Oct. 19, 2007 – In a prior ceremony on Oct. 26, 2007, on the parade field of the Coast Guard Training Center at Yorktown, Va., Master Chief Damage Controlman Amritt Anthony Villa will relinquish his title as the guard's enlisted Silver Ancient Mariner. Immediately following that event, the petty officer will celebrate his retirement from active duty after 30 years, including 12 years of sea duty.
His career includes numerous cutter duties around the major coasts and throughout the nation's inland waterways. His many duty stations include all major damage control and cutter training sites, notably Boston and Governors Island. Villa is currently assigned to the training center at Yorktown, where he is the Damage Controlman Rate Training Master Chief.
In addition to the Silver Ancient Mariner, his awards include two Coast Guard Commendation Medals, a Coast Guard Achievement Medal, three Commandant's Letter of Commendation Ribbons, six Coast Guard Meritorious Team Commendations, five Coast Guard "E" Ribbons and four Coast Guard Sea Service Ribbons.
Petty Officer Villa, a native of St. Thomas, is a 1977 Charlotte Amalie High School graduate. He is the son of May Amritt-Villa and Justus Anthony Villa Sr. (deceased), and presently resides in York County, Va. with his wife Michelle and their two sons.
