Master chief's book navigates a career in Coast Guard

Retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Rodger Dewey signs a copy of his book Wednesday at Heisinger Bluffs' retirement community. Matt Grayson, left, co-authored the book, which details Dewey's time in the Coast Guard.
Retired U.S. Coast Guard Master Chief Rodger Dewey signs a copy of his book Wednesday at Heisinger Bluffs' retirement community. Matt Grayson, left, co-authored the book, which details Dewey's time in the Coast Guard.

Rodger Dewey's 28-year career with the United States Coast Guard led him from Colorado to Missouri. On Wednesday, friends and family at Heisinger Bluffs Lutheran Senior Services helped the retired master chief celebrate the completion of his book, describing his time as a seaman.

A resident at Heisinger Bluffs Senior Living Community for three years, Dewey had the opportunity to take advantage of a program called Masterpiece Living offered there. The Masterpiece programs encourage residents to get involved in purposeful and meaningful activities they may find interesting.

As a result of Dewey's involvement, he has his very own 34-page paperback titled "Lighthouses, Cutters and Lifeboat Stations: Life and times of Rodger D. Dewey, BMCM 28 years in the United States Coast Guard."

"Our goal at Heisinger is for each person to be the very best person he or she can really be at any age," Rita Rivera, director of lifestyle at Heisinger, said. "Rodger is a perfect example of that."

Through this program, Dewey teamed up with local lawyer Matthew Grayson who helped him to transfer his life in the Coast Guard to paper.

For a year and a half, the pair worked together to compile all of his stories to get them ready for the final step.

For Dewey, looking at old pictures helped him to translate his memories to stories and establish an approximate timeline of events.

Throughout the process of writing the book, Grayson said the two became friends and enjoyed spending time with each other. "Everybody has a history and families want to know about it," Grayson said. "I'm glad I was able to help Rodger document his history."

Dewey's book is filled with stories about the oceans and the various sites he visited during his time at sea.

At age 17, Dewey enlisted in the Coast Guard and never turned back. During an interview, he frequently referred to the U.S. Coast Guard's saying, "You have to go out, you don't have to come back."

He was first stationed in Oakland, California, right after World War II and later visited Alaska in 1952, serving as a seaman on a 125-foot cutter known as the USCG Cahoone.

His time on the Cahoone was noted in the book as the worst sea storm Dewey had experienced. "Oh, I wish I was dead," he wrote.

It wasn't until 1973 until Dewey and his family landed at the Lake of the Ozarks, where he eventually retired. He remembers when the area was 1,300 miles of shoreline, before the development of cities like Warsaw.

For people who want to share their experience, Dewey recommends recording their stories as well.

During the celebration at Heisinger, his daughters Lorrie Freeman and Karin Casper told the audience how the book served as a project to help him get over the death of his wife Gloria in 2015.

"He retired an E-9, but he said mom retired as an E-10; she ran the roof," Freeman said.

"We are very proud of my dad, he is a storyteller and its good to finally get it on paper for our children," Casper added.

Dewey's book can be ordered online on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. For patrons who would like to receive a personalized copy, the book can be ordered at www.squareup.com/store/RDDeweyBMCMretired?t=merchant-fb.