Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Bi-monthly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/140140
Retirements Coming Full Circle: Captain Mackey Retires It's not often you hear of someone retiring with more than 36 years of service in the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve. And, to do so with some twenty different assignments, both as an enlisted member and as a commissioned officer, with tours of duty at sea on five U.S. Coast Guard Cutters -- JARVIS, CAPE NEWAGEN, BOUTWELL, MUNRO and MELLON -make it all that more impressive. From humble beginnings as the son of a chief in the U.S. Navy, Seaman Apprentice Mark S. Mackey reported aboard the Coast Guard Cutter JARVIS (WHEC-725) in 1976, at its homeport in Honolulu, HI, following completion of Coast Guard basic training (DELTA-106) on Coast Guard Island at Training Center Alameda, CA. On Friday, March 29th 2013, friends and family took time to honor and celebrate Capt. Mackey's nearly four decades of service to our great nation. Most fitting, and frankly just plain extraordinary, was the fact that Capt. Mackey finished where it all started at Coast Guard Island. And, oddly enough, onboard JARVIS which is now home ported in Alameda. Under clear and sunny California skies, Capt. Mackey gave his retirement speech on JARVIS' flight deck. In typical fashion, he did not boast of his lengthy career and personal accomplishments, but instead focused on his family, friends, and shipmates, who made his journey all the more special. Capt. Mackey finished his retirement speech by reaffirming his desires to "…be a part of something that provides support to serving military members, veterans, and their families." With ancestors having served under General George Washington, the Captain offered this quote from our country's first president, "The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive veterans of early wars were treated and appreciated by our nation." If the diversity and time-in-service isn't notable enough, Captain Mackey is arguably one of the most 'salty' Reserve Program Administrators (RPAs) to date. The Reserve Program will miss his guidance, stoic and calming presence, and great sense of humor. From all of us in the Coast Guard Reserve, thank you for your service and sage guidance over the years. You helped make the Reserve better today than it was when you first joined, and you have helped pave the way for present day and future reservists. Fair winds and following seas... — Story by Cmdr. Andrew Sheffield, Acting, Personnel Div. and Reserve Capabilities Branch (PAC-1) DOG Holds Joint Retirement Ceremony Capt. Peg Bloome Retires Capt. Peg Bloome was honored during a retirement ceremony in Washington, DC on Friday, May 17. Rear Adm. Chris Tomney, a Coast Guard Academy classmate ('86) of Bloome's, was the presiding official as well as guest speaker. Shown here with Capt. Bloome (ret.) are her husband, Capt. Andy Bloome, and sons Alex and Matthew. Photo courtesy of Mr. Bryan Applegate On April 20, 2013 in Arlington, Va., during a joint retirement ceremony attended by family, friends, and Deployable Operations Group (DOG) shipmates, Master Chief Greg Lewis and Master Chief Corey Clinton celebrated their retirements from the United States Coast Guard Reserve with 30 years and over 21 years of service to the Coast Guard, respectively. Above right: (L-R) Capt. David Martin, DOG Senior Reserve Officer, MSTCM Greg Lewis, and Capt. Eugene Gray, Commander, Deployable Operations Group. Above Left: (L-R) ITCM Clinton with Deployable Operations Command Master Chief FSCM Ryan Fahlenkamp. Issue 2 • 2013 � RESERVIST 49