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The Long Blue Line (FALL 2025)

The Coast Guard quarterly magazine filled with gripping stories, history, and important information for Coast Guard retirees.

The Coast Guard quarterly magazine filled with gripping stories, history, and important information for Coast Guard retirees.

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FALL 2025

INSIDE THE

EXHIBITS

THE LEGEND

OF THE DIXIE

BURGER

A MASTERPIECE IN

THE MAKING:

FROM

MYSTIC TO

BEACON

HILL


FALL 2025

Editor In Chief: Patti Fazio

Managing Editor: Scott McGuire

Art Director/Graphic Designer:

Scott McGuire

CG Retiree Services Program

Manager: Bob Hinds, USCG CWO4

(Ret.), Honorary CG MCPO

Staff Writers: MCPO Jeff

Creighton, USCG (Ret.)

Contributing Writers: Renee

Coleman, National Coast Guard

Museum Director of Public Affairs

Editorial Support: Catherine Janney,

Theresa Mullin

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,

125 Eugene O'Neill Drive, Suite 300,

New London, CT 06320

ADVERTISING:

Pentagon Publishing, Inc.

2342 Oak Rd.

Snellville, GA 30078

Contact Jenny White,

jenny@pentagon-usa.us

PAST ISSUES:

Current and past issues of The Long

Blue Line (formerly The Retiree

Newsletter) are accessible at:

www.longblueline.org

Current Coast Guard News is

accessible at www.news.uscg.mil

You may sign up for CG news

updates at https://public.

govdelivery.com/accounts/

USDHSCG/subscriber/

new?category_id=USDHSCG_

C18ou

ON THE COVER:

The steel-beam construction of the

National Coast Guard Museum in

New London marks a major turning

point in the project, signaling the

transition from foundational work to

vertical development. Construction

crews raised the first structural

steel beams on August 4, 2005,

firmly setting the frame of what will

become a five‐story, approximately

80,000‐square‐foot building.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4

6

8

10

14

22

26

30

36

44

50

58

64

72

82

84

86

88

90

95

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Message From the Director

National Retiree Council Co-Chairs

National Retiree Council Co-Chairs, Regional Retiree

Council Contacts

Steel Beams, Concrete & Cranes

Reunions, Notices & Items of Interest

Legend of the Dixie Burger: A sea story of the USS Dixie in

Vietnam

Why We Give

Exhibits in Progress: Learn more about upcoming exhibits in

the future National Coast Guard Museum

From Mystic to Beacon Hill: A masterpiece in the making

Portraits of Service: Meaningful stories from shipmates

CAPT Francis Martin: The most ancient of “ancient mariners”

with 63 years of service!

EXRAP Modernizes and Streamlines Training for

Maritime Enforcement Reservists

Retirement Notices

TAPS Notices

Chaplain's Corner

Historic Investment for U.S. Coast Guard

VA Benefits & Claims

Transition Assistance Program

PPC-RAS

Other Important Retiree Resources

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

mil. For Long Blue Line mailing address updates, please contact the National Coast Guard Museum Association at

860-443-4200 or info@coastguardmuseum.org

• 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, Winter (JAN) 2026, is 24 NOV 2025.

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

Guard Museum Association, 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.

2 FALL 2025

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THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

3


MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

A MESSAGE FROM

THE DIRECTOR

As the new Assistant Commandant for Workforce Management (CG-WM), Retire Services

Program Director, and Executive Agent for the CG National Retiree Council (CGNRC), I was

pleased to host the virtual annual meeting of the CGNRC in early September. It was an honor

to present Mrs. Lula Carpenter the Meritorious Public Service Award for her exemplary volunteer

service as CGNRC Annuitant-at-Large, Capital Area Retiree Council Secretary, and Retiree Liaison

for the CG Spouses’ Club of Washington DC.

I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the CGNRC, ably

led by retired RADM Meredith Austin and MCPOCG Jason

Vanderhaden, the Regional Retiree Councils, CWOA, and CPOA

for helping to make this year’s CGNRC meeting another success. I

greatly appreciate Captain John Henry, CO PPC, for his continued

partnership in supporting the CGNRC and for the enormous

level and quality of work performed by his staff throughout major

manpower shortages and other emerging challenges—BZ!

I’m committed to supporting the Council’s mission to “Sustain

an open line of communication between the Commandant

and the CG Retiree Community.” The recently published CG

MILITARY PERSONNEL ESTATE PLANNING & FINAL AFFAIRS

HANDBOOK offers a timely example of mission success. After

learning of the chronic difficulties experienced by “survivors” in

managing final affairs upon the passing of their retiree spouse, the

CGNRC identified the need for this resource – championed by the

late RADM Michael “Joe” Raymond and developed by CG PPC,

the CGNRC, and Retiree Services Program Manager. The topics

addressed in the handbook, accessible at the link above, are of

importance to the entire CG workforce.

“On June 25, 2025, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi

Noem, approved the USCG Force Design 2028 Execution Plan

that will drive transformational changes throughout

our Coast Guard,” said Acting Commandant ADM

Kevin Lunday. My ASK of the retiree community is

to become familiar with the plan, offer comments,

and remain engaged in its execution, particularly the

People Campaign, helping to “increase our ranks by

at least 15,000 members by the end of 2028 to restore

readiness, support new assets, and counter emerging

threats.” Always Ready, Always Forward.

My POC is Mr. Robert Hinds, Retiree Services Program

Manager (WMM-23) at Robert.C.Hinds@uscg.mil.

Sincerely,

Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant

Assistant Commandant for Workforce Management

CG MILITARY

PERSONNEL ESTATE

PLANNING & FINAL

AFFAIRS HANDBOOK

USCG FORCE DESIGN

2026 EXECUTION PLAN

4 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

5


NATIONAL RETIREE

COUNCIL CO-CHAIRS

RADM MERRIE AUSTIN, USCG (RET.):

We have passed the autumnal equinox as the

Earth continues its journey around the sun. Football

season is fi rmly in session, as is sweater season,

and my warm fuzzy boots are out of storage, just

waiting for the next cold snap. This summer has

been a very dynamic time for the Coast Guard,

and your CG National Retirees Council (CGNRC)

is keeping up with the changes so we can keep

everyone informed.

We held our annual CGNRC meeting in September.

The meeting was held virtually this year, and we

hope we’re able to meet in person again in the

future. I want to thank RDML Zeita Merchant,

Assistant Commandant for Workforce Management

(CG-WM) and her staff for their assistance and

hospitality in hosting the meeting and providing

computer support.

I’ll sum up some of the highlights of the meeting

below:

• First, we kicked off the meeting by recognizing

the great work done by our CGNRC Annuitantat-Large

Mrs. Lula Carpenter over the past 15

years. Mrs. Carpenter was presented with the

CG Meritorious Public Service Award for “her

extraordinary achievements and substantial

contributions to the Coast Guard and its retiree

community." Lula has been a strong advocate

for the Retiree and Annuitant communities,

ensuring their concerns were heard and their

issues were addressed. I wish Lula Fair Winds

on her upcoming travels and visits with her

family. Thank you, Lula, you will be missed!

• We had a good update from CAPT Henry,

the CO of PPC. They are working hard to

reduce AEW backlogs which unfortunately

have crept up this past year. There was a lot

of information passed but the bottom line is

PPC-RAS (Retiree & Annuitant Services) has

staffi ng shortages which they are working on

fi lling as fast as they are able and at the same

time, they had a significant increase in PPC’s

overall workload which was exacerbated by

the workforce gaps. Unfortunately, they do

not control how quickly new employees can

be hired, but Headquarters is aware of the

staffi ng shortages and have made it a priority

to get these positions fi lled. As a result, the

AEW backlogs should start coming down

soon. CAPT Henry also told us that there are

some changes coming to how we all sign in

to Direct Access which will add another layer

of security for our accounts—more details will

be provided once we get them. I want to thank

CAPT Henry and his staff for their continued

support of our community.

• Finally, we had a session with Mr. Sean

Plankey, the Senior Advisor to the Secretary

of Homeland Security, the Acting Commandant

ADM Kevin Lunday and the Master Chief Petty

Offi cer of the Coast Guard Phillip Waldron

who gave us an update on the Coast Guard’s

way forward. The CG received a signifi cant

budget this summer of almost $25 Billion.

This investment will be used to procure new

cutters and new aircraft while modernizing

shore infrastructure and maritime surveillance

systems. As the Service continues to work

on the goals of Force Design 2028 (FD-28)

(which can be found at https://www.uscg.

mil/leadership/commandants-initiatives/

forcedesign2028/), it will work to increase

the size of the Coast Guard by at least 15,000

additional members by the end of 2028.

As we learn of more changes that may affect the

Retiree and Annuitant communities, we will share

them with you. In the meantime, enjoy some apple

cider and be careful when raking leaves.

6 FALL 2025

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Thoughts on retirement:

“Retirement, a time to do what you want to do, when you want

to do it, where you want to do it, and how you want to do it.”

—Catherine Pulsifer

MCPOCG JASON VANDERHADEN, USCG (RET):

Now that football season has started, the mood of

the nation changes and many of us have something

to look forward to each weekend. As I type this, fall

is coming and I’m looking forward to cooler weather.

By the time you’re reading this, we have probably

had some challenges getting a budget passed

or a continuing resolution. These situations can

lead to stress and anxiety for some people so be

vigilant to those who might need reassurance and

know that Coast Guard leadership cares about the

retiree community. If you know someone in need,

please pass those concerns up through the retiree

council representatives or the Chief Petty Officers

Association. The Coast Guard’s retired pay system

changed a few years ago so our pay is protected by

the Military Retirement Fund (MRF), with CG military

retired pay & benefits, including TRICARE allotments,

continuing throughout a lapse in appropriations

(government shut down).

As Admiral Austin said in her comments,

we held the annual retiree council meeting,

and I want to echo her gratitude to all

involved and Coast Guard leadership for

taking the time to listen to the council and

answer questions. It was a very productive

meeting, facilitated by Bob Hinds, and we

accomplished a lot. Our next steps are to prioritize the

work that still needs to be done and begin resolving

the next set of challenges. Thank you, Bob, for your

tireless work supporting the retiree community. The

worklist items for the retiree council come from our

retiree community, the council doesn’t come up with

issues on their own. If you would like to help or be

involved in the retiree council, please reach out to

your closest representative and find out how you can

help. We have a retiree help desk that could use

some volunteers.

Enjoy the fall weather and hopefully your team is

doing well. There isn’t much we can do about the

workings of government, but we can enjoy the

blessings of our great Country.

Semper Paratus!

MCPOCG Jason Vanderhaden, USCG (Ret.):

jvanderhaden@gmail.com

RADM Merrie Austin, USCG (Ret.):

maustincgnrc@gmail.com

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

7


IMPORTANT RESOURCES

CG NATIONAL RETIREE COUNCIL /

REGIONAL RETIREE COUNCILS & CO-CHAIRS

CGNRC CO-CHAIRS

CAPITAL AREA

CENTRAL GULF

COAST/ATC (MOBILE)

RADM Meredith Austin

maustincgnrc@gmail.com

MCPOCG Jason Vanderhaden

jvanderhaden@gmail.com

David Bernstein

dberns01@gmail.com

John Milkiewicz

locke45@hotmail.com

Charlie Womack

chwomack@gmail.com

NORTHWEST

SAN JUAN, PR

SECTOR OHIO VALLEY

RADM Bert Kinghorn

CoChairs@cgretirenw.org

Sean McPhilamy

CoChairs@cgretirenw.org

Jose Baltar

uscg.sj.rc@gmail.com

jfbalzac@aol.com

Wilfredo Rodriguez

rodriguez.w1957@gmail.com

James Armstrong

james_armstrong@bellsouth.net

CHARLESTON

Ray Bryant

basecharlestonrrc@gmail.com

Timothy Schneider

basecharlestonrrc@gmail.com

SOUTHWEST

Joseph Leonard

jleonard83@aol.com

Eric Pugh

eric.pugh12@outlook.com

GREAT LAKES

Lorne Thomas

lorne.w.thomas@uscg.mil

James Bach

uw_jimmy@yahoo.com

ST. LOUIS

Keith Livingstone

bassbolt@yahoo.com

SPACE COAST, FL

Jim Reynolds

james.reynolds.cg@gmail.com

TAMPA BAY AREA

Don Goldstein

DGoldstein1@tampabay.rr.com

LeRoy Dennison

LeRoy@dennison.com

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

FIRST CG RETIREES

JACKSONVILLE

HAWAII

KODIAK

MIAMI

NEW ORLEANS

NY, NJ, E.PA

NORTHEAST

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Bobby Wester

bwester2549@aol.com

Rod Schultz

rschultz369@gmail.com

Anthony Lim

hawaiiretiree.cc@gmail.com

Robert Lachowsky

roblachowsky@yahoo.com

John Whiddon

jbwhiddon52@gmail.com

David Cinalli

david.cinalli@yahoo.com

Kathryn Herty

kathryn.herty@gmail.com

Mike Moriarty

khmm@comcast.net

Frank Gorman

Francis.E.Gorman2@uscg.mil

Thomas Hall

tadahall@msn.com

David Swanson

ddswanson@msn.com

YORKTOWN

Rick Gay

rgay@earthlink.net

David Bunch

dcbunch52@verizon.net

Recouncil@TCYYorktown.ucg.mil

You may start or stop mailing of The

Long Blue Line by:

• Contacting the National Coast

Guard Museum Association

(NCGMA) at 860-443-4200 AND

• 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 by

sending an e-mail to ppc-dgcustomercare@uscg.milmail.

8 FALL 2025

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THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

9


STEEL BEAMS,

CONCRETE &

CRANES

It’s been a long time coming—and many of you have heard updates from me over the

years—but today I am thrilled to share the incredible progress on our National Coast

Guard Museum. While the photos you see here show steel beams, concrete, and cranes,

this project is so much more than a building. This is the future home for the entire Coast

Guard community—active duty, reservists, auxiliarists, civilians, veterans, families, and

friends. It will be our National Museum, telling our story, honoring our service, and

inspiring generations to come.

I’ve had the privilege of watching this vision take shape from early conversations to the

momentous construction now underway. Each milestone brings us closer to a place

where the proud history, diverse missions, and enduring spirit of the Coast Guard

will be preserved and celebrated. And when the doors open, it will stand as a

testament not only to our 235-year history, but to the people who have made

it all possible—including you.

Thank you for your steadfast commitment, your belief in this project,

and your dedication to the Long Blue Line. The best chapters are

still ahead, and I can’t wait for us to walk through those Museum

doors together.

With deepest respect and Semper Paratus,

Vince Patton, MCPOCG, USCG (Ret.)

Chief of the Mess

National Coast Guard Museum Association

10 FALL 2025

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11


BUILDING

HISTORY, BEAM

BY BEAM

The steel framework of the National Coast Guard

Museum is now taking shape along the downtown

New London waterfront. This key phase of construction

marks the transition from months of foundational work

to a visible structure that will soon rise fi ve stories

and span over 80,000 square feet. Each column and

crossbeam brings us one step closer to opening a

world-class museum—one that will share the story of

America’s Coast Guard, honor its heroes, and inspire

future generations.

12 FALL 2025

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National Coast Guard Museum Association photo

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

13


REUNIONS, NOTICES &

ITEMS OF INTEREST

RESCUE: TRUE STORIES OF THE U.S.

LIFE-SAVING SERVICE

AUTHOR: JOHN J GALLUZZO

The men of the old U.S. Life-Saving Service have

often been called “America’s Forgotten Heroes.”

Active from 1871 to 1915, these brave individuals

have largely faded from public memory, overlooked

by both historians and the general public.

Yet their story is powerful and deeply inspiring—

one that deserves to be told again and again. There

is always something to learn from their courage,

perseverance, and raw determination.

Known as the “Storm Warriors” and “Heroes of the

Surf,” these men faced ferocious winds and crashing

waves, often at great personal risk, to rescue those

stranded in shipwrecks.

Their unofficial motto was: “Regulations say we have

to go out. They say nothing about coming back.”

It was a promise they honored each time they

launched their small surfboats into storm-tossed

seas. Many never returned—sacrificing their own

lives so that others might live.

Rescue: True Stories of the U.S. Life-Saving

Service: John J Galluzzo: 9781892384591: Amazon.

com: Books

USCGC SHERMAN (WHEC-720): 25-YEAR

REUNION FOR 2000 AND 2001 CREWS

LOCATION: SILVER LEGACY RESORT & CASINO

IN RENO, NEVADA

DATES: MAY 8–9, 2026

The 2000 and 2001 crews of USCGC Sherman

(WHEC-720) are holding a 25-year reunion to

celebrate our Persian Gulf and circumnavigation

deployment.

If you served aboard at any time during 2000 or 2001

and would like to attend, please contact Ed Semler

at mkcm378@gmail.com for details on registration,

the event program, and hotel accommodations.

14 FALL 2025

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REUNIONS, NOTICES &

ITEMS OF INTEREST

HAUNTING CAPE HENRY

AUTHOR: ANGIE JOHNSON PRICE –

COAST GUARD VETERAN, WIDOW OF

USCG RETIREE

"My memories from serving in the U.S.

Coast Guard and my first station after

boot camp—the lighthouse."

https://www.amazon.com/Haunting-

Henry-Angie-Johnson-Price/dp/

B0F5WYVMTM

GOVERNORS ISLAND REUNION

LOCATION: GOVERNORS ISLAND, NY

TENTATIVE DATE: AUGUST 1-2, 2026

Calling all Coast Guard officers, enlisted, civilians,

Coast Guard auxiliary personnel, and family!

Mark your calendars to join the Coast Guard 30th

Anniversary Commemorative Team and GI Brats for

the celebration of 30 years since the U. S. Coast

Guard departed the great landmark, Governors

Island, also known as the “Rock”.

The Coast Guard 30th Anniversary Commemorative

Team will be taking registration for the event at Evite

or Punch bowl. The Official event is scheduled to

start at 10:00 on Governor’s Island with an official

Coast Guard ceremony and guest speakers. More

information about Governors Island can be found at

the following link: info@govisland.org

To all who have lived, played, or served on the

Island, this is a wonderful opportunity to reminisce

and remember the good times on Governors Island.

Remember the old sign: “Last one off, turn off the

lights and lock the door.”

Please help spread the word!

Contacts: Leon G. Patterson, SCPO (Ret.)

lgpatterson37@gmail.com

or Susan Chaney

gibrathomecoming@gmail.com.

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REUNIONS, NOTICES &

ITEMS OF INTEREST

PAVER INSTALLATION AT THE NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM

RECOGNIZING CAREER COAST GUARD WOMEN OFFICERS OF THE 1970S

Join in to pay tribute to the courageous and pioneering

women who broke barriers and built careers in the U.S.

Coast Guard during the 1970s—a transformative

decade for military service.

We are proud to announce a group paver installation

dedicated to the "Career Coast Guard Women

officers of the 1970s." These commemorative pavers

will be prominently placed at the main entrance of

the future National Coast Guard Museum, along the

Argus Promenade beside the historic Thames River

in New London, Connecticut.

CALLING COAST GUARD WOMEN CAREER

OFFICERS OF THE 1970S

We have identified 62 names, which we believe is

a complete list of women who retired as regular or

reserve officers, after being commissioned in the

1970s, including a few SPAR officers who were still

active in the 1970s and who interacted with and

inspired new women officers. On the list are officers

who came through Officer Candidate School,

beginning in 1973, or were commissioned via other

reserve routes, and either integrated and retired

as regular officers or ended up retiring as reserve

officers.

