Vincent Gabriel Danz
Special Ops, NYPD, USCGR

• PS2 Vincent Gabriel Danz, USCGR, 38, of Farmingdale, N.Y., Sept. 11, 2001.  He was serving with the New York City Police Department at World Trade Center recovery operations when it collapsed.  He was a police officer in the Special Operations Division, Emergency Services Unit.  His remains were not recovered.  He had been a member of the Coast Guard Reserve since October 1983 and drilled at Activities New York.  He is survived by his wife, Angela, and three daughters.  A funeral service was held Oct. 5 at St. Killian Church in Farmingdale, N.Y. with full military honors. 

Good-bye, Shipmate

While Sept. 11 was a tragic day for the nation, it was more tragic for the Danz family.  PS2 Vinnie Danz, USCGR, our shipmate and my friend, was killed.

On Oct. 5, we went to our shipmate’s funeral.  We mustered in front of 212 Coast Guard Drive, Fort Wadsworth.  It was a bright, sunny day, warm for October.  The funeral was in Farmingdale, Long Island, an hour away.  We crossed the Verazanno Bridge — the New York skyline looked different.  The van was quiet, very unusual for Coast Guardsmen who have an opinion on everything. 

We parked blocks away and got out into a sea of blue.  Vinnie was also a cop and thousands of them came to say good-bye.  Our white covers stood out among the blue.  We mustered in front of the church, St. Killian, and stood in formation across the street.  RADM Richard Bennis was there and the NYPD color guards were there.  

We thought of Vinnie — he always had a story.  He was a member of the NYPD “heavy rescue team.”  He had told us of the New York rooftops, rope exercises atop the Verazanno Bridge, and a thousand other cop stories.  He had spoken of his wife Angela, his two girls, and recently of his three girls as the youngest is just six months old.

At the funeral, first came the rescue trucks of Vinnie’s unit, EM3.  Next came the family.  It was crowded and hard to see. They climbed the steps into the small church.  Next EM3 climbed the steps.  We marched in and stood at attention in our pew.  The church was crowded.  No one spoke.  A baby cried.

Mass was celebrated, and the communion lines were long.  Vinnie’s oldest daughter, eight-year-old Winifred, recited a poem.  Our eyes got wet.  Mayor Giuliani spoke of heroism, bravery, sacrifice, justice and what lies ahead for Angela and their girls.  Our chests swelled as he spoke of Vinnie’s duty with the Coast Guard.  The police commissioners spoke next.  We clapped for Vinnie — it was like thunder.

Angela spoke next, and called Vinnie frugal — we laughed because he was.  She spoke of Vinnie’s last cell phone call from the tower.  Our eyes dripped.  The service was over. We rose and filed out, back to formation.  Vinnie’s family came down the St. Killian steps, Winifred now clutching Vinnie’s hat and crying.  She had finally figured out what this day was all about.

Vinnie was a Marine before a cop or a Coastie, so the Marines performed a gun salute. Helos flew overhead, the Emerald Society played a muted tune with their black-draped drums.  Motorcycles rode by.  Last were the limos, long and black.

The ride back to the base was quiet.  On the bridge, the skyline still looked different, but now the sun was out and shining on Lady Liberty.

Good-bye, shipmate.

— MSTC William Farrell, USCGR
Activities New York