STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of PS1 Gerald Brooks, U.S. Coast Guard (1975-1996)

I was an Army brat for 17 years (Dad was career army, West Point graduate). I had two years of Army ROTC in college. I went to the Oakland (CA) recruiting station fully intending on enlisting in Army or Marines. However, I saw the sandwich board sign at the end of the hall advertising the Coast Guard. Went in talked with the recruiter and realized the CG was a natural fit for my interest in having a career in law enforcement or firefighting. Signed up on delayed enlistment in 1975 and have been involved in law enforcement, firefighting, and emergency management since then.

I started on USCGC Blackhaw and struck BM. Went on to Station Wilmette (IL) and Grays Harbor (WA). In 1979, I applied for CGI and was accepted, spending five years in CCGD3 (oil) as a Special Agent—2.5 years as a criminal investigator and 2.5 years in OPINTEL.

I left active duty after 11 years and stayed in the reserves. I took a job as an instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, GA. I reverted back to BM1. When command continued to pressure me to qualify incompetent coxswain wannabees, I lateralled over to FF1, since I had been a volunteer firefighter for several years. When they abolished that rate, I lateralled over to PS1.

Finally, I took retirement from USCGR in 1996 when the MSO Savannah CO would not sign my qualification letter as a Foreign Vessel Examiner simply because I was a reservist. That was during the “One Coast Guard Family” era, but this A__ H___ never read the memo from Commandant, I guess!

I retired from federal service in 2005 and moved to southern Illinois. I am now a Chief of a volunteer fire department, head of the county Emergency Management Agency, and work part-time as the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the County Health Department.

Called up during the load out in Savannah for Desert Storm.

I would have spent 20 years on the Blackhaw, I loved that ship and the work we did. However, I have no regrets about any of my duty stations, I served with some of the finest men and women in the military, with one or two exceptions.

I learned the most about leadership from CWO3 (Bosn) Ed Hall and BMC Moldenhauer on the Blackhaw. I owe them more than I could ever repay.

SAR calls were the toughest. I remember a drowning at Wilmette, we responded in a 41footer and arrived on scene to find 2 teenage girls in the water up to their chests marking the area where they saw a boy go under. We could do nothing but wait for volunteer divers to arrive. A diver located the boy between the two girls and stood up with his lifeless body cradled in his arms. The 14-year-old boy could have touched bottom and walked to shore. I looked at the beach and saw a woman keel over like a felled tree – she was his mother. I will never forget that experience.

Another time, we were working an overdue catamaran with two teenagers on board. I had the OOD and spoke with the parents on the phone to get additional information to aid in the search. After that call, our crew located the boat and the kids were okay, they had lost the mast in a thunderstorm. I tried to call the parents but no one answered the phone (pre-cell phone days). Before the 41 returned to the station the parents came into the station. I got up from the watch stander’s console and blurted out “I have good news for you…” and the mother keeled over in a dead faint. Lesson learned, even when relaying the good news to a concerned parent, have them take a seat, take their hand in yours, and they speak. COMPASSION is an integral part of emergency services, unfortunately, we often forget to provide training in that area.

My five years as a Special Agent. Standing a bridge watch with CWO3 Hall he asked me what my goal was for my CG career (I was only a lowly E3 at the time). My response was that I wanted to become a Special Agent because I wanted a career in law enforcement when I left the CG.

I spent 2+ years doing criminal investigations, specializing in sex crimes. What did me in was a case involving an E6 molesting multiple children on Governors Island. He got 18 years in Leavenworth, I guess I got a mild case of PTSD. He was a fixated pedophile and preyed on little girls with dark complexions and brown hair. At the time, my daughter was 6 years old, Philippine-American – in every interview with one of his victims, I would imagine my daughter being a potential victim. I asked for a change in assignment and was moved from investigations to Operational Intelligence for the next 2+ years.

In that capacity, I investigated and testified at trial for over 12 vessel seizures by Coast Guard cutters. I developed a protocol to prepare a seizure case for trial, worked with government prosecutors and Federal agencies. I was a recognized expert on maritime smuggling and navigation in all the Federal Court Districts in CCGDTHREE. Proud to say we achieved a 100% conviction rate.

Things are meaningless, memories are priceless.

I am proudest of the fact that I rendered honors to two fallen shipmates at Station Grays Harbor. I never served with them, I never met them, but they will be my brothers in memory for the rest of my life.

They died in training in a 41ftr at Cape D. It took two years to recover their bodies. The families requested burial at sea from a Gray Harbor MLB. On the appointed day, ALL boats were made ready and manned. The families, ashes, and clergy rode on Invincible. All other station boats (44s and 41s) formed a flying wedge formation as we sailed through the harbor, cleared the bar, and proceeded to the 12-mile limit. At that location, Invincible went DIW and ALL other boats formed a circle around her bows pointing to the center. The clergy said a few words, the families scattered the ashes of their respective loved one, and we rendered honors to our fallen comrades.

Those memories will never leave me. Memorial Day, Veterans Day, Coast Guard Day, I honor their memory.

CWO3(BOSN) Ed Hall

BMC Moldenhauer (I wish I could remember his first name, but he was always “Chief”)

LT Doug Flammang

Those are the three LEADERS I learned the most from in my CG career.

Too many, too long ago, too weak a memory.

I had a shipmate on the Blackhaw that graduated with me from boot camp (I shall not use his name to protect the guilty. He was a recruit company commander, I was Assistant Recruit Company Commander.

Shortly after we reported on boars, the USS Blackhaw went into a 6-month yard period (drydocked). In a neighboring drydock, they brought in a mothballed Navy hospital ship and began cutting her up for scrap. The ship was fully outfitted inside. One duty night, we decided to inspect her for any comshaw the Blackhaw could use. I found a paint shaker and a few other goodies in the foc’sle and took them back to the Blackhaw. My buddy found that sickbay on the hospital ship had a fully outfitted dental suite. His wife was a dental tech, and he decided he might make a few bucks selling the dental chair and dental drills. So, the Yardbirds complained, CGI showed up. He brought it all back, no charges filed.

Later he got orders to Storekeepers School and accepted. Always thought that was the appropriate rate for the King of Comshaw.

Law enforcement instructor at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (retired).

In semi-retirement I have the following jobs:

Chief of a volunteer fire department with two stations

Director, County Emergency Management Agency

Coordinator, Emergency Preparedness, County Health Department

American Legion Post 423 Mount Carmel IL

Rolling Thunder, IL Chapter 3

It certainly matured me and taught me to deliberate before acting or shooting off my mouth.

It taught me leadership.

Learn, achieve, be the best you can be.

For whatever job you are currently doing in the CG two things are true:

1. Carry on the noble tradition of those who came before you, never dishonor their service.
2. No matter how mundane and routine your job me seem to be, it is preparing you for future service, in the CG, in a civilian career, in your community, to your family.

It’s provided me with a platform to remember my history and connect with a few old shipmates.