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CGCVA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE MAILING ADDRESS:
CGCVA
P O BOX 969
LANSDALE, PA 19446
410-690-8000
Email: cgcva@comcast.net
Pay Dues: ($40) with "Buy Now" button below!
The Officers
Board of Trustees’
PNP Terry O'Connell, LM
Chairman
Michael A. Johnson, LM, 2term
Larry Jones, LM 2term
Timothy Mowbray LM,1term
Mark Pearson, LM, 1term
Appointees:
ByLaws
Gary Sherman, LM
Quarterdeck Log
Editor
Bruce Bruni, LM, NVP
Convention Planners
Bruce Bruni, LM
Chairman
PNP Mike Placencia, LM
Michael A. Johnson, LM
Ed Semler
Membership Director
PNP Michael Placencia
Ship's Store Manager
Russell Allyson
Cape May Coordinator
Thomas Dougherty, LM
Service Officers
Tom Huckelberry
Larry Jones, LM
Webmaster
Richard Ames, LM
Historian
PNP Paul Scotti, LM
Coast Guard Academy
Parent's Day Representative
Russ Allyson, LM
Chaplain
Vince Patton, LM
Parliamentarian
PNP Mike Placencia, LM
Master-At-Arms
Russell Weeks
Nominating Committee
William Femia
Founders
Robert Bailey
Noel Bell
Gil Benoit, LM (PNP)*
John Ehrmann
Paul A. Ewaldt
Ned Fontaine, LM*
John Gnegy, LM*
Baker W. Herbert, LM*
Bill Hoover, LM, (PNP)*
Donald Kneip (CTB-’95)*
R.W. Madura,LM*
Barry Nance,LM*
VADM. T.R. Sargent III, LM*
Paul Scotti, LM (PNP)
Roger Williams,LM*
*Cross the Bar
Use this to pay by smart phone!
LINK TO USS SERPENS WEBSITE:
DONALD KNIEP AWARD PRESENTED:
Past National President Terry O'Connell, as his last duty as National President, awarded the Donald Kniep Award for Outstanding Effort to the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association to:
2022 Recipient
PNP Michael Placencia
Please congratulate our Past National President, MCPO Mike Placencia on a job well done!
IT'S OFFICIAL!
The 2025 Convention/Reunion is being held at:
THE SHORES RESORT & SPA
Daytona Beach Shores, Florida
April 14-18, 2025
Check it out at:
www.shoresresort.com
This is "on the beach" and is the most beautiful venue we've ever experienced.
SHIP'S STORE ANNOUNCEMENT!
Due to new USPS shipping prices,, we have implemented a new FLAT RATE shipping rate of $6.25. Buy 1 item, pay $6.25, buy 2 items, it's still only $6.25 for shipping. Spend $75.00 get free shipping!
THE MORE YOU BUY, THE MORE YOU SAVE!
NEW SHIP'S STORE ITEMS HAVE ARRIVED.
We have just ordered new baseball caps that read:
"COAST GUARD COMBAT VETERANS"
Please see the Ship's Store page!
CHANGE YOUR MAILING ADDRESS OR EMAIL?
If your mailing or email address needs to be changed, please email your current information to: cgcva@comcast.net
And the same goes with any inquiries you have regarding your membership. Just email the Administrative office at cgcva@comcast.net. Thank you!
ATTENTION CGCVA MEMBERS!
DO YOU NEED TO PAY DUES, MAKE A PAYMENT OR BUY SOMETHING FROM SMALL STORES?
PAY DUES:
Pay dues on this Home Page, using debit/credit cards. See the left column to pay regular or associate member dues. You can always save the Association 3% by mailing a check to:
CGCVA
P O Box 969
Lansdale, PA 19446
SMALL STORES:
Purchase Small Stores on the Small Stores page using debit/credit card, or mail our Small Stores manager a check. His address is on the Small Stores Page. Just click on the item you want and pay through PayPal. (you can pay as a guest.)
DONATIONS:
Make a Donation of any amount, by debit/credit card on this Home page, above, on the top right column! If you can, please indicate the purpose of your donation so we can account for it properly!
SPECIAL MEMBERSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT:
By authority of the National President, all requests to convert to Life Member are hereby suspended, effective October 1, 2022. This action has been deemed necessary due to the percentage ratio of Life Members/Total Members, which currently exceeds 56%. With the Investment market down, Regular membership dues are our only source of cash flow.
If you are still interested in becoming a life member, please notify the Administrative office at cgcva@comcast.net and your name will be placed on a list. As current Life Members leave us, the first person on the list becomes eligible. Life Members are currently 56+% of total membership. This suspension is subject to periodic review by the National President and the Board of Trustees.
THE LONG BLUE LINE DISRUPTED
The Book is out!
by Robert G. Breen, Associate Member of the CGCVA and Dr. Douglas E. Campbell, noted Naval Historian and published writer.
The cost is $20.00 at book signings and by mail. Send Check or Money order to Robert G. Breen, 743 Fringed Orchid Trail, Venice, FL 34293 The book is also available on Amazon.com for $26.75 as well as Barnes and Noble Book Stores.
The Story of USS Serpens (AK-97) and the Quest for Reinstatement of the Purple Heart The story of USS Serpens (AK-97) is an important chapter in Coast Guard history - the most tragic loss of life in the more than 220 years of Coast Guard service to the United States. Contained within these pages is the official ship’s War Diary along with some 200 personal letters sent from Serpens’ crew to their friends and loved ones waiting for them to return home. On 29 January 1945, while sitting off Guadalcanal, Serpens exploded. Of the roughly 250 crew and Army stevedores on board at the time, only two Coastguardsmen survived. While this is the story of ship and crew, the final chapter still needs to be written – the awarding of the Purple Heart. It was awarded, the two who survived and several families of those killed received them, and then through misstep or miscommunication, the medal was rescinded. Help reinstate the Purple Heart on behalf of the relatives of the Serpens’ crew
WE NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!
