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NATIONAL PRESIDENT​

Joseph "Joe" Prince

Joseph B. Prince joined the United States Coast Guard in 1989, retiring a Machinery Technician Chief Petty Officer. His first unit as a non-rate was the Cutter Polar Sea. After becoming an Machinery Tech he served at Group Monterey, CA Small Boat division, Small Boat Station Toledo, OH, Port Security Unit 309 in Port Clinton, OH, and the Cutters Sherman, in Alameda, CA and the Bristol Bay in Detriot, MI. 

Joe was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2001 aboard the Cutter Sherman and to Kuwait Naval Base with PSU 309 in 2008 in support of the Global War on Terrorism.  He retired in 2017, to Arizona and is enjoying retired life.

Joe was deployed to the Persian Gulf in 2001 aboard the Cutter Sherman and to Kuwait Naval Base with PSU 309 in 2008 in support of the Global War on Terrorism.  He retired in 2017, to Arizona and is enjoying retired life. 

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National Vice President
2021

BRUCE BRUNI

Captain, USCG (Ret.)

Bruce Bruni entered the U. S. Coast Guard on 13 July 1970, serving a year aboard USCGC Hamilton in the Engineering Division before attending Aviation Electrician A School at NAS Jacksonville in the fall of 1971.  As an AE3 he became a Search and Rescue aircrew member at Coast Guard Air Station Brooklyn and was discharged in October 1974. In 1980 he enlisted in the U. S. Coast Guard Reserve as a Port Securityman serving at Station Niagara and Marine Safety Office Buffalo before receiving a direct commission as an Ensign in 1986.   

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During his 37 years of total Coast Guard Service, he had deployed in 1990-1991 with Port Security Unit 301, in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm, and Operation Uphold Democracy to Haiti in 1994 and again in 2003-2004 as commanding officer of PSU 308 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. 

 

His other assignments include serving as the Ninth CG District's law enforcement liaison with the U.S.

and Canadian law enforcement agencies that comprise the Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBET) along the eastern Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River.  He became a plank owner in standing up first Maritime Security Operations Center (MSOC) at the Canadian MARLANT in Halifax. He was later selected as the project lead for a quick reaction test (QRT) for the successful development of TTP in dealing with the underwater asymmetric threats against transiting high value assets. His last assignment before retiring in 2011, was serving as Chief, Maritime Border Security at CG-531. 

 

Captain Bruni also completed 25 years of law enforcement service with the Amherst Police Department, a suburb of Buffalo, NY, where he retired as a Detective, after being recalled to active duty following the attacks of September 11, 2001.  Following his retirement from the Coast Guard, he was employed as a National Field Representative for the U. S. Naval Sea Cadet Corp from 2012 to 2019, one of seven retired O-6s and the only Coast Guard officer overseeing the Navy League of the United States sponsored youth program. 

 

Among his personal awards are the Meritorious Service Award with O device, four Coast Guard Commendation Medals with O devices, and Navy/Marine Corp Commendation Medal, and two Coast Guard Achievement Medals. 

 

Bruce resides in the Winston Salem area of North Carolina and is married to Jeannie Bruni and has two adult children and six grandchildren.  He is a life member of the CGCVA since 1991 and is the Editor/Publisher of the Quarterdeck Log magazine and has served as a National Trustee since 2017.  He currently volunteers his time with the Davidson County Veterans Honor Guard, rendering graveside military honors for deceased veterans.

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National Secretary/Treasurer
2009

Gary Sherman

Storekeeper 2nd Class

(Short-timer) 

Gary Sherman is a former U. S. Coast Guard Storekeeper and served from 1969 to 1973.

He was elected as the Association's National Secretary at the 2009 convention in Reno, NV and National Secretary/Treasurer at the 2011 convention at Herndon, Virginia.

In 1969 he joined the USCG and was assigned to Recruit Company Papa 76, in Cape May, NJ. In 1970, his first assignment following graduation from Storekeeper A School was to the USCGC CASTLE ROCK (WHEC 383). He sailed with the Castle Rock in a 1971 SQUADRON THREE deployment and remained on board until the turnover of the Rock to the South Vietnamese Navy on 21 December, 1971, in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam and was subsequently authorized to wear the Navy/Marine Corp Combat Action Ribbon. 

