Go to C. D. Williams' PagesWell, we darn sure don't fade away.
Take a look at my website and let me know what you think.

Impressive! Why haven't other Coasties (HSs, especially) responded to your post? Jealousy, perhaps? BZ to you, sir!

Chuck, thank you for the link. I enjoyed reading your writings, paticularily the stories of serving on the Mellon. Looking forward to reading your book! -Jeff

WOW! From one underway Doc to another, I say WOW! As said before, Bravo Zulu. I hope I look back on my career as fondly as you do your's.
Chris
HSC, Former IDHS CGC Steadfast

I was an SNHM through HM1 and HS1. I was stationed at Cape May, Coast Guard Representative at USPHS Clinic Washington, Traverse City, Coast Guard Headquarters. I worked in the Military Personnel Clinic at Headquarters when there was only a doctor, a dentist, a civilian nurse, a Hospital Corpsman, and a Dental Technician. I was a Reserve Unit Stationkeeper when DT was merged into HS. Faced with a 10-week school to cross train as a DT, I took the offer to lateral.

I had three years to go from HS1 to YN1. I had to pass the YN3 SWE, the YN2 SWE, and the YN1 SWE - all above the cut-off or revert to HS. My title was a mouthful: Health Services Technician First Class / Yeoman or HS1/YN. While I was doing the lateral, I was notified that I'd passed the HMC SWE but couldn't advance while in a lateral.

I worked at Traverse City as an HS1/YN in Personnel and then as a Recruiter in the Gary, Indiana sub-office of Coast Guard Recruiting Chicago. I went to Duluth MN as a recruiter in a sub-office of Coast Guard Recruiting Minneapolis. When Coast Guard Recruiting joined MEPS, the Duluth Office closed. I'd made YN1 and YNC a year later. When the Duluth Recruiting Sub-Office closed, I retired and worked for Social Security as a GS-11 Disability Claims Specialist.

Retiring from Social Security, I worked 6 years in a hospital medical records department assembling and analyzing outpatient visits.

My wife and I now own a company called Linkin Mall which does business as Coast Guard Shirts. Linkin Mall and Coast Guard Shirts are in their infancy, but we add new products and new affiliations every day.

I think the military has more options for HS's now with the PA program and more specialty training. At Cape May, I operated the pharmacy as an HM3. Now there's a USPHS Pharmacist and Pharmacy Technicians there. As an HM2 at Headquarters, I worked part-time for People's Drug Store as a Manager's Assistant, because operating a Coast Guard pharmacy didn't qualify me or credential me as a pharmacy tech.

It's good to read comments from contemporary Health Services Technicians.

I left the Coast Guard in 1983 as an HS1 Flight Corpsman after eight. I finished my Associate Degree in Nursing in 1984, and I've worked in Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units as an R.N. ever since. Becoming an R.N. was smart, or it was for me anyway. And working in E.D.'s is sort of like being a fireman. ICU's, however, that's back-breaking work, but still quite gratifying. Anyway, I'd recommend the craft of Registered Nurse to any former HS.

CCRN and CEN sends...

They become short shriveled and lean to the left

HSC, Former IDHS CGC Steadfast[/QUOTE]

Chris, I thought once you are an IDMT(Like myself), SF-IDC, or IDHS you are always one? Gotta bust your balls. From one underway Doc to another.

You got me! I am looking forward to them finally authorizing our pin though!

Me to. There isn't very many of us out there. It would be nice to be recognized.

quote:

Originally posted by 378Doc:
They become short shriveled and lean to the left

Wow, since I was diagnosd with dystonia I almost fit that description, except I'm not shriveled up yet..I still "truckin", except with a gansta-lean to the left...

Hi folks,

If you look at my profile, you'll notice I spent most of my career stuck in staff jobs. PACAREA, MLCLANT, MPC/CGPC(HQ), Clinic Admin CG YARD. My all time favorite jobs though were independent duty afloat on Laurel (Ketchikan) and Jarvis (Honolulu). Underway IS the only way.

Of the staff jobs, being detailer was probably the most interesting, mostly because it was 95% personnel management and 5% medicine. Any of you older folks that were HS's between JUL 95 and AUG 99 received at least one set of orders from me, even if it was just for an extension. Some of you like me, some hate me, c'est la vie. It was the nature of the beast. Either way, I'd like to hear from you just to see how things turned out. Call me a glutton for punishment.

Back to the originator of this string. I didn't know Chuck Williams before late last year. Cruising through Fred's Place, I noticed a retired CWO med wrote a book, PALAWAN. I ordered it just for the hell of it, out of some sort of sense of fellowship I suppose. Turns out, the book was excellent. I recommend it highly. An interesting story line, plenty of action, vivid descriptions and a great ending. I think it would make an outstanding movie screen play. Get the book, let me know what you think.