Your participation and financial support will help

enshrine their names, stories, service, and sacrifices

of these trailblazing women for generations to come.

Whether you served, served alongside them, or

simply believe in honoring their contributions, this is

your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Help us ensure these women are never forgotten.

Email info@coastguardmuseum.org or call (860)

443-4200 to ensure your name or that of someone

you wish to honor is included.

18 FALL 2025

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THE TENNESSEE

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

The Tennessee Special Olympics 2025 Summer

Games were held in Nashville at the Reese Smith

Athletic Complex at Lipscomb Academy.

Coast Guard Annuitant Mrs. Eve Buero, widow of

BMCM Frank Petit Buero, USCG (Ret), was honored

as the Special Olympics Tennessee Coach of the

Year, with Special Olympics Tennessee expressing

pride and gratitude for her dedication as a coach.

She serves with the Smoky Mountain Region

Special Olympics, Area 33 TN.

Eve’s daughter Sunny Buero, below left, won first

place in her aquatic event.

The mission of Special Olympics is to provide yearround

sports training and athletic competition in a

variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults

with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing

opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate

courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing

of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other

Special Olympics athletes and the community.

https://www.specialolympics.org/about/mission

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REUNIONS, NOTICES &

ITEMS OF INTEREST

NEXT GENERATION UNIFORMED SERVICES ID CARD

All Uniformed Services Retirees & Annuitants are

required to replace their paper-based Uniformed

Services Identification (USID) card with a Next

Generation USID card by December 31, 2025,

including those with a paper-based card containing

an extended or INDEFINITE expiration date.

Retirees, Annuitants, and sponsors of eligible

dependents can request replacement of USID cards

on-line, which are mailed upon approval; with no inperson

appointment necessary, as described at Online

Uniformed Service Identification Card Renewal

Pilot (https://www.cac.mil/Next-Generation-

Uniformed-Services-ID-Card/Renewing-Online/).

To make an in-person appointment to replace a USID

card, see the list of RAPIDS facilities at ID Card Office

Online (https://idco.dmdc.osd.mil/idco/)

For questions regarding any of the information above,

please contact the DMDC Contact Center at 800-

538-9552.

Important Notes:

• The Next

Generation

USID card

additionally

contains an important benefits number used by

TRICARE, as described at Showing Your ID to

Providers | TRICARE (https://www.tricare.mil/

Plans/Eligibility/IDCards/ShowingYourID)

• For questions regarding TRICARE, please contact

the TRICARE contractor for your region. See View

All Phone Numbers | TRICARE

• As always, you should maintain current/accurate

information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility

Reporting System (DEERS) through milConnect

(https://milconnect.dmdc.osd.mil/milconnect/)

or by contacting the DMDC Contact Center 800-

538-9552.

MILITARY ONESOURCE

ALCOAST 357/25 – Transition to Military

OneSource for USCG Service Members https://

content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/

bulletins/3ee5baf

The CG is pleased to announce to all CG active

duty and Selected Reserve service members, DoD

and U.S. Public Health Service military personnel

assigned to the USCG, and their dependents

that effective August 19, 2025, the CG will begin

transitioning to Military OneSource under the

Department of Defense for its contracted

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and

work-life services (EAP services).

Eligibility for Military OneSource Services

• Retired and discharged Coast Guard

members (if discharged honorably) and

their immediate family members until 365

days past end of tour of service, retirement date

or discharge date.

• If you’re 365 days past end of tour of service,

retirement date or discharge date, contact

the Veterans Affairs for benefi ts and services.

For questions about this transition of support,

contact Military OneSource at 800-342-9647 or

via live chat.

https://www.militaryonesource.mil

20 FALL 2025

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NO CASH...

NO PROBLEM

ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM

• Gift stocks or appreciated assets. Ensures your full stock’s value aids the cause, bypassing capital gains

tax. This maximizes your contribution, supporting the Museum’s mission effectively.

• A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). If you're 70.5 or older, QCDs allow tax-efficient, direct fund

transfers from your IRA, benefitting your tax scenario and our Museum.

• Make a “grant” via your Donor-Advised Fund (DAF). This offers an immediate tax benefit for your

charitable contribution, enabling sustained philanthropic giving.

There are many ways to support the Museum, including a bequest in your will.

Help us preserve and share the incredible Coast Guard history. Learn more at:

www.cgmuseumassociation.org/how-to-make-a-gift/

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21


The

Legend

of the

22 FALL 2025

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MIDNIGHT CHOW

A SEA STORY OF THE USS DIXIE IN VIETNAM

By: MCPO Jeff Creighton, USCG (Ret.)

A klaxon blared as massive hangar doors closed. In the

shimmering heat of the South China Sea during the Vietnam

War—where danger and exhaustion weighed heavy on every

sailor, Marine, and Coast Guardsman—there was a floating

sanctuary unlike any other: the USS Dixie (AD-14), a destroyer

tender with a secret weapon. Not torpedoes or cannons—but

hamburgers.

Nicknamed the “Mother Hen” of the fleet, Dixie was often moored

in Subic Bay or anchored off the coast of Da Nang, tending to

the battle-worn destroyers and cutters that limped in from coastal

patrols, interdiction missions, or naval gunfire support operations.

With expansive machine shops and repair teams, Dixie could

breathe life back into ships that had seen hell. For many weary

service members, the real magic of the Dixie came at night—

around midnight—when the air was thick with salt and diesel and

the smell of sizzling beef drifted across the deck.

Word spread fast across the fleet: Dixie was serving “Dixie

Burgers.”

These weren’t your run-of-the-mill galley rations. These were

thick, greasy, flame-kissed burgers loaded with sharp cheddar,

onions, pickles, and a smear of yellow mustard—handed out

on toasted buns to anyone lucky enough to be aboard or tied

up alongside. On many nights, long after official chow lines had

closed, sailors, Coasties, and Marines would file up to a makeshift

counter on the mess deck, metal trays in hand, drawn like moths

to the red glow of the grill.

Legend has it the tradition started almost by accident—likely

thanks to an unnamed commissaryman aboard Dixie who

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decided one night to fry up a few burgers for

the mid-watch. Someone found an old jukebox

speaker and wired it to play rock and roll

classics. Elvis, Little Richard, and Sam Cooke

crackled through the passageways. The smell,

the music, and the taste brought a strange kind

of joy. A few destroyer sailors wandered over.

Then more. Soon, Coast Guardsmen from

nearby cutters and buoy tenders stopped in

when tied up for repairs or resupply. By the

next week, it was a nightly ritual.

Marines from shore parties in Da Nang started

making liberty runs just for the burgers.

Helicopter pilots with the “Seawolves” and

Coast Guard aviators from the air detachment

at Binh Thuy—some flying dangerous search

and rescue missions—would buzz in low and

fast, grabbing a burger before returning to the

skies. If you knew someone on Dixie, you might

score a pass. If not, you had to beg or barter.

Either way, it was worth it.

Dixie Burgers became more than just a meal—

they were a symbol. A taste of America, served

hot and greasy in a place where everything

else was loud, lethal, and uncertain. Some said

the burgers tasted like home. Others joked

they were the Navy’s best-kept secret. Sailors

and Coast Guardsmen often scribbled “Dixie

Burger Run” in their logbooks next to late-night

entries. A Marine once mailed a grease-stained

napkin home to his fiancée, claiming it was

“better than roses.”

By 1970, Dixie had become a legend—not

just for its service, but also for its galley.

Commanding officers made it a priority to keep

the ship stocked with ground beef and buns,

even when rations were scarce. Rear Admiral

Elmo Zumwalt himself reportedly smiled when

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offered one during a visit, saying, “Now this is

how you win hearts and minds.”

The USS Dixie was eventually decommissioned

in 1982, but the stories lived on—shared in

VFW halls, American Legion posts, Coast

Guard reunions, and chief’s messes—passed

down to new recruits and in the quiet smiles

of aging veterans, remembering the taste of a

warm burger in the midst of a cold, brutal war.

Because sometimes, even in war, salvation

comes not from steel or strategy—but from a

simple burger, grilled with care, served with

a side of music and memory. While specific

details about the recipe or preparation of

Dixie Burgers are not readily available, their

mention in official ship records and personal

recollections underscores their significance in

the daily rhythm of life aboard the USS Dixie

during Vietnam.

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The National Coast Guard Museum is more

than a building—it is the embodiment of

honor, sacrifice, and service. It will stand

as a permanent tribute to the men and women of the

United States Coast Guard who have safeguarded

our nation’s waters and people for generations. This

year, two remarkable Coast Guard veterans—Captain

Kenneth D. Appleton, USCGR (Ret.) and BMC Todd

Rule, USCG (Ret.)—are serving as year-end matching

gift donors. Both men believe so profoundly in this

mission that they are challenging others to join them

in ensuring the Coast Guard’s story is preserved for

generations to come.

KENNETH D. APPLETON, USCGR (RET.):

GIVING BACK TO THE SERVICE THAT GAVE

HIM EVERYTHING

For Kenneth Appleton, the Coast Guard was more

than a career—it was a calling that shaped his life

across 26 years of service. Entering during the

draft era, he began as Assistant Director of the

Coast Guard Auxiliary in the 7th District and went

on to hold critical leadership positions across the

nation and in Hawaii, culminating as Chief of the

Readiness Division at Coast Guard Headquarters.

His work spanned reserve mobilization, readiness,

war and contingency planning, and even a recall

to active duty after retirement to serve as liaison to

the Department of Defense.

“The Coast Guard provided me with the most

rewarding career I could imagine,” Appleton

reflects. “It is my turn to give something back.”

For Appleton, supporting the Museum is both deeply

personal and profoundly historic. He emphasizes

that the Coast Guard remains the only branch of the

legacy Armed Services without a national museum

dedicated to preserving its legacy.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is the last of the legacy

Armed Services to have its own museum dedicated

as a memorial to all who served,” he says. “This

Museum will finally give our Service the recognition

it deserves.”

Appleton also gives in memory of his father, who

served aboard the cutter Taney during World War

II. His father’s quiet bravery—once describing

a kamikaze attack that nearly struck his ship as

simply being “kind of busy that day”—left a lasting

impression of duty, humility, and sacrifice.

“I don’t want our heroes ever to be forgotten,”

Appleton explains. “Everyone who has served in

the Coast Guard already knows our rich and proud

history. Now it’s time to make sure the rest of the

world does too.”

THE U.S. COAST GUARD IS THE LAST OF THE ARMED

SERVICES TO HAVE ITS OWN MUSEUM DEDICATED

AS A MEMORIAL TO ALL WHO SERVED.

—KENNETH D. APPLETON, USCGR (RET.)

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MY WORST DAY IN THE COAST GUARD WAS GREAT. IN OTHER

WORDS, THERE WERE NO BAD DAYS IN THE COAST GUARD.

—BMC TODD RULE, USCG (RET.)

BMC TODD RULE, USCG (RET.):

A CHIEF’S CHALLENGE TO THE NEXT

GENERATION

For Boatswain’s Mate Chief Todd Rule, pride in

service is etched into every memory of his 22-year

Coast Guard career. From cutters like the Acushnet

and Dependable to posts in New Orleans and

Gulfport, Rule lived the Coast Guard’s missions—

saving lives, protecting property, and serving

alongside shipmates who became lifelong friends.

“The Coast Guard shaped my adult life,” Rule says.

“I grew in ways I never knew were possible. My

worst day in the Coast Guard was great. In other

words, there were no bad days in the Coast Guard.”

One of his proudest moments was achieving the

rank of Chief Petty Officer, a responsibility he

carries with immense pride. To this day, his unique

CCTI hat box remains a personal symbol of that

achievement and the camaraderie of the Chief’s

community.

“Making Chief was my proudest moment,” Rule

recalls. “That achievement represented not just my

career, but the bond I share with every Chief in this

great service.”

Now retired, Rule continues to live by the Chief’s

creed of leadership, mentorship, and service. That’s

why he’s stepping forward as a matching gift donor

and issuing a personal challenge:

“I wish to challenge all Chiefs to give to our National

Coast Guard Museum,” Rule says, “where our legacy

will be forged for eternity—for the world to see on

display, the finest sea-going service in the world.”

A CALL TO ACTION

Both CAPT Appleton and BMC Rule believe in the transformative power of this

Museum. It will be a place of education, inspiration and remembrance—a home where

Coast Guard families, veterans, and future generations can come to understand the proud

history of the Service.

By serving as matching gift donors this year, they are multiplying the impact of every

contribution. Their generosity doubles the power of giving, ensuring that the Coast Guard’s

story is told with the dignity, honor, and permanence it deserves.

As the year comes to a close, they ask you to join them. Step forward. Give back. And help

open the doors to a Museum that will preserve the legacy of the Coast Guard for centuries

to come.

Because when we give, we ensure that no hero is ever forgotten.

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the

NATIONAL COAST GUARD MUSEUM ASSOCIATION'S

MATCHING CHALLENGE

DOUBLE YOUR

IMPACT

FREE TOTE

WITH GIFT

OF $60 OR

MORE

$100,000 Matching Gift Challenge

From now until December 31, 2025, BMC Todd Rule, USCG (Ret.)

and CAPT Kenneth D. Appleton, USCGR (Ret.) will match all gifts

from supporters like you up to a total of $100,000!

Make your contribution today to ensure your gift will be

doubled in value!

cgmuseumassociation.org/year-end

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EXHIBITS IN PROGRESS

National Coast Guard Museum Director of Public Affairs Renee Coleman

sits down with Museum Director of Programs and Exhibits James Brundage

and Museum Curator Gabe Christy as they highlight three select exhibit

spaces that will reside within the decks of the upcoming National Coast

Guard Museum.

GET TO KNOW:

FORCE PROTECTION

AT HOME

DECK 3: SECURITY

WING: ENFORCERS ON THE SEA &

DEFENDERS OF OUR NATION

1942–Today

Significance to the Coast Guard: “As we develop the

exhibits, we look for stories that allow us to explore

the numerous ways the Coast Guard continues to

protect the American people. Often overlooked, the

Coast Guard K9 program has long been a staple in

serving that purpose,” James Brundage, director of

programs and exhibits for the National Coast Guard

Museum, said. “Coast Guard K9s are single-purpose

explosive detection dogs. These dogs have played

a huge role in port security, vessel searches and

special event security, and their story helps illuminate

the many facets of Coast Guard Force Protection.”

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GET TO KNOW:

THE FOG SIGNAL

CANNON

DECK 4: STEWARDSHIP

WING: CHAMPIONS OF COMMERCE

Circa: Mid to late 18th Century

Significance to the Coast Guard: “This cannon was used from the early 18th century

through the 19th century as a signal to vessels in Boston Harbor when weather

conditions made it difficult to see the light on Little Brewster Island,” said Gabe Christy,

curator for the National Coast Guard Museum. “Merchant vessels sailing through fog or

heavy weather could listen for the cannon’s boom to know when they were approaching

the often-dangerous islands around Boston harbor, helping them to make a safe

passage into one of early America’s busiest ports.”

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GET TO KNOW:

CAPT PATRICIA

MCFETRIDGE

DECK 4: SAFETY

WING: LIFESAVERS AROUND THE GLOBE

Circa: 1990s

Significance to the Coast Guard: “She is an inspirational figure in Coast

Guard aviation,” said James Brundage, director of programs and exhibits for

the National Coast Guard Museum. “At this point in Coast Guard history—as

the service was transitioning to the HH-60 Jayhawk—she cemented herself

as a highly successful and adaptable aviator, earning a Distinguished Flying

Cross and flying both fixed winged and rotary aircraft.

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FROM

MYSTIC TO

BEACON

HILL:

A MASTERPIECE IN THE MAKING

(PART 1)

By: Scott McGuire

On a bright morning in late August, Russ

Kramer stands before a large canvas in

his temporary studio in downtown Mystic,

Connecticut. With a painter’s palette and brushes

in hand, he casually dabs burnt umber, ultramarine

blue, and titanium white oil paint onto a painting titled

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts—Birthplace of

the United States Coast Guard.

Measuring eight feet wide and just over eight feet

high, the canvas dominates the room, stretching

from just above the baseboard to the ceiling. While

it commands the space in the studio, its scale is

well-suited for its intended home: the Massachusetts

State House.

At this stage, the underpainting on the canvas is fully

roughed in with gray tones, and color is beginning to

emerge in selected areas. The scene is both dramatic

and historically rich. In the foreground, a small

wooden surfboat is tossed by rough seas as eight

Russ Kramer stands in front of his painting, The Commonwealth

of Massachusetts—Birthplace of the United States Coast

Guard, which he is currently completing for the Massachusetts

State House.

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YET RUSS IS CRAFTING

MORE THAN WHAT

IS VISIBLE ON THE

CANVAS—HE INVITES

THE VIEWER TO IMAGINE

THE STORY BEYOND ITS

EDGES.

members of the Massachusetts Humane Society—a

predecessor of the U.S. Life-Saving Service—work

to rescue two individuals from the treacherous water.

The rescuers are shown wearing period-accurate cork

life vests, and one holds a lantern, casting light across

the chaotic scene.

Yet Russ is crafting more than what is visible on

the canvas—he invites the viewer to imagine the

story beyond its edges. At the bow, two rescuers

point toward the distance, preparing to throw

a life ring to additional victims just beyond the

canvas’s boundaries, extending the narrative

into the viewer’s imagination.

In the background of the painting, Boston Light—the

oldest lighthouse in the United States—casts its beam

across the stormy sea. On the horizon, a two-masted,

square-stern schooner sails steadily. This vessel is

the Massachusetts, a United States Revenue Marine

cutter and the first of 10 ships commissioned by

Alexander Hamilton in 1790 for the Revenue Marine

Service, the forerunner of today’s U.S. Coast Guard.

Farther in the distance, faintly visible beneath a murky

sky, the Massachusetts State House rises—anchoring

the composition with a powerful symbol of governance

and history.

The elements of the painting are united by key themes:

the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the early

maritime services that would ultimately evolve into

what is now the United States Coast Guard. These

themes drive both the composition and the purpose

of the painting itself.

In 2000, the Massachusetts Senate and House

approved legislation to create a memorial in the State

House honoring the United States Coast Guard and

its vital role in the Commonwealth’s maritime heritage.

The vision was to commission a significant work of art

to be permanently displayed in a visible area of the

historic building.

Efforts quickly began to secure funding, develop an

initial concept, and identify a suitable artist. However,

progress stalled when key supporters of the project

moved on before the artwork could be officially

commissioned.

Fast forward to 2023 when a special ad hoc

committee was assembled to revive the project. The

17-member group brought together Coast Guard

personnel, historians, maritime art experts, legislators,

State House officials, and representatives from

Massachusetts organizations including the Humane

Society and the Coast Guard Heritage Museum in

Barnstable.

The committee launched a thorough and competitive

search to identify an exceptionally skilled maritime

artist for the commission.

Enter Russ Kramer. Russ, a self-taught painter widely

recognized as one of the nation’s leading marine

artists, was selected in December 2024 from more

than a dozen artists who submitted their ideas to the

committee to secure the commission.

