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The National Association of Commodores has recently established the distinction of Ancient Mariner. The requirements to become Ancient Mariner are straightforward, yet arduous. One must have held the title of Commodore for at least one year, and must have served the longest time in active status of all the commodores in the Auxiliary. There is only one serving Ancient Mariner, and this unique distinction changes hands only upon departure from active status.

The current Ancient Mariner is Commodore Richard McConnell (pictured left, above). He joined the Auxiliary on April 2, 1964. Together with his wife Mary (center) he has served the Auxiliary ever since. 

Commodore Richard McConnell was the third Auxiliarist in the entire Coast Guard Eighth District to achieve AUXOP status. In 1969, he graduated from the Air Force/Coast Guard Search and Rescue School in Governor’s Island, N.Y. In 1978, he was elected District Commodore for what was then Eighth Coastal, and was the youngest Auxiliarist in the nation to hold that office. He then served ten years on National Staff focusing on aviation operations. He became a mission pilot in 1971, and his wife Mary often served as his air crew.

On one memorable rescue mission, a vessel in distress did not have a working VHF radio to communicate with the McConnells up in their Cessna 180 aircraft. Improvising, Mary McConnell wrote yes/no questions and directions for how to respond for the people aboard the distressed boat. She placed the note in a half-gallon milk jug, which was painted orange. She then dropped the milk jug out of the airplane window, down to the vessel. As the airplane made repeated passes overhead, the crew of the vessel communicated using the body signals detailed in the dropped message.

After sixty years of service, Commodore McConnell remains active. He is currently the Auxiliary's Area Sector Coordinator with Coast Guard Sector New Orleans.