Dr. Oliver Brand - 40 Years of Auxiliary and Still Serving
Craig Smith

Sept. 15, 2005 was a landmark date for Dr. Oliver Brand. It marked 40 years of service in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. One might think those years culminated when he attained rank of National Vice Commodore-MS in 1995-1998. But at the age of 76, Dr. Brand doesn't seem to be slowing down much. He still works full time as a physician at his clinic in Forestdale, Alabama, and he is the immediate past flotilla commander of Flotilla 87, Birmingham, Alabama. This past spring he has been engaged in team teaching the Advance Coastal Navigation course to new auxiliarists of flotilla 87. But this only represents the current stage of Dr. Brand's long career.

COMO Oliver Brand MD and wife Betty Carol Brand

Born Jan. 7, 1930 in rural Fayette County Alabama, the ocean and things pertaining to the Coast Guard were far away from the farm where he was raised. But in February of 1947 he set his sights on the sea when he joined the USN Reserve. A year and a half later he joined the regular USN and by 1951-1952 he was serving onboard the hospital ship USS Consolation off the coast of war torn Korea, serving as a dental prosthetic technician. For service in Korea he was awarded the United Nations Ribbon and the Korean Ribbon with two stars. After discharge from the Navy, he obtained his BS degree from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, and an MD degree from the Medical College of Alabama in 1961. From 1962 to the present, he has worked continuously as a family physician. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Practice and a Diplomat of the American Academy Board of Family Practice.

Although Dr. Brand was no longer in the Navy, he had not lost his love of the water and boating. September 15, 1965, Dr. Brand joined the CG Auxiliary, flotilla 87 then located at Smith Lake near Jasper Alabama. During the past 40 years, he has served as Flotilla Commander; Division Captain, Rear Commodore, Vice Commodore; District Commodore, and National Vice Commodore-MS. He served in many staff and committee positions and coordinated many special projects. One particularly noteworthy accomplishment Dr. Brand can be proud of occurred during his watch as Division Captain of Division 8 from 1987-1988. At the time he was elected, the division was down to 4 Flotillas with 60 members, and was in danger of being disestablished. Dr. Brand began a revitalization program that led an increase to ten flotillas and approximately 200 members over the next few years. He recruited, organized, and chartered 6 flotillas in Division 8, District 8C. These included chartering flotillas at Columbus, Miss., and in Alabama at Camden, Birmingham., Tuscaloosa, Demopolis, and Rainbow City.

The many years of service to the Auxilary have been rewarded many times. As a Flotilla Commander, Dr. Brand received the Division 8's coveted Silver Oars Award four times. His Flotilla also won the first NSBW trophy for the district in 1981 while he was FC. He has also won the “ACE” Award (District Commander's Active Contribution to Excellence Award), Award of Merit, Award of Administrative Merit two times, USCG Bicentennial Unit Commendation, USCG Unit Commendation two times, DOT Citation Gold Award, Auxiliary Meritorius Service Award, CG Meritorious Team Commendation Award, National Water Safety Congress Regional Award, and the Group Action Award.

In addition to his service to the CG Auxiliary, Dr. Brand has been very active in the community and his church. He has been happily married to his wife Betty for 53 years. They have four children and six grandchildren. And after doing so much for so many, he is still a bundle of energy, still seeking to make his community and the world a better place to live every day, by being an encourager and strong supporter of the Auxiliary, Semper Paratus.