Although the selection process was highly competitive,

Russ brought a distinguished record of achievement

to the table. In addition to being commissioned for

numerous private maritime works, he has been the

subject of a solo exhibition at the Museum of Yachting

in Newport, Rhode Island. His work has been featured

Detail from one of Russ Kramer’s smaller-scale color studies.

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in WoodenBoat, Yachting, and Sail magazines, and

is prominently included in Art and Artifacts of The

America’s Cup by Hyland-Granby.

Russ is also a Fellow and former President of the

American Society of Marine Artists and has received

multiple honors at the Mystic International Marine Art

Exhibition, including the prestigious Yachting Award

in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2017.

To secure the commission, Russ undertook extensive

preparation. Before beginning the large-scale

painting, he created smaller black-and-white and

color studies. These preliminary works helped convey

his vision to the committee and allowed him to refine

and adjust the composition.

Before beginning any painting, Russ engages in a

meticulous research process, with a strong focus

on historical accuracy and detail—an approach that

is clearly evident in his finished work. This project

was no exception. His studio is filled with stacks

of sketches exploring every aspect of the final

composition.

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BEFORE BEGINNING

ANY PAINTING,

RUSS ENGAGES IN A

METICULOUS RESEARCH

PROCESS, WITH A

STRONG FOCUS ON

HISTORICAL ACCURACY

AND DETAIL.

To ensure accuracy in the figure studies, Russ enlisted

volunteers from the United States Coast Guard

Academy to pose as models. He also constructed

cardboard mockups of the vessel, allowing him to

rotate it in space and capture the correct perspective.

Additionally, he consulted with U.S. Navy Commander

Timothy R. Dring (Ret.), a leading authority on historic

surfboats and other rescue craft used by the U.S. Life

Saving Service and Coast Guard, to further refine the

authenticity of his work.

Russ’s temporary studio sits at the corner of Main and

Pearl Streets in Mystic—a lively, high-traffic spot in the

heart of this quintessential New England town along

the Mystic River. While the location is ideal, the space

is only on loan. His primary studio is just across the

street in a bright yellow building—hard to miss, with

windows filled with vibrant maritime paintings.

After being awarded the commission, Russ realized

he would need a larger workspace to accommodate

the scale of the painting. As luck would have it, a

bookstore that previously occupied the corner

location had recently moved out. The space was

purchased by Lux Bond & Green, a jewelry retailer,

but renovations were not scheduled to begin for

another year. Russ reached out, and they generously

offered him use of the space in the meantime.

Tubes of oil paint and a variety of brushes are spread

across tables beside the large canvas. Around the

studio, several smaller black-and-white mock-ups

and a digitally enlarged print of the color study help

guide Russ as he brings the composition to life on a

grand scale. To the right of the main canvas hangs

a full-scale black-and-white printout of the painting,

complete with a digitally rendered frame. This mockup

also features a visual of the crest—an ornamental

top element often carved or embellished in traditional

frame design.

The frame and crest are being crafted by Cam Bortz

of Mystic Hand Carved Signs, a well-known local

woodcarver located just north of Russ’s studio in

Studies from Russ Kramer’s sketchbook as he researched

the composition for The Commonwealth of Massachusetts—

Birthplace of the United States Coast Guard.

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Pawcatuck, Connecticut. According to Russ, if you've

driven through the area, you've likely passed signs

carved in Cameron’s workshop, even if you didn’t

realize it.

Although the delivery deadline is fast approaching,

Russ paints with calm focus—his confidence rooted

in decades of experience and months of detailed

preparation. Before the end of November, once Russ

completes the painting, it will be carefully folded in

half—thanks to specially designed underlying

stretchers—and shipped to Massachusetts. There, it

will be ceremoniously installed in the State House as

part of a formal unveiling event.

Left: Russ Kramer applies color to the painting, bringing

a wave to life.

Top Right: A smaller color study guides Russ Kramer as

he works on the larger version of the painting.

Bottom Right: A close-up from a black-and-white study

shows a figure at the stern steering the surfboat.

Memorial Committee Co-Chair Ruth Provost explains “When

I noticed that our Coast Guard did not have a presence

in the Massachusetts State House, I filed legislation to

rectify that. This project is long overdue, and it is also an

opportunity for people in the larger community to become

a part of the project and a part of the history of the State

House.” Chair of the National Coast Guard Museum

Association Susan Curtin, and supporter to the Memorial

Committee for the State House Mural adds, “Our Nation’s

story is inseparable from its maritime history, and both the

Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the United States

Coast Guard stand at the heart of that legacy. This mural will

serve as a lasting tribute to all who have served, and we are

deeply honored to help bring this important project to life.”

To learn more about

this important Coast

Guard memorial, visit

cgheritage.org (or

scan the QR code)

and scroll to the

bottom of the page.

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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.

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 at longblueline.org

TELL YOUR STORY!

CAPT George Eric Krietemeyer, USCG (Ret.)

Alabama

In the pre-dawn hush, when the sea murmurs

to the shore, Captain George Eric Krietemeyer,

USCG (Ret.), has stood ready for 32 years,

embodying the Coast Guard’s motto, Semper

Paratus—Always Ready. His life, woven with

courage, honor, and duty, transformed childhood

dreams inspired by John Wayne’s war films into

a career that saved lives, shaped communities,

and preserved history. This portrait explores

the remarkable journey of a Coast Guard officer

whose legacy continues to inspire.

A CALL TO SERVE

Born in the post-World War II era, Krietemeyer

was captivated by cinematic tales of heroism,

dreaming of the Naval Academy. Instead, fate led

him to the United States Coast Guard Academy in

Connecticut, where his path to greatness began.

Graduating with a commitment to protect lives and

safeguard the nation’s waters, he embraced the

Coast Guard’s demanding missions with resilience

and versatility.

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His ambition took him to flight school, where he

mastered both airplanes and helicopters, logging

over 5,000 flight hours. These hours represented

countless missions—search and rescue, maritime

law enforcement, and environmental protection.

Each flight tested his skill and nerve, navigating

stormy skies and treacherous seas to save those

in peril.

A LEADER IN THE SKIES AND BEYOND

Krietemeyer’s career was defined by prestigious

commands that highlighted his leadership. As

Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Aviation

Training Center in Mobile, Alabama, he trained

pilots and air crew, shaping the future of Coast

Guard aviation. His tenure at the Aviation Technical

Training Center in Elizabeth City, North Carolina,

further cemented his reputation. In his final role

as Chief of the Training and Education Division

at Coast Guard Headquarters, he developed

programs that equipped thousands to meet mission

challenges. He was instrumental in establishing a

policy that required all enlisted requiring “A” school

training to be conducted at Coast Guard training

centers vise Navy.

His service earned four Meritorious Service

Medals, symbols of his exceptional leadership

An RD-4 Dolphin on display in the Naval Aviation Museum.

George Krietemeyer played a key role in honoring the

Coast Guard with the development of a 10,000-squarefoot

exhibit in the museum’s Coast Guard wing.

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and dedication. Senator Tommy Tuberville later

likened his courage to John Wayne’s words:

“Courage is being scared to death … and saddling

up anyway.” Krietemeyer saddled up repeatedly,

whether rescuing mariners in storms or leading

complex operations.

A LEGACY BEYOND ACTIVE DUTY

Retirement did not dim Krietemeyer’s passion.

Settling in Mobile, Alabama, for over 30 years

before moving to Opelika, he served as Director

of Organizational Development for the City of

Mobile for a decade, streamlining

government operations with his Coast

Guard ethos of efficiency and service.

As a distinguished Alumni of the Coast

Guard Academy, George also served as

president of the Coast Guard Aviation

Association for 13 years, doubling their

membership and their treasury.

His love for aviation and history found

expression as a 20-year trustee of the

Naval Aviation Museum Foundation.

He played a pivotal role in celebrating

the unveiling a Coast Guard stamp and

establishing a 10,000 square foot Coast

Guard display with nine legacy aircraft

in Hanger Bay One in the museum’s

Coast Guard Wing, where his uniform

is displayed among just three others.

He also spearheaded the HH-3F

Helicopter Exhibit, preserving Coast

Guard aviation history.

Krietemeyer’s commitment to honoring

the fallen has been profound. As

a commissioner for the Battleship

Alabama Memorial Park, he led a

campaign to erect a monument for

Coast Guard personnel who died in

Alabama during operational missions, a

solemn tribute to their sacrifice. He also

helped earn Mobile the designation of a

Coast Guard City, the third in the nation,

a congressional honor recognizing its

ties to the Coast Guard. In 2015, he

brought Admiral Thad Allen to Mobile

for Veterans Day, celebrating the Coast

Guard’s impact.

PORTRAITS OF SERVICE

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A HISTORIAN’S HEART

Krietemeyer’s dedication to history culminated

in Guardians of the Gulf: The 200-Year History of

the Coast Guard in Mobile, Alabama (1819-2019).

This 330-page book, with over 100 photographs,

chronicles the Coast Guard’s evolution in Mobile,

from the Revenue Cutter Alabama in 1819 to

modern commands. A labor of love, it’s available

on Amazon, at Coast Guard exchanges, and at

the Battleship Alabama Memorial Park store. He

has a new book being published, Guardians of the

Graveyard of the Atlantic, due out in 2026.

Never hesitating, Captain Krietemeyer volunteered

to completely revise the Coast Guardsman's

Manual which at the time was seriously out of date.

With the help of some training center personnel,

he revised the 300-page manual. Between 1990

and 2005, two editions were published by the U.S.

Naval Institute. Just about any captain or chief

serving today relied upon the "Blue Jacket" for the

details they needed to hone about Coast Guard

service.

A LIFE OF RECOGNITION AND FAMILY

In 2017, Krietemeyer was named Veteran of

the Year by the Mobile Bay Area Veterans Day

Commission. In August 2025, Senator Tuberville

honored him as Veteran of the Month, praising his

32-year career and lifelong dedication. Tuberville

noted his embodiment of the Coast Guard

Academy’s motto: “Who lives here reveres honor,

honors duty.”

Beyond his achievements, Krietemeyer is a

devoted family man, married to Barbara for 63

years, until she passed away in 2023. A grandfather

to six loving grandchildren, he jokingly hopes to

recruit them into Coast Guard careers, passing

down his values. His community engagement

included unique moments, like giving a museum

tour to NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith and the

25th commandant, Admiral Paul Zukunft during his

time at the Naval Aviation Museum.

A LASTING IMPACT

Captain Krietemeyer’s life is a portrait of service

painted with courage and leadership. His 5,000

flight hours, commands, and authorship of

Guardians of the Gulf are chapters in a story that

inspires. His post-retirement work—preserving

history, honoring the fallen, and advocating for

Mobile’s Coast Guard City designation—shows

a man never truly retired from his calling. The

Coast Guard’s Distinguished Public Service

Award refl ects his unwavering commitment to

Semper Paratus. Today, in Opelika, his legacy is

a testament to service without bounds.

TUBERVILLE HONORS GEORGE

KRIETEMEYER AS AUGUST “VETERAN OF THE

MONTH”

WASHINGTON – On August 4, 2025, U.S. Senator

Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) released a video honoring

retired U.S. Coast Guard Captain George Krietemeyer

PORTRAITS OF SERVICE

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as the August “Veteran of the Month.” Below is an

excerpt from Sen. Tuberville’s speech.

When natural disasters strike, you can always count

on the United States Coast Guard. This month, the

Guard celebrates 235 years of excellence and lifesaving

emergency missions. And that’s because

of heroes like Captain George Krietemeyer of

Opelika.

Growing up in the post-World War II era,

Krietemeyer said his favorite pastime was watching

John Wayne save the day in war movies. Like

John Wayne, George wanted to be that hero for

fellow Americans in times of need. He dreamed

of attending the Naval Academy, but through a

series of events found himself attending the Coast

Guard Academy in Connecticut. This experience

would launch him into an over 30-year career in

the Guard. He decided to attend flight school after

a few years in duty where he trained to fly both

airplanes and helicopters. Through his extensive

training, Captain Krietemeyer established himself

as a leader among the ranks.

SCAN THE QR

CODE TO WATCH

VIDEO

As John Wayne always said, “Courage is being

scared to death … and saddling up anyway.”

Captain Krietemeyer truly embodies this type of

courage. And it is my honor to recognize him as

the “August Veteran of the Month.

Senator Tuberville recognizes a different Alabama

veteran each month for their service and contribution

to their community. Constituents can nominate an

Alabama veteran and submit their information to Senator

Tuberville’s office for consideration by emailing press_

office@tuberville.senate.gov.

(Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the

United States Senate and is a member of the Senate

Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP

and Aging Committees.)

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U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY

CAPT

FRANCIS

MARTIN

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THE MOST ANCIENT OF

“ANCIENT MARINERS”

WITH 63 YEARS OF

ACTIVE DUTY

SERVICE!By Commander Neil E. Hurley, USCG (Ret.)

The Coast Guard established the

“Ancient Mariner” Award in 1978

to honor the officer and enlisted

cuttermen who personify the

dedication and professionalism

associated with long service at

sea and have held the distinction

of cutterman longer than any other

officer or enlisted member. Upon retirement, the

Ancient Mariner Award is passed to the next

qualifying person. Although it was decades

ago, I can well remember the sense of awe and

respect I felt as a junior officer when I learned

that one of my bosses was the service’s Ancient

Mariner!

Today, federal law sets mandatory military

retirement ages. For the Coast Guard, most

personnel must retire at age 62, while cases

with presidential waivers may retire at age 68.

However, in 1893, there were no mandatory

retirement laws. That year, 93-year-old Captain

Francis Martin was the oldest commissioned

officer in the United States Revenue Marine

Service. He was also older than any other officer

in the U.S. Navy. As there was no retired list

for the Revenue Marine at the time, he was still

considered on active duty, awaiting orders. He

would remain on active duty for another two

years, when a retired list was established. One

of Captain Martin’s contemporaries, U.S. Navy

Admiral Thomas Selfridge (1804-1902) held the

record for longest serving mariner, with 83 years

of active duty. Captain Martin started late, so he

ended up with “only” 63 years of active service.

WITNESSED NAPOLEON’S FUNERAL

Captain Martin was born on June 4, 1800, in

New York. He first went to sea at the age of

12, serving under his uncle who was a ship’s

captain. While still a teenager, Martin’s voyages

included a visit to St. Petersburg, Russia.

In 1821, Martin was still serving under his uncle

as second mate of the ship Purington, sailing

from Java to Holland. Short of fresh vegetables,

the ship stopped off at the South Atlantic island

of St. Helena. The stop happened to coincide

with the funeral of the island’s most famous

resident: exiled Emperor of France, Napoleon

Bonaparte. In his most frequently retold story,

Martin remembered a simple ceremony: A coffin

with the sword and hat of Napoleon carried to

the grave by Marines; a few brief prayers and a

soldier’s salute closed the ceremony. Martin was

one of the few Americans to witness the funeral.

COMMISSIONED IN THE U.S.

REVENUE MARINE

Martin was commissioned into the Revenue

Marine by President Andrew Jackson as a third

lieutenant. He was listed on board the (sailing)

Revenue Cutter Rush as early as 1830, however,

his officer’s commission was confirmed by

official documents in 1833.

Available records are unclear about how long

Martin was assigned to the Rush, but in January

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U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY

1831, the cutter was wrecked in a winter storm

on the north shore of Long Island at Huntington

Bay. After dragging its anchor, the ship

grounded heavily. Rush’s captain, Oscar Bullus,

later wrote “The Rush struck so heavily that I

lost all hope and ordered the masts to be cut

away to light the vessel.” The crew was unable

to do this “as the weather was intensely cold,

and everything covered with a perfect sheet of

ice.” Fearing the ship would break up, Bullus

ordered the boats to be launched, and the ship

abandoned. Fortunately, the crew all made it

ashore and took shelter in a local farmhouse.

The Rush ended up “high and dry at low water,

having worked over the rocks and bilged.”

ACTION IN THE SEMINOLE WAR

By 1836, Martin served as a second lieutenant

assigned to Revenue Cutter Washington at

Key West, Florida. In January 1836, he learned

of the “Dade Massacre” north of Fort Brooke

(near modern Tampa, Florida), resulting in the

deaths of all but three of 110 soldiers in an

ambush by Seminoles. By the direction of the

president, the Washington was put under orders

of the Secretary of the Navy to cooperate with

the removal of the Seminoles. The Washington

sailed immediately for Tampa Bay, where

two 12-pounder canon, two officers, and 10

men were landed to defend the post from an

expected attack on the 200-man garrison.

The waters near shore were too shallow for

regular U.S. Navy ships, so the Washington

was positioned to guard both the fort and a

small fleet of transport ships filled with civilian

refugees. Once reinforcements arrived, the

Washington was next ordered to make a

reconnaissance of the west coast of Florida.

The logbook of the Washington from February

13, 1836, recounted an event involving Second

Lieutenant Martin:

Reached Tampa Bay in the morning. At

12:30 p.m., we heard several great guns

on the land apparently abreast of us, we

being about 3 miles from the beach of the

southeast side of the Bay, say 28 miles

from Fort Brook (sic). Shortly after saw two

canoes full of Indians, who appeared to

be retreating from the scene of action. We

gave chase to them and fired a 12 pounder

at them loaded with round shot, at the

same time our gig, crew and Lieutenant

Martin in pursuit of them. At 1:30, came to

anchor and dispatched all our boats and

officers, except Lieutenant Clarke, who was

left in charge of the Cutter. The canoes

hove to, after having been fired on several

times. They proved to be friendly Indians

belonging to Captain Bunces Rancho. Let

them pass and returned to cutter.

In 1845, while serving as the commanding

officer of the Revenue Cutter Ewing at New

York, Martin received perhaps the greatest

complement a Coast Guard officer could

receive. Local papers reported that his ship got

underway during a severe storm, only returning

to get provisions, and then sailing back to sea:

Such noble conduct reflects great credit on the

officers of the Ewing, and when compared with

that of others who have been placed in similar

situations, and who, in most instances, have

proved to be only ‘fair weather cruisers,’ will

be gratefully remembered by our mercantile

marine.

From the Ewing, Martin transferred to the new

iron steam cutter Spencer as the ship’s first

lieutenant, the second highest ranking officer.

Duty on the Spencer was very challenging

because the ship used an experimental

horizontal paddle wheel called a “Hunter

Wheel.” The design was ineffective, and the

ship’s engines frequently broke down.

SERVED IN THE WAR WITH MEXICO

When war broke out with Mexico in 1846, the

Spencer was ordered to the Gulf of Mexico as part

of a squadron to support the Army’s movements

in Mexico. But on its way south, engine problems

caused the ship to turn back for repairs. Martin

eventually made his way to the Gulf where he

served as first lieutenant on Revenue Cutter

Oliver Wolcott. In the summer of 1846, the Wolcott

provided messenger service carrying important

dispatches between government officials in Mobile,

Alabama, and Army commanders operating

in Mexico. Through this duty, Martin became

acquainted with General Winfield Scott and other

famous military leaders of the Mexican war.

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ACTIVE DUTY

COMMANDED A LIGHTSHIP

One of Lieutenant Martin’s more unusual ship

commands occurred in late 1846. According

to newspaper reports, “The schooner Sand

Key, intended as a light boat, arrived here

[Key West] to-day under command of Lieut.