Out of the 1,300+ members of the CGCVA, only about 500 of you have submitted your email address. That's only about 35% of you!
Why is your email needed?
If we have your email:
1) We can quickly let you know about events in your area.
2) We can make announcements quickly to the entire association that cannot wait until the next issue of the Quarterdeck Log comes out.
3) If your dues are past due, you'll get an email simply indicating that your dues are past due and you need to send money in right away, to keep your membership active.
4) We can contact you more quickly if we have a question about a payment we've received.
So many times we'll have your address in our system and get a check for your dues renewal and the addresses don't match. Some times we get a check, which doesn't match the address in our system, and the return address on the envelope doesn't match the check or our system address so it's impossible to determine which is your current address. So we call your phone number and it doesn't work or we leave a message and we get no response. Email would help get the message to you and it's easier for you to respond.
5) Email is the best form of communication. It saves us having to mail you a post card when your dues are past due.
6) If email isn't your thing, we can use your kids or grandkid's email to send CGCVA notices.
So please consider joining the 21st century and send in your email address.
As a matter of fact, just email us at cgcva@comcast.net or just click on the highlighted "Email Address" above to open a pre addressed email and we'll receive your email address !!!!
We appreciate your cooperation!
Thank you!
CGCVA
VA Expands Agent Orange Eligibility for More Ships
The list of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships associated with military service in Vietnam and possible exposure to Agent Orange has moved to the Veterans Benefits Administration compensation website. The updated list can now be found on VA’s “Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange” Web page.
Honoring Vietnam War Veterans
and Their Families
Congress authorized the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, to oversee the honoring of Vietnam War veterans and their families during 2015 to 2017.
The Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association is a Commemorative Partner in this endeavor. Consequently, we agree to carry out events and activities to salute Vietnam veterans. These salutes may be initiated and done by our members.
Things to honor veterans and their families can be anything you can imagine: e.g. having students/youths compose essays; holding exhibits (photo, artifacts, models); holding ceremonies; hosting luncheons; giving talks; and so on.
As a Commemorative Partner the CGCVA is called upon to provide the Vietnam War Commemoration submissions of upcoming events, if applicable, and an after-action summary of what we have done. To remain a partner the Association has to perform at least two activities a year.
To get word out to our members please post the attached notice on our website. http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/
Thank you.
Paul C. Scotti
CGCVA Co-Founder/Historian Chairman,
Commemorative Partner Committee
U. S.C.G RETIREES TAKE NOTICE!!!
You may be entitled to higher pay as a result of an expansion of the National Defense Appropriations Act (NDAA).
Combat Related Special Compensation (CRSC) is a tax-free monthly entitlement payment program established to compensate Coast Guard Retirees afflicted with combat -or- operationally-related disabilities. Applicants must be retired Coast Guard and receive a minimum disability rating of 10% by the VA, to qualify.
To get more information, please Google "Combat Related Special Compensation form" which will get you the appropriate form, so you can submit it with accompanying documentation.
If you have any questions, please Google the following:
ARL-SMB-CGPSC-PSD-CRSC@USCG.MIL
or
Combat-Related Special Compensation(CRSC@uscg.mil
This will bring you to the website!
THE COAST GUARD COMBAT VETERANS ASSOCIATION
The CGCVA was established in 1985 by Coast Guardsmen who served in World War II and Vietnam and wanted to establish an association of Coast Guard veterans to meet and share their common experiences.
Those who met in July, 1985 were both officers and enlisted veterans and they sought to establish an association for the benefit of it's members. They began recruiting other Coast Guardsmen who were active duty, reservist, retirees or honorably discharged veterans who participated in any combat theatre, while serving in the United States Coast Guard.
The association grew to over 2,000 members and their stated purpose was to illuminate the gravesite of Medal of Honor recipient Douglas Munro; inform the public of the Coast Guard's participation in this nation's conflicts since 1790, and to promote fellowship with its membership. Semper Paratus!
THE COAST GUARD COMBAT VETERANS ASSOCIATION
The CGCVA was established in 1985 by Coast Guardsmen who served in World War II and Vietnam and wanted to establish an association of Coast Guard veterans to meet and share their common experiences.
Those who met in July, 1985 were both officers and enlisted veterans and they sought to establish an association for the benefit of it's members. They began recruiting other Coast Guardsmen who were active duty, reservist, retirees or honorably discharged veterans who participated in any combat theatre, while serving in the United States Coast Guard.
The association grew to over 2,000 members and their stated purpose was to illuminate the gravesite of Medal of Honor recipient Douglas Munro; inform the public of the Coast Guard's participation in this nation's conflicts since 1790, and to promote fellowship with its membership. Semper Paratus!
MAKE A DONATION OR REUNION PAYMENT:
CGCVA DONATIONS (OR REUNION PAYMENT) FOR ANY AMOUNT CAN BE MADE BELOW:
MAKE A DONATION OR REUNION PAYMENT:
CGCVA DONATIONS (OR REUNION PAYMENT) FOR ANY AMOUNT CAN BE MADE BELOW:
TO MAKE A DONATION, OR A NON-DUES PAYMENT,
PLEASE USE THE ABOVE BUTTON "Donate with PayPal "
You do not need to set up a PayPal account. You can pay as a Guest!
Videos of Interest
National Coast Guard Museum to be built in New London CT.
"SIGN-IN OR REGISTER" IS FOR WEBMASTER ONLY. THIS IS NOT AN INTERACTIVE WEBSITE. THIS WEBSITE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES FOR CGCVA MEMBERS. Email cgcva@comcast.net if you have any questions. Thank you!