Hero Highlight - April Caverly

By Amanda Renkiewicz

Many children view their mom as their hero, but for the children of decorated military member April Caverly, it couldn’t be a more accurate description. April’s husband, Chris, son Jackson, and daughter Abigail have supported April during her recent thirteen-month deployment to Bahrain and had to adapt to their own challenges during the pandemic simultaneously.

THE PANDEMIC HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON MY FAMILY, IN ADDITION TO ME BEING OVERSEAS

“The pandemic had a huge impact on my family, in addition to me being overseas,” April explained. “The schools and daycares closed down, leaving no options for childcare for the kids. Chris had to become a stay-at-home parent, and in addition to being a dad, he also assumed the roles of mom and teacher. The virtual learning was off to a rocky start as the schools had to navigate through the new programs along with the families and students, working out all the bugs along the way. It was confusing for the kids to be pulled away from their friends and teachers, and on top of that, being told they can’t go to their favorite restaurants, no movie theaters, or the children’s museum. Holidays and birthdays were celebrated differently. It was hard for me to watch them go through this via FaceTime and not be able to help with much of anything at all.”

April was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter MONOMOY as an independent duty Operations Specialist. MONOMOY is one of six 110’ Island Class Patrol Boats the Coast Guard has set to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA), conducting maritime safety and security patrols of the Arabian Gulf, ensuring the safe passage of high-value assets through international and Iranian waters. “It was definitely not how I imagined the year would go,” April said. “It started with the heightened tensions with Iran in January 2020, and as that started to simmer down, my father passed away mid-February. I returned home quickly, but as soon as I got back to Bahrain, COVID-19 hit in full force. They shut down travel in/out of the country. The island shut down the same as the states did, everything was closed, and we weren’t allowed to have cookouts or gatherings. It made it more difficult to get through the year when we couldn’t have any type of morale events or celebrate the holidays together with our crew.”

Despite the challenges of her deployment and the unprecedented chaos of 2020, April’s optimism shines through. Her dedication to her family and their active lifestyle showcases a love of togetherness. “My family enjoys being outdoors, spending time at the lake in the summer swimming, boating, fishing, and making memories! I enjoy riding motorcycles, and we have started the kids pretty young on four-wheelers. My daughter has taken an interest in cooking and baking since I’ve been home, so we have spent a lot of time in the kitchen trying out new recipes. I enjoy running and participating in the fun 5k events, so hopefully, those can resume soon!” April added.

Her career in the Coast Guard allowed her to serve her country while being able to travel and seek new experiences. “I’ve met so many great people and have made lifelong friendships in every place I’ve been stationed,” April shared. “We take care of our people, and everyone looks out for one another. Air Station Traverse City has been my favorite unit. I’ve spent a lot of time there and have seen it through several commands, and it has continued to be a great place to work.”

Along with “Supermom and Wife” (which may not be an official award but is still accurate), April’s list of medals include:

» Coast Guard Commendation Medal » Sea Service Ribbon » Overseas Service Ribbon » Global War on Terrorism Medal » Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary

Medal » Coast Guard Achievement Medal x2 » Coast Guard Unit Commendation Ribbon » Coast Guard Meritorious Unit

Commendation Ribbon » Coast Guard Meritorious Team

Commendation Ribbon » Coast Guard Commandant’s Letter of

Commendation Ribbon x2 » Humanitarian Service Medal » Military Outstanding Volunteer Service

Medal » Coast Guard Good Conduct Medal x4 » National Defense Service Medal » Coast Guard Pistol Sharpshooter Ribbon » Coast Guard Rifle Marksman Ribbon