Encyclopedia Dubuque
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AUSTIN, John M.
AUSTIN, John M. (Cedar Falls, IA, Aug. 12, 1922--Sault Ste. Marie, MI, May 14, 2011). Austin grew up in Dubuque and graduated from DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL in 1940. He attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, for one year before entering the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He graduated with a degree in engineering and a commission as Ensign, USCG, in June of 1944. He captained the Academy football team and played three years of varsity basketball.
Austin served in the Pacific Theater during WORLD WAR II, participating in the invasions of Anguar, Leyte, Luzon and Iwo Jima. He earned the Navy Unit Commendation; American Defense Service Medal; American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four bronze stars, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupational Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with two bronze stars and the Philippine Presidential Unit Commendation.
Following the war, Austin made a career of the Coast Guard. For more than thirty years, he served in various assignments throughout the U.S. including Alaska, Seattle, New York and the Great Lakes. In 1967/1968, during the Tet Offensive, he was assigned to Vietnam as Cdr, CG Squadron I and Cdr, CG Activities, Vietnam. For his service, there he was awarded the Legion of Merit with Combat V (the nation's sixth highest military decoration) and the Vietnamese Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
Austin was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Coast Guard Combat Veterans Assn, Bering Sea Patrol Alaska Vets Assn, American Legion, and the Retired Officers Association. He belonged to the Elks as a life member and served many years on the board of directors of the Sault Historic Sites; Society of Military Engineers; and was a member of St. James Episcopal Church. Area Coast Guard assignments were as Commanding Officer of the St. Ignace Marine Inspection Office and Cdr of CG Group Sault, Capt of the Port; and Base Commander. He retired from the Coast Guard in 1974, receiving the USCG Commendation Medal for meritorious service in the line of duty.
After retirement, John worked in the marine industry in many areas of Asia and the Middle East. He worked as the construction superintendent resident surveyor for Marine Construction and Designers building ships in Japan; and for the International Marine Offshore Development Co., covering the construction of offshore mooring buoys in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, India and New Orleans.
Austin was inducted into the Coast Guard Academy Athletic Hall of Fame in 1979.
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Source:
1. "Wall of Gallantry," United States Coast Guard Academy, Online: http://www.cga.edu/heroes.aspx?id=585
