Posted by the moderator on behalf of Admiral Allen:
The below is the service biography of CWO Joe Etienne, Coast Guard WW II Veteran. CWO Etienne was introduced on iCommandant after participating in the Massing of the Colors Ceremony with the Commandant. Look for a future update with audio copies from historical interviews with CWO Etienne.
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Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Etienne USCG (Retired)
Biography
Chief Warrant Officer Joseph Etienne, a veteran of World War II, enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1932 at the age of 18. CWO Etienne’s first operational assignment was aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Champlain homeported in Stapleton, New York.
During World War II CWO Etienne served as a boatswain aboard the USS Hunter Liggett, a 535-foot attack transport vessel. Etienne was in charge of loading and unloading personnel and equipment during the initial landing on Guadalcanal. Initial landing on Guadalcanal was the first American amphibious operation since 1898.
CWO Etienne served in seven Coast Guard Cutters and commanded the Cutters Tamarack and Ojibwa. His assignments ashore included Surfman at Lifeboat Station Wilmette Harbor; Assistant Operations Officer at the District office in Chicago, Illinois; Assistant Operations Officer and Search and Rescue Controller at the Ninth District Office in Cleveland, Ohio; and Group Commander at Group Charlevoix, Michigan.
CWO Etienne’s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal, World War Victory Medal, American Defense Medal and Feet Clasp, American Campaign Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Asiatic Pacific Medal and the National Defense Medal.
CWO Etienne, a native of Charlevoix, Michigan, is married to the former Kay Stambaugh and they have five children.
