Jerry D. Craven
My friend of 35 plus years - Jerry Craven - passed away on
24 January, 1999. He will be missed, not only by his family,
but by his bigger family - those of us that served with him
in the U.S. Coast Guard during his career. Jerry had been
sick for the recent months but his passing was quick without
anymore suffering - no more pain. We Radiomen are a
different breed and we hold our friendships close to our
heart - we are always there for each other and we also feel
each others pains.--./---/-.. .../.--./././-..
01/25/99 Submitted by: David E. Riffle
Jerry D
I can not believe that Jerry has passed - I first met JD
in Rm-A- in petaluma in 1974,we served again in the 80's
in Miami, he taught me how to be a radiomen - there are
nowords to express our (rm's) loss of this fine Chief.
God Speed Jerry.
01/27/99 Submitted by: ferg
Jerry Craven
I just learned that Jerry Craven, retired Radioman, died of cancer approximately four months ago. I served with Jerry, or JD, as he liked to be called, in 1970 and 1971 in Miami Beach aboard the Mighty Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless, as she is called by her present Captain. I like that! JD was the radioman-in-charge when I came aboard as a 20 year old SNRM right out of school at Governor's Island. I left the ship a couple of years later enroute to the CCGDSEVEN communications center in Miami, a seasoned RM2, thanks to the tutelage and mentoring of Jerry Craven. One of my most vivid recollections of Jerry was when he and I were standing in the secure part of the radio shack on the Dauntless when we heard the distinctive (dit dit dit dah dah dah dit dit dit) blaring from the 500khz speaker. It was the first time I had heard the real McCoy distress signal. We both rushed into the Radio Shack, and to our dismay, saw an unnamed RM2, who was on watch, daydreaming and oblivious to the incoming SOS. Jerry literally pushed him out of the chair and took over, acknowledging a plea for help from a burning ship. Another story I remember well was when the Dauntless herself caught fire - yes another engine room fire - while we were underway and Jerry assumed the radio watch. When asked by one of our junior radiomen if he was going to send an SOS, Jerry promptly retorted - We don't send SOS's. we receive them! I made contact with Jerry about a year ago through Fredsplace. Although only fifty miles apart in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, we never did get together for a reunion after twenty-six years. I can't tell you how much I regret never finding the time to have that lunch we talked about having together. I learned of Jerry's death on May 5 when I called his office to tell him I was going to e-mail him Captain Rich's recap of the Dauntless' latest patrol. Jerry was a fine man, an outstanding mentor, and the best radioman I have ever known in my four years in the Coast Guard and my twenty-three years with the Department of State as a Foreign Service Information Management Specialist or Communicator, as we used to be called, serving in eight overseas embassies and Washington. If anyone knows how to reach his wife, please pass on my respects.
05/12/99 Submitted by: Russ LeClair Jr.
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