Honoring Our Heroes

Commander George Henry Teuton: Age 70

Commander (CDR) George Henry Teuton (Hank) served 31 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. Since 1790, the Coast Guard has safeguarded the American people and promoted national security, border security and economic prosperity in a complex and evolving maritime environment. The Coast Guard saves those in peril and protects the Nation from all maritime threats. The Coast Guard is the principal Federal agency responsible for maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship in U.S. ports and inland waterways along more than 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline throughout the 4.5 million square miles of U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and on the high seas.

CDR Teuton received the following medals, awards, ribbons and commendations: CG Meritorious Service Medal, CG Achievement Medal w/"o" Device and two gold stars, DOT Secretary's Outstanding Unit Award Ribbon, CG Unit Commendation w/"O" device and two gold stars, CG Bicentennial Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal w/ two bronze Stars, Humanitarian Service Medal w/ two bronze stars, CG Sea Service Ribbon, CG Sharpshooter Rifleman Ribbon and CG Expert Pistol Shot Medal. CDR Teuton's service in the U.S. Coast Guard included nine Military Occupational Specialties resulting from his increasing responsibilities and ranks throughout his service.

After graduating from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut, in1977, CDR Teuton served 1.5 years as the communications officer aboard USCGC CAMPBELL, a 327 foot Secretary Class ship, engaged primarily in fisheries patrols along the Bering Sea, a marginal sea of the Northern Pacific Ocean forming along the Bering Strait, the divide between the two largest landmasses on Earth, Eurasia and the Americas, boarding foreign vessels to be sure that ships were abiding by the international rules for fishing.

His second assignment was as the commanding officer of a patrol boat, USCGC POINT SPENCER, in the Gulf of Mexico for three years where he was involved saving hundreds of lives and interdicted large quantities of illegal drugs. The following year he put his boating skills to service as the commanding officer of a Surface Effect Ship, the fastest ship in the Gulf of Mexico, USCGC DORADO, proving theories on advanced ship hull designs. This was followed by an assignment to the Coast Guard 8th District Headquarters coordinating search and rescue in the Gulf of Mexico. Whenever a call was received, he would dispatch boats or helicopters for search and rescue.

Next, he taught at the Coast Guard Academy for four years. He then served for three years as the commander of specially trained "jungle warriors" deploying to seven countries in South America intercepting over one hundred tons of cocaine and an equal amount of precursor chemicals used to transform cocoa leaves into cocaine. He then served the maritime community as a hearing officer adjudicating civil penalties of mariners charged with federal violations of U.S. Federal Code. His last assignment was working in research and development with a special interest in advanced high-speed hull types at the Coast Guard Headquarters Research and Development in Washington, D.C. where he retired from active-duty June 1,2004.

CDR Teuton's reflections about what serving in the U.S. military means to him are: "Serving in the military draws our whole country together. When a person takes the step of entering the military, he gets to know people from all over the country and see how our diverse experiences and traditions can be brought together to provide the basis of national unity to people who might not otherwise have that opportunity."

While as a student at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, CDR Teuton participated in the Officer Christian Fellowship. He states, "While there I learned to trust what God says in His holy Word as more important than mere tradition. I saw the military as my missionary service to God carrying the Gospel to my brothers and sisters in the service."

Following his military service, he returned to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and worked for five years with the Officers Christian Fellowship whose mission is to engage military leaders in Biblical fellowship and growth to equip through Christian service at the intersection of faith, family and profession. CDR Teuton concludes, "I fell in love with saving lives and rescuing people."

CDR Teuton was born November 15, 1954 in San Antonia, TX, to Robert and Lucille Teuton, and graduated from Douglas McArthur High School in 1973. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy with a B.S. Degree in History in 1977 and entered military service immediately following graduation. He and his wife, Betsy, were married 34 years until she passed away. He and his wife, Brenda, have been married four years.

After his military retirement, CDR Teuton worked as a consultant with the Office of Naval Research for three years. He traveled to and lived in Israel for two years, and while there received a Master's Degree in Israel Studies. Today, he builds custom guitars under the label Baruch Guitars, a Hebrew word meaning blessed. At this shop, he makes guitars and teaches others the art of luthiery, the making and repairing of stringed instruments such as guitars, violins, banjos and mandolins.