Martin of the revenue service. She will shortly

be placed at her moorings.” Revenue Marine

officers served in at least one other instance of

moving a lightship from one station to another,

prior to being lit under the command of a

lightship keeper. Martin took command of the

lightship only to transport it, at lightship keeper’s

pay, which was only $700, much less than the

$960 he would earn as a first lieutenant in the

Revenue Marine. A few weeks later, Sand Key

Lightship, equipped with a single lantern about

25 feet high placed in its middle, was activated

a few miles southwest of Key West, Florida.

EXPLORED THE EVERGLADES

Two years later, Martin was back aboard the

Wolcott under orders to support a survey

of the Florida Everglades. Martin not only

provided lead surveyor Buckingham Smith

with transportation and boat crews to

conduct the five-week-long survey, but he

also accompanied Smith on many of the boat

trips into Florida’s interior. Smith’s report to the

U.S. Senate is now considered the first official

publication on the area.

In 1850, Martin became involved in a salvage

case of national significance. Former Vice

President John C. Calhoun was a staunch

state’s rights and pro-slavery advocate

whose most famous act was a written speech

advocating the right for states to secede from

the Union. Calhoun’s popularity, especially in

his native South Carolina, caused the City of

Charleston to commission a life-size marble

statue from the great American sculptor, Hiram

Powers. The statue was completed at Powers’

home in Rome, Italy, and shipped to the U.S.

in 1850, shortly after Calhoun’s death from

tuberculosis at the age of 67. Unfortunately,

the ship Elizabeth carrying the statue to the

U.S., sank off Fire Island, New York. Captain

Martin, now commanding Cutter Morris in New

York, was credited with finding the wreck of

the Elizabeth six weeks after she had sunk.

It took another 10 weeks before a diver with

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U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY

a newly invented diving suit could raise the

slightly damaged statue. The statute later stood

in Charleston’s city hall until it was destroyed

during the Civil War.

THE SINKING OF REVENUE CUTTER

TANEY

Records show that Francis Martin was promoted

to Captain in the Revenue Marine on October 1,

1851. The next year, on August 3, 1852, Martin

experienced perhaps the worst day of his life.

While commanding officer the Revenue Cutter

Taney sailing in New York Harbor, Martin saw

an approaching band of storm clouds and went

below to get his overcoat. Within seconds, the

ship lurched onto its side, quickly filled with

water, and sank. Martin fought his way out of

the flooding ship where he and most of his crew

were quickly rescued by a passing steamboat.

The ship was the victim of what was called a

“white squall” or what would today be called a

“microburst.” This is a condition where a storm

causes a strong localized downdraft. Other

sailing ships 150 yards away witnessed the

sinking but reported no wind from the storm.

The case was so unusual and well documented

by nearby ships that the Taney’s sinking was

recounted in several books about the weather

at sea. No fault was assigned to Captain Martin,

and the event had no impact on his career.

The Taney was raised from the shallow waters

and returned to service. Unfortunately, five

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members of his 15-man crew were killed and

two seriously injured. After commanding the

Taney, Martin took command of the Revenue

Marine Brig Washington at New York, and later

Cutter Ingham at Detroit.

FOUGHT FOR EQUAL BENEFITS OF

REVENUE MARINE OFFICERS

On at least two occasions, Captain Martin

petitioned Congress to give members of the

Revenue Marine Service the same privileges as

members of the U.S. Army and Navy. The first

petition involved pay. In the 1830s, Revenue

Marine officers received less pay than members

of the same rank in the U.S. Navy. Due to the

Revenue Marine’s past service in cooperation

with the U.S. Navy during the Quasi-War with

France (1798-1800), Congress set policy

providing equal pay during wartime for duties

of the same rank and responsibility.

One example of this was Revenue Marine

Service Captain Ezekiel Jones’ service in 1836

commanding the Revenue Cutter Washington

at Tampa Bay as previously discussed.

The Washington was put under U.S. Navy

orders while Francis Martin was on board. In

1838, Captain Jones petitioned Congress for

additional pay (at the Navy rate) for his service

during the war. Congress passed the petition in

1839, with Jones receiving an additional $900

for his service.

Following on his commander’s success, Martin

petitioned Congress in 1840 for his additional

pay for the same 1836 voyage. Martin’s

petition took years to work its way through the

government. It was denied in 1842 and finally

discharged by the Senate in 1848.

In 1860, Martin petitioned for members of the

Revenue Marine Service to be admitted to the

Institution of the Insane of the Army and Navy in

Southeast Washington, D.C. This time, Congress

reacted favorably, passing an amended act,

so sick Revenue Marine personnel could be

admitted as patients. The Institution of the

Insane later became St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. In

2013, to reutilize the largely abandoned facility,

the U.S. Coast Guard moved its headquarters to

the St. Elizabeth’s Hospital grounds.

LAST AFLOAT COMMAND

After the Civil War, Martin began commanding

several vessels on the Great Lakes. Beginning

in 1872, at age 72, Captain Martin commanded

Revenue Cutter Fessenden. The Fessenden

was a 180-foot-long sidewheel steamer built in

1869 and home-ported in Cleveland, Ohio. The

Fessenden would patrol shipping lanes on the

Great Lakes during the active shipping season

and lay up from December through April. Each

winter, her crew was discharged and a new

crew hired in the spring. In 1875, the Fessenden

was ordered to a new homeport in Detroit. In

1876, Captain Martin turned over command to

a new captain and was assigned the status of

“waiting orders."

Records for Martin’s shore duty stations have

not been found. However, a report compiled

in 1875, well before his retirement, lists the

following:

How long in the service: 42 years

Total sea service: 32 years

ACTIVE DUTY

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

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U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION ACTIVE DUTY

Shore or other duty: 2 years, 9 months

Unemployed (awaiting orders): 7 years, 3

months

FAMILY LIFE

In between his shipboard assignments, Captain

Martin had time for a family. He married twice,

first to Rachel Brown Martin (1805-1858) and

later to Jane Garretson Clawson Martin (1835-

1902, married in 1861). He was the father of

at least four children: Mary A. (1830-1850),

Louis Marin (1835-1917), Jessie Poillon Martin

Bleakley (1868-1958) and Eugene B. Martin

(1871-1880). Note that when son Eugene was

born, his older brother was already 36 years old.

PASSING OF A LEGEND

In 1895, the service enforced an act that

transferred Martin from active duty to the retired

list. He was 95 years old with an official record

of 63 years as a commissioned officer. After

he retired, Martin remained vigorous. When

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he was 98 years old, he weighed 175 pounds,

and he was an avid reader fond of poetry,

especially the works of Byron, whom he quoted

extensively. Martin claimed he was never sick

in his life until he was 71 years old, when he

suffered an attack of typhoid fever. Other than

hearing loss, he remained in good health after

leaving the service.

On January 26, 1901, he caught a cold and

took to his bed. He was attended by his son

Dr. William Martin, and his son-in-law Dr. C.E.

Bleakey at his home in downtown Detroit,

located only a block from the shipping channel

of the St. Clair River. Despite the loving care he

received, his condition gradually worsened, and

Above: At Sea - A photo of the Revenue Cutter Fessenden,

no date. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)

Below: The Martin family burial plot at Detroit's Elmwood

Cemetery showing the headstone for Francis Martin.

(Findagrave.com)

he died on January 31, 1901, at the age of 100.

He was interred at Detroit’s Elmwood Cemetery.

Incredibly, during Martin’s career, he served

on or commanded the following vessels: As

a civilian, he served aboard the Brig Vigilant

(1814) and the ship Purington (1821). In the U.S.

Revenue Marine, he served on cutters Rush

(1830), Madison (1833), McLane (1834), Dallas

(1835), Ingham (1836), Washington (1836),

Dexter (1837), Madison (1837), McLane (1837),

Crawford (1841), Van Buren (1842), Ewing

(1843), Spencer (1845), Sand Key Lightship

(1847), Wolcott (1847), Ewing (1847), Morris

(1850), Taney (1851), Washington (1853),

Ingham (1854), Corwin (1861), Bibb (1861),

Agassiz (1861), Tiger (1862), Forward (1862),

Toucey (1863), Andrew Johnson (1866-1870),

Sherman (1870), and Fessenden (1872-1876).

Not counting multiple assignments to the same

ship, that totals 24 cutters as a Revenue Marine

officer alone!

More than just living to a ripe old age, Captain

Martin lived a full life that reflected the many

missions and highest traditions of today’s Coast

Guard. With 63 years of service in the Revenue

Marine, Francis Martin became the Coast

Guard’s all-time Ancient Mariner. Captain Martin,

I salute you and thank you for your service!

This article was

published on MyCG.

For more great Coast

Guard stories, visit

www.mycg.uscg.mil

ACTIVE DUTY

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

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RESERVE

EXRAP

MODERNIZES AND

STREAMLINES

TRAINING FOR

MARITIME

ENFORCEMENT

RESERVISTS

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

By Master Chief Petty Officer Benjamin Richards,

Maritime Law Enforcement Academy

EXRAP students conducting

defense and control measures

training. (Photo by PA1 Crystal

Burgess)

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For Coast Guard units operating in today's complex and demanding

environment, having highly trained and fully qualified maritime

enforcement specialists is paramount. The Expeditionary Rating

Apprenticeship Program, known as EXRAP, offers a 12-week intensive

course that delivers the traditional training of a A-school

combined with expeditionary training normally

received through additional courses.

“A joint effort between FORCECOM, Special

Missions Training Center (SMTC), and Maritime

Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA), this course

consolidated specialized training for Reserve

personnel headed to port security units (PSU),

allowing them to finish ME (Maritime Enforcement)

A-School and the Port Security Unit Expeditionary

Course in less than three months,” said Rear

Adm. Jeffery Randall, commander of the Force

Readiness Command.

RESERVE

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

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RESERVE

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

Port security units are a part of the service’s deployable specialized forces

that support defense operations and respond to contingencies worldwide.

The units can deploy within 96 hours and be fully operational upon arrival

within 24 hours—providing both waterside and shoreside security. For

reservists assigned to PSUs, the EXRAP course provides specialized

training needed to excel in their expeditionary roles.

Additionally, EXRAP is designed to equip MEs with the skills and

knowledge necessary to meet the rating requirements of a third class

petty offi cer, as prescribed by the rating performance qualifi cations.

The EXRAP curriculum is divided into two distinct phases: expeditionary

training at SMTC in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, and law enforcement

training at the MLEA in Charleston, South Carolina.

Students begin the course at SMTC where theoretical knowledge is

tempered in the forge of practical application. Here, the trainees

are thrust into a world of intense fi eld instruction and hands-on

exercises between the Expeditionary Operations Course (EOC)

and Shoreside Security Operations Course (SSOC), as well as fire

team member instruction.

Through the controlled chaos of weapons training, students

master the M4/M4A1 rifl e, Glock 19, M870 Remington shotgun,

and the M240B and M2A1 machine guns. They learn to don

personal protective equipment and decontaminate from chemical,

biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. They also brave

the disorienting sting of the live CS [tear gas] chamber. Additionally,

students learn to construct robust bivouac sites under pressure,

familiarizing students with the tents and generators used to create

PSU encampments during deployments.

The SMTC portion emphasizes practical application and handson

training in a fi eld environment, including land navigation.

Additional topics covered include rules of engagement and

PSU mission identification, ensuring members understand the

authorities behind the missions they’ll conduct.

After completing their training at SMTC, students continue on to the

MLEA portion in Charleston. Aspiring MEs immerse themselves in the

foundational principles and intricacies of maritime law enforcement,

leadership and administration.

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RESERVE

An EXRAP student familiarizes

himself with water survival

and caving ladder procedures.

(Photo by PA1 Crystal Burgess)

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

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RESERVE

Boat tactics branch utilizing

tactics during defense training

with water assets. (Photo by

PA1 Crystal Burgess)

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

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"As a federal law enforcement officer, I loved the legal training and then the

practical application of that training at MLEA," said Petty Officer 3rd Class

Mattison Interian, a member of PSU 311 out of Los Angeles/Long Beach,

California. "With SMTC, we got out of the [law enforcement] mindset and

focused on rules of engagement."

Interian said the training was beneficial because the repetition ensured that

officers will have the muscle memory to apply fundamental skills instinctively

under pressure.

Trainees are subjected to low-light/no-light tactical procedures in a rigorous

curriculum designed to identify and discriminate between targets and civilians,

maximizing survivability in constricted spaces.

Hours are spent honing their understanding of tactical combat casualty care

(TCCC)—skills crucial for preserving life in a high-stakes environment.

Students are engrossed in physical fitness throughout the duration of

the course and graduate more capable and ready than when they

arrived.

Every lesson, every demonstration, and every practical exercise is

meticulously designed to build a solid bedrock of competence, rigorously

tested through learning checks and performance-based evaluations.

A key benefit of the EXRAP is its accelerated and condensed timeline.

In 12 weeks, participants complete the majority of training for PSU fire

team member and fire team leader—competencies traditionally covered

during the EOC and SSOC, which in its entirety is a process that typically

takes two to three years at a PSU, depending on Coast Guard training

schedules and civilian obligations. Using feedback from recruiters and

commands, the EXRAP was also adjusted to be offered during the

summer to accommodate high school and college students.

Additionally, students complete most boarding officer competency

requirements through a condensed version of ME A-School, so that

they don’t have to attend a secondary boarding officer C-School.

Consolidating training in EXRAP significantly reduces the

logistical burden for reservists, minimizing disruption to operations.

Furthermore, the program satisfies ME RPQs up to E-6, facilitating career

advancement opportunities.

Enrolling personnel in EXRAP is an investment in their future and the future of

their unit. It's a chance to unlock potential, equip members with the skills they

need to excel, and contribute to a stronger, more capable Coast Guard.

RESERVE

U.S. COAST GUARD INFORMATION

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U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION RETIREMENTS

RETIREMENTS

ADAMS, REGINA

ALBANESE, AUGUSTINO

ALBERT, REBECCA

ALDRICH, SETH

ANDERSON, BRIAN

ANDERSON, BRELEE

ANDRZEJEWSKI, STEVEN

ANTIS, NICKOLAS

ARRIETA, OMAR

ASENCIO, ERIK

ASH, ROBERT

ASHER, KEVIN

BAILEY, JENNIFER

BAILEY, ERIC

BAIRD, DAVID

BALLARD, JEREMY

BANKS, JAMES

BARROW, JAMES

BARTEL, JON

BASSETT, TINA

BATTLE, INDIA

BAUGH, THOMAS

BECK, RICKY

BECKMANN, CAROLINE

BELLIVEAU, DANIEL

BELTRAN, GIOVANNI

BENN, WILLIAM

BERGER, JASON

BERNSTEIN, ERIC

BERTSCH, ERIC

BILBAO, AXEL

BLACKALL, DARRYL

BOGERT, ROGER

BOLLER, JOHN

BOOTLE, JUSTIN

USCG

CAPT

LCDR

CAPT

BMC

AMTCS

YNC

MSTC

ME1

OS1

GM1

SK1

CSCS

MSTC

LCDR

BM1

AMT1

YN1

BM1

CDR

LCDR

HSC

MKC

DCC

CAPT

BMC

F&S3

CDR

CDR

CAPT

MSSE4

AET1

AMTC

LCDR

CAPT

MKCS

06-30-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

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BOWEN, JOSEPH

BOWMAN, DALLAS

BOZE, TODD

BRADY, SEAN

BRANDT, MARC

BRASWELL, BEAU

BRENNELL, JASON

BRENT, WILLIAM

BRODEUR, JEFFREY

BROSOWSKY, JORDAN

BROWN, GREGORY

BROWN, LOGAN

BROWNLEE, JASON

BRYAN, NATHAN

BUCHMILLER, JARED

BURKE, MARSHALL

BUSTOS, FELIX

CANADA, BRANDON

CAO, TONY

CARBAUGH, MATTHEW

CARLSON, ZACHARY

CARO, RAYMOND

CARTER, JESSE

CARTIER, STEPHEN

CASE, ANDREW

CASTENGERA, ANDREW

CAVANAUGH, JOHN

CLINTON, COREY

COLE, THOMAS

CONNER, LAUREN

COOK, MICHAEL

COOKE, ANDREW

CORDOVA, DANIEL

CORNELIO, ROBERT

COST, MICHAEL

ETC

DCC

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CDR

ME1

BMC

MKC

LCDR

ISS2

OS1

BM1

LCDR

MK1

LCDR

SK2

BM1

CDR

BM1

LT

OSC

MKCS

BMC

ITCM

MSSD4

CADET

LCDR

CDR

PERS3

SK1

CDR

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

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08-01-2025

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08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-06-2025

06-24-2025

07-01-2025

07-09-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

64 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


!

COTTER, WILLIAM

CRAWFORD, JEREMY

CREEL, JUSTIN

CROWE, MICHAEL

CRUMLEY, ROBERT

CRUZ, JON

CULLERS, JAMES

CULPEPPER, THOMAS

CUTCHINS, CHRISTOPHER

DAIGLE-JONES, JESSICA

DAMBROSIO, JOSEPH

DANIEL, LESLIE

DANZINGER, BRIAN

DAVIS, JOSEPH

DAY, JORDAN

DECKER, KYLE

DELPRIORE, DANIEL

DEVAULT, CALVIN

DEVLIN, DAREN

DILLENDER, DANIEL

DIXON, MICHAEL

DOCKHAM, LINDA

It's been noted that some CG Reserve retirees in RET-2 status (awaiting pay) are missing from this list. Efforts are underway

to include all RET-2 retirees in future issues.

