NOTES ON PEOPLE (11/10/02)

NOTES ON PEOPLE

Commissioned ensign in USCGR

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Renee Kozak-Hellberg, a 15-year veteran USCG reservist, was commissioned an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (USCGR) on September 27 here at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., following in the footsteps of her father, Daniel Kozak.

After reading his poem "Passing Sword" at a special pre-commissioning ceremon, Mr. Kozak presented her with his USCGR sword.

Ms. Kozak-Hellberg received a special award as "Sailor of the Quarter" during her special active duty stint at the USCG MSO Group Philadelphia between 2000 and 2002. She was also awarded the Coast Guard Achievement Medal for her outstanding performance there. Her articulate nature and attention to duty has garnered her the recognition she so richly deserves.

She has been assigned to USCG MSO Group Charleston as an intern operations officer, where her veteran USCG spouse, Boatswain's Mate 1st Class Ronald Hellberg II, is attached as a career petty officer 1st class.

Ensign Kozak-Hellberg's father retired from the USCGR as a lieutenant in 1990. He also retired from the U.S. Merchant Marine, Federal Wage Marine Service, as a tenured civil service captain in 1986. Before that he served for 22 years as a uniformed force pilot with the New York Fire Department, Marine Division, retiring in 1979 to accept a federal appointment.

Mr. Kozak's military career began at age 15 in 1945 as a soldier in the 17th Infantry Regiment of the New York Guard. Then, at age 16, he joined the U.S. Maritime Service as a uniformed apprentice seaman/recruit for six months of naval-type shoreside and shipboard training - after which he was stationed aboard several ships of the U.S. Army Transport Service and the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command. After an eight-year enlistment in the 199th Floating Craft Company, U.S. Army Reserve, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1962.

Ensign Kozak-Hellberg holds a bachelor's degree in business and public administration from Baruch College. She served as an advanced emergency medical technician (EMT) with the Dare County EMS in North Carolina for some four years.

The Kozaks are members of Ukrainian National Association Branch 256.

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