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Vince Whalen standing watch at Coast Guard Auxiliary Stuart Radio. |
Recently. members of Flotilla 59, Palm City, FL paid tribute to one of their own, Vince Whalen, by taking him to lunch to celebrate 40 distinguished years in the Auxiliary. He began his Auxiliary career by working at Station Atlantic City, NJ in 1971 where he served as an operations officer for a time. In 1993 he moved to Stuart, Florida and continued his Auxiliary activities including being a coxswain.
Currently he is an instructor in the public education program and also the Flotilla Staff Officer for Communications. Vince has a constant stream of members training to be Auxiliary watchstanders for Coast Guard Auxiliary Radio Stuart and some like Mark Gaisford of Flotilla 59 have gone on to become a Coast Guard Station watchstander at CG Station Ft. Pierce. “When the flotilla has boats out, putting our own people on the radio takes the pressure off the station especially when it is busy,” according to Mr. Whalen.
While at CG Station Atlantic City and serving as Flotilla Staff Officer for Operations he really enjoyed working directly with the Coast Guard. His influence on people is not limited to Auxiliarists, he has touched some of the active duty as well.
“A young Lieutenant just arrived in July 1988 to take command of CG Station Atlantic City and we became fast friends,” Mr.Whalen told us. Many CG officers will tell you that an Auxiliarist was the person who was instrumental in assisting them in their transition into their new assignment. This new Lieutenant was William “Dean” Lee now Rear Admiral “Dean” Lee, Commander Fifth Coast Guard District and former commanding officer of the Coast Guard Deployable Operations Group.
Wilson Riggan, Immediate Past Division Commander, tells us that each time he attends an Auxiliary conference that includes Rear Admiral Lee, the Admiral undoubtedly asks, “Do you know Vince Whalen? He is a good friend of mine.”
Over the years Vince has trained more than watchstanders. He a champion vessel examiner himself and is directly responsible for adding several more vessel examiners to the roster for Flotilla 59.
In fact a new member Gary Bowerman first met Vince before he even knew much about the Auxiliary. “I used to follow him all around the marina at our condo and watch what he did. When he did vessel exams I would ask him a million questions. I knew he was in the Power Squadron but he also talked about being part of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.”
Now Gary is a member and a staff officer in Flotilla 59 who last year contributed over 200 vessel exams in his first year. Now Gary is paying it forward and helping new members obtain the vessel examiner certification and helping the Flotilla meet a goal of 500 vessel safety checks for 2011.
In addition to Mr. Whalen’s 40 years in the Auxiliary he also worked and retired from Atlantic City Power Company after 39 years. In his spare time he managed to give his time and talents to the United States Power Squadron as a vessel examiner and instructor for over 48 years. He began with the Absecon Island (NJ) Power Squadron in January 1963 to learn navigation so he could work as a mate on a fishing boat in order to get his time for a Captain’s license. He is still a hard man to keep up with and he isn’t done yet.
We are often told that as Auxiliarists we have a chance to influence young Coast Guardsman early in their career. Let me share with you the letter to Mr. Whalen from his shipmate and friend, RDML “Dean” Lee which says it all.
Dear Vince,
I wish to congratulate you -- but more importantly, thank you -- for your 40 years of selfless service to the Coast Guard.
I truly wish our country had more like you and your esteemed colleagues who so willingly give up your time and resources for a cause so worthwhile -- a cause for which there is no remuneration other than the satisfaction of being part of something bigger than yourselves.
If I were a corporate CEO I'd write you a huge bonus check for all you've done -- for you have indeed gone well above and beyond the call of duty. Sadly, I'm not a corporate CEO, but I am an Admiral. And with that, I offer my heartiest "thanks" and my deepest appreciation for your four decades of dedicated service.
Well done my good and faithful friend! |
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Lunch was on St. Patty’s Day 2011 at Shrimpers Restaurant in Manatee Pocket. (Back row) Harold Fay, Lois Holczer, Paul Horbal, Bob Gilmour, Lonnie Mister VFC, Jim Stone, Bill Stockl, Bill Mehrhoff, Dr. Doug Most, Gary Bowerman, Diane Riggan and Jack Slattery. (Front row) Wendy Simmons, Greg Golhoffer, guest of honor Vince Whalen and Flotilla Commander Hal Harger. |
Crew from CG Station Ft. Pierce stopped in for lunch and took time to congratulate Mr. Whalen on his service to the Auxiliary. Pictured here are Petty Officers Cromartie, Soto, Boykin and Chief Craig Allain with Vince Whalen. |
~mg 12-09-11