The 2025 Windjammer Days will shine a spotlight on the dedicated individuals who have served, are serving, or are preparing to serve in one of the most respected branches of the U.S. military: the Coast Guard. From active-duty members and retired veterans to the bright future leaders currently enrolled at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, we’ll explore their personal stories, their contributions to the community, and the impact they've made on the nation's maritime security. The 63rd annual Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days will take place on Sunday, June 22 through Saturday, June 28. Please visit boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org for the full schedule of events.

So, here’s the thing, my Coast Guard story isn’t “all” rainbows and butterflies. I was 19 years old, and my mother and father didn’t see a future for me. I was a bit of a rebel in those days and made sure anyone in “authority” knew it. They suggested the Coast Guard and presented the idea to my best friend Steve and me. He was on board (so to speak), so I said sure. He and I went to the recruiting office in Portland, Oregon. We both did well on our ASVAB, so were signed up and sworn in PDQ. We had the summer of our senior year off then went to Alameda, California for bootcamp. It was extreme and I could fill quite a few pages telling those stories. Let’s just say it was an awakening. 

Honestly, I had no goals when I joined. My buddy Steve and I were on an adventure and that was that. We were in the same company in bootcamp until I got hurt and ended up spending a month in X ray company (a medical company often called “the band aid brigade” and that was the end of our time together in the Coast Guard. After that, my goal was to survive bootcamp. Then my goals changed accordingly as my situation changed. 

I managed to figure a lot of things out during the month I spent in X-ray. I managed to get put back into a working company and finished bootcamp. (I wasn’t sure I would make it for a while. That’s a story for another time as well.) We were offered our billets based on performance and test scores. I was in the middle of the pack so there were still some pretty good choices by the time it was my turn to pick. One of the choices was Honolulu, Hawaii on a 180-foot Buoy tender called the Sassafras. I had never been to Hawaii, so I decided to give it a go. It was an eye opener for sure. I would say I adjusted to my responsibilities as any 19-year-old that had problems with authority would. I got in trouble… a lot. My guardian angel worked overtime, and I managed to avoid any serious disciplinary actions. (I got lucky!) 

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who I was in those days so as my grandfather would say “I was jack of all trades, master of none.” When I first arrived in Hawaii I was “striking” (learning to be) a boatswain's mate. A deckhand. Later on, I decided I should try learning to become an electrician's mate. Then, when it was time to transfer out of Hawaii I had to make a few decisions. You see, I hated Hawaii! My motto was “ho hum, just another crappy day in paradise” only I didn’t say crappy. Not only did I need to get off that rock, I needed to get as far away from it as I could. I also wanted to get to the smallest population I could find. I was tired of the tourists. (Little did I know…) So, I sat down and started looking at small towns on the east coast and the rest is history. The only catch was Station Boothbay Harbor didn’t need an electrician’s mate; they needed a mechanic; so, I changed career paths again. I was also a subsistence specialist (cook) and eventually went back to being a boatswain’s mate. I played a lot of roles. 

With all that said, I had some amazing times in the Coast Guard. Although I hated Hawaii, it is beautiful and I had many adventures there. The “Sass” (USCGC Sassafras) was sent to Midway Island. That was incredible, just the trip out was something to write home about but when we got there, I was almost speechless. All the history! Most of the buildings were abandoned. We found the wreck of a Japanese Zero, we saw sea turtles in the wild. (Man are they fast!) It was like walking through a time capsule. I loved it. However, I would have to say my most memorable operation in the Coast Guard was in the Gulf of Maine on the 310-foot Coast Guard Cutter Duane. We were out in the winter on fisheries patrol when we received an emergency call from a fishing boat. One of their crew had a ruptured appendix and needed to be evacuated or he would lose his life. We were nearby, so off we went. We needed to airlift him so as the deck hands got the ship ready for the airlift, others loaded into one of our lifeboats and retrieved the fisherman from his boat. Once we got him onboard, we got him ready for the lift. I was amazed by two things. The first thing being how technical this operation was. There were so many moving parts. We had a small jet making passes over our ship to continually monitor our position. Getting all the glow lights in exactly the right spot so the helicopter would be able to land the basket. Once everything was ready, I was on deck to watch and help as the basket was lowered. Watching our crew load the fisherman and telling the chopper to lift him up and watching as they brought him into the chopper and flew him off. That is something I will never forget. The second was the crew of the Duane. We were on fire that day. What teamwork! Our fisherman made it to the hospital where he had an emergency appendectomy and survived. 

Even though I fought tooth and nail, and didn’t realize it at the time, looking back, the Coast Guard taught me how to be a man. They taught me to take responsibility for my actions and made me a better person. The Coast Guard culture is unique because they never gave up on me. I gave them plenty of opportunities for sure, but they never gave up on me. I love looking back on that part of my life. I love remembering the stories. I love telling the stories. I love that the Coast Guard brought me to Boothbay Harbor where I met my wife of 41 years. (She’s my Maine Squeeze!) I love that because of the Coast Guard I stayed and became a member of this community. Whatever level of maturity you are at when you join the Coast Guard, you will be a better person, a better human being when you leave the Coast Guard. Be yourself. The Coast Guard can and will work with that. 

There are so many stories to tell, from “Bull of the run” in bootcamp to Being stationed on haunted Seguin Island to getting married right here in the harbor surrounded by the boats of Station Boothbay Harbor. We were and are the Coast Guard. If you see us around, ask us for a story, because everyone knows a sailor can surely spin a yarn.