995 


MCUNE, ROGER 

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 

METTILLE, PAUL 

CHIPLEY, FL 

MOBLEY, ROBERT 

SPRINGFIELD, VA 

MONTUORI, ANGELO 

MALVERNE, NY 

MOORE, DENNIS 

WEIRSDALE, FL 

MORAN, CHRISTOPHER 

GARDEN GROVE, CA 

MORSE, RICHARD 

PEORIA, AZ 

MROZ, DANA 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 

MULKERN, WILLIAM 

PORTLAND, ME 

MURRAY, RONALD 

LIVERMORE, CA 

NIBLETT, TALMADGE 

MARLOW, OK 

ETCM 

MKC 

CAPT 

PS1 

RM2 

HS1 

CDR 

BM1 

CWO4 

CDR 

CSC 

RET. 06-01-1978 


RET. 06-01-1979 


RET. 07-01-2006 


RET. 08-01-1991 


RET. 09-01-1977 


RET. 06-07-2019 


RET. 08-01-1971 


RET. 11-01-1991 


RET. 01-01-1987 


RET. 12-01-1997 


RET. 06-01-1965 



THE LONG BLUE LINE

NORTON, TAYLOR 

CRESCENT CITY, CA 

ITC 

RET. 04-01-2021 


RZEMIENIEWSKI, ROBERT 

SPRINGFIELD, VA 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-2003 


TAPS 

OCONNOR, THOMAS 

S EASTON, MA 

ENCS 

RET. 10-01-1964 


SANTOS, JAMES 

SUNNYVALE, CA 

PSCS 

RET. 07-01-2007 


OGBURN, JOHN 

DENTON, TX 

AE1 

RET. 05-01-1977 


SCHIPS, DAVID 

DUNEDIN, FL 

PRC 

RET. 05-01-1966 


OMRI, THOMAS 

CHOCOWINITY, NC 

CAPT 

RET. 07-01-1995 


SCHULTZ, WILLIAM 

BELLEVUE, WA 

LCDR 

RET. 09-01-1989 


ORTIZ, DANIEL 

SPRINGER, NM 

FN 

RET. 04-01-1992 


SCHWALM, MARK 

S WEYMOUTH, MA 

FN 

RET. 03-01-1978 


PANEPINTO, FRANK 

BATON ROUGE, LA 

LT 

RET. 10-01-2010 


SEIDEL, JAMES 

LAKE STEVENS, WA 

BMC 

RET. 11-01-1981 


PEARCE, JAMES 

SWANSBORO, NC 

MSTC 

RET. 03-01-2004 


SEWARD, JAMES 

SACO, ME 

CWO4 

RET. 07-01-1978 


PELLOW, DALE 

BULLHEAD CITY, AZ 

SKCS 

RET. 11-01-1982 


SHANKLIN, DAVID 

PARADISE, UT 

MKC 

RET. 06-01-2001 


PICKRUM, WILLIAM 

CHESTERTOWN, MD 

CDR 

RET. 12-01-1992 


SILKWORTH, PETER 

GRAND HAVEN, MI 

MKC 

RET. 06-01-2000 


PLOOR, GREGORY 

SEVIERVILLE, TN 

POLK, SAMUEL 

CHULA VISTA, CA 

POWELL, GEORGE 

SEATTLE, WA 

PUGH, DONALD 

THOMASVILLE, AL 

RANDELL, JOHN 

RIVA, MD 

REINING, ROBERT 

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 

REYNOLDS, JAY 

STAR, ID 

RICHARDS, JACK 

NORTH PORT, FL 

ROBBS, ALBERT 

BOSTON, MA 

ROSEMERGY, JOHN 

FORT WORTH, TX 

RUGER, JOSEPH 

SPARTA, WI 

CWO3 

AD1 

RD2 

BTCS 

CAPT 

CAPT 

MKC 

EMCM 

CWO3 

CAPT 

RDC 

RET. 06-01-1988 


RET. 07-01-1975 


RET. 07-01-1989 


RET. 06-01-1971 


RET. 08-01-1985 


RET. 07-01-1994 

TAPS 11-23-2020 

RET. 06-01-1978 


RET. 06-01-1967 


RET. 07-01-1986 


RET. 04-01-1981 


RET. 07-01-1980 


SIMMONS, DOUGLAS 

CIBOLO, TX 

SIMON, EDWARD 

ASHLAND, VA 

SMITH, DANA 

FALLON, NV 

SOVA, PAUL 

OCALA, FL 

STACK, DAN 

RENTON, WA 

STAPLETON, TIMOTHY 

CORNING, NY 

STEELE, WILDON 

STOKESDALE, NC 

STITES, JOHN 

FREEDOM, OK 

