Story and photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael De Nyse, U.S. Coast Guard PADET Tampa Bay. 

Family, friends and military brethren honored and celebrated the life of Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Frank L. Spatuzzi during a funeral ceremony at St. Cecelia's Catholic Church in Clearwater Fla., Saturday.

Spatuzzi died Jan. 13, at Suncoast Hospice House in Brookside, Fla., after his health declined from a fall he suffered Dec. 24, 2011. He was 93. 

Spatuzzi was born in 1918 in Vauxhall, N.J., but was raised in Newark, N.J. Early in life, Spatuzzi's talents as a "ball-player" open doors for him. By the age of 18, he earned a scholarship to Seton Hall University. Playing first base, and hitting more than a .400 average, Spatuzzi was on track to play professional baseball. He was so talented, years later he was elected to the university's athletic hall of fame.

At the age of 19, he graduated with a bachelor’s degree and by the age of 21, he had a Masters degree from Seton Hall University. 

Spatuzzi’s academic and athletic achievements came to an abrupt halt in 1941, when the United States was thrust into war. Without hesitation, Spatuzzi traded in his baseball glove for patriotic duty. He put his athletic career on hold and joined the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.

During the war, Spatuzzi fought in the Pacific with great distinction. As an officer, he participated in the invasions of D-Day of Saipan, Tinian, and Leyte. A suicide plane hit Spatuzzi’s vessel while he was fighting in the Philippine Islands, in 1944.

Spatuzzi was hospitalized for more than two years. In 1946, he was decorated for his courage under fire and was awarded the Purple Heart for shrapnel wounds that left him with a life-long limp. 

After leaving the military, Spatuzzi was never able to play baseball again; however, that misfortune didn't damper his spirits. 

"I live by three virtues," said Spatuzzi in a recent interview. “One is compassion. The other is sensitivity. And the third one is integrity. I don't need anything else.”

Spatuzzi went on to teach high school and then on to start a very successful construction business. He was also instrumental in building St. Peter’s Orphanage in New Jersey. He retired from the construction business in 1992.

In the 1970s he met his wife, Inge, a paralegal in a lawyer's office. Each had been married and divorced, with eight children total. They married in 1985 and Spatuzzi later celebrated the union with a necklace he designed. It had cursive letters spelling “The Franchise” with a diamond dotting the “i”.

"In Frank's lexicon, it has to do with baseball," said Inge Spatuzzi, now 77.

"Many loved him. He will be missed, honored and never forgotten," said a life-long friend at the ceremony. 

Spatuzzi truly lived his life. He stuck by his convictions and lead by example. His loved ones, his friends and his entire Coast Guard family will surely miss him.

Spatuzzi was most recently honored last year at a Tampa Bay Rays baseball game where he threw out the first pitch. He also has permanent place in history at the Armed Forces Military Museum, http://www.armedforcesmuseum.com.

For photos from the funeral please click the thumbnails at the top.

Story and photos by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael De Nyse, PADET Tampa Bay.

CLEARWATER, Fla. — Performing consistently as a good shipmate, role model and overall go-to guy is easier said than done. A Coast Guardsman stationed at Air Station Clearwater is doing just that on a daily basis.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jon Savage, an aviation maintenance technician at Air Station Clearwater, is raising the bar in his department. As a recent Coast Guard Achievement Medal recipient for superior service at his previous unit, Savage has not skipped a beat and brought his work ethic and great attitude cross-country. Whether it’s the most mundane task in the shop or the most challenging, Savage makes it look easy and his enthusiasm is contagious.

Savage has hit the ground running since his recent transfer to Air Station Clearwater. He routinely completes all tasking to a superior level without any direct supervision.

“Savage has always been one of those guys you can always go to get the job done,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Christopher Lamb, an Air Station Clearwater member and Savage’s shop supervisor. “His positive attitude reflects on the rest of his peers and his work ethic is infectious to the rest of his crew.” 

Savage, a 35-year-old native of Raymondville, Texas, has been in the Coast Guard for eight years. After being laid off from his civilian job, he was ready to do something with his life with a little more meaning.

“I think my good work ethic is something that just comes naturally, but if I was to credit someone for my inspiration it would my grandfather, who just passed away last year,” said Savage. “He was a devout Christian, World War II veteran, loving husband of 65 years, father and grandfather, and a person I would say had true grit. He always put family first, and never knew the meaning of give up.”

With an infectious smile and great work ethic, Savage influences his shipmates to keep a positive attitude especially during less than desirable tasks and blistering working conditions. In the short three months since Savage reported to Air Station Clearwater, he has demonstrated a vast knowledge in aircraft systems and maintenance procedures, proving to his shipmates he can be relied upon at any time.

“Savage is the type of guy you don't have to keep under a microscope; you can give him a task and let him go to do it,” said Lamb. “You don't have to check back with him until the job is done. That to me is huge. We have $20 million worth of aircraft out there, and if you have to keep your eye on somebody all the time, it takes away from what you're doing as a supervisor for everybody else.”

Savage has been a self-proclaimed ‘grease monkey’ since he could remember.

“I always wanted to get dirty working on tractors, cars, trucks, and now - aircraft,” said Savage. “I love being a mechanic; I like working with my hands and always challenging myself to learn more.

A Coast Guard AMT has a plethora of responsibilities at any given time. AMTs inspect, troubleshoot and repair almost everything at an air station. They service and repair aircraft fuselages, wings, rotor blades, fixed and movable flight control surfaces, and also bleed aircraft air, hydraulic and fuel systems. AMTs also fill aircrew positions such as flight engineer, flight mechanic, load master, drop master, sensor-systems operator and basic air crewman.

“Savage makes it look easy,” said Chief Petty Officer Michael Ethridge, Savage’s senior enlisted supervisor. “On a daily basis we make something that appears to be monumental and we turn it into an easy task to get it done.”

It’s not all about work for Savage. When off duty he prefers spending as much time with his loved ones as he can.

“I enjoy exercising, fishing, shooting, but most importantly spending time with my wife and two boys who joyfully take up most of my free time,” said Savage. “I am blessed with a job I enjoy, even with the ups and downs of it. Blessed with a beautiful wife and two beautiful boys and I owe it all to the grace of God.”

Savage also has great advice and mentoring skills. When asked what he would tell the new Coast Guard non-rate reporting aboard, Savage had this to say: “Everyone has been where you're at, make the most of it and learn all you can. Even if you’re only in for four [years], take all the knowledge and experience you can out of every day, because you may find yourself using it again at some point in your life.”

Savage demonstrates what it takes to be a good shipmate, leader and all-around Coast Guardsman because of his exemplary adherence to the Coast Guard's core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. His actions speak louder than words and because of that, his shipmates follow his lead.

For other imagery, please navigate to CGVI and search under keyword: "Savage".

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - Petty Officer 3rd class Andrew Heald, a boatswain's mate stationed at Coast Guard Station Ponce De Leon Inlet, in new Smyrna Beach, rides his surfboard in the waves at New Smyrna Beach Tuesday, Oct.5, 2010. He is surfing in the same area he was Sept. 2, 2010 when he was bitten by a shark. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Hulme.

It was fairly early in the day and the beach was quiet. Petty Officer 3^rd Class Andrew Heald, a boatswain’s mate stationed at Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Fla., could only see two other people surfing. They were far from shore and looked like dots in the water. Heald began to paddle his surfboard out to join them.

Hurricane Earl, the fifth named storm of the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, was spinning his way up the east coast. It was also on that Friday morning; Sept. 2, that Earl reached his peak intensity with winds reaching 145 mph, creating an extra alluring shoreline for surfers.

Heald, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., was just getting off two days of duty and was eager to start his weekend. He grew up surfing off the coast of New Jersey and was not amateur to the sport.

“I usually did not go alone but most of the guys I normally surfed with had to stay at the station for training. I figured everything would be okay, and the waves were too tempting not to go,” he said.

Heald went down to New Smyrna Beach alone.

The shoreline smelled uncommonly fishy, and as Heald got about 100 yards off-shore he found himself surrounded by Mullet, which are small baitfish often caught and used by anglers to attract larger fish. As he looked around he noticed the water around him was extra murky. Earl had been churned up more than just big waves.

Heald became cautious of his surroundings and noticed several vortex-like swirls around him, a sure indication of sharks beneath the water’s surface. He realized he could be in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy.  When he saw a fin poke out from the water’s surface he knew he was.

Shark attacks are rare, about one in almost 12 million. More people die using a toaster each year than from a shark attack. Ironically, New Smyrna Beach in Volusia County, Fla., is the shark attack capital of the world with more than 218 documented attacks since the late 1800’s. In a far away second place are the beaches off of Cape Canaveral in Brevard County, Fla., with 97 attacks.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - Petty Officer 3rd class Andrew Heald, a boatswain's mate stationed at Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet in New Smyrna Beach, poses for a photo aboard a station small boats Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010. A shark bit Heald Sept. 2, 2010 in the ocean down the road from the station. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael Hulme.

Heald knew his favorite area to surf was well populated with the ocean’s greatest predator, but he also knew his chances of being attacked were near non-existent. At that moment though, he was not feeling so confident about the statistics.

“I have to get out of here,” Heald immediately thought.

Heald guessed the fin was from a 5-6 foot-long Black Tip Shark, which according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, are the most common species of shark found off Florida’s coast. The Black Tip Shark is credited with most reported human attacks, but never a fatality.

The fin re-submerge and Heald figured it was his chance to try and catch a wave in. Then it hit him, hard.

“I heard a big splash, and it felt like I was being tackled,” he said.

Still far from shore and possibly in shock, Heald was frozen in fear. He did not want to look at his leg where the shark had rammed into him so he did not yet realize he had been bitten.

The force of being hit knocked Heald from his board and even though he knew there was nobody nearby to hear him, he began to scream for help.

He climbed back onto his board and began to duck dive, which is when a surfer paddles under a wave to avoid getting caught in it, hoping to get away from the baitfish.

Even though duck diving was taking him further away from shore, his instinctive goal was to get away from the Mullet - and the sharks feeding on them.

After three or four minutes, the throbbing in his leg forced Heald to look down at his thigh. He hesitated, the sight of blood made him uneasy and he did not know what to expect.  He could see puncture wounds in his board shorts and as he lifted them, he realized he would be in trouble if he did not immediately get to a hospital.

It took about four minutes to catch a wave that he could ride back to shore. Four minutes that seemed like forever.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH - Petty Officer 3rd class Andrew Heald, a boatswain's mate stationed at Coast Guard Station Ponce de Leon Inlet, in New Smyrna Beach, shows off his shark-bitten thigh at Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach Friday, Sept. 2, 2010. Heald was bitten while surfing at New Smyrna Beach. U.S. Coast Guard photo.

“Despite everything, I ended up catching a nice wave. It was a good ride,” Heald said in light of the situation.

When he finally got to the water’s edge a stranger on the beach saw him limping onto the beach and called for help. With Beach Patrol en route, Heald called Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael Jensen, Station Ponce de Leon Inlet’s officer-in-charge, to tell him what had happened.

Jensen instructed Heald to keep pressure on his leg and said he would send some Coast Guardsmen down to help him.

Because the station was just down the road, two of Heald’s shipmates jumped onto the Gator, a small motorized cart, and headed for the beach. They arrived before the ambulance and decided to drive Heald to Bert Fish Medical Center in New Smyrna Beach where he received stitches and antibiotic shots to prevent infection.

Before Heald even left the hospital he said he felt famous. He declined media interviews but his story still made its way around local news stations.

Heald was back to work a week after he was bitten and back in the water as soon as his leg healed. He said being bit again is always in the back of his mind but will not keep him out of the surf, just a little more cautious. Imagine the chances of being attacked twice?

Thanks to a controversial mandate by Capt. Andy Blomme, commander of Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Fla., many Coast Guardsmen are breathing more easily this summer. Blomme has prohibited all tobacco use aboard any unit within the sector.

Smoking has been an accepted part of military culture since the Civil War. During World War II doctors would use tobacco to relax and ease the pain of their wounded soldiers and until 1975 cigarettes were often given to soldiers in rations. According to the National Cancer Institute, smoking rates in the military are currently 12 percent higher than in the civilian population.

Service members who use tobacco credit it to reliving stress, passing the time and for social comradeship.

“I actually smoke more when I am at work. It is nice way to catch a break and sit down for five minutes,” said Petty Officer 3^rd Class Anthony Weaver, a food service specialist from Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral, one of Sector Jacksonville’s outlying units.

Blomme disagrees.

If people can, and do, quit during basic training there is no reason to start back up again, he said.

The Coast Guard has pushed full force into an anti-smoking initiative by increasing education effort for its members and offering numerous smoking cessation programs and resources. Blomme has taken it even further.

In a bold stance to ensure justifications for smoking in the military become part of the past, Blomme announced his impending instruction Jan. 25, 2010. Standing in the crowded galley during morning quarters, he said his number one job is to keep his members healthy and Jacksonville’s Coast Guard units at their highest level of readiness.

“I do not want Sector Jacksonville to enable smoking. There will be no more smoke breaks,” he said.

Blomme continued to explain to the Coast Guardsmen, whose faces displayed a range of emotion, that by allowing smoking aboard Sector Jacksonville he is doing far worse than failing to show concern for everybody’s health, but actually enabling a dangerous and expensive habit.

At the time of the announcement tobacco users had until June 1 to kick their tobacco use.

Weaver, who is now thirty years old, said he has smoked about a pack-a-day since he was eighteen. When he first heard about the deadline to quit he was very irritated.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Capt. Andy Blomme, commander of Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, signs a new instruction for Sector Jacksonville personnel June 1, 2010. The instruction prohibits using tobacco products on Sector Jacksonville property, including aboard vessels and at outlying units. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Cindy Beckert.

He said he did not like, or understand, how one of his legal freedoms could be taken away from him.

“I am never late to work, my meals are always prepared and served on time, I did not think it was even fair to do,” Weaver said. “I do not agree, but I will follow the rule. I know better than to defy the rule of a captain,” he said.

In preparation for the great Sector Jacksonville smoke-out members were offered several resources and opportunities to get help quitting. These included involvement with Tobacco Cessation Programs, the Get Quit campaign, health fairs, counseling, online support and gum. None of which Weaver said he used or participated in.

With the quit-date looming, gossip swirled around the sector. Both support and opposition were expressed for the June 1 deadline. Smoking members insisted it could not be enforced, it was illegal and they would find a way. But the bottom line stood firmly, it is Coast Guard policy to discourage the use of all forms of tobacco products.

Of course Blomme could not control what people do on their liberty time and in their homes but he said his hope is that having to quit and go through the withdrawal at work every day, over and over, would be enough for people to quit 100 percent of the time.

Blomme said he knew people would be upset but he saw a greater goal.

“I genuinely care about you,” he told his shipmates in a sector-wide e-mail explaining the new instruction in further detail.

Between the initial announcement and June 1, Blomme visited Jacksonville-area units and explained that in his reviews of all the missions, cases, inspections, responses and escorts he is constantly reminded of the outstanding work everybody does for their units, the Coast Guard and the American people. He said he cannot rationalize enabling a habit that is so certain to have such severe consequences.

Another major deciding factor in the prohibition was money, Blomme said. Forecasts for next year’s pay increase are for a 1.4-1.9 percent raise. That is $44 to a petty officer 3^rd class.

"I just checked the price of one pack of cigarettes at the store:  $7.21.  Most smokers I have spoken with smoke at least a pack a day, sometimes more.  So to save you the math, if you are a pack-a-day smoker and you quit today, on July 1 you will have a little more than $216 more to spend on something that is not likely to kill you," said Blomme.

When further research was done by some frustrated tobacco users, chapter 3 of the Coast Guard’s Health Promotion Manual, COMDTINST M6200.1A, was brought to the attention of the captain. Inside it states “…commanding officers and officers-in-charge shall designate a smoking area.”

Blomme clarified the policy in his all hands e-mail with a three-part rebuttal. He pointed out the manual also states the smoking area may not be visible to the public. This is not feasible at Sector Jacksonville or many of the outlying units because unless indoors many of the properties have 360 degree vantage points to the public. Second, Blomme said he had appointed a designated smoking area, and that was anywhere not on sector property. Finally, the manual states that “…in all instances, the rights of the non-smoker shall prevail.”

Blomme signed the instruction at his desk June 1, 2010. It was months earlier he had first imposed the new policy and what was left of the lingering gossip had since faded.  It was now up to each unit’s officer-in-charge and commanding officer to enforce the commander’s new policy, and any member in violation of the new instruction could be subject to non-judicial punishment as last resort. The ultimate goal of this policy is the members' health, not punishment.   

Although frustrated with the situation, Weaver said he has quit smoking entirely now that he cannot smoke at work. In the short time he has been tobacco free he already feels better and his family is enjoying the extra money. He still does not like decisions being made for him but at the same time is thankful for the motivation.

Blomme understands merely signing this instruction will not get every tobacco user to quit.

“…But it is my sincere hope that this will provide the push, nudge or reason to encourage someone who is close to quitting, over the edge to be tobacco-free. If that can happen in just a few instances then this will have been a smashing success,” said Blomme.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - His face was as expression-filled as if he was waiting to explain what it felt like to win the lottery.

Master Chief Petty Officer Mark Allen, reserve command master chief, Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, had a cheeky, almost-sneaky grin stretched across his face. He stood patiently while I quickly shuffled through my notes and positioned the chairs we were about to sit down in.

Other than our occasional chit-chat, the galley and adjoining chief’s mess were quiet before we started the interview.

Allen has been nominated by Vice Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr., commander, Atlantic Area, to serve as the Coast Guard’s fifth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard reserve force. Allen will relieve the current MCPO-CGRF, Master Chief Petty Officer Jeffrey D. Smith, during a change of watch ceremony scheduled for May 15, 2010 in Alexandria, Va.

Papp will serve as the next Coast Guard commandant and will work closely with Allen and Master Chief Petty Officer Mike Leavitt, who has been selected to serve as the 11th active duty master chief petty officer of the Coast Guard.

The master chief seemed antsy in the chair, happily moving his arms like they were tied to puppet strings. His eyes gleamed and were as wide as his smile. His animated demeanor was in no way a reflection of the seriousness he expressed for the job he is about to undertake.

Allen said his new position will encompass the responsibility of serving as an information resource and advocate for all Coast Guard members, particularly focusing his efforts on the 8,000-person strong reserve force.

The Coast Guard reserve force is the vital component of the active duty Coast Guard. Reservists must be ready at all times to respond and mobilize for all threats and hazards at home and overseas.

Allen said he will work with Smith to make certain initiatives already underway continue without a hitch. One of the biggest challenges Smith said he will be passing down to Allen is enhancing reservist recruiting efforts to gain the authorized strength of 10,000 reserve Coast Guardsmen.

“…In my view we must simultaneously address impediments to current recruiting efforts while building capacity and competency to grow the force in the future,” said Smith. 

As MCPO-CGRF Allen will be required to travel a broad geographic scope, and it will give him the opportunity to visit and support members throughout the entire Coast Guard. Allen and Leavitt will work as a team to serve as primary communication conduits between the new commandant and the crew.

“Oh yea! I love to travel, to meet people and to help Guardians succeed. I will take the issues and the successes of the crew and share them with the commandant, and in turn, I will share and enforce the commandant’s policies within the crew,” said Allen.

Because he will soon to be serving in one of the highest enlisted ranks possible, I asked Allen about some of his memories from when he was a second or third class petty officer. Allen remembered back to his early career, when he was cleaning toilets and shining wardroom silver. He remembered back to when becoming a master chief seemed so far away.

Like many junior Coast Guard members, Allen had his share of hard times while earning his way up through the ranks. He joked about when he used to be his units designated toilet cleaner.

“They used to call me ‘the head man,’ and not because I was in charge,” he laughed.

I asked him what he did to help make his career so successful, and if he had any advice for his younger shipmates.

“Motivation is the key to advancement; the challenge drove my career,” he said.

Allen always wanted more. More responsibility, more experience, and more opportunity. The way you can achieve these things in the Coast Guard is to advance. But it is important to remember that being the new guy, taking orders, scrubbing decks and washing dishes are necessary to help build character, appreciation and work ethic.

We discussed character in the Coast Guard.

“Oh!” Allen said, “Hold on.”

The master chief jumped up and walked over to the chiefs mess table. He unzipped a dark-colored book bag lying slouched on the table top and began to rummage through it. He pulled out the book Character in Action by Donald T. Phillips. It was littered with yellow page tabs.

I always keep this book with me, he said. He held the book firmly and appeared less perky than he had just a few minutes before. He explained that the book recapped historic stories about Coast Guard members who demonstrated true service to humanity and whose actions defined the Coast Guard’s core values.

One of the challenges Allen will face in his new role is to encourage teamwork between people who have nothing except the Coast Guard in common. A task he doesn’t expect to be too difficult since he said he strongly believes honor, respect and devotion to duty are values firmly instilled inside most Coast Guard members.

One of the stories Allen recalled from the book was about Seaman Apprentice William R. Flores, who lost his life while trying to save his shipmates just days after reporting to the 180-foot Coast Guard Cutter Blackthorn, a buoy tender that collided with the oil tanker Capricorn Jan. 28, 1980, in the mouth of Tampa Bay, Fla. After many of Flores’ shipmates had already abandoned the doomed ship, Flores stayed behind and gave his life to try and help save others.

Allen’s round, golden-framed glasses could not hide the tear droplets beginning to spill from his eyes. Allen was not embarrassed, but seemed proud to show his passion and commitment to his service. He sucked back his tears and smiled.

Allen said he loves the Coast Guard because the people within the organization are very much like family members. During basic training, Coast Guardsmen are trained to have respect and honor for themselves, their shipmates and for civilians.

An hour had already passed. Lunch-time was getting close and hungry sailors trickled into the galley and the chief’s mess. After we wrapped up the interview I thanked the master chief and he graciously thanked me in return. His joyful handshake affirmed his enthusiasm and the love he has for his job and for the Coast Guard.

Allen encompasses all the qualities expected from a master chief. He is equally intimidating and approachable, comedic and serious. Most importantly, he is impressively knowledgeable about the Coast Guard and its people. With more than three decades of loyal service and experience to guide him, Allen is ready, eager and will undoubtedly devote all of his knowledge, skills and compassion to serving the people of the Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserve Force.