The
FSO-PB Fl 86 approached me the other day and asked me to give the
Flotilla a short, synoptic, description
of me, I.e. from
where did I come, what have I been doing, what is my birth date, etc.,
etc., etc. The final word of advice was, “do it in two or three
paragraphs.” The first paragraph is almost completed and I’ll do
my best putting the rest in the remaining space.
The
CG Cutter “EAGLE” and I have a lot in common; both of us were laid
down in Germany at about the same time, the “EAGLE” being a little
younger than I. Both of us are still around using original equipment
and performing the tasks which we are assigned, reasonably well. Most
important of all however, both of us are proud to show the Flag of The
United States of America.
I
was born on 11 July 1931 in Kempen, Germany, old enough to experience
the horrors of WW II to include a period of capture in May, June and
July 1945. From 1952 – 1958, I worked as German Civilian for the US
Air Force in multiple capacities. I attended and graduated from the
University of Wuerzburg/Germany with a degree in Medical Dentistry in
1954 while holding a Full-Time a full time job. In 1957 I met Marion,
an American High School Teacher, for the US Department of the Army. We
decided to get married and in 1958, at the completion of Marion’s
contract I followed her as a “Male War bride” to Kohler, WI.
In
1962 I graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee with a DDS
Degree. Prior to graduation I had joined the US Army as a 2nd
Lt, Medical Service Corps. Approximately eight weeks after being
commissioned, I obtained American Citizenship. In June of 1962 I went
on Active Duty and remained in Service until 1 Jan 1984 when I retired
as a Colonel [0-6]. While on Active Duty, I trained as an Oral and
Maxillofacial Surgeon in the US and Overseas. I served in that
capacity until my retirement.
I saw action in Vietnam and participated
in the Landing in Grenada. On 4 January 1984, I was on my way to
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as the Chief of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
for the Saudi Arabian National Guard. In October 1990 I was recalled
to Active Duty and served an additional year in the US Army. Following
that I became an Associate Professor at the Medical College of
Virginia and held that job until 30 June 1999.
Marion
and I have remained successfully and happily married until now and
hope to continue for a long time to come. We have three children and
four grandchildren
Marion
and I started to boat seriously while stationed in Virginia and have
continued to do so. In 1977 we joined the USCGAUX, have been members
in Flotillas in various geographic areas until we finally reached
Venice and FL 86, the best and hardest working group of people I have
met in the USCGAUX.
Positions
I have held in the past?, VFC, FC, SO-MT, SO-FN, FSO-OP, FSO-MT, FSO-AN,
FSO-SR. I am a Leadership and Management School [LAMS] Instructor for
the LDC, USCGA and have taught at various CG Stations, Cutters, the US
Coast Guard Academy and the USCGAUX.
My favorite Topic in that series is the “Ethics” portion.
In that capacity I presented the “Medical Ethics” lecture to the
Corps of Cadets for the past three years during the “USCGA Annual
Ethics Forum”.
Finally, I have been a Coxswain for several years, an
Aids Verifier [National School], an Instructor [National School] and
love being on the water. Our present boat is a 30’ Mainship Pilot,
the OMA II, a single engine, diesel, inboard vessel.
It
is a great pleasure to be part of FL 86.
Semper
Paratus!
Guenther H. Hennig
September
2005