CDR

MEC

ENG4

CDR

OSS4

OSC

ENG4

HSC

OSC

BMC

BMC

ET1

CDR

MK1

DC3

EM1

DC1

LTJG

CDR

MK3

CDR

CDR

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

06-11-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-14-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-13-2025

07-01-2025

07-31-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

DOLDO, DOMINIC

DONOHUE, KEITH

DOTSON, CLINTON

DRIGGS, ERIC

DUDLEY, JOHN

DUIGNAN, KATHLEEN

DUKES, BRYANT

DULLACK, STEVEN

DURLEY, MARY ELLEN

DWYER, BENJAMIN

EARLY, JAMES

EDWARDS, JONATHAN

EGAN, KATHRYN

ELDRIDGE, BRIAN

ERICKSON, BRIAN

ERWIN, MARK

ESTES, JEREMY

ESUNIS, PATIENCE

EVANS, THOMAS

EVANS, RICHARD

EVANS, DAVID

FAHEY, RYAN

BOSN4

CAPT

OSC

CDR

ENG3

CAPT

PERS4

LCDR

CAPT

ETC

SKC

BM1

CDR

ENG2

CAPT

IT2

OS1

OS2

CAPT

LCDR

LCDR

MKC

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-02-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

06-11-2025

07-01-2025

08-18-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

RETIREMENTS

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

65


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION RETIREMENTS

FANT, JESSICA

FASOLI, JAMES

FEENSTRA, GLENN

FIORI, STEPHANIE

FIRMIN, MICHAEL

FLOWERS, JENNIFER

FOLEY, THOMAS

FORINASH, BRADLEY

FORSBERG, ANDERS

FRACASSE, ANTONIO

FRAY, RAOUL

FRAZIER, JORDAN

FURNARI, PETER

GAFF, ADRIAN

GAILEY, SADIE

GARR, JOHN

GARRISON, LOGAN

GARRISON, KAROL

GARVEY, JEFFREY

GATES, DAVID

GENTILE, WILLIAM

GESELE, MICHAEL

GODSEY, RICHARD

GOLEMAN, GREG

GONZALEZ, BENITO

GOODISON, ANDREW

GORDON, CALEB

GORMLEY, JAMES

GRABINS, ANNE

GRASSLEY, LAILA

GRAY, CHRISTOPHER

GREEN, JAMES

GREGORY, JEANNETTE

GRIGGS, JON

GUARENTE, BRIAN

GUINAN, BURT

GUINART, OSCAR

CAPT

LCDR

BM1

LCDR

BMC

LCDR

BOSN4

MKC

AET1

ME1

MK1

MK1

BOSN4

SK1

F&S2

CDR

GM2

LCDR

CDR

CDR

CDR

CAPT

OSC

CSC

CDR

LT

MK1

BM1

CDR

CAPT

LT

BMC

PERS2

ISS4

ISCS

MECS

IVC

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-27-2025

08-01-2025

08-28-2025

08-28-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-07-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-19-2025

07-24-2025

07-01-2025

07-28-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

06-22-2025

GUTIERREZ, ARTHUR

HACKER, MICHAEL

HALL, IAN

HAMILTON, DAVID

HANNIGAN, SEAN

HARLACHER, JORDAN

HARO, HOMERO

HARRIS, RICHARD

HAZELWOOD, ALAN

HAZLETT, NICHOLAS

HEAL, JOSEPH

HEDGES, JONATHAN

HELLER, ABRAM

HERBERT, NICOLAS

HERNAEZ, EDWARD

HERRERA, ROBERTO

HIGGINS, RAYMOND

HINOJOSA, DAVID

HOAGLAND, TIMOTHY

HODGE, JAMAL

HOGAN, CHRISTOPHER

HOLMES, EMIR

HOLMES, DEREK

HOLT, ROBERT

HOOPER, BRENT

HOPKINS, BRENT

HOWARD, PATRICIA

HOYT, CURTIS

HYDOCK, KENNETH

JACOBS, STEVEN

JAMES, REUBEN

JANNEY, DAVID

JAVIER, JONATHAN

JAVORSKY, TRAVIS

JENKINS, JOHN

JENNY, MAX

JOHNSON, WILLIAM

BMC

BM1

CDR

MK1

CAPT

MK1

AMT1

BM2

LT

LCDR

CDR

SK1

ASTC

LT

CAPT

MK2

GM1

IV2

MECS

SK1

MK1

CDR

ENG3

MLES3

MEC

BM1

CS2

DCCM

ET1

DCCS

LT

CDR

BM1

MEC

IT1

CDR

GM1

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-31-2025

08-01-2025

07-27-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-25-2025

08-01-2025

07-25-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-19-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

06-09-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

66 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


JOHNSON, BRIAN

JONES, RODERICK

JONES, CHAD

JONES, DANNETTE

JONES, ASHTON

JONES, BECKY

KARPUS, COREY

KELLEY, LYNDIE

KETCHEY, BOBBIE

KIBBY, GREGORY

KINCADE, REBECCA

KING, CHRISTOPHER

KINZER, KRISTOPHER

KITTRELL, BETHANNIE

KLINE, FREDERICK

KLOSTERMAN, MICHAEL

KOSER, SCOTT

KRAUSE, DIRK

LABAT, BLAKE

LACROIX, NATHAN

LAMONT, JEFFREY

LAWTON, MATTHEW

LECKEMBY, STEPHEN

LECOMTE, KENNETH

LEHMAN, PAUL

LEMASTERS, CLINTON

LEONARD, JAMES

LEUCK, STEPHEN

LEWIS, SOLEILA

LEY, RYAN

LIGHT, BRIAN

LIM, FRANK

LINGLE, GREGORY

LITTLEJOHN, LEXIA

LOCKER, WALI

LOCKER, TRAVONDA

LOPEZ, LAZARO

LORENZO, WILLIAM

LOVE, DAVID

LOVENSTEIN, JAMES

LOWRY, CARA

LUCIO, JOSHUA

LUCK, JAMES

LUDACKA, MELVIN

LUIK, JENNIFER

MACKEY, PATRICK

MAI, VINH

MAJESKA, HEATHER

MANZER, RICHARD

MARTIN, JAKE

MARTINEZ, MARCOS

AMT2

BM2

AMTCS

CS1

CS3

CAPT

AMT1

SK1

CDR

ENG3

HS1

ET1

MKC

LT

DCC

BM1

CDR

CAPT

LT

AETC

CDR

AET1

ET1

ET2

MKC

LCDR

ETCS

SN

SN

ENG4

MKCS

LT

CDR

CAPT

YN1

YN1

BMCS

AETCS

BOSN2

CAPT

CDR

BMC

LT

PERS3

CDR

HSC

YN1

CDR

MKC

YN1

CSCS

07-21-2025

07-09-2025

07-14-2025

07-01-2025

07-21-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-13-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-13-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-03-2025

08-04-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-05-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

MASON, KELLEY

MASSE, JEFFREY

MATTSON, MICHAEL

MAURER, ERIC

MCCANN, SCOTT

MCCASLAND, MICHAEL

MCCORMICK, DAVID

MCFERRAN, JAMES

MCGREGOR, KEVIN

MCLAREN, RONALD

MCMINN, SHAWNE

MCNAULL, ANNA

MENDOZA, PABLO

MERCADO, MANUEL

MERRITT, FREDERICK

MEYER, BRADLEY

MILGATE, JEFFREY

MILLER, KENNETH

MILLER, JOSHUA

MILLER, ROBERT

MILLER, ROBERT

MINUTELLO, RICHARD

CDR

F&S2

BMC

MEC

LCDR

MK2

MKC

CDR

OSCS

BMC

YN1

CADET

BMCM

MK1

CDR

MEC

LCDR

LCDR

MSSR4

OSS3

BM1

GM1

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-11-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-29-2025

07-03-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-09-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

RETIREMENTS

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

67


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION RETIREMENTS

MITCHELL, MICHAEL

MITCHELL, JASON

MIXON, LUKE

MOATS, JASON

MONTOYA, DELYTE

MOORE, ALAN

MORALES, JORGE

MORAN, KERRI

MORRISON, ADAM

MORRISON, DANA

MOYER, JUSTIN

MULHERN, TONYA

MULLINAX, JUSTIN

MURPHY, BRIAN

NACINOVICH, MARIO

NAIBERK, JOHN

NASH, TRAVIS

NIGHLAND, PATRICK

NORCOTT, ROBERT

NOWICKI, BRANDON

OCHOA, JOEL

OCONNOR, PATRICK

OKSENDAHL, MARK

ONEIL, BRIAN

ORMSBY, BERNARD

ORTIZ, JOSE

OSINBOYEJO, ADEOYE

PAGARIGAN, GRANT

PALAZZO, ANDREW

PALMER, MICHAEL

PARAMO, CALEB

PARDUE, REX

PARVIN, EDMUND

PAVONE, VICTOR

PAYNE, MICHAEL

PEEBLES, THOMAS

PERDUE, ERIC

PEREZ, ANDRES

PETERNEL, WILLIAM

PIANO, ERIC

PIZZIGNO, NICHOLAS

POLITE, DAVID

PORTA, NICHOLAS

PORTER, SHANE

PRATT, DANIEL

PRIDGEN, RICHARD

PUMO, ALEX

QUIGLEY, ROGER

QUIJANO, CHRISTOPHER

RANGEL, JESSICA

RAPOZO, JOHNNA

MSSD4

CDR

CDR

BMC

CDR

CAPT

YNCS

MSTCS

CAPT

BMCM

CAPT

MST1

MKC

CS1

MST1

EM3

ASTC

BM1

LT

AMTC

SKC

MKC

ITCS

MSSR2

MST3

ELC2

HSC

CDR

OS1

MEC

BMC

MEC

CDR

EMC

IVC

LT

CDR

OSCS

BMC

MKC

BM1

SK1

CDR

IT1

OSS4

ME1

MEC

BM2

MKC

LCDR

SK1

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-10-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-05-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-23-2025

06-22-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

06-14-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-17-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-07-2025

08-13-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-25-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-15-2025

RAUWOLF, BRITTANY

RAWLINGS, MATTHEW

REED, JUAN

REJZER, RYAN

RICARDO, ANTHONY

RICHARDSON, LOUIS

RINCON, JEANNETTE

RIVERA, LUIS

ROBERTO, PAUL

ROBINSON, DERRICK

ROBLES, JUAN

RODRIGUEZ, LUIS

RODRIGUEZ, REGGIE

RODRIGUEZ, RICARDO

RODRIGUEZ PEREZ, ERIC

RODRIGUEZ SANTANA, JOSE

ROGERS, BRADLEY

ROSE, JOHN

ROSE, JUSTIN

ROULETTE, CHRISTOPHER

RUDOLF, JOSEPH

RUDOLF, JOSEPH

RUPP, ANDREW

RUSH, STACY

RUSSO, THOMAS

RUTERBUSCH, TRAVIS

RUWE, MICHAEL

RUWE, MICHAEL

RYAN, JASON

SALTER, RAQUEL

SALTER, TODD

SALVATI, JOSEPH

SANCHEZ, RICHARD

SANCHEZ, CARLI

SANDER, KYLE

SANDERSON, TERRI

SANDNESS, GREGORY

SANTOS, JOSEPH

SARGENT, NATHANIEL

SCHMIDT, MATTHEW

SCOTT, KEITH

SERRANO, HECTOR

SHAMRELL, THOMAS

SHARER, MELISSA

SHAYE, ROBERT

SHOEMAKER, CHRISTOPHER

SICIAK, ANTHONY

SIMMONS, KEITH

SINGBAND, LYNN

SMALL, CHAD

SNELSON, BRENT

CSC

ITC

MK2

AET1

DC1

ME2

LT

LT

BM1

GMC

DC1

ME1

OSCS

CDR

MKC

EM1

MEC

BOSN4

YNC

BMC

CDR

CDR

CSC

YNC

ISCS

BMCS

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

CDR

HSC

LT

EM2

SKC

ITC

ELC4

AET1

CDR

OS1

CS1

SKC

LCDR

YNCM

LCDR

MK1

ME1

LT

CAPT

AMT1

BM1

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-07-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-26-2025

08-01-2025

06-20-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-24-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-11-2025

08-01-2025

06-23-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-16-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

68 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


SNYDER, WILLIAM

SOLIS, ABEL

SOTO, ERIK

SOTO, JOSE

SPRIGGS, GEORGE

STANFORD, CALVIN

STEVENS, SAMSON

STEWART, KEVIN

STEWART, BONNIE

STEWART, DEREK

STGERMAINE, ROGER

STLOUIS, JENARIUS

STRANG, RUSSELL

SULLIVAN, JESSE

SWANSON, JEFFREY

TAMAYO, CESAR

TARTAGLIA, ANTHONY

TERRY, ALAN

THIBODEAU, MELINDA

THOMAS, BOBBY

THOMPSON, ADAM

THOMPSON, KYLE

THORNTON, GERALD

THORNTON, TYLER

TINGLEY, JOSEPH

TINSLEY, RYAN

TOBIN, RONALD

TORRES, JOSE

TRAVIS, TIMOTHY

TRICE, JOSHUA

TROUP, JASON

TUCHAK, JAMIE

VALENZUELA, ERICK

CDR

SKC

MKC

ME2

BM1

EM1

CAPT

LCDR

CDR

MSSE2

INV4

EMC

AMT1

BMC

CAPT

SK1

MK1

MKC

LCDR

BM1

MEC

AET1

CDR

BM1

BM1

AMTC

ENG4

MEC

LCDR

HS1

ME1

ETC

SN

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-22-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-04-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-08-2025

08-01-2025

06-15-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-03-2025

VANLEEUWEN, SEAN

VAZQUEZ, PEDRO

VELARDE, WILBUR

VERDIN, GAGE

VIVEIROS, JAKE

WAITT, RYAN

WALDEN, MICHAEL

WALKER, CHRIS

WALKER, DEMANTRE

WALKER, CHRIS

WARDLE, CLARENCE

WATSON, ALEXANDRA

WEIST, EUSTACIA

WELLBORN, ROBERT

WESTERDAHL, CHRISTIAN

WHIGHAM, CODY

WHITE, JASON

WHITE, JONATHAN

WIEBER, DANIEL

WILLIAMS, TIMOTHY

WILLIAMS, RICHARD

WILSON, SARAH

WILSON, NICHOLAS

WINGARD, HOWARD

WOLLAND, SCOTT

WOOD, MATTHEW

WRAY, JAIME

WREYFORD, CARSON

WYSONG, MICHAEL

YOUNG, CHRISTOPHER

ZIAREK-ROWLEY, CHRISTOPHER

ZISEL, CHRISTIAN

ZSIGO, GERALD

ME1

CDR

CAPT

SK2

OS1

CDR

MEC

BMC

SK2

BMC

MK1

ME2

CDR

MSTC

OSS4

SN

MKC

AETC

SKC

LCDR

CDR

SKC

MK1

INV3

CAPT

MKC

INV2

OS3

CDR

GM1

MKCS

LCDR

ET1

07-15-2025

07-01-2025

07-10-2025

08-28-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-13-2025

08-01-2025

07-19-2025

07-11-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-20-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-23-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

06-14-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

RETIREMENTS

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

69


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION RETIREMENTS

!

ADAMS, ALLISON

ALEXANDER, LORRAINE

ARCHAMBAULT, GLENN

ARCHULETA, RICHARD

AYCOCK, CECIL

BARNES, VINCEN

BELLAH, JAMES

BENITEZ-MCCRARY, MERCEDES

BOWEN, PHILANTHA

BOWER, WILLIAM

CALDWELL, DELORIS

CLIFTON, RAMONA

CONKLIN, LAURA

COOK, BRIAN

DEARWENT, STEPHEN

EATON, DANICE

ENGLAND, SUZANNE

FIEBELKORN, AMY

USCG & USPHS are addressing errors in USPHS ranks due to differences in permanent and temporary ranks. Corrected

ranks are denoted with an asterisk.

USPHS

CAPT

CDR

CDR

LCDR

CAPT

CDR

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

FRITSCH, BETH

GILBERT, DONNA

HARGROVE, ROGER

HATCH, ARLIN

HONEYCUTT, JAMISON

HORAN, BROOKS

HUBBARD, JOHN

JACKANICZ, LESLIE

JACKSON, KRISTEN

JHUNG, MICHAEL

KAPELLA, BRYAN

KEKEOCHA, DAVIDE

LAMBERT, JOSEPH

MADMAN, GARY

MARTINEZ, BRANDI

MASSEY, BARBARA

NELSON, ANGELA

NERI, ANTONIO

CAPT

CDR

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

LCDR

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

CDR

LT

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

70 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


NGUYEN, HUU

PITTS, MATTHEW

REY, ARACELI

RIDENOUR, MARILYN

ROSE, GWENIVERE

SCHMITZ, ANN

STLAURENT, DANIEL

SUN, ASHLEIGH

THAKUR, NIKHIL

THORNTON, STACEY

TURKNETT, VELIA

UNGERECHT, CRAIG

VANTWUYVER, CHRISTOPHER

VEGA, ENRIQUE

VITEK, CHARLES

WANG, SUSAN

WOODRING, JOSEPH

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

RADM

CAPT

CAPT

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

07-01-2025

07-01-2025

08-01-2025

08-01-2025

RETIREMENTS

NOAA

MOORE, JOSEPHINE

LT

07-01-2025 ROSENBERG, JAMIE

LCDR 08-01-2025

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)

DO NOT SEND PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII), SUCH

AS SSN, EMPID, THROUGH PUBLIC E-MAIL (E.G. AOL, G-MAIL, ETC.)

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

71


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.

