Morganthau and C12 Group - Mel Far Right

Mel

Sixty plus years after serving as gun crew on his LST unloading a boatload of Marines onto the beaches of Okinawa, Coast Guard World War II veteran Melvin Ezer is still serving his country – as a Coast Guard Auxiliarist in Flotilla 1-23, D14, Honolulu, HI.

Ezer, a 20-year reservist following WWII, said the Coast Guard always was a big part of his life, and after the 9-11 disaster he believed he could put his experience to good use again.  He called up the local Coast Guard station in Honolulu, Hawaii.

He explained, “I’m a retired officer and want to help out.”  His hope was that his involvement could free someone up for other tasks.  Then they asked him how old he was.  “Thanks, but no thanks” was the answer he received when he said he was 74-years-old.

Mel and Bogardus Chat

A few months later, a photo of President George Bush with an 88-year-old Coast Guard Auxiliarist caught his wife’s eye, and she, in turn, told Mel.  . Ezer decided it was time to try again.  This time he was successful and joined Honolulu’s Flotilla 1-23.

Ezer had varied experiences in and out of the military and was a sociology major in college and graduate schools.  He taught at many universities including Berkeley, Tufts and Harvard where he had received his Doctorate.  

He retired from the University of Hawaii in 1993 and since much of his professional life was spent with young people and students, he decided to continue that tradition as a volunteer.  He currently goes out with the Coast Guard recruiters and two days a week he volunteers at the USCG. District Office.  Working with young people is still part of his life.

Recently Ezer found himself on a tour of the USCG Cutter “Morganthau” as a student in of one of the Auxiliary Public Affairs C-school Courses given at Coast Guard Island in Alameda, California.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Dale Bogardus led the tour, and described the voice tubes, charting equipment and cannons.  Auxiliarist Ezer felt right at home on this 378 footer, commissioned in 1969.  It turns out that Ezer and Bogardus had a lot in common, even though their age difference spanned some fifty years.  The two spoke the same language and shared common experiences.  Anyone listening would not have realized they were from different generations.

The other Auxiliarists on the tour, members from across the country, were fascinated as they listened to the chance encounter.  Although the flat-screen TVs and X-box games were visible throughout the ship, both men agreed not too much had really changed.