Herb Godfrey knows this Christmas will be a little bit different. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I will wake up alone on Christmas, but it’s OK,” the lifetime Ocean City resident said. “I know my boys will be doing something a lot more important than running down the steps looking for presents…even though they have outgrown that stage anyway. They will be serving our country. Its part of them growing up and part of them becoming men. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Godfrey’s youngest son, Townsend “Townie” Godfrey, 18, is stationed on the US Coast Guard Cutter Campbell as a “non rate” recruit and set to ship out for three months from its home port at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery Maine. Herbert, “Herbie” Godfrey, Petty Officer, is stationed at Woods Hole Small Boat Station in Cape Cod, Mass.
The young men are continuing a Godfrey family tradition of Coast Guard service that predates the formation of the modern-day service to its roots in Ocean City with what was then known as the United States Life Saving Service.
Godfrey’s late father, Herb, was a World War II Coast Guard veteran, Herb said, and at least two previous generations of the family also served, including a previous Townsend Godfrey, Herb Godfrey Sr.’s grandfather, who was a member of the Life Saving Service.
Herbie serves as a machinery technician, Herb said, known as the “MK’s,” Herb said. Townie’s assignment still has not been decided, he said, but the proud Dad feels his younger son is leaning in the direction of doing the same job as his older brother.
Herb misses his boys, but Townie was able to visit home last weekend, and Herbie will be in town for a visit on Jan 28th. Both young men ship out on Jan. 3.
Herb said his own Dad’s experiences in the Coast Guard inspired his sons to join. And what would the elder Godfrey, who passed away in 1998 think?
“I doubt he would have the words to express the pride he would have felt,” Herb said. “He would have been overwhelmed that both of his grandsons had followed his footsteps in the Coast Guard.”
At Thanksgiving, both young men reunited with Herb and their Mom, Val, at Kittery. Herb said his mom Teresa, sisters Sue and Sallie and family friends George and Theresa Loder, all of Ocean City, have been outstanding supporters along the way.
But as the new year dawns, the family feeling will give way to separate paths as the young men pursue their service.
“I am just proud and happy of the direction both of the boys have taken,” Herb said.
