History of the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association
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!
CGCVA CHALLENGE COINS
Beginning in 1997, the CGCVA has been acknowledging graduates of The U. S. Coast Guard Academy and Training Center Cape May. Since then we have added the Direct Commission Officer program and a Spirit of the Chief award at the Coast Guard CPO Academy.
John W. "Jack" Campbell CGCVA Physical Fitness Award is given out to the recruit, from each company, with the best physical fitness score. CGCVA Past National President Jack Campbell served with the U. S. Coast Guard Rescue Flotilla 1 at Normandy on D-Day, rescuing over 400 troops, during Operation Overlord.
Captain Quentin Walsh, a 1933 graduate of the Coast Guard Academy, was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions in taking the city of Cherbourg, France in 1944, capturing over 750 German soldiers and rescuing 53 captured U. S. Paratroopers.
CDR. Lonnie L. Mixon was awarded the Silver Star Medal for action in Vietnam as a helicopter exchange pilot with the U. S. Air Force, while attepting to rescue a downed pilot while under severe enemy fire.
Florence Finch was a Filipina-American, who, while working for the U. S. Army, when the Japanese attached Manilla. Forced to work for the Japanese military, she helped the underground sabotage the Japanese military and gave medicine and supplies
to captured U. S prisoners of war. She was caught, tortured and imprisoned and later rescued by U. S forces.
Jack Campbell Challenge Coin
Capt. Quentin Walsh Challenge Coin
Cdr. Lonnie Mixon Challenge Coin
Florence Finch Challenge Coin
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Important U. S. Coast Guard Events
World War I
Loss of Diamond Shoals Lightship
Loss of the USS Tampa
World War II
Loss of 1,918 Coast Guardsmen
Sinking of:
USCGC Alexander Hamilton
USCGC Escanaba
USS Serpens
Korean War
Vietnam
Loss of Seven Coast Guardsmen
Desert Storm/Desert Shield
Global War on Terrorism
Loss of One Coast Guardsman
