Editor’s note: The author submitted the following as part of his assignment for the AUX-12 “C School.” It is being published as a great recruiting article, showing the varied reasons for joining the Auxiliary and the benefits of membership.
I believe in my Flotilla, we have a lot of unique things. But one of them is the fact we have three married couples. And they are all members of the Auxiliary.
Collectively, they represent 84 years of Auxiliary service. I for one, admire the fact that two people who live in the same household can belong to the same organization. Recently, someone asked me if my wife was a member. I replied, “No! Because if she was, she would out rank me! When I became the Captain of our boat The Scarborough Fair, my wife appointed herself the Admiral! You see, there’s no hope for me.”
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Allow me to introduce the three married couples. I’ll start with the couple
with the most amount of service in the Auxiliary. Ben and Estelle Strauss
live in Huntington Beach, CA. They have been married 60+ years. Ben says “Who’s
counting at this age?” said Ben. They have two adult children, no grandchildren
and both have been in the Auxiliary for 29 years. Ben’s profession was a Chiropractor,
Estelle was a librarian at UCLA.
Our next couple is Wally and Alyce Wynn. They reside in Chino Hills, CA. The Wynn’s have been married for 26 years and have six adult children and 12 grandchildren. Wally served in the US Air Force as a pilot for 22 years, achieving the rank of Colonel. Alyce’s profession is in the field of documentation controls. Both have been Auxiliarists for 12 years.
Our third couple is Ray and Anne Evans. The Evans reside in Yorba Linda, CA, have been married for 40 years and have three adult children and four grandchildren. Ray served 2 years in the US Army and 30 years with Unocal Oil Company. Anne, who is fluent in Spanish teaches English-Spanish at Santa Anna College. The Evan’s have been in the Auxiliary less than a year.
You now have a little “bio” about our couples. Now I would like to share with you my interview with each of the couples.
Scarborough: Why did you join the Auxiliary?
Ben & Estelle: Ben admits it was Estelle’s love of the water & boating that brought them to the Auxiliary. Estelle has had a love of the water and boating from childhood. Ben says he could take it or leave it. It was Estelle that encouraged them to join the Auxiliary. They saw an opportunity to learn more about boating.
Wally & Alyce: It was Wally’s experience in the military that drew him to the Auxiliary. Wally had been a communications specialist in the Air Force and he thought that the Auxiliary needed people with that skill. Alyce saw an opportunity to learn new boating skills. “Actually Wally joined first. Then I decided I also wanted to become involved,” said Alyce.
Ray & Anne: It was Anne who saw the article in the Yorba Linda Star about the newly formed flotilla in Yorba Linda. Anne’s family had been in the military, 2 sisters in the Army and a sister-in-law in the Air Force. “It was the opportunity for me to use my Spanish skills and become an interpreter that drew me to joining the Auxiliary,” said Anne. Ray also has a family military history; he has ancestors who served in the Civil War. Ray did admit it was Anne who said, “she was joining the Auxiliary and he was too!” Both wanted to volunteer their services and become involved with Homeland Security.
Scarborough: What primary benefits have you gained by being in the Auxiliary?
Ben & Estelle: “It’s a couple’s thing,” said Estelle. “We have been
able to participate together in an organization that has a purpose. We have
been able to be together and still be our own person,” she said.
Being in the Auxiliary gave us a common thing to talk about at dinner! For 29
years, the giving of yourself has been very rewarding,” said Ben.
Wally & Alyce: Both Wally and Alyce agreed learning boating skills was something they had never done before. And the opportunity to “learn” together made the experience even more rewarding. Being in the Auxiliary has given them another opportunity to do things together. They have met people in the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard that are now “life-long” friends. “I’ve learned skills that I have never done before. It’s been a life changing experience for both of us,” said Alyce.
Ray & Anne: “I’m tremendously excited about the classes offered
by the Auxiliary,” said Anne. “I have passed the Spanish Interpreter’s class
and I’ve been accepted into the Auxiliary’s Interpreter’s Corps. This is something
I would have never dreamed about,” she said.”
“I have passed the required FEMA courses and found them to be interesting and
informative,” said Ray. They have both completed six days of classes in the
Marine Domain Awareness program. “We have been able to obtain knowledge we would
have never known and have made new friends in the flotilla,” they said. They
are looking forward to many more opportunities.
Scarborough: Would you recommend other husband and wife couples join the Auxiliary?
Ben & Estelle: “The answer is YES!” said Ben and Estelle. “We have been responsible for many other couples who have joined the Auxiliary together.” “We like to set an example for other couples that you can join together, but you can still do your own thing,” said Ben.
Wally & Alyce: “The answer is YES!” said Wally & Alyce, “We like the idea of doing things together.” By setting an example, the Wynns have shown other couples that volunteering in the Auxiliary is very rewarding for both.
Ray & Anne: “The answer is YES!” said Ray. “The auxiliary is a great opportunity for a couple to be together and volunteer their time in the service of our country,” said Anne. “We have met a number of couples who have been in the Auxiliary for years and continue to enjoy working together.”
Scarborough: Conclusion:
The Auxiliary and Flotilla 15-8 is very fortunate to have these three couples. I have personally learned a great deal from the veterans Ben & Estella Strauss and Wally & Alyce Wynn. I’m very impressed with how Ray & Anne Evans have “stepped up” to the opportunities offered by the Auxiliary.
These are couples but yet they are still six different individuals. Each has made a major contribution to our nation and the Auxiliary. I have seen all three couples place their “egos” at the door step and walk into the room willing to volunteer their time, wisdom, skills and knowledge. For this we are most grateful.
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The names of the pictured couples (above):
Upper left: Wally & Alyce Wynn. Wally is the Flotilla Commander and Alyce
is the Flotilla’s secretary.
Lower middle: Ben & Estelle Strauss. Ben is a past Flotilla Commander and
current Operations Officer while Estelle is the Flotilla’s Finance Officer.
Upper right: Ray & Anne Evans. Ray is the Publications Officer and Anne
is the Materials Officer.
~IJLA