Coast Guard WWII veteran at the event.

America’s “Greatest Generation” won’t be with us that much longer. But their memories, and in particular their memories of their “Finest Hour” will be, thanks in great part to the vision and efforts of a Coast Guard Auxiliarist.

Auxiliarist Doreen Kordek, a member of Flotilla 72 in St. Petersburg, Florida has already volunteered over 1200 hours to the Veterans History Project. Through her tireless efforts and inspiration, the memories of hundreds, if not thousands, of veterans will be preserved.

The daughter of a Navy diver, Auxiliarist Kordek was surfing the Internet after her father passed away and discovered that the Department of Defense was planning a 60th Anniversary Commemoration of our troops’ service during the Second World War.

Doreen and IPFC Carl Nelson with Congressman Sam Gibbons.

With the encouragement of Auxiliarist Joe Lori, who was then her Division Captain, Doreen placed a call to Coast Guard Reserve LCDR Jack Dunphy at the Department of Defense and the rest, as they say is history.

LCDR Dunphy had been named Project Coordinator for a Tampa Regional World War II Commemoration to be held on 19 February 2005; and he wanted Coast Guard involvement. With Doreen’s initiative and leadership, twenty-four dedicated Auxiliarists embraced the project.

“She took it on as her own project,” remarked LCDR Dunphy. “Everything down there (Tampa) was by her initiative,” he said.

From her experience with her late father she sensed that the histories of our veterans needed to be preserved. Auxiliarists Kordek proposed to LCDR Dunphy that a corps of volunteers be recruited and trained to meet with interested veterans and record their stories.

Doreen with John Sharpley

LCDR Dunphy welcomed the idea. “These are stories that need to be told…and will now be recorded for history,” wrote Dunphy in a letter commending Auxiliarist Kordek.

Ken Bell, Public Education Officer-Flotilla 72, and an Iwo Jima veteran, became Doreen’s mentor in the project. Bell was a Navy corpsman assigned to the Marine Corps’ 5th Division for the Iwo Jima assault. Bell would also address the Tampa Commemoration, which, coincidentally, took place on the 60th anniversary of that historic battle.

For the Tampa event and future interviews with veterans, Auxiliarist Kordek trained seventeen volunteers, most of whom were Auxiliarists. She termed the session, “a very long evening learning the method of approach.”

At the Tampa event, fourteen veterans’ histories were recorded and as of this writing, over 140 veterans from all services have requested an interview. New requests for interviews in Florida keep coming in, and the plan is to take the project nation-wide.

Those interviewed included retired US Coast Guard Captain Eleanor L’Ecuyer, a World War II SPAR and World War II Marine Officer John Sharpley. Sharpley told Auxiliarist Kordek, “I want to talk to you about my experience as a black man (in the Marines in World War II).

Doreen with WWII Vet Capt. Elanor L'Ecuyer

In addition to interviewing veterans at the Tampa event, the two dozen Auxiliarists manned a Veterans’ History Project Booth and served as drivers for veterans. They also hosted event speakers Congressman Sam Gibbons and Auxiliarist Ken Bell. They generally made the 1,450 veterans, family members and other grateful Americans attending feel welcome.

Kate Scott, Director of the Oral History Program for the “Women in Military Service for America Memorial Foundation” commended the efforts of Auxiliarist Kordek saying, “The leadership of Ms. Kordek and the Coast Guard Auxiliary warrant acknowledgement; Kordek was instrumental in making the event such a huge success.”

The Veterans’ Memorial Project and 60th Anniversary Commemoration will continue throughout 2005, with planned commemorations in San Antonio, Boston, Chicago and Vancouver, WA.

Hermzn and Donna Dossett Flotilla 78 with Merchant Marine Vet Merl Stubbins.

Auxiliarist Kordek will be the point of contact for recording Coast Guard history. Those wishing to help in this effort should email Auxiliarist Kordek at uscgauxhis72@earthlink.net .

Interviewers are needed across the nation, and this dedicated Auxiliarist would welcome the help.

Editor’s note: At the recent District 7 SpringConference, Auxiliarist Doreen Kordek was awarded the Auxiliary Commendation Medal for her efforts in this program.

WWII Vet Chuck Keaen and wife visit CG PSU307.