{"id":53060,"date":"2025-11-14T14:50:08","date_gmt":"2025-11-14T14:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/53060\/"},"modified":"2025-11-14T14:50:08","modified_gmt":"2025-11-14T14:50:08","slug":"from-destroyer-to-duty-jim-gauderman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/53060\/","title":{"rendered":"From destroyer to duty: Jim Gauderman"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Dr. Elmo Agatep, left, receives a City Council proclamation from District Three Councilwoman\/Mayor Lisa Landau, right.<\/p>\n

When you meet Jim Gauderman, the first thing you notice isn\u2019t the crisp white Volunteer in Police Services uniform shirt or the radio clipped to his belt\u2014it\u2019s the humility in his smile. Behind that smile, however, is a story of extraordinary service, resilience, and love for both country and community.<\/p>\n

This month, the Seal Beach Police Department recognized Jim for reaching a remarkable milestone: 11,000 hours of volunteer service. That\u2019s the equivalent of more than five full years of full-time work \u2013 given freely, without pay, and with a heart full of purpose.<\/p>\n

A lifetime of service<\/p>\n

Jim\u2019s commitment to service began long before he donned a Seal Beach uniform. Born in Carroll, Iowa, his father was a shipbuilder during World War II. After the war, the family relocated to Eugene, Oregon, where Jim graduated from St. Francis Catholic High School in 1959.<\/p>\n

In 1960, at just 18 years old, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy, beginning a journey that would take him across oceans and into the pages of American history. After completing boot camp and electronics school, he became an Interior Communications Electrician and 3rd Class Petty Officer aboard the USS Ingersoll (DD-652), a World War II destroyer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI spent most of my deployment underwater,\u201d Jim recalled with a laugh, \u201cdestroyers only sit about 10 feet above sea level.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jim served two tours in the Western Pacific, including time in the Tonkin Gulf before the Vietnam War officially began \u2013 a group affectionately known as the \u201cTonkin Yacht Club.\u201d During the Cuban Missile Crisis, his ship escorted one of the largest contingents of naval vessels ever to pass through the Panama Canal. \u201cJFK was my boss,\u201d he said proudly.<\/p>\n

Love, loss, and new purpose<\/p>\n

In 1962, while his ship was in dry dock in Long Beach, Jim met Wendy, the woman who would become the love of his life. After a six-month courtship, they married that December and built a life together that spanned five decades. They raised two sons, welcomed seven grandchildren, and now have two great-grandchildren.<\/p>\n

When Wendy passed away in 2011 after a long battle with multiple sclerosis, Jim struggled to find his footing. \u201cI started road cycling to deal with the grief,\u201d he said. \u201cOne day I was walking my bike down the Seal Beach Pier and saw a woman in a white VIPS uniform. I asked her what it was, and two weeks later I was in the academy.\u201d<\/p>\n

That woman was Sukie Salaya, another long time Seal Beach VIPS volunteer, and that moment changed the course of Jim\u2019s retirement.<\/p>\n

A volunteer\u2019s journey<\/p>\n

New VIPS members start in gray polo shirts and must serve 300 hours before earning their white uniform shirts \u2013 a milestone Jim reached in just three months by logging 100 hours a month. Over the next 15 years, he would contribute 11,000 hours to the Seal Beach Police Department and an additional 7,000 hours volunteering aboard the USS Iowa in San Pedro \u2013 where he began on Veterans Day 2012.<\/p>\n

Jim started his service at the Police Substation at the base of the pier, greeting visitors, answering questions, and assisting with lost property. Later, he transitioned to the Fleet Management Team, responsible for maintaining police vehicles. When his supervisor, Don Bright, had to step down due to health reasons, Jim stepped up and has led the program ever since.<\/p>\n

Perseverance through adversity<\/p>\n

What makes Jim\u2019s 11,000 hours even more remarkable is what he\u2019s overcome along the way. In recent years, he\u2019s battled prostate cancer, Bell\u2019s palsy, a debilitating nerve impingement in his brain, and severe facial skin cancer \u2013 medical challenges that sidelined him for months at a time. Each time, he returned to serve.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo me, it\u2019s not volunteering, it\u2019s a job,\u201d Jim said. \u201cI love working for the police department and with the officers here. And now I know what it\u2019s like to be a police officer. If I had to do it all over again, I would\u2019ve been a police officer. You all are like family, and we just want to make sure you have everything you need in your cars to stay safe.\u201d<\/p>\n

The heart of a\u00a0community<\/p>\n

Today, at 84 years old, Jim continues to serve as the VIPS Fleet supervisor, overseeing vehicle maintenance and ensuring patrol cars are ready for duty. His goal is to \u201cretire\u201d from the Seal Beach Police Department after 20 years of volunteer service.<\/p>\n

The Seal Beach VIPS program currently includes about 50 active members who contributed 16,218 hours in 2024 alone \u2013 the equivalent of nearly eight full-time positions. They handle patrols, assist at community events, support administrative tasks, and staff the Police Substation. For Jim, though, the math has never mattered. \u201cIt\u2019s about helping people,\u201d he said simply.<\/p>\n

As Seal Beach celebrates Veterans Day, the community honors volunteers like Jim Gauderman whose life of service reminds us that duty doesn\u2019t end when the uniform comes off. Sometimes, it just changes color.<\/p>\n

Interested in volunteering?<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Seal Beach Police Department\u2019s Volunteers in Police Services (VIPS) program, visit www.sealbeachpd.com\/vips.<\/p>\n

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