STOREY, JAMES 

CHIMACUM, WA 

STRICKLIN, RICHARD 

OCALA, FL 

STROMAN, JOSEPH 

CALVERT, TX 

EM3 

CDR 

EM1 

LCDR 

BMCM 

AMT1 

CWO4 

BMCM 

CWO3 

BMC 

FS1 

RET. 12-01-1981 


RET. 07-01-1987 


RET. 07-01-1989 


RET. 02-01-1970 


RET. 10-01-1970 


RET. 04-01-2001 


RET. 12-01-1980 


RET. 11-01-1979 


RET. 11-01-1984 


RET. 06-01-1980 


RET. 12-01-2008 




55

TAPS 

TABOR, RICHARD 

HOUMA, LA 

ELC4 

RET. 04-01-1997 


WEITLICH, JOHN 

COGAN STATION, PA 

SNRM 

RET. 02-01-1968 


TALASKY, TODD 

ALTONNA, PA 

MSSD4 

RET. 10-01-2014 


WEST, WILLIAM 

SHANDON, CA 

GMC 

RET. 11-01-2003 


TALLEY, EUGENE 

NEW CANTON, VA 

CWO3 

RET. 11-01-1969 


WHITMER, DOUGLAS 

THE VILLAGES, FL 

CAPT 

RET. 09-01-2004 


THIBAULT, JAMES 

LEXINGTON, SC 

QMCS 

RET. 08-01-1972 


WHITMORE, ROBERT 

PEARL RIVER, NY 

PSC 

RET. 12-01-1991 


THOMPSON, LONNIE 

JACKSONVILLE, FL 

MK1 

RET. 11-01-1998 


WILLIAMS, JOHN 

CYPRESS, CA 

LCDR 

RET. 04-01-2000 


TOSTO, ELZIE 

BEAUFORT, NC 

CDR 

RET. 12-01-1995 


WILLIAMSON, JERRY 

SOUTHPORT, NC 

MST1 

RET. 06-01-2000 


TRIBFELNER, JOHN 

PERRINTON, MI 

BMC 

RET. 10-01-2017 


WILSON, LARRY 

HARDWICK, GA 

PS1 

RET. 02-01-2005 


TRIGGS, DANIEL 

FALMOUTH, MA 

LCDR 

RET. 05-01-1995 


WILTSIE, HAROLD 

SARA SOTA, FL 

ENCS 

RET. 07-01-1966 


TRUBEY, JAMES 

DOVER, DE 

TTCS 

RET. 03-01-1989 


WIMAN, KENNETH 

HAMPSTEAD, NC 

RADM 

RET. 06-01-1988 



TUPAY, EDMUND 

QUEEN CREEK, AZ 

WALSH, MICHAEL 

BARNSTABLE, MA 

WALTER, DONALD 

ARANSAS PASS, TX 

WASHBURN, JOHN 

LEEDS, NY 

WEBSTER, JAMES 

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA 

USPHS 

ADLER, WILLIAM 

MILWAUKEE, WI 

AMENT, RONALD 

LINCOLN UNIVERS, PA 

BIERBAUM, PHILIP 

CINCINNATI, OH 

BRYAN, RICHARD 

SURPRISE, AZ 

CAMPOS, EDUARDO 

FT COLLINS, CO 

LCDR 

BMC 

ATCM 

CWO3 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

RET. 06-01-2002 


RET. 09-01-1989 


RET. 11-01-1987 


RET. 08-01-1990 


RET. 07-01-1985 


RET. 05-01-1997 


RET. 01-01-1987 


RET. 03-01-1994 


RET. 05-01-2000 


RET. 03-01-1991 


WOLF, WALDON 

NEW BRAUNFELS, TX 

WOODS, JAMES 

ROCKLAND, ME 

WORK, HUGH 

CLARK FORK, ID 

YEATON, RUSSELL 

WINDHAM, ME 

ZWAWA, JOSEPH 

ALDEN, NY 

DOWD, EDWARD 

MYSTIC, CT 

DURELL, JACK 

HAVERFORD, PA 

DUVAL, GEORGES 

JAMESTOWN, NM 

EATON, ROBERT 

YUKON, OK 

ELLIOTT, GLEN 

TIMONIUM, MD 

PSC 

MK1 

FSCS 

ASMCM 

BMC 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

RET. 01-01-2003 


RET. 07-01-1977 


RET. 03-01-1982 


RET. 11-01-1981 


RET. 09-01-1977 


RET. 10-01-1981 


RET. 07-01-1986 


RET. 01-01-2001 


RET. 02-01-2011 


RET. 10-01-1980 



THE LONG BLUE LINE

FARRAR, GRESHAM 

GRETNA, LA 

CAPT 

RET. 11-01-1981 


