Cari's sister Adelaide was in my Coast Guard Reserve Unit (CGRU Miami IV) in the mid-1970's before I was transferred to be the only YN at CGRU Air Station Miami on Saturdays and CGRU Ft. Lauderdale on Sundays. That only lasted a few months because I was killing myself serving two units and the Air Station had enough work for me on both Saturday and Sunday. I refused to keep going to CGRU Station Ft. Lauderdale and the Group Commander was pissed at me but the CO (Commander Wally Pawley) of the Air Station Reserve Unit stood up for me and I was assigned to only the air station unit where I stayed for 16 years until the unit was decommissioned in 1994. I went out as a YN1, made YNC in 1981 and then CWO in 1988.

I first met Cari in 1980 at the Seventh Coast Guard District Office, then located in the Claude Pepper Federal Building at 51 SW 1st Avenue during the large recall of Coast Guard Reservists for the Mariel Boat Lift situation. We were both involved in cutting recall orders for other Reservists to serve at other units in South Florida, particularly in Key West where there was a huge call up of Reservists. Cari and I later served in the same reserve unit at the Seventh District Office and at the Integrated Support Command Miami.

Adelaide, Cari and I met again on the day of this photo for a CG Retirees Appreciation Day at Base Miami Beach, organized by YNCM Marc Fagenbaum (Retired) who serves as the civilian Base Education Officer.