The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

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The name I answer to is Beau Bridges. My parents were reading Gone with the Wind and wanted to name me after a character named “Beau” … a baby in the novel. But there was a problem. I was born December 9, 1941, in Los Angeles, two days after Pearl Harbor was bombed. The lights in the hospital were blacked out … they thought the Japanese were going to keep coming and bomb the city. Also, back in those days, they heavily sedated women preparing for childbirth, so my mom Dorothy was a bit groggy when a nurse came in and asked, “What would you like to name your child?” She replied, “Call him ‘Beau.’” The nurse said, “I’m sorry, ma’am, there must be some confusion, you have a son, not a daughter!” Not wanting to continue the conversation, my mother said, “Just call him ‘Lloyd Vernet Bridges, the Third’ after his father.” Or the “turd” as Pack used to call me. I grew up in Mar Vista … a town near the sea in Southern California. The ocean was an important part of my world. My dad was also an actor, and he always loved the sea … and when his series “Sea Hunt” came into our lives, he enjoyed the celebrity attached to introducing the underwater world to so many people throughout the world. During this time, he developed a relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and participated in many events promoting their brand of military service. In appreciation of his interest, they gave him the honorary commission of commodore. When President Kennedy ordered the blockade of Cuba in 1962, my father urged me to enlist. I was 17, and Dad thought if we were going to go to war, I should join the Coast Guard Reserve … and so I did, at age 18. My brother Jeff would follow me eight years later. My boot camp was in Alameda, California, and my company was Lima 28. Right away, I learned some lessons that would serve me all my life: the importance of teamwork, the necessity of complete physical and mental preparation for the task ahead, and the importance of respect for your crew and for yourself. I’ve stayed in touch with a number of my mates from those early years. The Coast Guard motto is “Always Ready,” and we were … but the conflict with Cuba never evolved into all-out war. I served my tour of duty in peacetime, completing my service just before the Vietnam War got underway. My uncle, Fred Simpson, Jr., was a merchant marine during World War II and saw wartime action. He I SERVED MY TOUR OF DUTY IN PEACETIME, COMPLETING MY SERVICE JUST BEFORE THE VIETNAM WAR GOT UNDERWAY. 40 SPRING 2024 THE LONG BLUE LINE
shared many of his experiences with me. I also had a number of friends who served in the military in the Vietnam War. Some of them gave their lives in service. I have a profound feeling of gratitude for those men and women who have served in wartime … and I also appreciate the strength and indomitable spirit of their families … who stayed at home waiting for their loved ones to return … sometimes having to meet the challenge of ultimate loss … or the challenges of rehabilitation after debilitating injury. I pray that these national heroes and their families are fully appreciated by their fellow Americans, and that we make sure their service to protect and defend us is respected and does not go unrecognized. Returning war veterans need to feel the care and attention they deserve. We need to assure their good physical and mental health, to assist them in finding comfortable living accommodations for themselves and their families, and to help them find work in the civilian community if that is what they desire. THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 41
Page 1 and 2: SPRING 2024 ACTION NEEDED TO CONTIN
Page 3 and 4: THE LONG BLUE LINE SPRING 2024 3
Page 7 and 8: I have said time and again, as we p
Page 9 and 10: MCPO LLOYD PIERCE: Spring has sprun
Page 11 and 12: I’m joined by RADM Merrie Austin,
Page 13 and 14: GLACIER REUNION SAVE THE DATE LOCAT
Page 15 and 16: USCGC STORIS U.S. COAST GUARD VETER
Page 17 and 18: NEVER TOO LATE: A CASE OF MISTAKEN
Page 23 and 24: Somehow, someway the placard was re
Page 25 and 26: How does the Coast Guard celebrate
Page 29 and 30: Get Your NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEU
Page 31 and 32: This is what we are known for. This
Page 33 and 34: We are prototyping unmanned systems
Page 35 and 36: the Polar Security Cutter. This is
Page 39: A FAMILY AFFAIR By Beau Bridges In
Page 43 and 44: HONOR. ENGAGE. EDUCATE. INSPIRE. JO
Page 45 and 46: Festivals held in Grand Haven, Mich
Page 47 and 48: Prior to opening his highly recogni
Page 51 and 52: AUXILIARY Auxiliarists who possess
Page 53 and 54: The Coast Guard and Coast Guard Aux
Page 55 and 56: Because of this, there are now more
Page 57 and 58: hands-on training by certified AUXC
Page 61 and 62: Meanwhile, the two leading ships of
Page 63 and 64: In 1961, the Raymond Loewy and Will
Page 67 and 68: In the military, and in the Coast G
Page 69 and 70: Petty Officer 2nd Class Van Alstyne
Page 71 and 72: eassured Van Alstyne. He told her i
Page 73 and 74: RESERVE Chief Warrant Officer Antho
Page 75 and 76: ! FERNANDEZ HIDALGO, CARLOS FIKE, B
Page 77 and 78: TINSTMAN, LAWRENCE TISCHER, JACE TO
Page 81 and 82: BOYLE, DAVID SHAKER HEIGHTS, OH CDR
Page 83 and 84: FRIER, WALTER GARLAND, TX YNC RET.
Page 85 and 86: MIZELLE, TIMOTHY COLERAIN, NC SKCS
Page 87 and 88: TAPS TURNER, THERON DEPTFORD, NJ CW
Page 89 and 90: NOAA TAPS ALDERMAN, RICHARD TUCSON,
Page 91 and 92:
CHAPLAIN'S CORNER EMBRACE EVERY SEA
Page 93 and 94:
NEW USCG RETIREE MENTORING & TRANSI
Page 95 and 96:
COAST GUARD LEGAL ASSISTANCE Coast
Page 97 and 98:
CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER, RETIREE
Page 99 and 100:
All other inquiries: osgli.osgli@pr
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The Long Blue Line (Spring 2024)

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