Abe Harold Siemens is from Chicago, Ill., and was graduated from Proviso High School, Maywood, Ill., in 1942.
In June 1945, he was graduated with a commission of Ensign from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Conn., and received a B.S. Degree in Engineering.
He served his earliest assignments at sea starting as Gunnery Officer in the Cutter Spencer (WPG-36) during her deployment as auxiliary communications ship for Communications Service Division 101 at Jinsen, Korea, and then at Shanghai. In 1946 he served as Communications Officer on board the Coast Guard-manned patrol frigates USS Brunswick (PF-68) and USS Lorain (PR-93), both of which operated at that time out of Boston, Mass., on North Atlantic weather patrol. From July 1946 to October 1947, he was assigned engineering duties on board the Coast Guard icebreaker Northwind (WAGB-282) during which that vessel participated in Admiral Byrd’s Antarctic Operation “High Jump” of 1946-47.
Following assignments were at California-based units, which included, respectively, engineering duties on board the Cutter Escanaba of Alameda, duty as Executive Officer in the Cutter Perseus of San Diego from September 1948 to March 1949, and for the remainder of 1949 as Search and Rescue Officer in the 11th Coast Guard District office at Long Beach.
After undergoing flight training training from December 1949 to January 1951 at the Naval Air Stations at Pensacola, Fla., and Corpus Christi, Texas, he was designated Coast Guard Aviator No. 548. Subsequently, he flew his first search and rescue missions out of Coast Guard Air Station, Miami, Fla., until October 1953, and then out of Coast Guard Air Station, Kodiak, Alaska, where he received a Coast Guard Letter of Commendation in 1954 for his work.
From July 1955 to April 1956, he attended Aircraft Maintenance Officer School at Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Ill., after which he reported for duty as Maintenance Officer as well as aviator at the Coast Guard Air Detachment at Biloxi, Miss. From December 1958 to August 1960, he served in the same capacity at Coast Guard Air Detachment, Barbers Point, Hawaii.
After completing one year of student work in August 1961, he was awarded an M.S. Degree from the Industrial Management Graduate School at Purdue University, Lafayette, Ind. During the following four years he served as Production Manager, as Production Control Officer, and as Executive Officer at the Coast Guard Aircraft Repair & Supply Center, Elizabeth City, N.C.
Between August 1965 and June 1970, he was stationed at Coast Guard Headquarters in the Office of Research & Development, where he served first as Chief, Testing and Development Division, next as Chief, Applied Technology Division, and then as Chief, Plans and Evaluation Staff. For outstanding achievement and superior performance of those duties has was awarded the Coast Guard Commendation Medal.
He next commended Coast Guard Air Station, San Diego, Cal., with additional duties of Group Commander and Captain of the Port of San Diego. In June 1972, he assumed the duty of Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Base, New York, and was awarded the Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal on completion of that assignment in 1973.
By nomination of the President on January 22, 1973, and approval of the Senate, CAPT Siemens was appointed permanent Rear Admiral to rank from July 1, 1973. At that time he assumed the flag ranking post of Chief, Office of Research and Development at Headquarters.
RADM Siemen’s awards include the following: World War II campaign medals and ribbons representing the American Area, Asiatic-Pacific Area; China and Korea Occupation; Coast Guard Letter of Commendation (1954); Coast Guard Commendation Medal (1970); Gold Star in Lieu of Second Coast Guard Commendation Medal (1972); Meritorious Service Medal (1973).
Among this further achievements, RADM Siemens is credited with the following developments in aviation: Helicopter In-Flight Refueling (HIFR) for the HH-3F helicopter; the HH-3F and HC-130-B In-Flight Drafting Technique; Shipboard Helicopter Arresting Gear (SHAG) Research & Development proposal; HH-3F technique for launch and receiving of the Zodiac powered raft; initiated HH-3F Shipboard Qualifications for San Diego pilots.
Following is a resume of RADM Siemens’ appointments in rank: Cadet, July 15, 1942; Ensign, June 6, 1945; Lieutenant (jg), January 1, 1947; Lieutenant, August 6, 1951; Lieut. Commander, July 1, 1956; Commander, July 1, 1963; Captain, August 1, 1967; Rear Admiral, July 1, 1973.
RADM Siemens is married to the former Louis M. F. of Elgin, Ill., a graduate of the Wesley Memorial Hospital of Nursing in Chicago. They have a son and two daughters, Carol, John H., and Susan L.