USCG

ALBANO, TITO

HERCULES, CA

PERS3

RET. 08-01-1992

TAPS 07-11-2025

BERNIER, LAWRENCE

BRIDGEWATER, MA

MKC

RET. 09-01-1978

TAPS 07-16-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

ALLEN, WILLIAM

MOORESVILLE, NC

AMES, LARRY

CHESAPEAKE, VA

ANDERSON, RICHARD

SCHERTZ, TX

ANDREWS, LORRAINE

MASTIC BEACH, NY

ARMOUR, HARRY

GULFPORT, MS

ASHFORTH, WILLIAM

MARTINSBURG, WV

BAGALSO, REYNALDO

UPLAND, CA

BARBER, GREGORY

TWENTYNINE PA, CA

BATES, PAUL

MERRITT ISLAND, FL

BEACH, RICHARD

CAIRO, NY

BEALE, LAWRENCE

MOBILE, AL

CAPT

LT

FSCM

PERS3

EMCM

CAPT

HSC

TT1

BOSN4

MKC

AMTCM

RET. 09-01-1975

TAPS 07-20-2025

RET. 08-01-1994

TAPS 06-16-2025

RET. 01-01-1985

TAPS 06-29-2025

RET. 07-01-2001

TAPS 06-10-2025

RET. 02-01-1980

TAPS 07-29-2025

RET. 08-01-1999

TAPS 05-16-2025

RET. 06-01-1987

TAPS 05-15-2025

RET. 12-01-1997

TAPS 05-27-2025

RET. 06-01-2001

TAPS 08-09-2025

RET. 09-01-1996

TAPS 04-25-2025

RET. 07-01-2001

TAPS 08-15-2025

BERRY, JOHN

RESTON, VA

BESS, JAMES

EADS, TN

BLACKMAN, KENNETH

CADILLAC, MI

BODENHOFER, PAUL

NIANTIC, CT

BOETTNER, JAMES

DAYTONA BEACH, FL

BONNET, HAROLD

GEORGETOWN, TX

BOOTH, KEITH

FT LAUDERDALE, FL

BORGER, LARRY

KERRVILLE, TX

BOWDEN, KIRBY

ELIZABETH CITY, NC

BRENNAN, ROBERT

HEATHSVILLE, VA

BRICKWEDDE, ROBERT

FOLEY, AL

ADC

MK1

AD1

CDR

DC2

CAPT

MKC

BMCM

ATCM

ETCS

F&S4

RET. 11-01-1978

TAPS 06-21-2025

RET. 04-08-1999

TAPS 08-08-2025

RET. 10-01-1993

TAPS 07-06-2025

RET. 09-01-1989

TAPS 08-11-2025

RET. 12-08-2000

TAPS 05-12-2025

RET. 08-01-1985

TAPS 08-26-2025

RET. 07-01-1990

TAPS 07-23-2025

RET. 05-01-1986

TAPS 06-06-2025

RET. 04-01-1990

TAPS 05-24-2025

RET. 02-01-1986

TAPS 06-11-2025

RET. 12-01-1995

TAPS 08-12-2025

72 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


BROWN, RONALD

SAN DIEGO, CA

CDR

RET. 10-30-2002

TAPS 07-22-2025

CUFFEE, DWAYNE

ROPER, NC

AM1

RET. 09-01-1999

TAPS 04-19-2025

TAPS

BRUTCHER, RONALD

MARTINSVILLE, VA

MKC

RET. 11-01-1976

TAPS 06-16-2025

CUNNINGHAM, DONALD

LAS VEGAS, NV

MKC

RET. 05-01-1976

TAPS 06-21-2025

BRYANT, HENRY

MONCKS CORNER, SC

MK1

RET. 01-27-2012

TAPS 03-15-2025

CUSACK, JOHN

ROCKVILLE CTR, NY

PS1

RET. 09-20-2001

TAPS 08-03-2025

BULLOCK, ROBERT

LUGOFF, SC

BMC

RET. 05-01-1972

TAPS 05-11-2025

CUSWORTH, ROY

SUMAS, WA

GM1

RET. 07-01-2004

TAPS 07-01-2025

BURCH, CHARLES

EAST SANDWICH, MA

LCDR

RET. 11-12-2009

TAPS 06-24-2025

CUTLER, ROBERT

TOWNSEND, GA

LCDR

RET. 04-01-1972

TAPS 04-16-2025

BUTLER, WALLACE

FREELAND, MI

MK1

RET. 08-01-1999

TAPS 07-01-2025

DAGOSTINO, JOHN

LAS VEGAS, NV

LCDR

RET. 03-30-1987

TAPS 07-28-2025

CALAIS, KEVIN

LITCHFIELD PARK, AZ

BM1

RET. 05-01-1999

TAPS 05-05-2025

DAGOSTINO, MICHAEL

ALAMO, TX

YN1

RET. 02-01-2000

TAPS 08-13-2025

CALLOWAY, CORZETTA

FORT WORTH, TX

SKCS

RET. 10-01-2006

TAPS 06-27-2025

DALEY, MASAHARU

RIVERVIEW, FL

HS1

RET. 09-01-2011

TAPS 07-15-2025

CAMPBELL, ROBERT

FARR WEST, UT

PSC

RET. 04-01-2005

TAPS 05-30-2025

DANIELS, BOBBY

MT PLEASANT, SC

SKCS

RET. 10-01-1978

TAPS 06-23-2025

CARROLL, THOM

FRANKLIN, ME

CARTER, ERIC

HOLLYWOOD, FL

CARUSO, FRANCIS

DU BOIS, PA

CLARK, WILLIAM

SPRINGBORO, OH

CLOUGH, ALBERT

JUNEAU, AK

COCKMAN, NORMAN

GREENVILLE, SC

COFFIN, EUGENE

JUNEAU, AK

COLLETTE, PAUL

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP, OH

COOKE, WILLIAM

CLOVER, SC

COSTNER, TIMOTHY

ELMA, WA

COWDEN, ALBERT

PORTLAND, OR

FS2

AET1

GMCS

CDR

CDR

SKC

QMCS

EMCS

EMCS

ET1

BMC

RET. 02-01-1996

TAPS 05-12-2025

RET. 08-01-2004

TAPS 04-27-2025

RET. 08-01-1981

TAPS 08-02-2025

RET. 12-26-1990

TAPS 04-28-2025

RET. 07-01-1967

TAPS 07-03-2025

RET. 09-01-1979

TAPS 07-19-2025

RET. 07-01-1995

TAPS 06-14-2025

RET. 11-01-1969

TAPS 05-05-2025

RET. 09-01-1992

TAPS 07-24-2025

RET. 01-19-2020

TAPS 08-12-2025

RET. 07-01-1996

TAPS 08-07-2025

DAVENNY, DONALD

CAMANO ISLAND, WA

DELACRUZ, TIRSO

FPO, AP

DEPTULA, DANIEL

SAINT JOHNS, FL

DIONISIO, HUKON

STANDISH, ME

DONOHUE, JOHN

VIERA, FL

DORMADY, STEVEN

S GLENS FALLS, NY

DOWD, JOHN

ROSEBURG, OR

DREW, SELBY

FORT BRAGG, CA

DRIGGERS, V

RESTON, VA

ECKERBERG, RALPH

BARAGA, MI

ECKERT, JAMES

DUNCANVILLE, TX

ENG4

SKC

CAPT

FSC

PSC

TCC

PSCS

BMCS

CAPT

ATCM

YNC

RET. 04-14-2001

TAPS 06-19-2025

RET. 08-01-1985

TAPS 04-26-2025

RET. 09-01-2018

TAPS 06-06-2025

RET. 08-01-1990

TAPS 07-03-2025

RET. 01-28-1997

TAPS 08-18-2025

RET. 01-01-1997

TAPS 04-14-2025

RET. 09-25-1999

TAPS 08-15-2025

RET. 07-01-1966

TAPS 08-21-2025

RET. 07-01-1983

TAPS 08-12-2025

RET. 08-01-1978

TAPS 07-23-2025

RET. 11-01-1993

TAPS 05-20-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

73


TAPS

ECKLER, DON

BUTTE, MT

ETCM

RET. 05-01-1976

TAPS 07-31-2025

FORBES, DONOVAN

NORRIS, TN

LCDR

RET. 08-04-1993

TAPS 08-22-2025

ELDER, JAMES

PHEONIX, AZ

YNCS

RET. 05-21-1979

TAPS 07-16-2025

FORBES, MAX

BILOXI, MS

CAPT

RET. 08-28-1990

TAPS 06-20-2025

EMERSON, GEORGE

GRANDY, NC

EMCS

RET. 06-01-1998

TAPS 07-14-2025

FOSTER, GERALD

PUYALLUP, WA

CDR

RET. 11-01-1979

TAPS 06-07-2025

EUSTIS, RALPH

MATTAPOISETT, MA

CDR

RET. 07-01-1975

TAPS 07-06-2025

FOY, RICHARD

CODY, WY

BOSN4

RET. 05-01-2004

TAPS 07-16-2025

EVANS, LARRY

AGOURA, CA

CDR

RET. 08-01-1984

TAPS 05-10-2025

FRENCH, DAVID

HIGGANUM, CT

BMCS

RET. 12-16-1999

TAPS 08-25-2025

EVANS, STEPHEN

DUNNELLON, FL

BMC

RET. 06-01-1989

TAPS 08-01-2025

FRISCHMANN, THOMAS

SUCCASUNNA, NJ

CDR

RET. 07-01-1981

TAPS 07-25-2025

EWING, GARY

ROHNERT PARK, CA

ENG4

RET. 08-01-2010

TAPS 06-04-2025

FRITZ, JAMES

MCKINLEYVILLE, CA

PSC

RET. 08-05-1994

TAPS 07-09-2025

FAUST, HAROLD

KASILOF, AK

BMCS

RET. 12-01-1974

TAPS 08-13-2025

GADSBY, GEORGE

LEWES, DE

BMCS

RET. 02-01-2006

TAPS 07-19-2025

FERREIRA, GEORGE

DEFUNIAK SPRG, FL

EN1

RET. 06-01-1972

TAPS 08-11-2025

GAVINA, ROGELIO

SANTA MARIA, CA

FSCS

RET. 11-01-1995

TAPS 06-28-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

FLEMING, EARL

ESSEX, MD

FLORES, NANCY

MIAMI GARDENS, FL

FOGLE, JOHN

PORTSMOUTH, VA

DC1

AMT1

EM1

RET. 08-01-1992

TAPS 07-12-2025

RET. 02-01-2003

TAPS 07-13-2025

RET. 10-01-1988

TAPS 07-04-2025

GILBOW, CARL

CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH

GOLDTHORPE, JACK

NOVATO, CA

GOODWIN, IKE

GOLDSBORO, NC

CDR

CAPT

MK1

RET. 08-12-1990

TAPS 07-17-2025

RET. 08-01-1985

TAPS 05-24-2025

RET. 01-06-1995

TAPS 03-31-2025

74 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


GRANT, ROBERTA

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

YNC

RET. 06-14-2008

TAPS 05-29-2025

KELLEY, DAVID

JACKSONVILLE, FL

DC1

RET. 12-01-1992

TAPS 06-23-2025

TAPS

GRAYSON, MICHAEL

GRASS VALLEY, CA

MKC

RET. 09-01-1992

TAPS 06-29-2025

KELLY, BRENDAN

MATTITUCK, NY

CAPT

RET. 07-01-2019

TAPS 07-07-2025

GREGORY, DONALD

BALTIMORE, MA

DC1

RET. 08-01-1975

TAPS 07-04-2025

KLINNER, NATHAN

JESUP, GA

EMCM

RET. 07-01-2001

TAPS 04-09-2025

GUILLEREAULT, ROBERT

BIDDEFORD, ME

YN1

RET. 04-21-2003

TAPS 07-18-2025

KNAPP, JOHN

MORGAN CITY, LA

BMC

RET. 10-01-2002

TAPS 05-28-2025

GUNKEL, CORY

MELBOURNE, FL

OSCS

RET. 09-01-2023

TAPS 08-17-2025

KRECH, BRENT

CLYO, GA

SK1

RET. 07-01-1995

TAPS 03-29-2025

HARTLE, JOHN

MANHEIM, PA

SK1

RET. 03-31-2006

TAPS 07-07-2025

KURY, RUDOLPH

SPRING HILL, FL

AE1

RET. 10-01-1987

TAPS 06-20-2025

HATCHER, JAY

TORC, NM

F&S3

RET. 06-01-1998

TAPS 06-17-2025

LANGLOIS, PAUL

SANTA ROSA, CA

CAPT

RET. 07-01-2006

TAPS 06-30-2025

HERR, RICHARD

HAYMARKET, VA

VADM

RET. 08-01-1998

TAPS 07-01-2025

LANOIX, DAVID

SACO, ME

BM1

RET. 02-17-2001

TAPS 06-07-2025

HINDS, DAVID

LOUISVILLE, KY

GMCS

RET. 06-01-1990

TAPS 04-18-2025

LATHBURY, JEFFREY

SELBYVILLE, DE

BM1

RET. 01-01-1999

TAPS 07-15-2025

HOLLEY, DREW

WOODSTOCK, GA

HOOKS, PHILLIP

CHANDLER, AZ

HOOPER, CASEY

SMYRNA, TN

HOUSTON, RICHARD

FAIRFIELD, CA

INMAN, MICHAEL

BURIEN, WA

IRVIN, EDWARD

NEW CASTLE, DE

JOHNSON, GORDON

MOYOCK, NC

JOHNSON, RANDALL

JACKSONVILLE, FL

JOHNSON, ROBERT

RACINE, WI

JONES, WARREN

BREMERTON, WA

JORDAN, MICHAEL

TRAPPER CREEK, AK

BMC

MK1

ETC

AD1

CAPT

ETC

PERS2

MKC

MKCM

ATC

ETC

RET. 02-01-1974

TAPS 07-30-2025

RET. 09-01-1977

TAPS 05-26-2025

RET. 05-01-1998

TAPS 06-29-2025

RET. 08-01-1980

TAPS 05-29-2025

RET. 07-01-2010

TAPS 07-08-2025

RET. 08-01-1987

TAPS 08-12-2025

RET. 04-13-2002

TAPS 07-13-2025

RET. 07-01-1988

TAPS 06-14-2025

RET. 10-01-2001

TAPS 05-08-2025

RET. 09-01-1979

TAPS 05-21-2025

RET. 04-01-1991

TAPS 04-28-2025

LAWSON, ALANA

REIDSVILLE, NC

LAWSON, STANLEY

BEAUFORT, SC

LEE, RICHARD

JACKSONVILLE, FL

LEVINE, GEORGE

PASO ROBLES, CA

LOUIS, RICKEY

CHICAGO, IL

MANGOLD, JAMES

SEGUIN, TX

MCFARLAND, GREGORY

ARNOLD, CA

MCGOONAN, THOMAS

JEWETT CITY, CT

MCINTOSH, DAVID

CANDLER, FL

MCKENZIE, FLOYD

BRANDON, FL

MCLAUGHLIN, THOMAS

HATBORO, PA

SK1

CWO3

ENG3

PS1

YN1

CWO3

MK2

BT1

CDR

EN1

ENG4

RET. 11-01-2020

TAPS 05-07-2025

RET. 03-01-1977

TAPS 06-21-2025

RET. 08-01-1991

TAPS 05-11-2025

RET. 01-16-2010

TAPS 06-08-2025

RET. 12-01-1995

TAPS 06-05-2025

RET. 06-01-1987

TAPS 06-08-2025

RET. 01-12-2008

TAPS 05-24-2025

RET. 10-18-1971

TAPS 05-18-2025

RET. 04-01-1973

TAPS 04-03-2025

RET. 08-11-1966

TAPS 04-02-2025

RET. 12-31-2004

TAPS 08-19-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

75


TAPS

MEALING, WALLACE

TACOMA, WA

YNC

RET. 01-01-1991

TAPS 06-21-2025

NEUDECKER, RONALD

TROY, NY

LT

RET. 09-25-2007

TAPS 05-19-2025

MEREDITH, DAVID

SAN DIEGO, CA

HSC

RET. 12-01-2002

TAPS 04-15-2025

NOLAN, NORMAN

PORT HADLOCK, WA

BMC

RET. 05-01-1978

TAPS 06-10-2025

MEYER, ROBERT

RUIDOSO, NM

PSCS

RET. 12-29-1994

TAPS 07-10-2025

NOWLIN, SAM

CLEBURNE, TX

EMC

RET. 02-01-1975

TAPS 05-22-2025

MIDGETT, ISAAC

ELIZABETH CTY, NC

MKCS

RET. 05-01-1977

TAPS 05-28-2025

OFFUTT, JOSEPH

GRAPEVINE, TX

CAPT

RET. 09-01-1991

TAPS 07-23-2025

MILLER, JACOB

BUFFALO, NY

BOSN3

RET. 10-01-1991

TAPS 06-12-2025

OLEARY, DANIEL

ARCATA, CA

ST2

RET. 05-27-2011

TAPS 04-02-2025

MILLER, LOUIS

OAKLYN, NJ

CWO2

RET. 05-01-1979

TAPS 07-13-2025

ONEAL, EDWARD

OCRACOKE, NC

FSC

RET. 07-01-1978

TAPS 08-13-2025

MITCHELL, WILLIAM

YAKIMA, WA

QMC

RET. 08-01-1979

TAPS 06-06-2025

OREILLY, PATRICK

BOISE, ID

FSCS

RET. 01-01-1998

TAPS 08-17-2025

MITSUNAGA, TOSHIO

ESCONDIDO, CA

CWO3

RET. 09-01-1972

TAPS 06-17-2025

ORR, THOMAS

CONCONULLY, WA

SKCS

RET. 02-01-1982

TAPS 05-21-2025

MOLLOY, GREGORY

NOVATO, CA

BM2

RET. 08-24-2008

TAPS 06-13-2025

PALLACE, JAMES

MASTIC, NY

PS1

RET. 12-11-1992

TAPS 05-04-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

MONTGOMERY, VICTOR

SEABECK, WA

MOORE, RAY

HOLLYWOOD, FL

MORALES, DAVID

TOA ALTA, PR

MOYNIHAN, ROBERT

THE VILLAGES, FL

MUTH, PETER

JEFFERSONVILL, NY

MUZZEY, WILLIAM

PARRISH, FL

NAMENIUK, RICHARD

MOBILE, AL

NELSON, GARY

WESLEY CHAPEL, FL

NELSON, HARRY

NEWPORT, NC

NELSON, JOHN

RAYMORE, MO

NELSON, LINDA

EAST GREENWICH, RI

POC

ENG4

SK2

LT

CAPT

QMC

LCDR

CAPT

MK1

RDC

BM2

RET. 01-02-2000

TAPS 07-02-2025

RET. 11-01-2005

TAPS 05-22-2025

RET. 05-01-1997

TAPS 05-30-2025

RET. 02-15-1989

TAPS 08-04-2025

RET. 07-01-1989

TAPS 04-25-2025

RET. 11-03-1991

TAPS 05-21-2025

RET. 10-01-2013

TAPS 05-08-2025

RET. 07-01-1991

TAPS 05-21-2025

RET. 08-01-1974

TAPS 06-19-2025

RET. 09-23-1999

TAPS 05-27-2025

RET. 06-06-2014

TAPS 04-29-2025

PALMER, WILLIAM

IRON RIVER, MI

PARENT, JAMES

GERMANTOWN, MD

PARR, DAVID

MYSTIC, CT

PATTON, ROY

NEWPORT, OR

PECK, THOMAS

MONROE, NC

PENDLETON, ROBERT

SAN LEANDRO, CA

PEREZ, DENIS

SAN ANTONIO, TX

PEREZ, DENIS

SAN ANTONIO, TX

PERKINS, CALVIN

MATTAPOISETT, MA

PERRY, WILLIAM

OAKLEY, CA

PETERSEN, STEPHEN

MARYSVILLE, MI

BMCS

CAPT

CAPT

CWO4

BOSN2

CAPT

EM2

EM2

LCDR

SK1

MSS4

RET. 08-01-1992

TAPS 04-24-2025

RET. 07-01-1990

TAPS 07-29-2025

RET. 09-01-1987

TAPS 06-29-2025

RET. 07-01-1988

TAPS 07-02-2025

RET. 08-01-2003

TAPS 05-17-2025

RET. 01-03-1997

TAPS 04-23-2025

RET. 04-19-2025

TAPS 04-18-2025

RET. 04-19-2025

TAPS 04-18-2025

RET. 07-01-1984

TAPS 06-09-2025

RET. 04-01-1998

TAPS 04-30-2025

RET. 09-01-2005

TAPS 07-19-2025

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PETIT, WILLIAM

LAKE CITY, FL

MK1

RET. 06-01-1985

TAPS 03-26-2025

ROBINSON, PATRICK

SHREVEPORT, LA

FA

RET. 07-19-1989

TAPS 07-16-2025

TAPS

PIERCE, RICHARD

TEMPLETON, CA

CWO4

RET. 10-01-1985

TAPS 05-30-2025

ROGOWSKI, RONALD

TUCSON, AZ

CAPT

RET. 05-02-1999

TAPS 08-03-2025

PIERCE, WILLIAM

BROKEN ARROW, OK

MK1

RET. 07-18-2002

TAPS 06-20-2025

ROSAL, RAYMIE

VALLEJO, CA

FSC

RET. 02-01-1978

TAPS 05-15-2025

PIGG, ROBERT

LEHIGH ACRES, FL

YN1

RET. 02-11-2007

TAPS 07-29-2025

ROSECRANS, MICHAEL

SAINT JOHNS, FL

CAPT

RET. 07-01-2003

TAPS 06-07-2025

PINA, JACK

PALM DESERT, CA

IVCS

RET. 02-08-1998

TAPS 03-13-2025

ROWE, GARY

LAKEWOOD, CO

CDR

RET. 06-01-1982

TAPS 04-19-2025

PORTER, LARRY

ASHBURN, VA

F&S4

RET. 03-19-1998

TAPS 05-26-2025

RUSSO, ANTHONY

CARMEL, ME

FSCS

RET. 11-01-1982

TAPS 07-04-2025

POULOS, PETER

AIKEN, SC

CDR

RET. 07-01-1985

TAPS 04-23-2025

RUSSO, ROBERT

ATLANTIC BEACH, FL

CWO3

RET. 09-01-1986

TAPS 08-18-2025

POWELL, BOBBY

FUQUAY VARINA, NC

FSCM

RET. 10-06-2004

TAPS 04-22-2025

RYAN, LAWRENCE

ORANGE PARK, FL

CAPT

RET. 10-07-1997

TAPS 06-20-2025

PRICE, JOHN

LA FAYETTE, NY

PAC

RET. 08-03-1997

TAPS 05-07-2025

RYBA, JOHN

TUSCALOOSA, AL

LCDR

RET. 06-01-1991

TAPS 06-08-2025

PROVOST, EDWARD

STELLA, NC

QUATTLEBAUM, CONNIE

KING GEORGE, VA

RAINES, BUNYAN

MOBILE, AL

RAYMOND, MICHAEL

MCLEAN, VA

RAYNOR, JOHN

WASILLA, AK

REDDITT, WILLIAM

GEORGETOWN, SC

REED, ARVIS

STOCKTON, CA

RESLING, HENRY

W PALM BCH, FL

REYNOLDS, RICHARD

MOBILE, AL

RICKLES, ROBERT

GULFPORT, MS

RIDDLE, RONALD

TACOMA, WA

AMC

GM2

SA

RADM

CDR

BMC

CDR

BOSN2

HSC

BMCM

QMC

RET. 06-01-1995

TAPS 07-30-2025

RET. 12-01-1954

TAPS 04-07-2025

RET. 05-01-1956

TAPS 08-16-2025

RET. 07-20-2025

TAPS 07-19-2025

RET. 12-25-1994

TAPS 06-26-2025

RET. 07-01-1978

TAPS 07-31-2025

RET. 12-31-1997

TAPS 07-05-2025

RET. 07-27-2002

TAPS 08-02-2025

RET. 07-05-1990

TAPS 06-03-2025

RET. 07-01-1986

TAPS 07-13-2025

RET. 09-01-1978

TAPS 06-01-2025

SCHEER, GARY

LELAND, NC

SCHILPP, WALTER

SANTA ROSA, CA

SCHMER, GERALD

SPOKANE, WA

SCHNARDTHORST, KENNETH

MOBILE, AL

