Adm. Paul Alexander Yost Jr.

January 3, 1929 - February 9, 2022

Paul Alexander Yost, Jr., was born in Philadelphia, PA, on January 3, 1929, and slipped peacefully into the eternities on February 9, 2022, just 46 days after his beloved bride, Janice Kay Worth, died on Christmas Day 2021. Paul was the oldest of two children born to Army Major Paul and Jeanne Yost Sr. Paul and his younger brother Larry spent their high school years in St. Petersburg, FL. The “Yost boys” were known for their high jinks and practical jokes. They spent hours fishing in the Gulf, repairing their old outboard engine, or working on Paul’s cars. It was while he was fishing that Paul met his first United States Coast Guard officer dressed in his khaki summer uniform. The uniform made an instant impression and right then he vowed to become an officer in the Coast Guard. Paul married Jan Worth upon his graduation from the Coast Guard Academy in 1951, and this was the beginning of a beautiful love affair that spanned over 70 years and will continue into the eternities. Together they traversed the world, living in such places as Honolulu, HI, Guam, Juneau, AK, New Orleans, LA, New York, NY, and Washington, DC. They were an inseparable team. Together they raised five children while Paul served our nation, including long stretches at sea, and serving tours in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He documented these separations with hundreds of letters and tapes to his wife and children. These personal remembrances chronicled his commitment to God and family as he remained present and committed to those values throughout his life. In 1956, Paul and Jan made a momentous decision that would alter their lives and affect the future of their family and extended family when they both decided they should join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church) and remained faithful members throughout their lives. Paul’s conversion continued a lifetime of Christian discipleship. He served in several prominent Church positions, including as a member of the Church’s Military Affairs Committee and Bishop of the Chalmette Ward in Louisiana. In 2011 he and Jan served a mission for the Church as Ambassadors to the United Nations where they made wonderful friends with Ambassadors from around the globe. Together they succeeded in obtaining “Special Consultative Status” by the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council thus providing Latter-day Saint Charities UN recognition around the world. In 1969 CDR Yost served a 13-month tour in Vietnam and was the Commander, Task Group 115.3, a combat command on the coast of Vietnam where he led numerous missions into the Mekong Delta. During his tour he received the Silver Star Medal, Legion of Merit with Combat V, Combat Action Ribbon, Vietnamese 2nd Class Order Navy Distinguished Service, Medal Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Vietnam Service Medal with 2 Bronze Stars, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation with Palm, and the Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. During peacetime he was also awarded these, among other, medals: Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Transportation Distinguished Service Medal, Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medal with Two Bronze Stars, Meritorious Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Presidential Unit Commemoration, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, and Sea Service Ribbon with Two Bronze Stars. Admiral Yost became the 18th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard on 30 May 1986. He was nominated to the position by President Ronald Reagan and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. During his tenure as Commandant, Admiral Yost successfully maintained the service through difficult budget battles each year. He had a wicked sense of humor, one year sending out Christmas cards of him sitting on Santa’s lap with the title, “I’ll talk to anyone about the Coast Guard budget.” He also increased the Coast Guard’s emphasis on the military/naval capabilities of the service. He added armament and naval warfare systems to the Coast Guard’s major cutter fleet, which included the Close-In Weapon System (CIWS), and other combat weapons and sensors that paved the way for cutters to sail and train with joint naval forces throughout the world. He led the Coast Guard’s War on Drugs and significantly reduced the flow of illegal drugs into the country. Admiral Yost led the Coast Guard through some of the most significant natural disasters in our nation’s history, including the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, AK, Loma Prieta Earthquake, and Hurricanes Gilbert and Hugo. Admiral Yost also served as the Commander of the Atlantic Area, Commander Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic and Commander Third Coast Guard District in New York City; and was the Commanding Officer of the USCG Cutter RESOLUTE based in San Francisco, CA. In addition to his Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1951, he also earned two Masters’ degrees. The first in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut in 1959, the other in International Affairs from George Washington University, Washington, DC in 1964. He was also a graduate of the Naval War College at Newport, RI in 1964. While attending school and working fulltime, he never studied on Sunday or turned down an assignment in the Church and always made family his top priority. Upon his retirement from the Coast Guard, Admiral Yost was appointed as the inaugural President of The James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation, where he served for 20 years. The Foundation provides scholarships to secondary school teachers, in every state and in some U.S. territories to receive a Master’s degree with a focus of helping teachers to become scholars of the United States Constitution. Paul loved Jan and was a devoted husband and father. Jan would often meet him at the door when he returned from work, car keys in hand, so she could have a much-needed sanity break. He took over cooking Sunday dinners, encouraged Jan to finish her education, and reveled in her talents and achievements. He stood as a loving sentinel as they navigated her loss of memory during the last decade of her life. Even when she had lost the capacity to counsel with him, he still sought her approval on matters big and small. In all things they were united, never divided, even in death. Time could not hold him long from her side, as he grieved the loss of her with a broken heart and an unwavering commitment to honor her in death as he did in life. Paul was a wonderful father, grandfather, great grandfather, and mentor. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren loved to hear his sea stories and reveled in his teasing. He was a man of great faith, a friend, and an example throughout his life. He sought after “the one” and ministered to them where they were in the moment. He had a way of connecting with people, interacting with them on an individual level, seeing their potential, encouraging their heart, and offering hope, wisdom, and insight. He was an avid tennis player and loved playing with his grandchildren. While there is sadness in Paul’s passing there is no sorrow for he died in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Paul is profoundly missed by his children, extended family, and those who knew and loved him. He is survived by his five children: Linda (Mark) Barrand, Chip (Mary Ann), David, Lisa (Peter) Galvin, and Christopher (Michelle), eleven grandchildren, and nineteen great-grandchildren, his brother, Larry (Jackie), and was preceded in death by wife Jan and his parents. The family will receive friends on Monday, March 28th, from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Potomac Chapel on 11700 Falls Road, Potomac, MD. A funeral service will be held for Paul and Jan on Tuesday, March 29th, at 9:00 am at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ Washington D.C. Stake Center on 10000 Stoneybrook Drive, Kensington, MD 20895 (next to the Washington D.C. Temple). A burial service will be held at the Arlington National Cemetery at 1:00 pm. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Pierce Funeral Homes. The Funeral service will be live streamed for those unable to attend. You may view the service by clicking here.