STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of MST2 David Brennan, U.S. Coast Guard (1971-2003)

My dad served for 27 years and retired from Jack C. Brennan RMC in 1974. Through his influence growing up and seeing him put on his uniform every Monday afternoon, I wanted to do that someday, too. When I was a senior in high school in 1971, I heard through my dad that the Coast Guard reserves had just opened up for enlistment. My brother, who had graduated in 1970, had a low draft number and was looking for the correct service to join. He went to the recruiter, took the test, and qualified to go to basic training in April. I went as well, still being a senior in high school, and took the exam as well. I failed the first time, but I later retook it and passed. I was to go to Alameda, CA, in May 1971.

Basic Training, May 29, 1971. I enlisted a week before and left for boot camp. I had long hair, a beanie cap, and blue jeans with sports shoes on. I arrived at the airport, took the wrong bus to a Navy station, and found the right bus to take me to the correct location.

After my first week of basic healthcare, clothing, and introduction to marching and other activities, my brother was already in Oscar Company, as he played the snare drum and was part of the band with the honor guard. He told me to audition to play the bass drum. I did, and I am now with the Oscar Company as well. Imagine both of us in the same barracks. I could keep the beat on the drum, not knowing how to read music, just playing by ear. We were gone most weekends wearing our pretty whites, marching in parades for maybe an hour, and LIBERTY the rest of the day. My brother helped me get situated quickly, and he was gone in 3 weeks to his new duty station in Galveston, TX. I stayed in Alameda after basic to continue playing in the band, as I was the only bass player.

After my five-and-a-half-month enlistment, I went home. I attended reserve meetings in Tacoma for two years, then in Eastern Washington for three more years while attending Western Washington State College and earning my BA degree. I was married in 1976, and after serving one more year, I fulfilled my enlistment and got out.

As a reservist, I was not offered any of the above. I participated in peacekeeping, attended all reserve meetings, and properly performed my two weeks in Seattle while serving as a reserve in Tacoma.

At my first actutra I got mono. And was really sick with a 100+ degree body temperature, dry heaves, and lack of any sleep, in the second week of duty. No sick bay allowed. (Apparently, many reserves were lazy, did not do much, and had a bad reputation for their active responsibilities!) I did my duty every day, being sick, and on my last day, I drove from Seattle to Aberdeen with a 105 temperature. I told my dad what happened, and he took me straight to the hospital, where I remained for a week. He contacted the Seattle base, headquarters, and ultimately Admiral Bender, reporting what had happened. The base was shortly closed down after that episode. I could have died.

Yes, but didn’t know it at the time. It was the episode I just wrote about, mono, Seattle Base.

The least was the reserve center in Tacoma, WA. We did nothing for training. Sat in rooms all day long. Did no on-the-job training. It’s a terrible place to be.

Best, Westport Small Boat Station, Westport, WA. I was involved in search and rescue, helo ops, boat patrol, and other tasks. It made me feel like I had a job to do. I was then sent to Store Keeper School for two weeks.

After basic training, I did a two-week Port Security training in VA. It was the only striker job as I did not attend an A School. At the Tacoma Reserve Unit, we did really nothing toward the rate, but sometimes, maybe once, we would get to see training movies and many personal inspections. At the Spokane Reserve Unit, there were lakes around to patrol.

It was on the base at Seattle Reserve, and we did MST work. At the Spokane Unit, I was forced out of Store Keeper and went MST, which required me to study for the end of the course again and Service-wide.

Finally, my last base was Portland, and after 23 years of service, I retired.

I was part of SEA PARTNERS at the Seattle and Portland units. With that, I participated in many dock watches and recreation boating safety training sessions with Ron Collins, the Master Chief. We carpooled from Spokane to Seattle and Portland.

I earned four rows of ribbons on my uniform, representing my 23 years of service and the pride I take in wearing it.

The National Defense Ribbon was earned three times: Vietnam Era, Desert Shield, and Desert Storm.

Ron Collins, as mentioned earlier, is a retired Master Chief.

Master Chief, retired Ron Collins, Seattle and Portland, and Wayne Self, Grays Harbor Life Boat Station, Westport, WA.

I mainly joined the Coast Guard Band and Honor Guard in basic training, having no experience in school for participating in bands or needing to read music, but I played the bass drum in all those parades. Only God could have organized that one…

Parks and Recreation director after earning my BA and being a school teacher for 33 years. I coached various sports, drove school buses, taught driver’s education, and taught primarily grades 3 through 12. I also ran a car detailing business for over 50 years, served as a reservist for 23 years, and am still going strong at the age of 71.

I wear my retirement hat proudly.

I served proudly both in the military and in education. I miss the long drives and fun conversations with Ron. We are still friends today.

Wayne is still a close friend; I detail his and his wife’s car every year.

I was still recruited for the Guard, with no pay, but I had a lot of fun serving. My nephew is now attending “A” school for Aviation Mechanics. He joined after earning his AA degree, having been awarded his Eagle Scout Badge, and is now proudly serving his 6-year enlistment. My son served 10 years as a 2nd-class petty officer in Portland, Oregon.

I have been told many times to write a book about all my experiences in my lifetime… this has put me in the mood to start doing it.