That being true: He'd probably still have found some way of being shore base support I'm sure.
The only way I can think of off the top of my head is with the Auxiliary Interpreter's Corps. Normally Auxiliarists aren't sent on foreign deployments; they don't get paid (in fact, they pay dues) and insurance becomes an issue. Of course, in the event of national mobilization, many Auxiliarists could become GS-9 civilian employees of the Coast Guard.
I speak as a SO-SR and VFC with over 12 years in the Aux. I do miss Tonk.