RESERVIST MAGAZINE FROM THE EDITOR A few weeks before Christmas, I received a letter that a very good friend of mine RESERVIST Celebrating Our 69th Year! Volume LXIX � Issue 1 • 2022 reserve.uscg.mil/magazine [email protected] MAGAZINE Anastasia M. Devlin Editor Chris S. Rose Creative Director COMMAND Adm. Karl L. Schultz Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. James M. Kelly Assistant Commandant for Reserve Capt. Alexander C. Foos Chief, Office of Reserve Policy and Requirements Integration Cmdr. Katy Coombs Chief, Reserve Policy and Strategic Communications Division passed away. Capt. Walt Handy, storyteller extraordinaire and hero of the Coast Guard Reserve, passed away on Pearl Harbor Day, about a hundred days short of his 104th birthday. Walt was a man of quiet strength with a quick smile. In fact, as I write this, it’s hard to believe that the lights could ever go out for a man of his grace, wisdom and humility. Not long after that, I saw the news that another mainstay of my career, Lois Bouton, had passed away. I remember seeing her letter tacked up on the bulletin board next to the duty schedule, just outside the comms center at my first station. In her loopy hand, she wished the crew a Merry Christmas, and included stickers! That made me smile; I’d only been in for a few months, and I assumed she must be a local voicing her appreciation. My station shipmates explained who the Coast Guard Lady was, and how they were used to receiving her letters periodically. So I took out my pen and wrote back, chatting about getting qualified on the boats, the cold weather, my parents coming to visit… Lois responded, addressing it all point by point, then told me about her travels. I was delighted. At my next unit in Miami, I found her letters. And at the next one in San Diego, I found her letters there too. Everywhere I’ve been, Lois’s letters have been displayed and answered, including (of course), here at the magazine. It’s hard to think about not receiving any more of them—I didn’t realize I took them for granted. Both of these reservists recognized that they were able to make a difference in a small way and took action. They didn’t let the vastness of the task at hand intimidate them out of starting off small. They started with what was within their own span of control, growing when and where they could. Walt organized his WWII shipmates in a grassroots effort to show Congress the Coast Guard Reserve was worth funding. He didn’t have the benefit of technology— he worked through newsletters, the Reserve Officers Association (as it was known at the time), newspaper op-eds and letters to the editor, long distance phone calls, strategically-organized banquets and lunchtime visits to Headquarters. As Jeff Smith, the previous editor, told me, “Meeting and getting to know Walter was one of the jewels of my Coast Guard career.” I couldn’t have said it better myself. Walt was a treasure. Lois sent messages of cheer and gratitude, starting with just a few units and growing CONTACT INFORMATION [email protected] Commandant (CG-R55) Attn: Editor, Reservist 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE (Stop-7721) Washington, DC 20593-7721 http://reserve.uscg.mil FB: @uscoastguardreserve Twitter: @uscgreserve #uscgr 2 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2022 RESERVIST (COMDTPUB 1001.29) is published by the Assistant Commandant for Reserve, U.S. Coast Guard. It is intended for information only and is not authority for official action. Views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of Homeland Security or Coast Guard. The editor reserves the right to select and edit all materials for publication. We continue to strive for perfection, yet unattained. to an estimated hundred thousand letters over the decades. She touched thousands of lives, and she demonstrated her love and pride in her service one letter at a time. Her friendly, uplifting tone made a difference in many sailors’ lives. You know, I knew these two friends were older. But they’d always been there. I despise the finitude of it all. That we have a finite amount of time with the people who are dearest to us—the ones who inspire us. I’m sure you’ve heard the quote, “The trouble is, you think you have time.” Losing Walt and Lois this year was sad, but they both leave behind a legacy of service to others and a roadmap of how to lead by example. These centenarians were passionate about what they loved, and they have a legacy in those they inspired and enabled. One of the reasons I love my job is because I get to talk about people like Walt and Lois. Today’s reservists are incredibly gifted and selfless. They’re not just leading the Reserve, they’re making a difference in the Coast Guard. They were inspired by strong leaders. We need to remember that our members are able to do what they do today because they stand on the shoulders of giants. Goodbye, Coast Guard Lady. Fair winds and following seas, Walt. Anastasia Devlin Editor-in-Chief