NIENHUIS, ARTHUR 

COLUMBIA, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 04-01-1993 


TAPS 

GLUCKSTEIN, FRITZ 

KENSINGTON, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 12-01-1993 


SAMPLE, KENNETH 

PEORIA, AZ 

CAPT 

RET. 06-01-2010 


HAMPTON, GEORGE 

NEW ORLEANS, LA 

CDR 

RET. 08-01-1977 


SIEGEL, MARK 

BRICK, NJ 

CAPT 

RET. 05-01-2001 


HEDIN, DURAND 

RIDGE, MD 

CDR 

RET. 06-01-2007 


SNESRUD, PELAGIE 

HOLMEN, WI 

CAPT 

RET. 08-01-2010 


JACKSON, BILLY 

SUN CITY WEST, AZ 

CAPT 

RET. 03-01-1992 


STRAUSS, ARTHUR 

NEW ORLEANS, LA 

CAPT 

RET. 12-01-1987 


JENSEN, MICHAEL 

GREEN VALLEY, AZ 

CAPT 

RET. 09-01-1992 


TANZILLO, JODI 

GLENDALE, AZ 

CDR 

RET. 06-01-2017 


JOHNSON, JULIAETTE 

ROCKVILLE, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 03-01-2010 


VANSTEE, ETHARD 

BREVARD, NC 

CAPT 

RET. 04-01-1985 


KILLENS, RICHARD 

PFAFFTOWN, NC 

CDR 

RET. 01-01-1990 


VENEZIA, RONALD 

CARY, NC 

CAPT 

RET. 08-01-1979 


MADDEN, DAVID 

SYKESVILLE, MD 

CAPT 

RET. 03-01-1993 


VON FUMETTI, BILLEE 

CALEXICO, CA 

CAPT 

RET. 09-01-1984 


MARTOGLIO, GILDA 

MANCHESTER, NJ 

MIESCIER, JOHN 

CHESTERFIELD, VA 

MILLER, SUSAN 

ALLOWAY, NJ 

MURRAY, H. 

SNELLVILLE, GA 

MYERS, JAMES 

CALDWELL, ID 

NOAA 

ARNOLD, HAROLD 

MOUNT AIRY, MD 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CAPT 

RET. 03-01-1995 WALLIS, WILLIAM 

TAPS 01-31-2021 CANTON, GA 

RET. 07-01-1992 WALTERS, CHARLES 

TAPS 02-02-2021 AUSTIN, TX 

RET. 11-01-2010 WILCOX, MAXINE 

TAPS 04-15-2021 SAN ANTONIO, TX 

RET. 05-01-2018 WILSON, SAMUEL 

TAPS 02-14-2021 CHAPEL HILL, NC 

RET. 09-01-2000 YOUNG, JOHN 

TAPS 02-24-2021 SHAWNEE, OK 

CAPT 

CAPT 

CDR 

CAPT 

CAPT 

RET. 10-01-1988 


RET. 10-01-1978 


RET. 09-01-1975 


RET. 01-01-1992 


RET. 07-01-1988 


RET. 06-10-2013 BENTON, ARTHUR 

RET. 01-02-1974 

CAPT 

TAPS 02-13-2021 ENUMCLAW, WA 




57

TAPS 

DEPENDENT TAPS 

DOROTHY M. RUSZCZYK 

WIFE OF CAPT MICHAEL A. RUSZCZYK, USCGR (RET) 

HARPSWELL, ME 

11-19-2020 

MILDRED J. “MIDGE” WALD 

TEMPLE, TX 

WIFE OF THE LATE CDR LEON Y. WALD, USCG (RET) 


CAROL CANELLIS WEHRMANN 

SAN ANTONIO, TX 

WIFE OF CDR GARY WEHRMANN, USCGR (RET) 


SUSAN ANN BECKWITH 

SACRAMENTO, CA 

WIFE OF CAPT CHARLES ALLAN BECKWITH, USPHS (RET) 


ANN L. WILLIAMSON 

CHESAPEAKE, VA 

WIFE OF ETC BOB WILLIAMSON, USCG (RET) 

08-27-2020 

PENELOPE J. LITTEKEN 

NEW BERN, NC 

WIFE OF CAPT ARNOLD H. LITTEKEN JR., USCG (RET) 


SHARON ANN (ST. THOMAS) ANDREWS 

NEENAH, WI 

WIFE OF BMC JIMMIE D. ANDREWS, USCG (RET) 


MARILYN E. DAVIS 

WENATCHEE, WA 

WIFE OF CAPT JAMES E. DAVIS, USPHS (RET) 

12-19-2020 

FRANK FULLBRIGHT 

DESOTO, TX 

HUSBAND OF SKC IVYE FULLBRIGHT, USCG (RET) 

