USCG Alum

[Crow]

If I had stayed in and did 20 there would have been nothing left to retire. Though I enjoyed my time, 4 years was defintely ENOUGH. For me. There are also Veterans benifits that I forgot to mention they can be very helpful post- service.
High Tide were they still doing ocean station 30/60 day patrols on your 378'? Sitting on a single spot in the ocean no matter what gets thrown at you was not something I wanted to do, so I did my very best (&worst) to stay put in Rockaway.

[HighTide]

Not while I was there. They did a 6 week cadet cruise (which I got bumped, had to stay at the SupCtr.) Then once the Ham got back, we prepped her to go up to Bath, ME.

[islander]

I don't think you can go wrong. I went in Sep 77 and got out Oct 03. I look back on it and wonder where it went, 26 years of crazy stuff. that only former Coasties would believe. Saw it go from McHale's Navy, to the guns a blazing of todays post 9/11 Guard. Good Luck

[BobT]

1962-1967 and I'm sorry I got out a although I would be dead. My duty section lost a plane with 6 of my buddies on it 2 weeks after I got out. It would have been my turn on it. Spent 15 months on a 165' cutter out of San Juan and 3 years flying out of St Pete. Best time I ever had. If you can get into aviation..........GO FOR IT !!!!!! I got tired of rocking in the old cutters and decided to fly. Still wish I would have gone back in. Semper Paratus.

[relentless]

Mako Mike,

As one of the greatest Commanding Officers use to say to me "Ease your Rudder". I am not retired yet after 27 years of active duty service and have loved almost every minute of it. I have been fortunate to serve at local Stations such as Point Allerton and Scituate welcoming me tothe south shore. It was always a great challenge to locate a lost angler in the fog before the days of GPS, Loran and Chartplotters. I also served on a 210' WMEC, being able to do my part in the drug war. Being a search and rescue controller in Boston was interesting even though it was not underway was interesting. I served as Executive Petty Officer of the mighty tug boat PENDANT breaking ice. It was tough in a rolling sea while drifting for codfish. I was fortunate enough to finally become a Chief Petty Officer and getting my own command of Aids to Navigation Team Boston working buoys and lighthouses with a crew of 18 from Hampton to Plymouth. What do you know, I made Chief Warrant Officer and went to a 180' sea going buoy tender out of Kodiak, Alaska sailing from Seattle to the Bearing Sea, a very rewarding experience and today work in Naval Engineering as a BOSN overseeing small boat (less than 65') maintenance from Sandy Hook to Eastport.

Would I do it all over, in a heartbeat and hope to stay a few more years. I love the job as much as taking people out on RELENTLESS cod fishing. If anyone is ever thinking about going in give me a shout anytime. I would be glad to answer any questions you may have.

Any prior Coasties, give me an e-mail and exchange notes incl;uding the Bittersweet and Rockaway Sailors. It is a small world here at S-B.com.

Thanks,

CWO4 Dave Waldrip
RELENTLESS

PS: I just got out of a herring management meeting, a whole other post.

[Crow]

Mr Waldrip I salute you. I had a CO with pretty much the same service record as yourself and it was an honor to serve with him. You are the backbone of the USCG especially in the Small boat stations and the 'working fleet' of Tenders and Tugs.
We were home to Group Rockaway Office and had a lot of brass aboard and this created some tensions. When our CO retired the station went straight down the scuppers, new guy was too inexperienced and tried to threaten everyone into submission. Classic mistakes and made for a very tense station. When I was eligible, I got a 60 day early out to go to school and start my next life. I too am very proud of what I was able to accomplish in my time. The rescues, the comraderie and the tradgedies witnessed were some of the most important times in my life. Its just the BS that pushed me out, never could cope well with it. Seaman Crow (RET)

[relentless]

Crow,

Thanks for the reply, things have changed today for the better as we have the smartest groups of in coming recruits and OC'S ever. The mentoring process in place sets folks up to succeed and the opportunities are there for the taking. Today in my office we have several youg mena dn women attending college during the evening reaping the benefits after a tour at sea. I wish I did the same but have been very busy between owning a charterboat and raising two teenagers with one headed off to Mass Maritime next year. What type of work do you do now, I often wonder what the future after CG will bring into my life? A good friend of mine was the last CO of Sta Rockaway when it closed. I remember going over there when we would take the tug to Mullers Shipyard down by King Plaza.

Have a great day and keep in touch.

Respectfully,

Dave Waldrip

PS: No Sir or Mr, just call me Dave