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First in War, First in Peace, First in Service
With the passing of Veterans’ Day just a few days ago, and US forces engaged in open combat and not-so-open combat in various theaters around the globe, it is never too late, too soon or too often to note the service of our veterans. As the sad but noble bromide goes, all gave some; some gave all.
Many are not aware of how many service veterans serve US Coast Guard Forces through the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 18 (1st Southern Region). “D18” stretches from William Floyd Parkway east to Montauk Point on the south and to Orient Point to the north. Our waters encompass all the bays, creeks and near-coastal waters of “Out East.”
Would you be surprised to learn that over 30% of division 18s members are service veterans? The table, which includes some double-counting due to service in multiple arms of the military, shows the breakdown by service:
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US Navy/Reserves
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15
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US Army/Reserves/Nat’l Guard
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11
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USCG/USCG Reserves
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6
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US Air Force/Reserves
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4
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US Air Force Reserves
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1
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US Marine Corps
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1
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Royal Naval Reserves
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1
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Not surprisingly, most served in the sea-borne services but every service is represented. More than the numbers, however, they have defended their Nation on the Asian, European and American continents. They have also done so on every ocean - on, above and under it - as well as flown over many a battle field. They have trained with and often had to use or be prepared to use weapons from side arms on up, all the way to nuclear weapons, to defend us.
They have been recognized for service and valor many times, including the Navy Cross.
Names and actions that have been storied through this Nation's 20th century history are found in the records of the veterans of USCGAux Division 18 (1SR):
The Manhattan Project,
USS Saratoga,
USS Wakefield's evacuation of British subjects from Singapore,
USS Kitty Hawk,
Polaris Submarine Forces,
the Alaska Highway,
the Battle of the Bulge,
Leyte,
Normandy,
World War II,
Korean Conflict,
Viet Nam War,
Panama,
Somalia,
Desert Storm...
What causes someone to “re-up” in what Captain Boyton has called “the Minutemen of the 21st Century”?
Honor, respect, devotion to duty.
Listed below are those East Enders of division-18 who have answered the bell, yet again.
flotilla
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Name
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Branch(es) of Service
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Years
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18-02
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Adam, Bill
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US Coast Guard
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18-02
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Bloom, Norm
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US Army Air Corp, US Air Force
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'43-46, '50-51
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18-02
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Gregorio, Scott
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US Navy, US Navy Reserves
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'92-96, '96-98
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18-02
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Kallmeyer, Paul
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US Air Force
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10 yrs
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18-02
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Manton, John
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Royal Naval Reserve, Merchant Navy
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'47-'50
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18-02
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Marmon, Brad
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US Army
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'43-46
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18-02
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Walter, Richard
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US Navy
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18-03
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Brady, Thomas
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US Marine Corps
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18-03
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Epperlein, Paul
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US Navy Reserves
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'61-69
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18-03
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Ettle, Robert
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US Army
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18-03
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George, Ralph
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US Navy
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18-03
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Goodman, Alan
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US Navy
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18-03
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Warner, Phil
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US Navy, US Coast Guard Reserves
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'54-58, '59-69
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18-06
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Adkins, Harold
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US Army
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'43-46
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18-06
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Andre', Richard
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US Army National Guard
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'69-75
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18-06
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Cruickshank, Thomas
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US Army
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'72-75
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18-06
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Field, Van
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US Coast Guard Reserves
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'42-46, '51-52
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18-06
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Frontino, Anthony
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US Navy
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'69-75
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18-06
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Furnell, Fred
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US Navy
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'69-73
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18-06
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Goodliff, John
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US Army
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'53-55
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18-06
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McCormack, Michael
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US Army National Guard
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'81-84
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18-06
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Nelson, George
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US Navy
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'62-70
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18-06
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Sandberg, George
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US Navy Reserves, USCG Reserves
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'66-75, '76-82
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18-06
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Tordahl, Edward
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US Navy
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'79-82
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18-06
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Wallace, Jay
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US Army, US Air Force
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'41-45, '50-53
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18-08
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Christianson, Dan
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US Navy, US Navy Reserves
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'62-'69, '69-'83
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18-08
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DeMeo, Roy
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US Coast Guard
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'40-45
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18-08
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Landis, Henry
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US Coast Guard
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18-08
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Stickle, Robert
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US Naval Academy, US Navy
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'61-66
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18-08
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Sueiro, Michael
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US Army Reserves
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26 yrs
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18-08
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Wiggin, Merlon
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USAF Reserves, USAF National Guard
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'58-'86
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18-08
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Young, Peter
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US Air Force, US Army
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'62-66, '66-90
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Some, such as Van Field, have been members of USCG Forces in one form or another for over 50 years. Others, such as Bill Adam, is multi-generational – his grandfather served in the Revenue Cutter Service in the 19th century…
But, as Admiral Thad Allen has stated, we train for a simple goal:
All Threats, All Hazards, Always Ready.
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