Gary claims three reasons for joining the Coast Guard:

1. To get the GI Bill for college.

2. To get stationed close to home on Lake Erie.

3. To stay the hell out of Vietnam.

He got the GI Bill, never got to Lake Erie and got

an all expenses paid trip to Vietnam.

Gary had three cousins who were serving in the the Coast Guard prior to his enlistment. His cousin Mike Sherman, left the Navy and joined the Coast Guard and was sent to S.E.R.E training and then assigned to the CGC Pt. Welcome, immediately after the

friendly fire incident in 1966. His twin cousins Steve and Wayne Sherman entered the Coast Guard in 1968 and served primarily in the CG 9th District (Lake Erie, by the way). All three cousins retired from the Coast Guard. 

Since his Coast Guard Service, Gary earned a BA in Business Administration (Accounting) from Capital University at Columbus, Ohio in 1977, and earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) also from Capital University in 1982. Until his recent

retirement, in 2018, he had been self-employed, for the past thirty years, as a Principal Agent and Registered Representative for Nationwide Mutual Insurance Co. He now lives in Lansdale, Pennsylvania,  with his wife, Janie and has two grandsons who live nearby. 

 

In 2021 Gary received the CGCVA Don Kneip Award for Distinguished Effort from National President Stephen H. Petersen, MKCM USCG (Ret.)    

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LIST OF TRUSTEES

TERRY O’CONNELL, LM, PNP
CHAIRMAN

I started my military career by enlisting in the USNR in 1959 and attended recruit training at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. In 1960, I transferred to the USCG as a Seaman Apprentice. I went to boot camp again, in Company B-44. 

 

   My first assignment was to the CGC McCulloch (WAVP-386) where I served nearly 5 years as a Quartermaster before transfer to the CGC Blackhaw (WAGL 390) in Hawaii. My next tour was on the CGC Basswood (WLB 388), also in Hawaii. I left the Basswood as a QM1 in 1967 for OCS and then, as a freshly minted Ensign, I was sent to the CGC Hornbeam (WLB 394) at Woods Hole, MA.  

 

 My next assignment was to Vietnam after completing COIN-SERE training at Alameda, CA. Upon arrival in DaNang, Republic of Vietnam, I was assigned to the XO position on CGC Pt. Orient (WPB 82319) followed by a transfer to Commanding Officer, CGC Point Arden (WPB 82309).

   My remaining career consisted of roles at CGC9 (oan); XO CGC Sweetgum (WLB 309); Commander, CG Group Santa Barbara and O in C PSD Santa Barbara; CO CGC Citrus (WLB 300), Administrative Division Officer, Support Center Kodiak; CGHQ (NP), CGHQ Chief (GNSR-2) and finally,

retirement from CGD2, Chief, Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management Branch. My combat related awards include a Bronze Star Medal with V device, Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. 

 

As a Life Member of the CGCVA, I served two terms as a National Trustee, two terms as National Vice President, under the leadership of National President Paul Scott LM and a term as National Vice President with National President Steve Petersen, LM, and then as National President.

MICHAEL A. JOHNSON, LM,
SQUADRON THREE, VIETNAM

Michael A. Johnson joined the U S. Coast Guard in 1968, at the height of the Vietnam War.  He was 3rd Class Radioman, serving at Coast Guard Radio Station, Miami, FL and Coast Guard District 7, Miami and was honorably discharged in 1972.  Mike served as Division Chief/Paramedic for the Fulton County Fire Department in Atlanta, Georgia for 25 years and resides in Newnan, GA. 

 

Mike was deployed to U. S. Coast Guard Squadron Three, Republic of Vietnam on the CGC Bibb to participate in Operation Market Time.  

LARRY JONES, LM

Larry enlisted in the USAF in 1966 as a Special Intelligence Communication (SIC) specialist, assigned to 1950th Comm Group, Wheelus AFB, Libya from 1966-1969 (During the Arab Israeli War 1967). PSC to 1956 Comm Group Tokyo, Japan as SIC 1969-1973. Attended USAF Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) Academy, graduated as an OSI Special Agent 1973-1983 as MSgt.  

