RESERVIST MAGAZINE RETIREE SITREP Making it right: belated honors for a career of service By Chief Warrant Officer Luke Sigler, Electronics Support Detachment Baltimore Allow me to tell you a story about a member from my unit. August 31, 1987, was a balmy summer day in Cape May, N.J. Fred Wells, a young man, only 19 years old, found himself standing on faded yellow shoe prints getting yelled at by well-dressed men he would come to call "company commanders." Like so many before and so many after, he stood there, nervous about the decisions that led him to this point and maybe a twinge of regret as he peered into the unknown. The next eight weeks would be some of the most difficult he had faced up until that point. However, it would set a course toward success, learning, and leadership, which he would take with him for the rest of his life. A few weeks prior to graduation in October, he found out where he'd be headed next: Station Humboldt Bay, in Samoa, Calif. The days were long and the nights were cold while Fred served the Northern Pacific region. The Polar Jet Stream brought in Alaskan winter storms and powerful currents slammed into towering offshore rocks. Ever-present fog continually threatened both commercial and recreational vessels that entered or exited the harbor. Fred served there as a non-rate for two years, doing search and rescue, until he was selected to attend telephone technician "A" school. He graduated in December 1989 and was advanced to telephone technician third class. For the next six years, he served in afloat and ashore billets across the First District. He earned two advancements, two Coast Guard Achievement Medals, multiple unit awards, and the Special Operations Service Ribbon. In 1996, he transferred to Electronics Support Detachment Baltimore, where he served for three years. Rather than reenlist and move again, Petty Officer 1st Class Wells decided to close a 12-year chapter of his career, and he transferred to the Reserve in August 1999. He remained at the unit for the next ten years, advancing to chief petty officer three weeks after 9/11, and he retired quietly from the Coast Guard Reserve in September 2010 with a combined 23 years of service. I transferred to ESD Baltimore as the supervisor in 2018. Although Chief Wells and I never served together, his story made its way to me through an email written by his wife, Eileen. I learned that in 2010, Fred's retirement had been quite unceremonious. There was no retirement award, get-together, or shadowbox presentation. I won't make excuses for why Fred's retirement was overlooked, but I will attempt to assume what happened and offer a possible explanation. 60 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2021 On Dec. 11, Chief Petty Officer Frederick T. Wells received a small outdoor retirement ceremony and was presented with a shadowbox. In the two years that I have been ESD supervisor, per the metrics, ESD Baltimore has been the busiest ESD in the Coast Guard. Currently, I have 30 people assigned. Our reservists drill one weekend a month and two weeks a year. By nature, they are the folks I see the least. Chief Wells was stationed at ESD Baltimore for a combined total of 14 years. When you have a Reserve chief with that much experience, he becomes the guy you don't have to worry about-he knows the ropes, and he gets things done without asking. Much like the IT and ET ratings as a whole, if you do your job perfectly, people won't realize you were even there. Fred had such tenure, he blended seamlessly with the fabric of the ESD, and that level of expertise was likely taken for granted. Once I heard Fred's story, I took it as an opportunity to make things right. In her email, Ms. Wells's only request was that Fred receive a retirement flag. This prompted me to reach out to Chief Warrant Officer Caitlin Fleming, who serves as Military Personnel Branch Chief at the Coast Guard Yard in Baltimore. She was, and is, a tremendous resource, and she was more than willing to help. With the assistance of the local Chiefs Mess and all of the ESD personnel, we created a small outdoor ceremony for Chief Wells to demonstrate our appreciation for his professionalism, humility, and devotion to duty. As leaders, we must celebrate and pay tribute to members who came before us. Their dedication paved the road upon which we walk. We must learn from their lessons and pass their wisdom to those who follow. Congratulations, Chief Wells, and thank you for your service. �
