Ears to Hear

Reflections on 11 Sep 1976, 11 Sep 2001, and 11 Sep 2026

I want to tell you about one of the genuine American heroes in the Class of 1980. Your regimental parade on 11 Sep 2026 honored him (among others).

On 11 Sep 2001, then-CDR Gary Smialek was the CO of USCGC Tahoma (WMEC 908), the first major cutter on scene in the immediate aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center. He took charge and organized the flotilla that evacuated more than 500,000 civilians from the disaster scene. It is one of the largest maritime evacuations in history.

As a mentor to you, CGA 2030, I feel called upon to reflect on this question: “Are there lessons that Gary learned at the Academy that prepared him to be a hero?” My research consisted of scouring my memory banks as well as our yearbook and pondering my friend in prayer.

Gary’s nickname was “Smiley”, and his smile is what I remember most about him. There was a little gap between his front teeth, and he smiled a lot. There was even a little smile in his voice.

Gary ran cross country all four years despite the lack of a runner’s body, and this is the first clue to something we can emulate: Finish every race (even if you are not in the lead.)

Like many, Gary struggled with the required math and science courses fall of 4/c year, but he sweated it out and pressed on. Things got better from there.

Gary didn’t seek the limelight or seek to impress. The regimental officer pictures do not include him (or me). I get the sense that he cared more about doing a good job than getting credit. And he finished our four-year race, entering the fleet as a deck officer on the USCGC Mackinaw.

Gary made O-6 but not flag. He was not a political animal. But judging from his 33 years of service, he kept the watch for as long as he was allowed to. He finished the race, even though he wasn’t in the lead.

A second quality of Gary to emulate: Get good at what the Coast Guard does.

His yearbook bio says that he got hooked on the Guard 2/c summer. Looking back, I can see that. He applied himself. As an officer, he leaned into operations. From my classmates, I learned that he served as XO of Gallatin, CO of another cutter, and staff officer at AFRICOM.

Imagining what it was like on Tahoma that day, the list of skills he needed seem daunting: situational awareness in the midst of absolute chaos, ship handling in a packed harbor, and establishing sea lanes and procedures for the hundreds of civilian vessels conducting ferry ops, to name a few. All on a scale that boggles the mind. Yet it occurs to me that we practiced the basic form of these skills as cadets. To do what he did, Gary must have taken that training seriously and kept on gaining proficiency as an officer. When disaster struck, the skills were second nature.

Communicating up the chain of command is an especially vital skill for future heroes, and it can be practiced even as a 4/c cadet. Tahoma was the first major military asset on scene that day, and it had secure comms. She had the clearest view of Ground Zero. I doubt there was a smile in his voice as Gary briefed District, Area and Headquarters commands. It’s possible that he was patched all the way up to the Secretary and President. They came aboard the Tahoma not much later.

Practice giving succinct, accurate and actionable SITREPs. Imagine how valuable it must have been for the decision-makers to get briefed by a competent officer on scene in the days following the attacks. No one knew what was going to happen next.

Lastly and most importantly, I would say that Gary practiced love for others. By that, I mean that he made the needs of others at least as important as his own.

As the response unfolded, Tahoma served as Surface Forces Commander, directing more than 40 USCG and USN assets over a period of 30 days. Think of what it took to lead that crew. They, like Gary, had families that needed them. Yet they served with honor and distinction. Knowing Gary, I am sure that he took care of his crew. And the crew took care of their “old man.”

One of Gary’s daughters posted in his memory on 11 Sep 2026. Now 34 years old, she was only nine on that day. All she knew was that her Daddy was gone doing important stuff. Now, she appreciates the enormous responsibility he carried. And she misses him. As do I.

Gary died of lung cancer not long after he retired. Not a smoker, the likely cause was exposure to airborne toxins as he stood on Tahoma’s bridge for hours on end, ensuring operational success. He had also been exposed in the Persian Gulf ten years earlier enforcing maritime law as oil platforms burned.

Gary was a Christian, and he lived his faith in a way I aspire to. “There is no greater love than this, than to lay down one’s life for others.” – Jesus.

Please remember Gary Smialek as often as you think of 9/11/01. And strive to be like him: finish the race, get good at what the Guard does, and practice love for others.

Thank you, 2030.

Robert