VICE ADMIRAL Paul E. Trimble
SUBJ: DEATH OF CG FLAG OFFICER 1. THE COMMANDANT ANNOUNCES WITH REGRET THE
DEATH ON WEDNESDAY 16 NOVEMBER 2005 OF VICE ADMIRAL PAUL E. TRIMBLE, IN PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA. HE
WAS 92. 2. VADM TRIMBLE WAS BORN IN AGENDA, KANSAS IN 1913. HE SPENT HIS EARLY YEARS IN MILACA,
MINNESOTA, AND GRADUATED FROM THE U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY IN NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT IN 1936.
HIS FIRST SHIPBOARD ASSIGNMENTS WERE IN NEW ENGLAND. IN 1940 HE WAS SELECTED FOR POST GRADUATE
TRAINING AT THE HARVARD SCHOOL OF BUSINESS. HE GRADUATED IN 1942, RECEIVING AN MBA WITH
DISTINCTION. HE RESUMED REGULAR MILITARY DUTIES IN NEW YORK, AND IN 1943 WAS ASSIGNED AS
COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE PATROL FRIGATE USS HOQUIAM IN THE PACIFIC. HE LATER COMMANDED THE USS
SAUSALITO, ANOTHER PATROL FRIGATE IN THE PACIFIC AND WORE A SECOND HAT AS COMMANDER, ESCORT
DIVISION 27. THE DIVISION WAS ULTIMATELY TURNED OVER TO THE SOVIET UNION UNDER THE LEND LEASE
PROGRAM. IN THE EARLY 1950S HE COMMANDED THE CUTTER STORIS, THEN STATIONED AT JUNEAU, ALASKA. HE
RETURNED TO COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND SERVED IN VARIOUS POSITIONS INCLUDING
COMPTROLLER OF THE COAST GUARD. AFTER COMMANDING THE CUTTER DUANE IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC FOR TWO
YEARS, HE BECAME COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE COAST GUARD BASE AT BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. HE THEN
RETURNED TO COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS AND SERVED AS CHIEF OF STAFF BEFORE BEING PROMOTED TO THE
RANK OF REAR ADMIRAL IN 1964. IN 1966 HE WAS APPOINTED VICE COMMANDANT OF THE COAST GUARD AND
ATTAINED THE RANK OF VICE ADMIRAL. DURING THAT TIME VADM TRIMBLE WAS DESIGNATED AS CHAIRMAN OF
THE INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE THAT DEVELOPED PLANS FOR THE NEWLY ENACTED DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, OF WHICH THE COAST GUARD WOULD BECOME A MEMBER. HE RECEIVED THE LEGION OF MERIT
FOR HIS PERFORMANCE IN THIS ASSIGNMENT. ON RETIREMENT HE WAS PRESENTED HIS SECOND DISTINGUISHED
SERVICE MEDAL. IN 1970 VADM TRIMBLE BECAME PRESIDENT OF LAKE CARRIERS ASSOCIATION IN CLEVELAND,
OHIO. HIS MARITIME EXPERTISE WAS INVALUABLE IN DEALING WITH CONGRESS AND WITH VARIOUS GREAT LAKES
SHIPPING COMPANIES. HIS TIRELESS EFFORTS WERE INSTRUMENTAL IN SUPPORTING THE 'FOURTH SEACOAST'
REGION OF THE MIDWEST. VADM TRIMBLE WAS MARRIED TO HIS MILACA HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, THE LATE IVA
E. MCCLAREN IN 1936. HE IS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, MARIE WARING TRIMBLE, A DAUGHTER, SHARROL FOELS,
OF ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND, A SON, JAMES, OF PALM HARBOR, FLORIDA, FOUR GRANDCHILDREN AND 14 GREAT
GRANDCHILDREN. 3. THE ASHES OF VADM TRIMBLE WILL BE SCATTERED IN THE GULF OF MEXICO FROM A COAST
GUARD CUTTER ON A DATE TO BE DETERMINED. 4. DONATIONS IN LIEU OF FLOWERS MAY BE MADE TO COAST
GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE FOR RELIEF OF HURRICANE VICTIMS. DONATIONS BY CHECK SHOULD BE MADE OUT TO
CGMA, MARKED IN THE MEMO AREA 'HURRICANE RELIEF' AND MAILED TO: COAST GUARD MUTUAL ASSISTANCE,
4200 WILSON BLVD, SUITE 610, ARLINGTON, VA 22203-1804. CONTRIBUTION FORMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE
CGMA WEB SITE AT HYPERLINK WWW.CGMAHQ.ORG. SECURE CREDIT CARD CONTRIBUTIONS MAY BE MADE ONLINE AT
THE SAME WEB SITE. 5. AREA COMMANDERS, DISTRICT COMMANDERS, AND MLC COMMANDERS TAKE APPROPRIATE
ACTION TO ADVISE SENIOR RETIRED OFFICERS RESIDING IN THEIR DISTRICT. HEADQUARTERS SUPPORT COMMAND
(A-4) IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE WASHINGTON, DC AREA. 6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED. 7. RADM STEPHEN
W. ROCHON, DIRECTOR OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT, SENDS.
11/23/05 Submitted by: ISCINDELECTRIC clefever@iscboston.uscg.mil
