Last month, the SLCG celebrated a decade of service from Station Munro personnel.
Truth be told, the Former Commanding and Executive Officers are individuals who, in
their own way, stand a head and shoulders above the crowd. So, are many of the crew.
And today, I will attend a Memorial Service for Captain Kyriakos Papadopoulos,
of the Greek Coast Guard. Alone, he saved thousands of immigrants from death
on the Aegean Sea. He saw a need, and responded to that need. Steadily,
making a difference, to so many people, every day as he served in his Coast Guard.
When you see “stand-out” people, sometimes you may take stock of your own life,
wondering if you are doing your best to serve others. in your own sphere of influence.
While doing research on the individuals. for whom Station Munro has been named,
I read many stories of everyday people, going about their jobs, who, by virtue of
their determination to see a problem and provide a solution, changed the events
of a World War.
Andrew Jackson Higgins (28 August 1886 – 1 August 1952) was one such person.
As he was growing up, it would have been difficult to characterize him as “…the man
who won the war for us,” as President Dwight D. Eisenhower called him, in a 1964
interview. He finished three years of High School and, then, was expelled for
brawling. He joined the Nebraska Army National Guard, beginning to build boats,
and, subsequently move troops, while doing maneuvers on the Platte River.
After his Service in the National Guard, he worked in different jobs, having to do
with lumber, shipping and boat building finally becoming one of the world’s
largest manufacturers, with over $350 million in government contracts.
After reading about him, it was apparent that he made good financial decisions,
and, when faced with a problem, worked until he had a solution.
The U.S. Marine Corps was having problems with getting troops and vehicles,
from the ships to shore.
President Eisenhower explained that: “If Higgins had not designed and built those
LCVPs we never could have landed on an open beach. The whole strategy
of the war would have been different.”
Higgins worked until he had a boat, the Landing Craft, Vehicle, Personnel.
The boat that “…won the war…”.
I would challenge you to find the problems, that need a solution and make
a difference. Usually, it takes just determination and perseverance. Not money,
Not fame. But, definitely, YOU.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Higgins
Written by: SCPO Shadow McConach