STORY BEHIND THE PLAQUE
Service Reflections of QM2 Grady Bullington, U.S. Coast Guard (1965-1969)

I received a Draft Notice and decided that traveling on the water was better than traveling on my feet in the mud.

Enlisted on August 2, 1965, in Atlanta, GA, and went to Boot Camp in Cape May, NJ. I was assigned to USCGC Yakutat in New Bedford, MA. I became a Seaman (SN) and was a leading Deck SN. The Chief and PO1 wanted me to become a BM, but every school request I submitted was rejected until I finally got into QM School. After graduating from QMSM School in Newport, I was assigned to USCGC Duane in Boston, which then went to Vietnam as the Flag Ship during Operation Market Time. My General Quarters (GQ) assignment was as a sniper during boardings.

After returning from Vietnam, we continued operations until heading to Curtis Bay for retrofit. I left active duty on August 1, 1969, after four years of sea duty and combat operations, with two additional years in the Inactive Reserves.

My friends organized a going-away party at the Blue Moon Bar & Grille, and a couple of days later, I packed up my seabag, grabbed a quart of Four Roses, and walked off the Duane gangway for the last time in civilian clothes. I hopped into my 1969 Camaro SS that I had bought in 1968 while on leave and drove south on I-95 to Albany, GA.

The military was very helpful to me. It taught me Leadership, Responsibility, Accountability, Teamwork, Values, and people Skills. Combat gave me an Awareness of Reality.

Did you encounter any situation during your military service when you believed there was a possibility you might not survive? If so, please describe what happened and what was the outcome.

My 1st Weather Patrol on the Yakutat was OS Delta in December 1965. Having never been more than 50 yards off the Beach and never on a ship, I and others stayed sick for three days. Some never recovered and had to be transferred to the returning ship we relieved. We rode out the edge of a Hurricane during most of our Patrol. We had a few bad times when we were ahead 2/3 on both screws and were dead in the water, facing 80-foot seas and 100+ Knot winds.

I was on the Helm when it got really rough; we took a huge rogue wave off the Port just as we crested the waves we were headed into. The ship could handle a 57-degree roll. We took a 51-degree roll and listed for what seemed an eternity. The Gyro Compass spun like a top as I held onto the Helm for what felt like forever. The ship’s Ballast Tanks shifted, and we recovered to vertical. We had taken on water through the vents below decks into Berthing Areas and the Mess Deck.

The Captain decided to reverse course and ride out the waves, which turned out to be a mistake. All three lifeboats were lifted and slammed into their cradles, damaged beyond use. All 25-man life rafts were ripped out of their tie-downs and lost. The WX Shack where the Weather Men stayed had the roll-up door ripped off, both catwalks were torn up, and the Flagstaff on the Fantail bent 20 degrees forward. Lifelines were rigged throughout the ship, above and below decks. We had to run pumps to evacuate water from the decks below.

It was a terrifying experience for an 18-year-old to spend his 1st Christmas away from home, but many young guys, including me, grew up on that Patrol.

Both Ships were great experiences for me, great Shipmates & Friends, & memories from both.

After spending 1.5 years on deck force, I finally attended QM school, achieved QM2 rank, and was 5th on the list for QM1 in the September 1969 promotions but got out on August 1, 1969. My Educational Officer offered me the USCG Academy, which I declined — a logical decision at the time. After reaching QM2 (E5), I was offered OCS, but turned it down. Later, I received a ship-over package for returning to Vietnam with a promotion to E6 and a tax-free bonus but declined that as well.

I have all the memories I reflect on through the pictures I have saved. The Vietnam Trip Book and my medals are presented in a shadow box, along with a picture of my ship, in my Man Cave. The pictures and memories of me with my QM gang and shipmates are the most important to me.

Two stand out; the Exec Officer, Commander Harry Olford, was an excellent example of an Officer.

The other was my Best Buddy, QM1 Jimmy D Jones from Chamblee, Ga. Great guy and we stayed friends and visited each other after we got out of service, and we stayed in touch until Jimmy passed away from Cancer.

