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The Christy Collection

Military Stories and Articles

Service Reflections of RM2 Tim Roach, U.S. Coast Guard (1962-1966)

Service Reflections of RM2 Tim Roach, U.S. Coast Guard (1962-1966)

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I would give most of the credit for my decision to join the Coast Guard to my uncle. He was in the Coast Guard during WWII and often talked about his experiences while patrolling the beaches on horseback along the New Jersey shores. I was in high school during my senior year in Corpus Christi, Texas, in the fall of 1961. My high school counselor informed me that I would not be able to graduate because I had failed to earn credits in algebra during my ninth-grade year. To put it mildly, I was never a fan of school.

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Service Reflections of AVT1 Daryl Harrington, U.S. Coast Guard (1988-2001)

Service Reflections of AVT1 Daryl Harrington, U.S. Coast Guard (1988-2001)

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A classmate introduced me to the idea of joining the Coast Guard, something I knew little about at the time. Curious, I met with a recruiter, and after watching their video, I was sold. It looked like a great opportunity to serve while furthering my education. My friend and I planned to enlist together through the “buddy system,” but in the end, I got in, and they didn’t. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made.

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

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

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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.

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Famous Navy Units: Coast Guard Station Harbor Beach by A3C Michael Bell

Famous Navy Units: Coast Guard Station Harbor Beach by A3C Michael Bell

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"Immense bright lake! I trace in theeAn emblem of the mighty ocean,And in thy restless waves I see                                     Nature's eternal law of motion; And fancy sees the Huron Chief…" "Lake Huron" by Thomas McQueen The peninsular state of Michigan (est. 1837) resembles an extended left human hand in a mitt with the thumb partly opened outward from the palm. And there,...

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DEL Service Reflections of AVT1 Daryl Harrington, U.S. Coast Guard (1988-2001)

DEL Service Reflections of AVT1 Daryl Harrington, U.S. Coast Guard (1988-2001)

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I was in high school at the time of Pearl Harbor. I had never heard of Pearl Harbor and didn’t know where it was. That was true for many of my friends, but we sure found out quickly. We all became Gung Ho and were ready to enlist; however, we had a couple of months left before graduation, so I opted to finish school. Many of my friends did enlist, going into the US Army Air Corps to become pilots. That was my desire also, but my father said “NO.” He was in the First World War, captured by the Germans, and gassed. He was shot, and he lost three fingers on his left hand.

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DEL Service Reflections of AVT1 Daryl Harrington, U.S. Coast Guard (1988-2001)

Service Reflections of ET2 David E. Hendrick, U.S. Coast Guard (1960-1964)

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I was in high school at the time of Pearl Harbor. I had never heard of Pearl Harbor and didn’t know where it was. That was true for many of my friends, but we sure found out quickly. We all became Gung Ho and were ready to enlist; however, we had a couple of months left before graduation, so I opted to finish school. Many of my friends did enlist, going into the US Army Air Corps to become pilots. That was my desire also, but my father said “NO.” He was in the First World War, captured by the Germans, and gassed. He was shot, and he lost three fingers on his left hand.

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Service Reflections of CWO2 Donald Stine, U.S. Coast Guard (1974-1997)

Service Reflections of CWO2 Donald Stine, U.S. Coast Guard (1974-1997)

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I was in high school at the time of Pearl Harbor. I had never heard of Pearl Harbor and didn’t know where it was. That was true for many of my friends, but we sure found out quickly. We all became Gung Ho and were ready to enlist; however, we had a couple of months left before graduation, so I opted to finish school. Many of my friends did enlist, going into the US Army Air Corps to become pilots. That was my desire also, but my father said “NO.” He was in the First World War, captured by the Germans, and gassed. He was shot, and he lost three fingers on his left hand.

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Service Reflections of GMSN Den C. Bulan, U.S. Coast Guard (1968-1972)

Service Reflections of GMSN Den C. Bulan, U.S. Coast Guard (1968-1972)

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I was going to join the Navy Submarine Service. When I tried, I was told it was filled for a year. The recruiter asked me if I wanted a sea-going service to join the Coast Guard, which I did, and I never regretted that decision. At the end of my enlistment, I needed to get away for a while to see what I wanted to do. I met my wife 3 months later and never regretted meeting her. She has been my helper in many decisions we have made. I went to college to get a degree in Astronomy, but I never completed it.

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Service Reflections of DCCM Ron Coombs, U.S. Coast Guard (1976 – 1997)

Service Reflections of DCCM Ron Coombs, U.S. Coast Guard (1976 – 1997)

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I grew up in the airline industry, and the Vietnam War was still going on. I wanted college, and the GI bill was the only way to get there, so I went service shopping down on 7th Street in Ft. Worth, Texas.
After talking with the Navy and Air Force, I stepped out a side door and saw a small fold-out sign that said “Coast Guard.” I had no idea what it was. Two men were crammed into a small room, and I would run into one again ten years later.
The helicopters caught my eye, and I signed up. I never did get into aviation, and it turns out I like ships. Who knew? I had no fear of boot camp (Alameda) until we were told we were all going on a ship heading for Vietnam. We didn’t go. The war ended, and we were sent out to save America.

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Service Reflections of YN2 George Glover, U.S. Coast Guard (1974-1979)

Service Reflections of YN2 George Glover, U.S. Coast Guard (1974-1979)

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I was 19 years old, and it was the Vietnam Era. I had registered for the draft the previous year while in High School in San Diego, CA. I graduated HS and tried going to college, but it just wasn’t for me. So, after a semester, I left college. Now, what am I going to do? I really had no idea. I was thinking of the Navy because my father had served in the Navy during WWII. He had a career of over 22 years and was a BMC. I was going to join the Navy when a friend of mine mentioned the Coast Guard. That had never occurred to me. I was familiar with the USCG Air Station in San Diego and the cutters at Point Loma, and I liked what the Coast Guard did. Not only did they train for war, but they trained for SAR, law enforcement, pollution control, marine safety, etc. I knew that my father would be spinning in his grave as he had passed away, but I went down to the Coast Guard recruiter in San Diego, talked to them, and signed up. After the physical and paperwork was done, I was offered a guaranteed “A” school, YN. I took it and was off to boot camp in Alameda.

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