YNC eyes 50 years of service to the Coast Guard Editor’s note: I’m going to add here a quick note about our own Chief Petty Officer Joseph McGonagle, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve retired, whose name you’ve seen below the retiree lists for years now. A friend of his, Capt. Bob Marcotte let me know that Chief was approaching his 50th year of service to the Coast Guard, in various roles. His career is storied, as you can see in an autobiographical summary below: officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Absecon, put down his binoculars and asked the helmsman his age. “I’ll be 18 later this month, Captain,” was the reply from Seaman Apprentice McGonagle. The 311-foot cutter was making its way up the Chesapeake On an early January day in 1971, Capt. Joe Dawley, commanding Bay to Baltimore. Just a few months out of basic training in Cape May, New Jersey, the SA took turns blowing on each numbing hand to offset the cold filling the bridge from the starboard side. “Keep both hands on the helm, son, ordered the captain. “You’re taking us to the dock at the Curtis Bay shipyard.” The hands quickly became sweaty. “You will never forget this lifetime experience. One day you will tell your grandchildren about it,” Prophetic words from a reassuring Captain. McGonagle’s career would navigate another Virginia-based cutter, the 255-foot Chautauqua and the 378-foot Boston-based Boutwell. His career ports-of-call included Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, U.S.S. Constitution heralded the twilight of Chief McGonagle’s 43- year Coast Guard career. He walked into another cold wind, this time from the port side in Boston Harbor. He stepped into his retirement down the gangway of “Old Ironsides.” Now his hands were warmed by those of his granddaughters on either side of him. Yes, Capt. Dawley, they heard the helmsman sea story and others. Capt. Marcotte, himself a retired Coast Guardsman as well, explained McGonagal’s long history of service. England, Norway, Germany, France, and Guantanamo Bay. McGonagle continued his Coast Guard affiliation by serving in the Reserve, the last six years of which were in a non-paid billet. He was assigned to the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska, served on the First District Reserve Policy board, was editor, and publisher of the First District Reserve Newsletter. At dusk on his 60th birthday, the firing of the cannons on the "Joe McGonagle's Coast Guard career and mine have intersected many times. We both enlisted in July 1970, within two days of each other. My first encounter occurred when I was stationed at Port Safety Station Boston as vessel movement officer, and Joe, a seaman, worked as my administrative assistant. We both left active duty and joined the Reserve in 1975. We next served together when I was the CO of Reserve Unit Vessels Boston and by then Joe had become a yeoman. I retired in 1994, but it seems Joe was just getting started. He was promoted to chief in 1991 and went on to serve at Reserve Unit First District. After a period of time, in a non-pay status, he single- handedly oversaw the publication of the District's newsletter for several years. Finally, on January 19, 2013, I was privileged to conduct Chief McGonagle's retirement ceremony on his 60th birthday, aboard the Constitution in Boston; but he still wasn't through. He volunteered as coordinator of the Reserve retirement list for Reservist and has been doing it ever since. After decades of friendship, here in his 50th year of service to the United States Coast Guard, I'd like to give a heartfelt salute to YNC Joe McGonagle." Thanks, Captain. We echo that sentiment, and offer our congratulations to Chief. Bravo Zulu! � Capt. Garofolo retires after 30 years of service Attended by many friends, shipmates, classmates and distinguished guests, Capt. John Garofolo hung up his uniform after more than 30 years of service to the Coast Guard Reserve. The ceremony was presided over by Rear Adm. Dana Thomas, and the captain’s wife Yelena and daughter Diana were both in attendance. Almost half of Garofolo’s service was on active duty, and at the 46 RESERVIST � Issue 2 • 2020 ceremony, his work on his last tour at Headquarters was recognized when he received the Meritorious Service Medal. In turn, he presented his shipmates at the Office of Work-Life with the Meritorious Team Award. The captain and his family retired to Southern California. BZ! �
