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Tracen PetalumaUSCG Training Center,AlamedaUSCGC CAMPBELLUSCG Station Cape DisappointmentUSCGC BOUTWELL

Charles Bowman

U.S. Coast Guard Military Retiree

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About

Branch

U.S. Coast Guard

Service Years

1975 - 1997

Units

Tracen Petaluma

U.S. Coast Guard

Tracen Petaluma is a training center for the United States Coast Guard located in Petaluma, California. It offers a wide range of courses and programs for Coast Guard personnel, focusing on areas such as search and rescue, law enforcement, and firefighting. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art technology and training simulators to provide realistic and hands-on learning experiences. Tracen Petaluma plays a crucial role in preparing Coast Guard members for their duties and missions across the country.

1977 - 1979

USCG Training Center,Alameda

U.S. Coast Guard

USCG Training Center Alameda, located on Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California, has been a pivotal site for the United States Coast Guard since its establishment in the early 1940s. Originally developed as a Coast Guard base during World War II, it quickly became a key facility for training and operational support on the West Coast. Over the decades, the center has provided specialized instruction for Coast Guard personnel, including seamanship, engineering, and leadership courses. Today, Training Center Alameda continues to serve as a crucial hub for preparing Coast Guard members to carry out missions ranging from search and rescue to maritime law enforcement.

1975 - 1975

USCGC CAMPBELL

U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC CAMPBELL is the name given to several United States Coast Guard cutters, the most renowned being the WMEC-909, a Famous-class medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1988. The CAMPBELL lineage traces back to earlier vessels, including the legendary "Queen of the Fleet" (WPG-32), which served with distinction during World War II, sinking enemy submarines and performing convoy escort duties in the Atlantic. The current CAMPBELL (WMEC-909) has participated in a wide range of missions, including counter-narcotics operations, search and rescue, and maritime law enforcement throughout the Atlantic and Caribbean. Over its long history, the CAMPBELL namesake has become synonymous with bravery, versatility, and dedicated service to the nation.

1975 - 1976

USCG Station Cape Disappointment

U.S. Coast Guard

USCG Station Cape Disappointment, located near Ilwaco, Washington, was established in 1877 and is one of the oldest continuously operating Coast Guard stations on the West Coast. Positioned at the mouth of the Columbia River, the station is renowned for its challenging and often dangerous maritime conditions, earning the area the nickname "Graveyard of the Pacific." Throughout its history, the station has played a critical role in search and rescue operations, saving countless lives from treacherous bar crossings and turbulent seas. Today, USCG Station Cape Disappointment continues to serve as a vital hub for maritime safety, training, and law enforcement in the Pacific Northwest.

1988 - 1989

USCGC BOUTWELL

U.S. Coast Guard

USCGC Boutwell (WHEC-719) was a high endurance cutter of the United States Coast Guard, commissioned in 1968. Named after George S. Boutwell, a former Secretary of the Treasury, the cutter served for nearly five decades in roles including search and rescue, drug interdiction, and fisheries enforcement. Boutwell participated in significant operations such as the 1994 rescue of over 500 migrants during Operation Able Manner and numerous counter-narcotics missions in the Pacific. The cutter was decommissioned in 2016 and later transferred to the Philippine Navy, where it serves as BRP Andres Bonifacio (PS-17).

1982 - 1985