RESERVIST MAGAZINE RETIREE SITREP Celebrating our forefathers Story by Master Chief Petty Officer Frank Gorman, Director of Operational Logistics June 6 dawned as just another sunny Sunday at the Jersey Shore. For four Coast Guard members, though, it offered a rare, dwindling opportunity to meet and honor three World War II combat veterans, one of whom was a fellow Coast Guardsman. That day was the 77th anniversary of the Normandy invasion, and Wall Township, N.J., held an honor walk for the three vets, including 96-year-old Frank DeVita of Bridgewater, N.J., a former Coast Guard gunner’s mate. DeVita was a crewman on a Coast Guard Higgins boat (or LCVP, which stood for landing craft vehicle, personnel), and he made 15 landings on Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944. He ferried troops and supplies ashore, and he took wounded and deceased comrades back out to his ship, the USS Samuel Chase. The Chase was a Coast Guard-manned attack (troop) transport ship that previously saw combat in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, and Italy. Following service at Normandy, DeVita and his shipmates aboard Chase participated in the invasion landings in Southern France. Afterward, the ship redeployed to the Pacific theater of operations, where DeVita crewed his LCVP, putting troops ashore on Okinawa, Japan. DeVita’s combat duties included lowering the LCVP’s ramp to allow troops to go ashore. He described it as a horrific experience, as it meant certain death for many of his comrades going ashore on enemy-held beaches. Despite his heroic actions at three combat theaters, DeVita insisted he was not a hero; for him, the heroes were those who gave the last full measure of devotion and died for the freedom of others. He was extremely proud of his Coast Guard service, and he wished the Coast Guard received more credit for its role in WWII. He said that 90% of the coxswains at Normandy were Coasties, and their average age was 19! For me and several crew members of Station Manasquan Inlet, including Petty Officer 1st Class Cheyenne Wolfe, Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Dear, and Fireman William Fancher, it was a wonderful experience to meet Mr. DeVita and hear his memories firsthand. He truly represents America’s Greatest Generation and what they did for our freedom. � CDR celebrates 26 years of service Cmdr. Eric G. Stroming retired from the Coast Guard Reserve in a ceremony held June 26, 2021, after 26 years of military service divided between the Coast Guard and the Navy. As a civilian, he served his community as a captain with the Township of Union Fire Department in New Jersey. He finished his career at Sector Southeast New England in East Providence, R.I., where he was the Reserve Chief of Emergency Management and Force Readiness. BZ on your retirement. � 34 RESERVIST � Issue 3 • 2021