07-16-2020 


SUSAN PONSTEIN 

NEWCASTLE, OK 

MARY BURRUS WILLIAMS 

BUXTON, NC 

BARBARA J. GLOMBOWSKI 

MT. PROSPECT, IL 

ARLETTE A. JOHNSON 

VERO BEACH, FL 

ANN B. MADDOX 

MARRERO, LA 

SULA TURBEVILLE 

MAGNOLIA, TX 

DOLLY GELWICH 

BEREA, OH 

LORRAINE LONG 

GLEN CARBON, IL 

LYNNE KAY WALKER 

SNOHOMISH, WA 

CANDICE BRUSH LEAVENS 

LAKELAND, FL 

BETTY JEAN PLANK 

DELTONA, FL 

WIFE OF CWO3 DAVID PONSTEIN, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF LCDR DENNIS WILLIAMS, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF LCDR PAUL E. GLOMBOWSKI, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF ATC WILLIAM JOHNSON, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF AMC SAMUEL L. MADDOX, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF PSC FORREST W. TURBEVILLE, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF RM1 STEPHEN GELWICH, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF ELC4 JAMES LONG, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF CDR WILLIAM WALKER, USCG (RET) 

WIFE OF MK1 ROBERT LEAVENS, USCGR (RET) 

WIFE OF HSC CHARLES L. PLANK, USCG (RET) 






08-23-2019 







THE LONG BLUE LINE

De-Operationalized Stress Control 

Chaplain David Peterson, Command Chaplain, 

Training Center Yorktown 

Recently, there has been a combined effort 

of HSWL, PHS and Coast Guard Chaplains to 

provide awareness and training to the Operational 

Stress Continuum to the Coast Guard. This colorcoded 

continuum is a means of recognizing 

stress levels. 

GREEN – Ready – well-trained and rested, 

prepared for operations, sound physically, 

mentally, emotionally, and spiritually 

YELLOW – Reacting – responding to stressful 

situation with mild impairment – may be anxious 

and irritable and show recognizable behavioral 

change. This is usually temporary and will go 

away as the situation is resolved. 

ORANGE – Injured – a more severe or 

persistent distress, may see a personality 

change – this is when we see physical, mental, 

emotional or spiritual impairment and typically 

there is need for some sort of assistance to 

recover 

RED – Ill – stress injuries that will not heal 

without intervention - usually diagnosable, such 

as PTSD, Depression, Anxiety or Addictions – 

Help is needed. 

Stress can occur in many different areas of our 

life, as discussed on the Total Force Fitness site 

of the Military Health Systems (www.health.mil/ 

Military-Health-Topics/Total-Force-Fitness). The 

recent effort is to educate, encourage, and bring 

an awareness to not only self, but shipmate. 

You may be saying “That’s Great Chaps, I wish 

they had that before I retired.” Please know that 

it is not too late to start. After spending 20-30+ 

years of your adult life in the pressure cooker that 

is called the U.S. Coast Guard, I would submit that 

most, if not all, retirees have one or more areas 

that fall right of green on the Operational Stress 

Continuum. 

Now that you have been de-operationalized, 

please be aware of how stress may continue 

to be affecting you. You may have lost a major 

sense of purpose when you left Active Duty. After 

placing your identity in an organization for most 

of your adult life, you may be trying to find out 

who you are after leaving service. There may be 

persistent physical injuries that have kept you in 

pain or awake at night. Or you may continue to 

dwell on rescues or operations that did not turn 

out favorably. Whatever the issue, know that we 

recognize that it is OK not to be OK, and we ask 

you not to stay that way. Please know that there is 

free, confidential help available: 

Veterans Crisis Line provides free caring 

and qualified responses with the VA – you 

can call (1-800-273-8255), text (838255) or 

access a chat through their website (www. 

veteranscrisisline.net). 

VET4Warriors (1-855-VET-TALK) is a DoD 

sponsored service that provides support to vets 

from vets. Separate from the VA, you can even 

remain anonymous. 

Please remember that your Chaplains provide 

completely confidential care and are available 

for veterans as well as Active Duty – find you 

closest Coast Guard Chaplain by calling 202- 

372-4900. 

And you can always email me: chaplain.david. 

peterson@gmail.com. If you or somebody you 

love is struggling please – grab or throw the 

nearest buoy, there is no need to remain adrift. 

CHAPLAIN'S CORNER 



59

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION DEPT VETERAN AFFAIRS 

VA 

VA TO RE-ADJUDICATE SOME VETERAN 

AND SURVIVOR CLAIMS 

Veterans who were previously denied service 

connection for an herbicide related presumptive 

condition due to lack of in-country Vietnam 

service will have their claims automatically readjudicated 

by VA. The department began readjudicating 

claims in April for Veterans who 

served in the offshore waters of the Republic 

of Vietnam during the Vietnam War but were 

denied for one or more herbicide related 

conditions, on the basis that military service was 

not performed on the landmass of the Republic 

of Vietnam or on its inland waterways. 

“Re-adjudication means VA will review the 

evidence of record and provide replacement 

decisions in the cases of Veterans who were 

previously denied service connection benefits,” 

said Acting VA Under Secretary for Benefits 

Thomas Murphy. “We have the proper resources 

in place to meet the needs of our Veteran 

community and will ensure all eligible Veterans’ 

and their survivors’ claims are examined 

thoroughly and fairly.” 

The review also applies to eligible survivors 

of deceased Vietnam-era Veterans and is 

part of the Veterans Benefits Administration’s 

implementation of the November 5, 2020, 

U.S. District Court for the Northern District 

of California order in Nehmer vs. U.S. 

Department of Veterans Affairs, requiring 

the VA to re-adjudicate previously denied 

claims. VA will determine if benefits for 

qualifying disabilities can now be paid 

retroactively to the date of previously denied 

claims. VA will determine if benefits can 

now be paid retroactively based on the 

Veteran’s presumption of herbicide exposure 

through Public Law 116-23, Blue Water Navy 

Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, which was 

signed into law June 25, 2019. 

The court’s decision requires automatic readjudication 

in such cases without requiring a 

new claim, and potentially paying benefits to the 

survivors or estates of deceased beneficiaries. 

More information is available regarding VA 

disability benefits based on Agent Orange 

exposure. 

What is a presumptive condition? Congress 

provided that a Veteran who “served in the 

Republic of Vietnam during the period 

beginning on Jan. 9, 1962, and ending 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

on May 7, 1975,” will be presumed to have been 

exposed to an herbicide agent during such 

service. VA has recognized certain cancers and 

other health problems as presumptive diseases 

associated with exposure to Agent Orange 

or other herbicides during military service. 

Veterans and their survivors may be eligible for 

benefits for these diseases. A list of presumptive 

conditions is accessible at: Agent Orange 

Exposure | Veterans Affairs (va.gov) 

Meeting Veterans’ needs. Veterans and their 

families have always been VA’s top priority. 

VA ensures all Veterans receive the benefits 

they have earned and has the resources 

in place to meet the needs of the Veteran 

community. Veterans who have a condition 

caused by exposure to Agent Orange during 

military service can learn more about herbicide 

exposure at: Agent Orange Exposure | Veterans 

Affairs (va.gov) 

NEW FEATURES ON VA.GOV 

IMPROVE VETERANS’ ONLINE 

EXPERIENCE 

New features on VA.gov improve Veterans’ 

online experience - VAntage Point 

• Coronavirus Vaccine Information 

• Sign up for VA Benefits Before 

Military Separation 

• Manage Your VA Debt 

• Find Local Providers in the 

Community 

• Find a VA Form 

• Get Email and Text Notifications 

DEPT VETERAN AFFAIRS 

VA 



61

RETURNING TO COLLEGE 


By Captain Tom Haas, USCG (Ret.) and Jill Wolfe, U.S. Army, 1995–1998 

Returning to college and graduating is a skill. 

As both veterans and professors, we’ve watched hundreds of student veterans come and go through 

the university — and not all of them left via the commencement stage. Knowing how to get to graduation 

means knowing the common pitfalls. 

Here are five common things we see go wrong for veterans returning to college: 

1 

You don’t set realistic expectations. 

When you first show up to class, your fellow 

students WILL seem young, undisciplined, 

and unrelatable. Don’t let that deter you! Your 

experiences matter and will bring a lot to the 

classroom. 

Also, it will be hard learning things like figuring 

out classes, how to use the campus software, 

how much to speak up in class, etc. But you’ve 

done hard things before, and you can do them 

again. 

2 

You don’t reach out to your peers. 

Find a university campus with strong support for 

student veterans (look for a Student Veterans of 

America chapter) and make an effort to connect 

with that community. 

It’s simply reassuring to be around people who 

understand what you’ve been through, who aren’t 

going to judge you, and who share the same 

goals as you. 

3 

FIVE WAYS RETURNING TO COLLEGE CAN 

GO WRONG . . . SO PLAN, PREPARE, AND 

PERFORM FOR SUCCESS 

You don’t recognize the warning signs. 

Doing poorly on your first test, not attending 

class, and constant financial struggles are just 

a few examples of red flags when it comes to 

dropping out. 

Finally, remember that life is all about perspective. 

Once you notice these things, seek help 

IMMEDIATELY. It’s your university’s advising 

center, academic advisor, or the military resource 

center’s job to help students like you! 

You just show up to class, go home, and 

never talk to anyone. 

Many student vets feel like “time is a-wasting” 

and just want to get through school as quickly 

as possible. They’ve got jobs, families, and other 

priorities to manage. 

But college’s biggest value is the relationships 

you build. If you don’t invest time to engage with 

your university, whether it’s a professional club 

or the student veterans group, you’re setting 

yourself up to fail. So, show up. This is how 

satisfying, long-lasting friendships are made. 

You think your experiences don’t matter. 

When it feels like everyone around you looks 

differently, talks differently, and has different 

values than you, you start to feel like an imposter. 

But your military experiences — the travel, the 

training, the life you’ve lived — are incredibly 

valuable, and every professor we know truly 

appreciates having student veterans in their 

classrooms. You bring so much depth to the 

conversations, connecting the dots between 

theory and practice. 

Where one veteran might see loss, another sees opportunity. One feels like a victim, the other like the hero. 

So use the 3 P’s you honed through your service — planning, preparing, and performing — so you can 

be one of those students walking across the stage at graduation. 

CAPT Tom Haas is retired USCG and President Emeritus at Grand Valley State University. 

Jill Hinton Wolfe is an Army veteran and Grand Valley State University’s first Military and Veteran 

Resource Manager. 

4 

5 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

JUNE 7, 2021 

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE EXTENDS 

UNIFORMED SERVICES IDENTIFICATION CARD 

EXPIRATION POLICY GUIDANCE 

The Department of Defense (DoD) remains committed to ensuring the health and safety of all DoD 

personnel and beneficiaries and ensuring their continued access to healthcare and all authorized 

benefits. In its ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on identification (ID) 

card site operations, effective immediately, the DoD is extending temporary Uniformed Services ID 

(USID) card expiration policy guidance for all USID cards with expiration dates between January 

1, 2020 and July 31, 2021 as follows: 

• Through August 31, 2021 for all Foreign Affiliates and their dependents; 

• Through October 31, 2021 for the Dependents of Active Duty uniformed Service 

members, and Reserve and National Guard uniformed Service members and 

their dependents; and 

• Through January 31, 2022 for retirees and their dependents, and all other USID 

card populations. 

ID cards that expired prior to January 1, 2020, have not 

been extended and must be replaced. ID cards with 

expiration dates after July 31, 2021, must be replaced 

by their expiration date. 

To learn more about the extension of policy guidance for 

expiring USID cards visit the DoD Response to COVID-19 

- DoD ID Cards and Benefits website (https://www.cac. 

mil/Coronavirus/) for a fact sheet and FAQs. 

To schedule an appointment to have an ID card reissued, 

visit the ID Card Office Online website (https://idco. 

dmdc.osd.mil/idco/), and select the ID Card Office 

Locator & Appointments option. 

You may elect not to be mailed the newsletter by accessing your 

DA Self-Service account at 

• www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/ 

• Select “Change My Delivery Options” 

• Uncheck the block labeled “I elect to receive the Retiree 

Newsletter by mail.” 

You may also contact CG PPC Customer Care for assistance by 

calling 866-772-8724 or 785-339-2200, or by sending an e-mail 

to PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil. 

DoD IDENTIFICATION CARD 



63

PPC-RAS 

DIRECT ACCESS 

RETIREE SELF-SERVICE 

The most convenient way to view your Retiree/Annuitant Payslip and manage your account is through Direct 

Access Self-Service, our online account management system. Direct Access Self-Service provides faster 

service, security, accessibility and reliability to all PPC (RAS) customers worldwide. 

Sign In at https://hcm.direct-access.uscg.mil/ 

Password Reset Guidance 

During a recent Direct Access (DA) system upgrade, the forgot password security question "What 

is your mother's maiden name?" was disabled in DA to reduce the possibility of a compromise of 

personally identifiable information (PII). For users who originally chose this as a security question, the 

hint question will now default to "What town were you born in?" but the ANSWER has NOT changed 

from what the user originally established for "What is your mother's maiden name?" 


For those who have tried to use the Forgot Password feature and have been locked out of DA, please 

email PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil to request a temporary password. Once logged into DA, you 

will need to follow the user guide below to change your security question, answer, or both. 

It is recommended that users who originally selected "What is your mother's maiden name?" as their 

Forgot Password security question, log into DA and follow the user guide at link below to change the 

security question, answer, or both. 

To schedule an appointment to have an ID card reissued, visit the ID Card Office Online website 

(https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/), and select the ID Card Office Locator & Appointments option. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE! 

Retirees/Annuitants: Please submit all customer inquiries via e-mail to PPC-DG- 

CustomerCare@uscg.mil. This is the recommended action because phone calls 

(including voicemail messages) are manually entered into the PPC ticket tracking system 

which may cause delays in service. If e-mail is not available to you, please feel free to call 

(866) 772-8724 or (785) 339-2200: telephone support is provided 0730 to 1600 (Central 

Time), Monday through Friday. PPC is closed on Federal Holidays. 

If you are reporting the death of a USCG, NOAA, or USPHS Retiree or Annuitant, please 

call on one of the phone lines above 

Be sure to visit our branch news page for retiree-related news updates at Pay and 

Personnel News (uscg.mil) 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER, RETIREE & 

ANNUITANT SERVICES (PPC-RAS), DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE & 

OTHER IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS & WEBSITES 

Directory Assistance and Other Important Phone Numbers & Websites are also accessible at: 

dcms.uscg.mil/portals/10/cg-1/ppc/ras/rasdirectory.pdf 

Questions, Address or Direct-Deposit Changes 

If you need information or have questions 

about: 

• Your retired or survivor benefit plan (SBP) 

annuity payments 

• Your retired/annuitant statement 

• IRS Form 1099-R (reporting taxable 

income) 

• You need to change your and your 

dependents’ home mailing address (for 

retired/annuitant statement, newsletter, 

1099-R, correspondence) 

• Your financial institution or account 

number for your direct deposit 

• Report a change to your designation of 

beneficiary for payment of unpaid retired 

pay (Note: use Form *CG PPC-3600 

Designation of Beneficiary for Payment of 

Unpaid Retired Pay) 

You may make the requests listed above by 

telephone, by fax, or in writing. The telephone 

and fax numbers are: 

Toll free: 1-866-772-8724 

Commercial: (785) 339-2200 

Fax: (785) 339-3770 

Allotments, SBP Coverage and Beneficiary 

Changes 

If you need to: 

• Start, stop, or change an allotment (you may 

use Form *CG PPC-7221 Retired Allotment 

Authorization Form, fax in the form or a 

written request, call us or send us an e-mail 

request). 

• Report a change to your survivor benefit 

plan (SBP) coverage (must be in writing) 

You may fax your request to (785) 339-3770 

or mail to: 

Commanding Officer (RAS) 

USCG Pay & Personnel Center 

444 SE Quincy St 

Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

(*) Note: Forms are available from the PPC website at: 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/pd/forms/ or directly from the IRS. 

Income Tax Withholding Changes 

If you need to: 

• Start or change the amount of state tax 

withholding (retirees can call, e-mail, fax or use 

*IRS Form W-4, or state form. If using IRS form, 

indicate that the form is for state income tax 

withholding, not federal, which state it’s for and 

the dollar amount to be withheld, (minimum 

amount is $10.00, no cents)). We cannot 

withhold state tax for annuitants. 

• Change your federal income tax 

withholding (retirees use Form W-4, 

annuitants use Form W-4P) 

• Change exemptions or additional 

withholding 

Federal tax changes must be in writing. The 

original Form IRS W-4 or W-4P must be mailed 

to PPC (RAS) for action and filing, per IRS 

requirements. PPC (RAS) cannot accept a 

faxed W-4 or W-4P. Please mail to: 




Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

(*) Note: Forms are available from the PPC website at: 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/pd/forms/ or directly from the IRS. 

Report of Death 

To report the death of a Coast Guard, NOAA 

or PHS retiree/annuitant call: 

Toll free: 1-866-772-8724 

Commercial: (785) 339-2200 

Fax: (785) 339-3770 

Or write: 




Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

DEPENDENT TAPS: To place a Dependent TAPS 

notice in The Retiree Newsletter, provide the 

dependent’s name, relationship to retiree, date 

of passing, and city/state to Robert Hinds at: 

Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil 

phone: 202-475-5451 


DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE 


65



MEDICARE PART B ENROLLMENT IS MANDATORY AT AGE 65 

dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/retiree/docs/pdf/Turning_65_with_MEDICARE.pdf?ver=2018-09-07-143218-930 

When you turn 65, your medical benefits will change. MEDICARE will become your primary medical 

coverage and TRICARE pays secondary to MEDICARE. You MUST enroll in MEDICARE PART 

B to retain your TRICARE coverage. If you are within 90 days of your 65th birthday, you should 

log on to www.ssa.gov or medicare.gov to enroll in MEDICARE PART B. Additional information is 

accessible at: tricare.mil/Welcome/Eligibility/MedicareEligible.aspx?sc_database=web or by phone 

at 866-773-0404. You may also call the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) 

at 800-538-9552. 