SCHOCH, STUART

TUCSON, AZ

SCHREFFLER, MARTIN

CHARLESTON, WV

SHAY, ARTHUR

LEWISVILLE, TX

SHERER, PHILIP

CRESTLINE, OH

SHERMAN, THOMAS

GALVESTON, TX

SIBOLE, DAVID

BUNKER HILL, WV

SICHEL, JAMES

ROSEVILLE, CA

CDR

SN

CWO4

AMT1

SN

MK1

ATC

CAPT

LCDR

PS1

SKC

RET. 09-01-1996

TAPS 08-09-2025

RET. 12-01-1954

TAPS 03-17-2025

RET. 04-26-1990

TAPS 04-11-2025

RET. 08-01-2017

TAPS 07-03-2025

RET. 09-21-1984

TAPS 06-28-2025

RET. 09-01-1978

TAPS 03-16-2025

RET. 11-01-1973

TAPS 07-29-2025

RET. 09-01-1994

TAPS 06-08-2025

RET. 11-01-2005

TAPS 04-28-2025

RET. 03-22-1992

TAPS 06-09-2025

RET. 11-01-1992

TAPS 07-29-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

77


TAPS

SIMS, BILLY

CEDAR TOWN, GA

RM1

RET. 07-01-1980

TAPS 07-27-2025

VANHORN, MICHAEL

TWO HARBORS, MN

IT1

RET. 05-01-2009

TAPS 06-21-2025

SMITH, GARR

INDIO, CA

CDR

RET. 08-27-1997

TAPS 07-14-2025

VANOVER, ROBERT

ALEXANDRIA, KY

PS3

RET. 12-02-2000

TAPS 05-08-2025

SMITH, JERRY

FOUNTAIN, FL

EMCS

RET. 12-01-1990

TAPS 06-18-2025

VAUGHN, THOMAS

ARK, VA

DCCS

RET. 02-01-1999

TAPS 05-19-2025

SMITH, RAYMOND

HOUSTON, TX

SKC

RET. 02-13-2004

TAPS 04-24-2025

VOIGT, JOHN

KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC

QMCS

RET. 10-01-1976

TAPS 06-09-2025

SNOW, PAUL

CLERMONT, FL

MKC

RET. 07-01-1974

TAPS 08-14-2025

WALL, JAMES

LEMONT, IL

BMC

RET. 06-24-1994

TAPS 05-26-2025

SOLES, JOSEPH

FRIES, VA

PERS4

RET. 09-01-1998

TAPS 07-05-2025

WALLER, LEE

FT PIERCE, FL

RMCS

RET. 11-01-1976

TAPS 05-03-2025

SPARROW, HAROLD

ST LEONARD, MD

MAT2

RET. 04-01-1995

TAPS 06-20-2025

WALSH, WILLIAM

LOS ALTOS, CA

SNQM

RET. 03-05-2007

TAPS 06-07-2025

STEWART, CRAIG

MCMINNVILLE, OR

SN

RET. 07-24-1985

TAPS 05-24-2025

WATSON, JAMES

KEYSER, WV

EM1

RET. 10-22-2020

TAPS 06-26-2025

STOFFEL, KENNETH

AURORA, CO

SN

RET. 04-04-1958

TAPS 03-16-2025

WEIR, RICHARD

BETHANY, OK

CWO3

RET. 03-01-1982

TAPS 08-03-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

STROHMAN, ROBERT

LOUISVILLE, KY

TAELE, TIAINA

PAGO PAGO, AS

TALIAFERRO, ROBERT

TEATICKET, MA

TAMAYO, ROMAN

CERRITOS, CA

TAYLOR, JAMES

RAYNHAM, MA

TOMCZAK, JAMES

ASHLAND, WI

TORRES, JULIAN

PALM BAY, FL

TUMMONS, DAVID

ORLANDO, FL

ULRICH, RAYMOND

RESTON, VA

URQUHART, RICHARD

BEVERLY HILLS, MI

VANDERMALLIE, ROBERT

JACKSONVILLE, FL

LCDR

BM1

BMCM

SKC

SK3

MKCM

BMCS

ET2

CWO3

SN

BM2

RET. 10-17-1998

TAPS 06-29-2025

RET. 11-26-1973

TAPS 03-30-2025

RET. 10-01-1984

TAPS 05-05-2025

RET. 05-01-1982

TAPS 06-05-2025

RET. 11-13-1963

TAPS 06-08-2025

RET. 02-12-1995

TAPS 05-11-2025

RET. 12-01-1985

TAPS 07-11-2025

RET. 11-01-1999

TAPS 06-06-2025

RET. 01-01-1983

TAPS 08-04-2025

RET. 03-31-1977

TAPS 07-19-2025

RET. 09-24-1974

TAPS 04-16-2025

WENDELL, DAVID

SPARKS, NV

WERTZ, MARCIA

CALIFORNIA CITY, CA

WIDDEKIND, DENNIS

LEWES, DE

WIESE, BOBBY

HERTFORD, NC

WILLIAMS, EGBERT

JACKSONVILLE, FL

WISSE, MICHAEL

STARKS, ME

WOLF, JOSEPH

MANASSAS, VA

WOOLBRIGHT, FREDDIE

GORDO, AL

WOWAK, DANIEL

PHILADELPHIA, PA

YUCOCO, BENJAMIN

WAIPAHU, HI

ZEPPLIN, WILLIAM

ALAMEDA, CA

CWO3

SK1

PSC

AECM

CWO4

HSC

LT

SKC

BM1

EMC

F&S4

RET. 09-01-1984

TAPS 05-09-2025

RET. 03-20-1992

TAPS 05-01-2025

RET. 06-28-1999

TAPS 06-21-2025

RET. 07-01-1995

TAPS 06-18-2025

RET. 06-01-1981

TAPS 06-26-2025

RET. 10-01-1991

TAPS 07-23-2025

RET. 04-16-2016

TAPS 07-10-2025

RET. 01-19-1995

TAPS 07-26-2025

RET. 12-14-2016

TAPS 05-26-2025

RET. 08-01-1989

TAPS 07-26-2025

RET. 12-01-2007

TAPS 06-02-2025

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USPHS

TAPS

BLUE-SPRUCE, GEORGE

SURPRISE, AZ

RADM

RET. 11-01-1986

TAPS 06-03-2025

FERGUSON, BARBARA

ATLANTA, GA

CAPT

RET. 08-01-1995

TAPS 05-13-2025

BOE, STEVEN

ANN ARBOR, MI

CAPT

RET. 02-01-2002

TAPS 07-11-2025

GYLLENSKOG, MAX

SMITHFIELD, UT

CDR

RET. 04-01-1993

TAPS 05-29-2025

BOONDAS, JENNIFER

EVANSTON, IL

CAPT

RET. 01-01-1988

TAPS 06-27-2025

KRONOVETER, KENNETH

CRESTWOOD, KY

CAPT

RET. 09-01-1984

TAPS 06-01-2025

BRADBURY, RICHARD

GAINESVILLE, GA

CAPT

RET. 01-01-1990

TAPS 07-28-2025

LAMBDIN, DONALD

EUGENE, OR

CDR

RET. 07-01-1980

TAPS 05-07-2025

BROTMAN, ROBERT

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA

CAPT

RET. 02-01-1982

TAPS 05-03-2025

LYLE, JERRY

WESTBOROUGH, MA

CAPT

RET. 08-01-1995

TAPS 05-17-2025

CANGEMI, MICHAEL

AMBRY, WI

CDR

RET. 09-01-2005

TAPS 06-05-2025

MAESCHEN, MELVIN

FARMINGTON, NM

CAPT

RET. 06-01-2000

TAPS 06-07-2025

CHOW, RITA

DUBLIN, CA

CAPT

RET. 07-01-1995

TAPS 06-09-2025

MILLS, JAMES

KNOXVILLE, TN

CAPT

RET. 07-01-1994

TAPS 06-16-2025

COCALIS, JOSEPH

POINT MARION, PA

CAPT

RET. 03-01-2002

TAPS 08-07-2025

MITCHELL, BRENDA

QUEEN CREEK, AZ

CDR

RET. 08-01-2013

TAPS 07-11-2025

CROCKER, ELEANOR

SILVER SPRING, MD

CROW, THOMAS

ELIZABETHTON, TN

CRUMBAKER, JAMES

MORGANTOWN, WV

DE LA PAZ, BIENVENIDO

FRISCO, TX

EISENBERG, EVAN

POTOMAC, MD

ENGEL, W KING

ANN ARBOR, MI

ESSIEN, JOYCE

ATLANTA, GA

CDR

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

RET. 12-01-2001

TAPS 08-20-2025

RET. 08-01-2001

TAPS 07-27-2025

RET. 10-01-1998

TAPS 04-14-2025

RET. 02-01-2001

TAPS 08-04-2025

RET. 07-01-2000

TAPS 07-26-2025

RET. 08-01-1981

TAPS 07-18-2025

RET. 03-01-2011

TAPS 06-29-2025

MOISE, ERNST

MIAMI SHORES, FL

NIXON, JAMES

WILSONVILLE, OR

PENGELLY, MARY

MISSOULA, MT

PHILLIPS, THOMAS

SAN DIEGO, CA

RENTOS, PANTELIS

PALM HARBOR, FL

ROYALL, LESLIE

MORGANTOWN, WV

SEABRON, LAVERT

WASHINGTON, DC

SEDER, PAUL

BETHESDA, MD

SHIPLEY, DONALD

GREENWELL SPRINGS, LA

SUNGA, ANGELITA

HAYMARKET, VA

WINTERSTEEN, STEVEN

RAPID CITY, SD

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CAPT

CDR

RET. 01-01-2000

TAPS 05-18-2025

RET. 10-01-1987

TAPS 05-20-2025

RET. 07-01-1995

TAPS 06-12-2025

RET. 06-01-1997

TAPS 05-07-2025

RET. 03-01-1992

TAPS 05-21-2025

RET. 04-01-2011

TAPS 07-05-2025

RET. 07-01-1991

TAPS 04-22-2025

RET. 02-01-2001

TAPS 06-19-2025

RET. 07-01-1978

TAPS 08-19-2025

RET. 03-01-2003

TAPS 05-19-2025

RET. 03-01-2004

TAPS 07-07-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

79


TAPS

NOAA

BAKER, LEONARD

SCOTTSDALE, AZ

CAPT

RET. 01-01-1978

TAPS 06-08-2025

ROSSMANN, FREDERICK RET. 06-01-2007

CDR

PANAMA CITY, FL

TAPS 06-14-2025

MCGEE, STEWART

LOS ALTOS, CA

CDR

RET. 07-01-1990

TAPS 04-29-2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

Coast Guard personnel participate in the inaugural ceremony of a

new WWII monument at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, which

posthumously honors the lifesaving and bravery of Jack Hamlin

alongside Rescue Flotilla One. On D-Day, Rescue Flotilla One rescued

484 individuals and Hamlin’s rescue boat pulled scores of injured

soldiers from the water. Of the 484 total rescued, 194 Allied personnel

were rescued off Omaha Beach, 157 off Utah Beach, and 133 off Gold,

Juno, and Sword Beaches. (Photo courtesy of Acco Alain)

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DEPENDENT TAPS

TAPS

ELLEN SCHOETTLE

TUTTLE, OK

WIFE OF AMCM HARRY SCHOETTLE, USCG (RET)

06-27-2025

JOAN RIDDLE

MCHENRY, MS

WIFE OF CWO2 MIKE RIDDLE, USCG (RET)

07-09-2025

MARY CATHERINE MACKINNON HAAS

APOKA, FL

WIFE OF CAPT JAMES HAAS, USCG (RET)

12-11-2024

ROXANNE FIGUEIRDO DUPRE

BROOKSVILLE, FL

WIFE OF MK3 RENE DUPRE, JR., USCG (RET)

07-27-2025

GLORIA JEAN SMITH

SMITHFIELD, VA

WIFE OF BMC LOYD SMITH, USCG (RET)

08-17-2025

DIANNA FAYE WARREN

PANAMA CITY, FL

WIFE OF RMC LEONARD WARREN, USCG (RET)

04-19-2025

SHIL SONG TUCKER

SAN ANTONIO, TX

WIFE OF ETCS MORI TUCKER, USCG (RET)

08-11-2025

MARGARET E. HERMES

CAMDEN, NJ

WIFE OF CDR FREDERICK W. HERMES, USCG (RET)

05-18-2025

MARY J. SEVERY

PLYMOUTH, MA

BARBARA REA

CLEVELAND, TN

DARLENE ROSE

FREEBURG. IL

THERESA MARIE MCELLIGATT

SOUTH YARMOUTH, MA

CAROLE D. KEANE

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA

MARY SCHMIDT

SMYRNA, TN

ROBIN SELKE

SPRING HILL, FL

MARGARET VALERIE YOUNG

ROCKVILLE, MD

KAREN WILLIAMSON

RIESEL, TX

WIFE OF QMCS DONALD P. SEVERY, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF HS1 JOHN REA, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF MKCS VICTOR ROSE, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF CAPT PATRICK MCELLIGATT, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF CAPT KENNETH W. KEANE, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF CWO3 TOM SCHMIDT, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF MKC JAMES SELKE, USCG (RET)

WIFE OF RADM WEBSTER YOUNG, JR., USPHS (RET)

WIFE OF MKC KENNETH A. WILLIAMSON, USCG (RET)

07-14-2025

08-01-2025

09-22-2025

07-09-2025

06-14-2025

07-25-2025

09-16-2025

06-30-2025

02-24-2023

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

81


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION CHAPLAIN'S CORNER

SAVING LIVES,

ON AND OFF

THE WATER

The Coast Guard is known around the

world as a life-saving service. From

daring search and rescue missions

in stormy seas to safeguarding the

security of our nation’s ports and waterways,

our work is anchored in the preservation of life.

Yet saving lives is not limited to what we do on

the water. It also extends to how we care for

one another—our shipmates, our families, and

even ourselves.

Saving lives begins with readiness, but not just

the readiness measured in drills or inspections.

It begins with assuring our own spiritual,

emotional, and mental health. When we are

grounded in meaning, purpose, and character,

we not only strengthen ourselves but also the

service as a whole. If we neglect that foundation,

our resilience suffers, and so does our ability to

stand strong for those beside us. How effective

can we be as Sentinels of life if we are not also

caring listeners, watchful companions, and

keepers of one another?

September, observed as Suicide Awareness

Month, reminded us of the unseen battles some

may carry. Stress, grief, and hopelessness can

weigh heavily, even on the strongest among us.

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That reminder does not end with the turn of a

calendar page. As we now move into the holiday

season, we carry forward the call to remain

mindful, sensitive, and connected. For many,

this is a season of joy and reunion; for others,

it can be a time of loneliness, grief, or struggle.

Our awareness matters, and our presence can

make the difference.

Connection remains one of the greatest life

preservers we can offer. We are not meant to

weather storms alone. Seek out meaningful

connection with teammates, families, and

community—and allow others to connect with

you. Vulnerability is not weakness; it is trust in

action. When we open ourselves to one another,

we strengthen the bonds that keep us resilient

and mission-ready.

In the Coast Guard, every life matters. Every

shipmate counts. As we stand the watch and

approach the holidays, let us not only save

lives at sea but also safeguard the lives beside

us. Together, we are stronger, more resilient,

and more prepared to complete the mission

with honor.

SUPPORT

National Crisis and Suicide Lifeline: 988

Locate your nearest Chaplain: https://www.

uscg.mil/Leadership/Senior-Leadership/

Chaplain-of-the-Coast-Guard/Locations/

Locate your nearest SARC or VAPS: https://

www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/

Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-

CG-1/Health-Safety-and-Work-Life-CG-11/

Sexual-Assault-Prevention-Response-and-

Recovery-Program/SAPRR-Contacts/

USCG Confidential Counseling Assistance:

855-CG-SUPRT (855-247-8778)

CDR Travis Coffey, District

Chaplain, U.S. Coast Guard

Northeast District

THE LONG BLUE LINE FALL 2025

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION CHAPLAIN'S CORNER

83


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

FORCE DESIGN 2028

84 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


HISTORIC

INVESTMENT FOR

U.S. COAST GUARD

The U.S. Coast Guard will receive a nearly $25

billion investment, marking the largest single

commitment of funding in Service history. This

investment strengthens every facet of Coast

Guard operations and supports the Service’s

role as the Nation’s leading drug interdiction

and maritime border security force.

This funding will allow the Coast Guard to

procure an estimated 17 new icebreakers,

21 new cutters, over 40 helicopters and six

C-130J aircraft while modernizing shore

infrastructure and maritime surveillance

systems. The package also strengthens

the Coast Guard’s ability to counter drug

and human trafficking, conduct search and

rescue, enhance navigational safety, and

enable maritime trade.

“This historic investment marks a new era for

the Coast Guard,” said the then acting Coast

Guard Commandant Adm. Kevin Lunday. “It

reflects the strong support of the American

people and empowers us to restore our

Service and prepare for the challenges of

today and tomorrow. With this level of support,

and the dedication of our Coast Guard

men and women, there’s nothing we can’t

accomplish. We are deeply grateful for this

opportunity to build a stronger Coast Guard

for the Nation.”

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

$4.4 billion for shore infrastructure, training

facilities and homeports

$4.3 billion for Polar Security Cutters,

extending U.S. reach in the Arctic

$4.3 billion for nine new Offshore Patrol

Cutters

$3.5 billion for three Arctic Security Cutters

$2.3 billion for more than 40 MH-60

helicopters

$2.2 billion for depot level maintenance to

sustain readiness

$1.1 billion for six new HC-130J aircraft and

simulators

$1 billion for Fast Response Cutters

$816 million for light and medium

Icebreaking Cutters

$266 million for long-range unmanned

aircraft systems

$170 million for maritime domain awareness,

including next-generation sensors

$162 million for three Waterways Commerce

Cutters

This article was published on

To read more, visit:

www.sailingscuttlebutt.com

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION FORCE DESIGN 2028

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85


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

CLAIMS & BENEFITS

USCG, USPHS, and NOAA uniformed members

planning to separate/retire are STRONGLY

encouraged to take full advantage of the

programs described below.