All of these guys I served with on the USCGC Duane.

• QM1 Jimmy Jones: Great buddy, played a mean guitar. Deceased.
• QM2 Rick Hagberg “The Sea Hag”: Fun-loving Free Spirit. Friends on Facebook.
• QM3 Jan “Ski” Zabriski
• QM2/3(?) Paul D Chermak: Crazy guy, always joked. Last known location: Minneapolis, MN. Still looking to reconnect.
• GM1 Ernie Potter: Drummer, now a lead singer in the band “Thru The Doors.” Also runs a construction business in Providence, RI.
• FN Jack Slick: Married Bea; they live in Buffalo, NY. Used to catch up during Duane Reunions in Maine.

Yep, after we got back from Vietnam, we pulled an OS Bravo, and on our way back to Boston, we stopped in at a Navy base in St. John’s, Newfoundland. We went bowling and heard about a dance on base, so we crashed it. Most of the girls were with or hitting on the local Navy guys. We were asking a few to dance, and a few got lucky to get a yes, but mostly said no thanks since they knew we were passing through and leaving the next day.

After so many “NOs,” some of the guys started dancing with each other. I guess the Navy did not understand that, so they started ushering our guys out. Well, Paul and I were lucky to find two unattached ladies and were socializing when these two guys came to our table and asked us to leave. We asked why, and one guy says, “because you are not wanted here.” The Navy guy asked the girls if we had offended them, and they said absolutely not. Still, the Navy said we had to go. So we got up and headed to the stairs, and as we got there, one of the Navy guys got belligerent and pushy.

Paul said something back to him just as we got to the stairs, and the Navy guy gave Paul a shove. He caught himself on the stairs. He was not a real big guy, but he was feisty. While Paul was getting up, the guy shoved him again, and Paul was in just the right position, and “Mule,” locked the guy in the face. Next thing I knew, we were at the top of the stairs to the exit, and it looked like half the Navy was coming after us.

By then, it was just the two of us, so we took off running. We ran through a tank farm, a concrete retainer ditch, and finally lost them. We made it back safe and sound, but our uniforms were a mess. We told that story and laughed for two days on our way back to Boston. I still chuckle when I think about it.

I spent 43 years in the heavy construction industry. I have built everything from Paper Mills, Food & Beverage, Chemical & Gas Processing Plants, Pharmaceutical Facilities, a College Hi-Tech Library, & a Performing Arts Theatre. I’ve done projects from Canada to Puerto Rico, Maine to California & Washington to Georgia, China & Russia.

I worked my way up from a Cost Engineer to Senior Project Manager, managing projects from $10M to $850M. I published a Paper on an Insulation product & Construction Technology process that I implemented and saved millions in both Construction and Production costs over the years. I also wrote, taught, implemented & managed our Corporate Constructability & Lean Project Delivery Programs.

I retired in 2015 after finishing a project for a client in Russia. I have worked part-time as a Certified Club Fitter at a PGA Tour Superstore here in Birmingham, AL, for 4 years, where we’ve lived for the last 17 years. I’ve enjoyed & played a lot of competitive Amateur Golf over the years & I still enjoy the game & play 2 to 3 times a week.

What I miss about my time in the service is the camaraderie. As shipmates, we always had each other’s back. Today’s world seems to be full of self-promoting individuals and false friendships, and you have to be careful who you share your thoughts with.

Take advantage of this valuable time in your life. Learn from others, educate yourself as much as possible. You may be young in years, but you will mature much faster than someone your age who is not in the military. You will learn teamwork and self-sufficiency simultaneously, knowing your shipmates have your back. Whatever rate you have or that you’re assigned, always be as proficient as you possibly can be. Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t know… there’s a lot you won’t know, but others will, and you learn from others, which makes for a strong team.

It made me think about my friends and some of the memories that I had not thought about in some time. I think I need to get on the phone and say hello.