Shawn H. Denny United States Coast Guard | January 2002 – August 2010 Spokane / Rocky Mountain North West Shawn H. Denny was born in Sheridan, Montana August 28, 1974 and raised for the first 9 years of his life in Wisdom, Montana, Butte Montana and the Big Hole River Valley. Growing up in the Most beautiful Blue-Ribbon Trout country led to his addiction with fishing. Moving to Rathdrum, Idaho upon entering the 3rd grade he received his first fly tying kit and Scott Power-Ply Fly rod at the age of 10. Upon Graduation from Lakeland High School (Rathdrum, Idaho) in 1993 Shawn and his best friend took a week to fly fish the Moyie and Pack rivers in Northern Idaho. At the age of 18 Shawn became a Heavy Equipment Operator and Truck Driver. He worked in the Logging industry becoming partners in A Horse Logging Company which was dissolved after his partner became injured on the job. Shawn went back to Operating Heavy Equipment and was sought after for his skills and fearlessness. During this period Shawn Chased the Rodeo Circuit and Bounced at some Local Country Bars on the weekends. He Guided Hunting and Fishing trips for ST. Joe Hunting and Fishing Camp in 1995, Worked a 28,000-acre cattle ranch in 1996 and attended Montana State University Farrier Science Program winter of 1998. Shawn met his wife Sharon while Bouncing at Kelly’s Grand Old Opry (State Line, Idaho), they married in October of 2000. Soon they had A baby girl Charmaine that was born with Down Syndrome in June of 2001. At this time Shawn realized he needed a better career with stability and benefits. After being accepted by the U.S. Border Patrol the turned down two weeks later due to eye sight, he enlisted in the Coast Guard. Shawn entered the Coast Guard Boot Camp in Cape May, New Jersey on January 2002. His first Duty Station was the Coast Guard Cutter Alert WMEC- 630. Reporting to the CG Cutter Alert in Astoria, Oregon as an E-2 he completed 17 Deck Qualifications and was Frocked to E-4 Boatswain’s Mate 3rd Class within 6 months of reporting aboard, proving that the military was a good fit. While aboard the CGC Alert Shawn took part in numerous Fisheries Patrols, Drug Interdiction and Homeland Security Patrols. During one such patrol Petty Officer Denny was injured while conducting a Fisheries Boarding in 15-foot seas when he slipped and was crushed between a Commercial Fishing Trawler and the Coast Guard small boat. Chocked full of adrenalin Petty Officer Denny completed the boarding only to start hurting later that evening. Complaining of Back, Neck and shoulder pain that slowly got better only to get worse in latter years. Shawn left the Cutter Alert after pinning on E-5 (Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class) only two years from entering the Coast Guard. Shawn reported to and stood up a Counter Terrorism Unit Maritime Safety and Security team 91109 onboard the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. Upon being awarded Most valuable team member while training at The Coast Guard Special Mission Training Center on board Marine Corps Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Shawn returned to his unit as a Tactical II Coxswain conducting Force Protection Patrols, protecting infrastructure, Cruise ships and Navy Assets around the US. While deployed to Hurricane Rita Shawn picked up a Viral infection causing damage to his heart as he would learn later. A High Point of this unit is that on September 2, 2004 at Balboa Naval Medical Center Shawn’s son Ambrose was born. Shawn reported to Coast Guard Station Bellingham in 2006 Pinning on E-6 (Boatswain’s Mate First Class) becoming the 1LT in charge of deck force and the Command duty officer responsible for 80 members. This was a very high ops tempo unit conducting 480 Search and Rescue and 460 Law enforcement missions a year. While at this unit Shawn took a fall and broke his elbow clean in half after 3 surgeries and two years of physical therapy and no improvement A Medical Board was started during which time Shawn was diagnosed with Left Bundle Branch Block and Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy ending his career. Shawn was discharged in August 2010. After discharged Shawn and family moved back to Spokane, WA where he attended Spokane Community College and earned certificates in Welding and Machining. After working in the field for 4 years while vacuuming at his residence, Shawn Collapsed and was unable to move his legs it was determined that the spinal injury received while on the Cutter Alert caused a 6MM bone spur inside the spinal canal putting pressure on the spinal cord and shutting it down. After 6hrs of surgery it fixed the issues but left him unemployable in his field and was retired by the VA with a 100% Rating a culmination of all his disabilities. Shawn learned about Project Healing Waters through his VA Physical Therapist reuniting him with his love of Fly Fishing and Fly Tying. Project Healing waters has eased his depression and given him back a feeling of self-worth and camaraderie with like minded veterans. It also gave him the encouragement needed to become an instructor in Welding and Fabrication at the very college and program he graduated from a job that is low intensity and he can do with his VA disabilities. He enjoys helping others learn how to tie Flies and work on their custom rods. His greatest achievement was winning category 1 rod building last year after painstakingly teaching himself weaving and cross wrap techniques and receiving his dream prize of learning Bamboo Rod Building at Bamboo Bend. Thank you and as Shawn would say Fair Winds and Following Seas my friends. Semper Paratus (always ready)
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