Selected to attend USCG Reserve Officers Commission Indoctrination Class in 1983. Commissioned as Lieutenant JG USCGR.  Assigned to CGRU Kennewich, WA, then CGRU Galveston, TX. XO CGRU Peoria, IL, CO CGRU Leavenworth, KS, CO CGRU Omaha, NE.  LANTAREAINTEL IO, Governor's Island, NY.  USCG PSU 301-B, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.  USN Command Naval Reserve Forces USCG Liaison, USCG Port Security Unit 301-B, Al Jubail, Saudi Arabia.  USCG D8 Planning & Readiness Commander, Exec Officer, ISC New Orleans.  Commander, Military Group, Port Au Prince, Haiti. USCG D8 Chief of Personnel & Adminstration.  Commander, retired from USAF/USCG active duty May 1, 2007 after 41 years combined Reserve and Active Duty service. 

TIMOTHY MOWBRAY, LM

Tim started his Coast Guard service in June of 1968 at Cape May, New Jersey, Delta Company.  After boot camp he was transferred to Coast Guard Group Southwest Harbor Maine.  He served as a boat coxswain for routine and search and rescue missions. He also served as lightkeeper on Whitehead Island and the remote light of Petit Manan

off the coast of Maine. 

 

After his duty on the remote lighthouse, he requested a transfer to Coast Guard Group Duluth Minnesota, but was instead sent to the USCGC Castle Rock (WHEC 383) in Portland, Main in September, 1970. He served as a Boatswain's Mate Second Class (BM2) and was

deployed to Squadron Three, Vietnam, in 1971.  After his Coast Guard service, he used his full GI Bill education benefit to complete a BA, MS and a Doctor of Healthcare Administration degree. 

 

Tim spent thirty years as an administrator in mainline healthcare, hospitals, outpatient and specialty care organizations in Minnesota and Texas.  He completed his last 15 years of work as CEO of a medical research and training organization specializing in Orthopedics and

Spine care.  He also founded a specialized management consulting group that worked to assist employers to hire the best candidates for high level positions. 

 

He has retired, sold his business and lives quietly in the woods of NW Wisconsin with his wife Sue and Golden Retriever named for his good

friend Murphy.

MARK A. PEARSON, LM

Mark A. Pearson joined the U. S. Coast Guard in 1990 after spending six years in the US Army (1984-1990), retiring as Command Master Chief at his final duty station.  Mark was initially a Quartermaster,  serving onboard Cutters IRIS, MUSTANG, BASSWOOD and SASSAFRAS.  In 2003 he became

an Operations Specialist and in 2007 was selected to be one of the first three Master Chief Intelligence Specialists in the U. S. Coast Guard 

 

Mark served with PATFORSWA in Operation Enduring Freedom, in Bahrain and received the Global War on Terror Expeditionary Medal.   He retired in 2018 and became a Coast Guard civilian, working for Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM).

Ocean

Appointees and Service Officers

ByLaws:   
Gary Sherman


Convention Planning:
Michael Placencia, PNP, LM  Chairman
Bruce Bruni
Michael A. Johnson, LM
Ed Semler


Ship's Store Manager:
Russ Allyson, LM

Nominating Chairman:
William Femia











 

SERVICE OFFICERS:

Thomas Huckelberry, LM
Larry Jones, LM
Membership Chairman:
Michael Placencia PNP

QDL Publisher/Editor
Bruce Bruni, LM

Historian:
Paul C. Scotti, PNP

Master-at-Arms:
Russell Weeks

Chaplain
Vince Patton, MCPO-USCG


 
Webmaster:
Gary Sherman, NS/T
CGCVA AUXILIARY OFFICERS:

Barbara Weeks, President
Linda Kay, Vice President
Javaughn Miller, Secretary/Treas.
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CGCVA Founders:

Noel Bell
Gil "Frenchy" Benoit, PNP
Paul A. Ewaldt
Ned Fontaine
John Gnegy
Baker Herbert, PNS/T
Bill Hoover, PNP
 

Donald Kneip
R. W. Madura
Barry Nance
VADM Thomas R. Sargent, III
Paul C. Scotti, PNP

Roger Williams
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