Here's the really weird part. It wasn't until I read his bio in the book that I realized he lived here in Vegas. What are the odds of two dinosaur HM - CWO Meds settling in the same place in the middle of the desert? I sent him an e-mail, and we've been meeting for coffee on Saturday mornings since. We actually had parallel careers half a generation apart (he's the older fart). Our careers did coincide by 15 years, so we have many common acquaintances. We were also in Vietnam a few years apart in some of the same places, both "Docs" on a 180 and a 378, both PMTs, both stationed in Alaska at the same time (him Juneau, me Ketchikan, practically neighbors in Alaska terms) and I had to have actually met him back in '72 when I was going through my post-HM school Clinical Experience at the Academy and he was working in the outpatient department there. Pretty strange stuff, huh?

Well, there is an update on two more "Old Corpsmen". Let's hear from you guys.

v/r (Very/Retired)

Mike Cantatore.

Mr. Cantatore,
You actually gave our HS class orders early fall '99, we only had 5 choices for our whole class! I took the Kodiak billet due to never have being been there, it turned it was the best place for a boot HS3 to learn! I went to Yorktown for 3 years and then to the CGC Steadfast for a critical fill after the former HS got kicked off. Now I'm in a new MLCPAC kse billet here in San Pedro/San Diego.

On a side note, I do believe I recieved orders from your wife when I was an ET! How small of a CG is that!

Chris
HSC hoping to make Med CWO soon, just not this year!

It was gratifing to have started this string of comments. For those of you who have not checked it out lately, my website continues to evolve. My friendship with Mike Cantatore grows as we continue to meet for Coffee at Starbucks on Saturday mornings. We really have a lot to talk about and if any of your ears are turning red, that's why. We've got your number. Life is good, I'm still married to the beautiful little Filipina college girl I captured in Manila in 1970 and life has treated us well. The book is moving,not as fast as I would like, but it is selling. If you have not read it yet, buy it and read it. One of the main characters is a retired CWOMED, you'll like him.C.D. WILLIAMS.COM

quote:

Originally posted by 378Doc:
They become short shriveled and lean to the left

Damn if that doesn't describe me to a "T", except the shriveled part. Do you know me?

Talking about small worlds, right next door to the place I currently work full-time at works a former HS like myself who kept my Cape May-based H-52 seat warm, as I did for him (we were HM's then, HM3's, from the time before the combining of the ratings of HM and DT). When I wasn't on the flight crew roster, he likely was. We each did eight after making it to HS1 and left for other pastures, and some eighteen years later ended up in adjoining pastures. What are the chances of that, especially as relatively small of a community as Coast Guard HS is?

Mr. C. you gave me orders from ISC Portsmouth to MLT school in San Diego. It was great. Then you were nice enough to send me to HQ...believe it or not I asked to go there. It is great to see so many of our retired Coasties still keeping in touch with those of us who will retire soon (3 years to go). Chief Fly and I were stationed at Yorktown together. Hi, Chris---.

Mr. Cantatore,

Good to hear that you are doing well. I remember you very well. I remember in 97 you offered me the Diligence, and even allowed me to turn it down, then 6 months later you called and all I could say to you is Where am I heading! IT was great you sent me to your old ship the great Laurel. I stayed with her until she decomed, kinda of sad that day. I have had fun being an Independent Duty HS, Made HSC last year and of course the detailer gave me a 378. I had already applied to PA school so I only got to do 2 patrols, but at least I can say that I have been to Alaska and the Eastern Pacific. Well better get back to the books. Take care
HSC Bill Stanley

I will definitely get the book!! This is the first I have ever heard of it. I will pass the word!! I am sure that once more people know it is out, it will sell at a quicker pace. Maybe the instructors at HS "A" school and IDHS school could make mention of it to their classes, in passing? Are copies available in the exchange system?


Mr Cantatore,

I am glad to see that you are still kicking around. When I was a lowly non-rate at the Coast Guard Yard in the 1992-4, I used to enjoy having duty with you. Your stories of the early days(especially Viet'Nam) inspired me to take the path of the HS, resulting in me becoming an IDMT(Air Force Style). I now have many great stories of my own, to share. Becoming an HS was the best decision(other than giving up the smokes) I ever made. I would not give up a second of my career. Thank you!

As far as the pin is concerned... I only read about it here yesterday. What is the deal with that? Is it out?

Regards
PaulR

Hey folks:

It's always good to hear from old constituents. Even though I was detailer from '95-'99, I still remember a lot of those assignments. Believe it or not, some thought actually went into transfers. There was no dart board, rolling of dice, or flipping of coins.

Ms. 10482469 - I took a little flack for sending you to HQ after lab school. You almost wound-up in Cape May or the Academy.

Bill - There was a Laurel artifact I wanted to give you when you were in the Yard, but I forgot all about it. Let me know where to send it and I'll forward it on.

Paul - I was just trying to keep you awake on those duty nights regaling you with those death defying stories of STD avoidance overseas. Nice to know you were paying attention. Now it's getting to be your turn enlighten and inspire some poor, unsuspecting sea puppy. Have fun!

Keep those cards and letters coming in folks, good, bad or indifferent.

Mike Cantatore

P.S. Support the other old, decrepit, decaying, desert bound, retired CWO(med) that started this string. Read PALAWAN.