John Parker
As a teenage boy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago during the 50/60's era I had always dreamed of attending one of the military service academies. Looking back, it was a different time in our country's perception of our Armed Forces. The military was highly regarded and being a career officer was a respected profession, despite the compensation being less than that in the private sector. Competition for one of the prized academy appointments was vigorous with far more applicants than available openings. It was considered an honor to be selected.
Then too, patriotism was not frowned upon as seems to be the case in today's "politically correct" society. In schools, each day began with the Pledge of Allegiance. We were taught about our government, received civics lessons, and were encouraged to be model citizens and exercise our right to vote as a hallowed privilege. We learned about the three branches of our government, what functions they performed, and how they interacted. Fourth of July celebrations weren't just for fireworks displays, but a time to memorialize and reflect on the founding of this great democracy. During parades everyone stood and men removed their hats whenever the American Flag passed by. At athletic contests or other public events, no one sat or jeered when the National Anthem was sung; Rosanne Barr would have been ostracized for her disrespectful rendition.
With the foregoing as background I decided to apply for an academy appointment, focusing initially on Army's West Point and Navy's Annapolis. However, an uncle who had been a Chief Petty Officer in the Coast Guard during World War II suggested I research that academy. To make a long story short I entered the Coast Guard Academy in July, 1962. As I gazed down at the inscription on our barracks floor, "Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty" little did I realize what would follow in the ensuing years. During this period, Jack Kennedy was elected to the Presidency. Not only was he a wartime naval hero, but also a leader with the potential to guide our nation to prosperity. His administration was referred to as "Camelot" for its pursuit of idealism and culture. Who among us can forget the place we were when we learned of his assassination and the tears that we shed? And for my generation, who can forget his clarion call to duty, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country?"
After graduating in June, 1966, and being commissioned an ensign, I went on to serve 34 years before retiring from active duty in July, 2001, as a rear admiral. I served in over 20 duty stations from East Coast to West Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam, and even Vietnam. I commanded seven cutters from patrol boats to high endurance ships. I attended the Naval War College, later serving two tours of duty with the Navy. There were good times and rough times, but one of the questions I'm often asked is, "Would you do it all over again, and why?" It rarely takes more than a nanosecond for my resounding response, "Yes, in a heartbeat!" "Why" requires a more complex explanation which I will summarize below for the sake of brevity.
First, I received an outstanding education at the Academy. The campus and faculty are among the best in the U.S. Equally important were the core values instilled in us of honor, respect, and devotion to duty, as well as the camaraderie and sense of brotherhood developed among the members of our class. I'm confident that even today, 41 years later, I could call on any of my classmates for help, and they would respond overwhelmingly.
Second, I was able to live in places all over our country and see parts of the world I would never have been able had I pursued a more 'stationary' occupation. Not long ago I watched a TV travel documentary that showed the ten most popular sightseeing attractions in America. My children had actually been to nine of the ten simply because of our cross country transfers. Similarly, living in several locations and attending different schools provided them with a broader education and perspective than most children receive.
Third, there is the opportunity for responsibility, even at a young age. How many 22 year old civilians are asked to take charge of a million dollar patrol boat or aircraft? How many have led a group of people and been totally and completely responsible for their safety and welfare? This can be not only a challenging and awesome obligation to shoulder, but also a humbling experience which teaches character as well.
Fourth and perhaps the reason I feel most satisfied with my Coast Guard career is the humanitarian aspect of our service. I have served at three rescue coordination centers, as well as been Chief of Operations in the Pacific Area. I cannot begin to adequately describe the reward and emotional impact when you are involved in saving a life. You might be the duty officer who spent all night developing a successful search plan, the lookout who spots the flare from a sinking ship, the coxswain of the boat who recovers the man overboard, the helicopter pilot that hoists an ill passenger from a cruise ship, or the rescue swimmer who jumps into the frozen waters of the Bering Sea to save a fisherman from drowning. You can even be the admiral in charge of all these activities and be gratified that your decisions to provide the right resources and training contributed in saving a life.
In sum, I accomplished my dream of attending a military academy, enjoyed a career in which the values and background of my youth fostered my success, contributed to society through humanitarian missions, and given my children an example to follow. In doing so, I endeavored to answer President Kennedy's summons to my generation; I hope he would have approved.