OTHER IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND WEBSITES 

Medical/Dental Benefits/Phone/Websites/ 

Notes 

Eligibility (DEERS)/ID Cards 

1-800-538-9552 

(TTY/TDD) 

1-866-363-2883 

www.tricare.mil/deers 

In CA: 1-800-334-4162; 

In AK & HI 1-800-527-5602 

Mail-Order Pharmacy 

1-877-363-1303 

www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/ 

Prescriptions/Filling Prescriptions/TMOP 

Federal Employee Dental & Vision Insurance 

Program (FEDVIP—Retirees) 

1-877-888-3337 

https://www.benefeds.com/ 

TRICARE Overseas 

1-888-777-8343 

www.tricare.mil/mybenefit/home/overview/ 

Regions/RegionsNonUS 

TRICARE East Region Contractor 

1-800-444-5445 

TRICARE West Region Contractor 

1-844-866-9378 

www.tricare.mil 

TRICARE For Life 

1-866-773-0404 

www.tricare.mil/tfl/default.cfm 

www.tricare.mil/LifeEvents/Retiring 

TRICARE Eligibility—Pharmacy 

(Medicare info) 

1-877-363-1303 

www.tricare.mil/ CoveredServices/Pharmacy/ 

Eligibility.aspx 

Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program 

(FLTCIP) 

1-800-LTC-FEDS (1-800-582-3337) 

www.LTCFEDS.com 

CG Health Benefits Advisor 

1-800-942-2422 

Veterans Benefits 

Phone/Websites/Notes 

Department of Veterans Affairs 

1-800-827-1000 

www.va.gov 

Insurance Information 

1-800-669-8477 

www.insurance.va.gov 

Veteran’s Group Life Insurance 

www.insurance.va.gov/sglisite/vgli/vgli.htm 

New VGLI Applications and VGLI 

Reinstatements: 

OSGLI 

PO Box 41618 

Philadelphia, PA 19176-9913 

1-800-419-1473 

Overseas phone 

(973) 548-5699 

Overseas fax# 

(973) 548-5300 

Death and accelerated benefits claims only: 

Fax: 1-877-832-4943. 

All other fax inquiries: 

1-800-236-6142 

e-mail at: osgli.claims@prudential.com 


THE LONG BLUE LINE

All other inquiries: osgli.osgli@prudential.com 

General Correspondence: 

Office of Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance 

80 Livingston Avenue 

Roseland, NJ 07068-1733 

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Dependents 

1-800-827-1000 

www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp 

VA Pamphlet 80-02-1 

Headstones and Markers 

1-800-697-6947 

www.va.gov/opa/publications/benefits_book.asp 

Additional Important Number and Websites 

Final Active Duty Pay 

1-866-772-8724 

Overseas 

(785) 339-2200 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/separations/finalpay/ 

Commanding Officer (SEP) 


444 SE Quincy St. 

Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

Contact PPC (SEP) for information on severance 

pay, separation pay, disability severance pay, 

LES’s, IRS Form W-2. 

Social Security 

1-800-772-1213 

www.ssa.gov 

Travel Claims 

1-866-772-8724 

Overseas 

(785) 339-2200 

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/travel/ 

Send final travel claim to: 

Commanding Officer (TVL) 


444 SE Quincy St. 

Topeka, KS 66683-3591 

Service Records 

(314) 801-0800 

www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records 

Write to: 

National Personnel Records Center 

Military Personnel Records 

1 Archives Drive 

St. Louis, MO 63138-1002 

Veterans or next-of-kin of a deceased veteran 

can access www.archives.gov/veterans/ 

military-service-records to make requests. 

All others must write in and include complete 

name, rank/grade, SSN, dates of service, and 

date of birth of the veteran. DD-214s are also 

available via the website 

WWII U.S. Merchant Marine Awards and 

Decorations 

www.maritime.dot.gov/outreach/marinermedals 

Contact: 

Awards, Flags, Medals 

Deveeda Midgette 

Maritime Awards Officer 

Office of Sealift Support 

1200 NEW JERSEY AVE., SE 

WASHINGTON, DC 20590 

United States 

Email: 

Deveeda.Midgette@dot.gov 

Phone: 202-366-2354 

Alt Phone: 202-366-2323 

Fax: 202-366-5904 

Business Hours: 

9:00am to 5:00pm ET, M-F 

CG Social Media Sites 

A list of Official CG Social Media Sites including 

Facebook and Twitter is accessible at: 

http;//coastguard.dodlive.mil/official-sites/ 

CG National Retiree Help Desk 

(202) 475-5381 

Toll free 1-833-224-6743 

email: NRHDesk@gmail.com 

Do NOT send Personally Identifiable Information 

(e.g. SSN, EMPID) to the CG National Retiree Help 

Desk. Visit: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/retiree/ 

nrhd-pii/ 




67

The Long Blue Line (SUMMER 2021)

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