Leo Gustaitis

This for my dad, my best friend, who died July 16, 1983. Dad loved and was so proud of the Coast Guard. He would have loved this site (providing we could have got that proud ole Chief to sit down in front of a computer). I miss him so much. As a child, Dad was not around much, you guys know that routine - gone 'to sea' it seems for my entire childhood. We were not close as I was a child of 'the 60's' and dad was a strong willed and principled Chief Machinist Mate. Two years before he died, we grew up, both at the same time it seems and began to talk and make up for lost time. We shared in building his home together, in grandchildren (and oh was he a proud grandpa), and in his steadfast love for his country and the Coast Guard. I also learned why he was a machinist mate. He was afraid of the water and felt it was safer in the bowels of the ship - his words. I had the recent chance to meet a fine gentleman, Roger Maxwell who served with my dad 40+ years ago on the Escanaba and the Duane. Dad, We, your children and our mother, miss you and we love you and your memories. God bless you.

08/27/05 Submitted by: Rick Gustaitis rgustaitis@comcast.net

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