• VA BENEFITS AT DISCHARGE PROGRAM

Benefits Delivery at Discharge Program -

Veterans Benefits Administration

Service members who are separating and plan

to file for disability compensation can file their

claim before separation through the Benefits

Delivery at Discharge (BDD) program. The

BDD program allows Service members to

apply for VA disability compensation benefits

between 180 to 90 days prior to separation.

This timeframe permits VA to review Service

Treatment Records (STRs), schedule

BENEFITS & CLAIMS

needed exams and evaluate the claim before

separation. BDD’s goal is to deliver a decision

within 30 days after separation.

• VFW PRE-DISCHARGE PROGRAM

VA Claims & Separation Benefits - VFW

In 2001, through a cooperative initiative with

the Pentagon and the Department of Veterans

Affairs, the VFW Pre-Discharge program was

established. This program ensures separating

and retiring active-duty military personnel

receive assistance in obtaining their VA

entitlements and benefits upon discharge. Our

Pre-Discharge offices are located on or near

major military installations across the country. If

you are within 180 days of discharge, you can

contact a VFW Pre-Discharge representative

86 FALL 2025

THE LONG BLUE LINE


to get the process underway. Scan the code

below for an easy checklist of what you should

bring to your appointment.

Scan the code below for more information on

what to expect at a compensation and pension

exam.

USCG, USPHS, and NOAA Retirees, Annuitants,

and Survivors are STRONGLY encouraged to

“get smart” on VA Benefits for which you may

be eligible and get help in processing VA Claims

from the VFW National Veterans Service (NVS),

as described below from VA Claims & Separation

Benefits - VFW

As the largest organization of combat veterans,

we understand the frustrations that can arise when

transitioning out of the military or filing a claim with

the Department of Veterans Affairs. The claims

process can be confusing and one that service

members and veterans shouldn't try to navigate

alone. That's why the NVS was established to help

all veterans, service members, their families and

survivors.

NVS consists of a nationwide network of VFW

Accredited Service Officers and Pre-Discharge

Representatives who are experts in navigating VA

processes and the key to your success. Don't fall

victim to "claim sharks" - companies that illegally

represent veterans through the VA claims process

and can charge thousands for doing so. Our cadre

of highly trained and professional advocates help

veterans cut through bureaucratic red tape. The

VA reports veterans represented by the VFW

have recouped $14.6 billion in compensation and

pension on behalf of veterans and eligible family

members in fiscal year 2024.

VFW Accredited Service Officers are trained

experts, helping veterans develop their case

with ease by reviewing and applying current law,

pertinent legislation, regulations and medical

histories. As skilled professionals, we assist in

filing for disability compensation, rehabilitation

and education programs, pension and death

benefits, and employment and training programs.

Furthermore, we won’t hesitate to request hearings

before the VA and the Board of Veterans Appeals

to present oral arguments when needed.

VFW Accredited Service Officers are with

America's veterans every step of the way once

they're ready to file a claim. This is a service the

VFW is proud to offer—FREE OF CHARGE—

to anyone seeking assistance with the claims

process.

CLAIMS & BENEFITS

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

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87


WORK-LIFE

TRANSITION

ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

Coast Guard Active-Duty and Reserve members and their spouses

transitioning back to civilian life and Retirees and/or caregivers

are highly encouraged to check-out and take full advantage of the

TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM at: https://tapevents.mil/

Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave U.S. military service and return to life as

civilians, a process known as the military to civilian transition. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP)

provides information, tools, and training to ensure Service members, their spouses and/or caregivers

are prepared for the next step in civilian life.

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) is the result of an interagency partnership between the

Departments of Defense (DoD), Labor (DOL), Veterans Affairs (VA), Education (ED), Homeland

Security (DHS), Small Business Administration (SBA), and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM),

in conjunction with the Military Departments who execute TAP.

The TAP curriculum is an outcome-based curriculum that transforms the way the military prepares

Service members for transition back to civilian life. The curriculum is designed to provide service

members with the resources, tools, services, and skill-building training needed to meet Career

Readiness Standards (CRS). Shortly before departing the military, Service members demonstrate

achievement of these standards to their command through a verification process called Capstone. This

process includes an opportunity to connect Service members who may need additional assistance

to agency partners who provide them with additional support.

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

Military to civilian transition occurs within a complex and dynamic network of relationships, programs,

services, and benefits, which includes transition planning and assistance efforts by individual Service

branches, the interagency TAP partnership, and community resources delivered through local

government, private industry, and nonprofit organizations.

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U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

CPOA/CGEA

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89


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION PPC-RAS

!

VA COMPENSATION – IMPORTANT REMINDER

CG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER (PPC)

BLUF - Impact on your current VA Disability Claim when

you submit a new claim to the VA

Retirees are reminded that if you submit a request to the

VA for a change to your disability rating while you still have

a case awaiting processing by PPC, your old case could

be overwritten by the Coast Guard system and your case

would end up at the back of the line.

RETIREES: NO MORE PAPER CHECKS

FOR DELIVERY OF RETIRED PAY

Presidential Administration Executive Order

#14247 requires all federal benefit payments to

be paid by electronic means, effective October

1, 2025. Members who currently receive USCG

retired pay through paper checks will no longer

be able to utilize this payment method.

There are two methods available to receive your

retired pay, and both are fast, safe, and reliable.

One is through direct deposit to a checking or

savings account at any bank; the second is

through the Direct Express Debit MasterCard.

OPTIONS TO SET UP DIRECT DEPOSIT:

1. Direct Access Self-Service. Follow the

procedures on the PPC (RAS) web

site at http://www.uscg.mil/ppc/ras

2. Contact our Call Center at (866) 772-8724

with your direct deposit information and a

Customer Service Representative will create

a help desk ticket for you for processing.

3. Complete Form CG-2015 and e-mail to

ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil

Should you decide to use the Direct Express

Debit MasterCard, below are two ways to set

it up:

1. Call the Department of Treasury’s Electronic

Payment Center at (800) 333-1795 and they

will assist you.

2. Enroll online at https://www.godirect.

gov/gpw/enrollment

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END OF THE CURRENT TAX SEASON IS

FAST APPROACHING!

All retirees and annuitants are reminded

that the “Mailing” address listed in Direct

Access (DA) is the address all your year-end

tax documents will be sent to. Please note

that the “Home” address is NOT used for

these mailings. “Home” address is used for

customers with summer or winter addresses

that may be different from your permanent

address.

RECOMMENDATION FOR YOU TODAY:

Review both your Retiree or Annuitant “Home”

and “Mailing” Addresses and update as

needed, by December 1, 2025, by using the

DA Self-Service Sign-On Link: https://hcm.

direct-access.uscg.mil/ You will be able to

find the DA User Guide that provides step by

step instructions on verifying/changing your

address here: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/

Portals/10/CG-1/PPC/RAS/GP/Retiree%20

SS%20-%20Mailing%20Address.pdf?ver=eeHtEdO6ZMyKa8ke0T4DQ%3d%3d

If you moved to a different state, please also

double check your state tax withholding and

change that, if applicable. Please note that

the change will be effective on the date it is

made in DA.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR CURRENT YEAR RETIREES: If you changed your permanent address

following your retirement, you will only be able to update your Retiree “Mailing” Address in DA

via Self-Service, however your Mailing Address on your Active/Reserve DA account will not be

updated and you will not have access to that account. You must contact PPC and specifically

ask for an update to your Active/Reserve account. This is critical to ensure your final IRS

Form W2 will reach your current address.

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION PPC-RAS

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U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION PPC-RAS

HOW TO REPORT

A DEATH

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/

Please report the passing of your loved one via e-mail to ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil or by

phone at 866-772-8724 (business hours are: Monday - Friday 7:30 (am) to 4:00 (pm) central time)

See VERY helpful quick reference at Survivor's Guide Trifold Brochure (10/2024): https://www.

dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/PPC/RAS/Survivor's%20Guide%20Trifold%20(Oct%202024).

pdf?ver=3XaunKBjym0IRIJpQYO37g%3d%3d, and on facing page.

REPORTING THE DEATH OF A RETIREE, ANNUITANT, or FORMER SPOUSE (who is receiving

pay) Please provide the following information when reporting the death of a retiree, annuitant, or

former spouse (who is receiving pay)

Deceased Persons Information:

1. Employee ID number or /SSN:

2. Full Name:

3. Date of Death:

4. Type of death: (Natural Causes or Homicide)

5. Location of Death (City & State)

6. Type of Burial (Buried/Cremated/Sea Burial)

7. Location of burial (City & State)

Reporting Person Information:

1. Name:

2. Relationship to deceased:

3. Phone:

4. E-mail:

5. Mailing Address:

Once you have the Death Certificate please email it to ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil.

REPORTING THE DEATH OF A DEPENDENT (SPOUSE, PARENT, INSURABLE INTEREST or

CHILD who is not receiving pay)

Please provide the following information when reporting the death of a dependent:

1. Death Certificate (Dependent deaths cannot be processed without the death certificate)

2. DD Form 2656-6, Survivor Benefit Plan Election Change Certificate, (if the person is on your

Survivor Benefit Plan)

3. CG Form 3600, Designation of Beneficiary for Payment of Unpaid Retired Pay, (if the person

is listed as a Final Pay Beneficiary)

PPC RAS will contact you to confirm receipt of your report and/or supporting documents. This

information will be given to the pay team who processes the passing of your loved one. We generally

process these requests within 30 days of receipt, however incomplete or missing information or

supporting documents will delay the processing.

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• https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/4212015/coast-guard-releasesestate-planning-final-affairs-handbook-for-military-members/

• https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/retiree/docs/CGNRC/CG%20

Estate%20Planning%20%20Final%20Affairs%20Handbook_CG-1M%20

Approved_3(508%20compliant)_2.pdf?ver=qHwl7gZOnm6xOupgPXvGw%3d%3d

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION PPC-RAS

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93


U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION PPC-RAS

Here’s How…

IT’S TIME TO VERIFY YOUR

BENEFICIARY DESIGNATIONS

It is important that PPC/RAS has your most accurate and up-to-date information on file in Direct

Access because your beneficiary designations generally determine who receives funds after your

death. Please always review and update your beneficiary designations whenever you experience a

major life event, such as a birth, marriage, divorce, or death in the family.

Unfortunately, there have been some recent cases when, because of a divorce and remarriage

that we didn’t know about, PPC/RAS had to pay the person (for example, a former spouse) who

was listed in the deceased retiree’s DA account, rather than the preferred beneficiary. Please

ensure your account is up-to-date and actually reflects your current wishes.

The easiest way to view or update your beneficiary designations is to follow these steps:

1. Log on to your DA Self-Service account at https://hcm.direct-access.us/

2. Select the “Self Service” tab.

3. Find “View My Final Pay Beneficiary” and follow the steps.

If you encounter problems, please call us at (866) 772-8724 or e-mail us at:

PPC-DG-CustomerCare@uscg.mil

COAST GUARD RETIRED RESERVE MEMBERS IN

RET-2 STATUS ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO

SET-UP, ACCESS, UPDATE YOUR CG DIRECT ACCESS

(DA) SELF-SERVICE ACCOUNT

1. Access PPC website at: https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/

2. Click on and sign in at https://hcm.direct-access.uscg.mil/

3. You’ll be prompted to enter your User ID, which is your Employee ID (EMPLID), and your

Password.

4. If you’ve already set up your password and don’t recall it, press “Forgot My Password” and you’ll

be given a password hint and, if needed, prompted to have a new password sent to the e-mail

address you provided to set up your account. Once you log in, you’ll have to change it.

5. If you’ve don’t know your EMPID and/or haven’t already set up your account with a password,

you will need to contact PPC/Customer Care at: 866-772-8724.

!

It is Particularly Important to

KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION UPDATED IN DA

Allowing the Coast Guard to Keep You and Your Family

Informed on Matters of Importance

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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

Changes to Your DA Account:

• Your retired or annuity payments

• Your retired/annuitant pay slip

• IRS Form 1099-R (reporting taxable income)

• You need to change your home

mailing address (for delivery of 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)

For most transactions, you may always use

Direct Access Self-Service:

www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras

If you cannot use Direct Access Self-Service,

you may make the requests listed above by

e-mail, by phone, by fax, or mailing:

ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil

Telephone: (866) 772-8724

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, send us an e-mail

request).

• Report a change to your survivor benefit

plan (SBP) coverage (must be in writing)

• You may e-mail your request to ppc-dgcustomercare@uscg.mil

or mail to:

Commanding Officer (RAS)

USCG Pay & Personnel Center

444 SE Quincy St

Topeka, KS 66683-3591

or fax to (785) 339-3770

(*) 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 (customers can e-mail/fax/

postal mail the *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 is 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

(Customers use Form W-4)

• Change exemptions or additional withholding

Federal tax changes must be made by the

Customer (DA Self-Service) or in writing. Form

IRS W-4 must be provided to PPC (RAS) for

action and filing, Please e-mail to:

ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil

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.

Report of Death:

To report the death of a Coast Guard, NOAA

or PHS retiree/annuitant call:

Toll free: 1-866-772-8724

Or e-mail: ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil

Or www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras (web site)

Dependent TAPS:

To place a Dependent TAPS notice in The Retiree

Newsletter, please 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

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U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

95


OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

USCG PAY & PERSONNEL CENTER

RETIREE AND ANNUITANT SERVICES (PPC-RAS)

4 WAYS TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR RETIRED

PAY ACCOUNT

With our improved tools, you can manage your account easily and when it is most

convenient for you.

WEBSITE

Site address: www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/

On the website you can:

• Get important updates

• Get information on accessing Direct Access (“DA”) Self-Service;

• View and download forms and packets

• Get answers to frequently-asked questions (FAQs)

Site address: https://hcm.direct-access.uscg.mil/

Helpful Guides are located at www.dcms.uscg.mil/ppc/ras/gp/

You can do the following in DA Self-Service (with nearly immediate results):

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

SELF-SERVE

EMAIL

PHONE

POSTAL

MAIL

• View Payslip

• View/Print Year End Forms

• View/Change Phone Numbers

• View/Print 1099R

• View/Change Mailing & Email

Address

• Change EFT/Direct Deposit

1099Rs are mailed to your address in DA. Helpful information is also

sent via email.

Email us at: ppc-dg-customercare@uscg.mil

• Email us questions or requests. We track/respond to all.

• Submit forms (e. g. W-4 for Taxes). We track/respond to all.

• Avoid waiting for mailed documents to be delivered to us.

• Avoid having to call.

Call us at: 866-772-8724

• Change Delivery Options

• Change Voluntary Deductions

• View Final Pay Beneficiary

• Change Federal & State Tax

• Print Retired Pay Award Letter

• View Open Debts

If you do not have access to a computer or email, you can submit your

request through US Postal Mail. Our mailing address is:

Commanding Officer

US Coast Guard PPC (RAS)

444 SE Quincy St

Topeka KS 66683-3591

PPC-RAS can process most requests within one or two pay periods.

Remember! Incomplete forms or missing documents may result in a delay in processing your request.

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COAST GUARD

LEGAL ASSISTANCE

Coast Guard legal assistance attorneys provide advice and counsel regarding personal legal issues to

thousands of service members, dependents and retirees each year at no cost. These issues may involve

family law, estate planning, consumer law, land-lord-tenant relations, immigration or many other topics.

Legal Assistance Program, CI 5801.4F: https://media.defense.gov/2017/Mar/15/2001716717/-1/-

1/0/CI_5801.4F.PDF

Legal Readiness Checklist: www.uscg.mil/Portals/0/Headquarters/Legal/la/Legal%20

Readiness%20Checklist.pdf

Personal Readiness Plan (Personal Identity & Vital Documents; Emergency Information & Powers

of Attorney; Healthcare & Medical Directives; Income, Savings and Investments, and Life Insurance;

Monthly Expenses, Debt, and Credit Reports; Primary Residence, Insurance & Household Services;

Vehicle Information, Insurance, Titles & Documentation; Taxes; Survivor Assistance & Benefits;

Estate Planning & Funeral Instructions): www.uscg.mil/Resources/Legal/LMA/Legal_Assistance/

Personal-Readiness-Plan/

Legal Assistance Attorneys: www.uscg.mil/Resources/Legal/LMA/Legal_Assistance/Find-A-

Legal-Assistance-Lawyer/

1st District Legal: 617-223-8500

7th District Legal: 305-415-6949

9th District Legal: 216-902-6042

13th District Legal: 206-220-7110

17th District Legal: 907-463-2050

5th District Legal: 757-295-2308

8th District Legal: 504-671-2038

11th District Legal: 510-437-5891

14th District Legal: 808-535-3240

13 th PACIFIC AREA ATLANTIC AREA

11 th

17 th

14 th

9 th 1 st

5 th

7 th

8 th

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97


OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES

U.S. COAST GUARD RETIREE INFORMATION

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

1-888-874-9378

www.tricare.mil/west

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)

NEW!

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

www.LTCFEDS.com

CG Health Benefits Advisor

1-800-942-2422

Veterans Benefits

Phone/Websites/Notes

VA Resource Navigator

https://news.va.gov/130576/new-va-resourcenavigator-finding-va-resources/

Department of Veterans Affairs

1-800-827-1000

www.va.gov

Reporting the Death of a Veteran/Retiree to

the VA, 800-827-1000, Press #5, https://www.

va.gov/resources/how-to-report-the-death-ofa-veteran-to-va/

VA Office of Survivors Assistance

https://www.va.gov/survivors/

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 (continued on next page)

(973) 548-5699

Overseas fax#

(973) 548-5300

Death and accelerated benefits claims only:

Fax: 1-877-832-4943.

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All other fax inquiries:

1-800-236-6142

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

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

Former Spouse

CG PPC LEGAL

206-815-6626

785-339-3788 (Fax)

PPC-DG-LGL@uscg.mil

FSPA & SBP Informational Pamphlet

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/

PPC/Docs/Legal/Uniformed%20Services%20

Former%20Spouse%20Protection%20Act%20

(FSPA).pdf

Former Spouse ID Card and Medical

Information

https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Portals/10/CG-1/

PPC/RAS/FormerSpouseDetermination4IDcards.

pdf?ver=a_wj5dB_

FMVcHvKGRPEkBw%3D%3D#:~:text=The%20

20%2D20%2D15%20rule,if%20they%20do%20

not%20remarry

Additional Important Number and Websites

Final Active Duty Pay

1-866-772-8724

Overseas

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

Commanding Officer (SEP)

USCG Pay & Personnel Center

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

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

Send final travel claim to:

Commanding Officer (TVL)

USCG Pay & Personnel Center

444 SE Quincy St.

Topeka, KS 66683-3591

Service Records

(314) 801-0800

www.archives.gov/veterans/military-servicerecords

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/mariner-medals

Contact - Awards, Flags, Medals

Katrina McRae

Maritime Awards Officer

Office of Sealift Support

1200 NEW JERSEY AVE., SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

United States

Email: Katrina.mcrae@dot.gov

Phone: 202-366-3198

Fax: 202-366-2323

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

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a

speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access

telecommunications relay services.

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

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/

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99


A

GREAT

GIFT FOR

NEW

RETIREES

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