Ol'Harry

COAST GUARDSMAN'S WORLD WAS UP &  DOWN

Royce Garrett admits to a widespread series of “break-ins” during his 31-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard.  These incidents ranged from New York’s Hudson River to the Aleutian Islands and both the Arctic and Antarctic.  Since ice-breaking is what Coast Guardsmen do . He wasn’t disciplined – he was decorated.

CAPTAIN ROYCE GARRETT USCG 1956-1987

“Growing up in Greensboro as an Eagle Scout and Quartermaster Sea Scout, I was a water guy and driven to sail.  After grades one through nine at Gillespie, I graduated from Greensboro High School.”  In addition to borrowing money from his father for college, Garrett worked a series of part-time jobs: lifeguard at Camp Herman; the Sears Catalog Order Plant; took school pictures; and taught sailing at Camp Seagull.

“After graduating from Guilford College in 1956, the draft board gave me an ultimatum – ‘Be in the service before August 1, or we will put you in the Army.’  When my application for Coast Guard officer candidate school bogged down, I joined as an enlisted man – July 24, 1956.”

Not too long after Boot Camp, officer candidacy opportunities opened up again and Garrett was commissioned as a Coast Guard Ensign.  His first assignment was aboard the CGC Clover, a Kodiak, Alaska-based buoy tender.

After a tour of shore duty in Norfolk, Garrett served aboard his second buoy tender, the CGC Mistletoe, servicing the Chesapeake Bay. 

Garrett doesn’t believe in coincidences any more than I do, but this is his story, “Although we never dated in Greensboro, Mary Jo Caudle and I grew up together in Calvary Methodist Church on Asheboro Street.  Our mothers were pregnant with us at the same time.  Parishioners joke that Mary Jo and I crawled up and down the Calvary aisles together.”

They came together again in Hampton Roads, VA – Garrett’s Coast Guard career was progressing nicely – Caudle, after graduating from Greensboro College, had become a school teacher.  Per Garrett, “After we started dating, my sea-going buddies advised me to be sure she enjoyed sailing before I proposed.  It rained buckets the day I invited her to sail with me in a regatta – but she went anyway.  We were married on January 16, 1960.”

After shore duty in Miami, Garrett earned a Master’s Degree from the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, CA, after which he took command of the Buoy Tender, the CGC Firebush, servicing New York Harbor.

Next, he became the Special Assistant to the Commandant of the Coast Guard in Washington, DC.  After that, it was back to sea, via St. Petersburg, FL where he took command of the CGG Steadfast.  “We primarily dealt with Caribbean, law enforcement and drug issues.”

USCGC NORTHWIND

Garrett assumed command of the Wilmington, NC-based polar icebreaker, the USCGC Northwind in 1978.  “We were happy to be home-ported in North Carolina, but deployment came 10 days after we moved,” recalls Jo Garrett.

Proceeding to the Arctic, the Northwind established ice camps, cleared ice from channels, and resupplied Arctic outposts.  Simultaneously, she conducted a wide range of research and search and rescue operations.

Polar opposites more than adequately describe Garrett’s next deployment – and one of his break-ins.  “We broke a channel into the U.S. Antarctic Base to allow passage for re-supply ships with fuel and cargo.”  While there, Garrett hitched a ride to the South Pole Station.  “It was a weird feeling, standing on ice 9000 feet thick in minus 40 degrees temperature.  Regardless of which way I turned, every direction was north!”

Garrett and his Northwind crew were fascinated when a U.S. submarine broke through six feet of ice and surfaced near-by.  “Realizing they had been underway for quite a while, I took one of our helicopters and dropped them a box of fresh fruit.  Later, they presented me a ship’s flag in appreciation.”  

SUBMARINERS GAVE GARRETT FLAG IN APPRECIATION FOR FRUIT BASKET

After 31 years of service, Royce Garrett retired in 1987 – he served on five Coast Guard ships, commanding three of them.  “I feel very fortunate to have visited the South Pole, and going as close to the North Pole as icebreakers could go.”

Retired, but not inactive – relief efforts they started in Northern Virginia for Belarus children suffering from Chernobyl radiation continue today – over 800 children have been impacted.

GARRETTS HAVE TRAVELED FAR AND WIDE IN THEIR AIRSTREAM

The Airstream motorhome parked behind their home is another activity monitor, “We’ve enjoyed over 80,000 miles in it – several trips across country and lots of snow-birding in Florida.”

The Garretts moved back to Greensboro in 2004.  They are active members of Market Street United Methodist Church, and have done Meals on Wheels and worked at Potter’s House.  Health issues precipitated his recent retirement as church treasurer, but he continues to serve as an usher.

They have one son and two grandchildren.

   

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