JAMES F. BRODIE Jr.

JAMES F. BRODIE, JR. - FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. - James F. Brodie, Jr., a retired U.S. Coast Guard ship Captain, died on Aug. 13, 2011, at 2 a.m. He had resided in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. since 1994. He was 71. Captain Brodie was born on Feb. 29, 1940 (Leap Year), in Burlington. He graduated from Burlington High School in the Class of 1958. He was a member of the 1957 state championship baseball team. He graduated from Syracuse University in the Class of 1962 with a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and Journalism. Captain Brodie was a graduate of the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. in 1976. He enlisted in the Coast Guard in 1962 and rose from Seaman Apprentice to the rank of Captain during a distinguished 28-year military career. Upon retirement in 1990, he was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal by General Colin L. Powell, then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From 1983-85, Captain Brodie commanded the Coast Guard Cutter COURAGEOUS homeported in Key West, Fla. During that period, while sailing on maritime law enforcement patrols in the Caribbean Sea, COURAGEOUS seized a record 11 drug-smuggling vessels, confiscated 101 tons of illegal narcotics and arrested 90 persons for violation of U.S. drug laws. From 1968-69, he served as Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard LORAN Transmitting Station at Lampang, Thailand, which provided the electronic navigation capability for U.S. ground, sea and air forces to conduct precision strikes against enemy targets in the Vietnam War. From 1969-71, he served as Operations Officer aboard the Coast Guard Cutter GLACIER, the free world's largest and most powerful polar icebreaker at the time, homeported in Long Beach, Calif. During that period, he made extended deployments to Antarctica in support of Operation Deepfreeze and to the Arctic. He also appeared in the nationally-televised documentary, "The Frozen Sea" on the CBS-TV network in 1971. This production featured the icebreaker GLACIER conducting an historic winter transit of the polar ice pack north of the Arctic Circle while conducting an oceanographic survey mission of Alaskan offshore waters. His other assignments included tours of duty in New London, Conn.; Miami, Fla.; Brownsville, TX; Norfolk, Va.; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; and Washington, D.C. Among his many decorations, Captain Brodie was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal twice, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Coast Guard Achievement Medal. As a mariner, he had the unique distinction of crossing all seven lines on the globe, including the Equator, both Tropics, the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, International Date Line, and the Greenwich meridian. In retirement, following President Obama's 2010 State of the Union Address, he was a strong advocate in support of the President's pledge to end injustice and discrimination in the U.S. armed forces, which culminated in the repeal of the "Dont Ask, Don't Tell" military personnel policy a year later. He was known to his lifelong friends as "Diamond Jim." He enjoyed playing softball, deep-sea fishing, and was an ardent baseball, hockey, and horseracing fan. His Kentucky Derby parties were legendary. He was also a student pilot of singleengine aircraft. His favorite spot on the planet was Big Sur. He was occasionally seen smoking a fine Cuban cigar with a pint of Guinness Stout in hand while listening to New Orleans jazz. He was the founder of the Great Northern Virginia Chili Cook-Off held annually since 1986 in Arlington, Va. and his chili recipe was awarded several blue ribbons. In celebration of the rites of Spring, he organized the Great North American Maple Syrup Taste Test held annually on the Vernal Equinox in Arlington, Va. The event drew several maple syrup entries from northern states and Canadian provinces for the public taste testing. In the last event held in 1993, his Vermont entry was adjudged the finest maple syrup, for which he was issued a congratulatory letter by Vermont Governor Howard Dean. He was well-known for his traditional reading of "Casey at the Bat" in local taverns on the eve of the opening of each baseball season. Attired in tuxedo and baseball cap, he would recite the famous poem from memory and then lead the audience in a rousing rendition of the song, "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." He left his gold Starbucks coffee card to his longtime friend, Brian Wallace. There will be no funeral or memorial service. The body will be cremated and the ashes inurned with Full Military Honors at Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C. Sail on, Captain!