STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of FT2 Donald Ragsdale, U.S. Coast Guard (1961-1965)

From high school, I had been leaning toward a military career. My high school ROTC instructor didn’t have any information on the Naval ROTC program, but he gave me a booklet about the Coast Guard Academy. I guess you could say that my Coast Guard recruiter was M/SGT Vincent Thomas, USA.

After taking the Academy entrance exams the second time I went ahead and enlisted. Following Boot Camp, I was assigned to Lifeboat Station Oswego, NY. While there I applied for Fire Control “A” school and was sent to NTC Bainbridge MD. Upon graduation from FT school, I reported to CCGD Five in Portsmouth, VA, and was assigned to CGC Chincoteague (WAVP 375). I sailed in the Chincoteague from September 11, 1962, to February 26, 1965.

The only combat I participated in was with the crew of USS O’Hare at Guantanamo Bay. We won.

My fondest memories are of my time in the Chincoteague. Her crew was a microcosm of the human race with all its warts and graces. We looked like McHale’s Navy during drills, but when evolution was piped without the words “This is a drill,” everybody snapped to it and was in the right place at the right time.

From your entire military service, describe any memories you still reflect on to this day.

My first arrival in Bermuda on March 9, 1963, stands out as most memorable. We suffered a steering casualty while trying to enter Town Cut and ran aground. It took hours and a lot of work to get her off.

The damage to the ship necessitated an accelerated trip to the Coast Guard yard at Curtis Bay.

I never received any medals or awards for Valor, but I behaved myself and did my job from 1961 to 1965 and received the Good Conduct Medal for my efforts.

I received a Letter of Appreciation from my Skipper for participating in the “rescue” of a civilian yard welder at Curtis Bay. The man’s clothing had caught fire from sparks from his welding activity. He was in pain and a state of panic. GMS Shabel McShane and I just did what needed to be done at the time to prevent further injury. The Skipper thought our action deserved a pat on the back and took the time to give it to us in front of the whole crew.

Captain H. C. Keene, Jr., my first Skipper on the Chincoteague. He taught me by example the true meaning of loyalty. He gave it “down” and inspired it “up.”

While at Oswego Lifeboat Station we received a call from local Law Enforcement to the effect that a boat had gone over the dam on the Oswego River at the upper lock. Our outboard motorboat crew responding found three intoxicated Canadians clinging to the exposed bow of their sunken cabin cruiser. After depositing those three at the lock master’s station, they crossed the river to rescue the fourth survivor, who had been secured to a tree on the river bank by a bystander and was hanging waist-deep in the millrace below the dam.

Upon being safely placed into the bow of our motorboat, the rapidly sobering man said, “That was a hell of a ride!” I guess so! Upon going over the top of the dam, the cabin cruiser plunged nearly twenty feet into the water below and sank immediately when both engines went through the bottom of the boat.

After leaving the Coast Guard, I worked for two different Bell System telephone companies until I was laid off in the run-up to government-determined divestiture. After that, it’s been pretty much a hand-to-mouth existence of catching as much as I can until I retired from the workforce.

I have been a member of the American Legion for six years and have joined the Coast Guard Community Channel and TWS for the fellowship and reunion with former service colleagues.

My military service taught me some leadership skills, self-discipline, and teamwork.

Take advantage of every learning opportunity that comes your way, be it formal or extraneous. Do your duty to the best of your ability. And if/when you’re unable to contribute further to your unit, get out!

Together We Served put me in touch with my duty section leader at Oswego LBS and, from there, with other Coast Guard vets.