Prints in the Sand: The U.S. Coast Guard Beach Patrol in World War II

96 Pages·1989·16.93 MB·English

by  Elenor Bishop

Sand
the
Prints
in
The U.S. Coast Guard
Beach
Patrol
During World War
II
by Eleanor C. Bishop
200
Yearsof
BOSTON
PUBLIC
LIBRARY
Prints the Sand
in
The U.S. Coast Guard
Beach Patrol
During World War
II
Dcoch
Potrol
Early morning drill onthe North Carolinacoast, na
)
Sand
Prints the
in
The U.S. Coast Guard
Beach
Patrol
During World War
II
by Eleanor C. Bishop
PICTORIAL HISTORIES PUBLISHING COMPANY
MISSOULA, MONTANA
COPYRIGHT © ELEANOR BISHOP
1989 C.
All rights reserved.
No portion of this book may be used or reproduced
without written permission of the publisher.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
CATALOG CARD NO.
89-62184
ISBN 0-929521-22-6
First Printing: October 1989
PR1NTHD IN U.S.A.
Cover Photo: Courtesy U.S. Coast Guard
Typography: Arrow Graphics & Typography
Layout: Stan Cohen
Cover Graphics: KirkJohnson
Photo Sources:
NA—
National Archives
NGS—
National Geographic Society
USCG—United States Coast Guard
USMHI —
United States Military History Institute
PICTORIAL HISTORIES PUBLISHING CO.
MT
713 South Third West, Missoula, 59801
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Many people have contributed to the completion the subject:
of this book and I am indebted to them fortheirhelp, in- Mr. Milt AhJerich, assistant director, Office of
formation, kindness and advice. Because there was a Congressional and Public Affairs, Federal Bureau of
dearth of information on the subject, I relied in great Investigation, Washington, D.C.
part on the interviews I had with the men, their families Mrs. John Cashman, archivist, Lower Cape Fear
and friendsconnected with the patrol and I have saluted Historical Society, Inc., Wilmington, North Carolina.
them in a special way on a separate page. Ms. Sheila Lamb, reference librarian, U.S. Coast
The following people were ofparticular help in di- Guard Academy Library, New London, Connecticut.
recting me to the sources of written and photographic Mr. Michael Majure, research director, Jack-
J.
information, and I particularly want to thank: son-George Regional Library, Pascagoula, Mississippi.
Dr. Robert Scheina, the historian of the Coast Mr. Larry G. Points, chiefof interpretation, and
Guard, for his encouragement, patience, advice and Lynn M. Pennewell, National Park Service, Assa-
assistance. teague Island National Seashore, Maryland.
Mrs. Agnes Hooverofthe Photographic Section of Mr. Norman Simons, curator, Historic Pensacola
the U.S. Naval Historical Center for her cooperation, Preservation Board, Pensacola, Florida.
enthusiasm and photographs. Mr. J.R. Ward, chief, Community Relations
Mr. Warren Wrenn, Ranger, National Park Serv- Branch, U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, Washing-
ice, Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, for his assistance, ton, D.C.
kindness and information. My special thanks to the following friends who
Mr. Michael Winey, curator, Special Collections, were a part of the endeavor by giving me their assis-
U.S. Army Military History Institute, Carlisle Bar- tance and sharing their time to make this book a reality:
racks, Pennsylvania, for his photographs. Penelope Rhoades Chitty; Martha Swanson Dolley;
Miss Barbara A. Shattuck, head, Illustrations Re- Barbara Thompson Foltz; Adele Connolly Taylor and
quest, National Geographic Society, for making photo- to Barbara A. Day who alerted me to and provided me
graphs available. with the information about the Nazi landing at Han-
The following persons provided me with informa- cock Point, Maine.
tion pertinent to their area and to persons familiar with
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SPECIAL SALUTE
A
To the men who were in the Coast Guard Beach Mr. Myron Solter, Poolesville, Maryland
Patrol and to their families and friends who shared their Mr. John T. Steen, Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania
time, knowledge and materials with me. Every patrol- EN-1 Leewood E. Tawes, U.S.C.G.R. (ret.),
man was a true gentleman and their families and Jacksonville, Florida
friends were warm and hospitable. Commander Russell S. Tibbetts, U.S.C.G.R. (ret.),
Eden, Utah
Coast Guard Patrolmen Mr. W.J. "Ty" Tyson, Eureka, California
Mr. Sam Altman, Brunswick, Georgia Mr. Jack Wood, Beaufort, South Carolina
Mr. William R. Barger, Avon, North Carolina Mr. E.F. Zimmerman, East Stockdale, Texas
Captain Gerald Barker, U.S.C.G. R. (ret.), Topeka,
Kansas Other Coast Guardsmen
Mr. Harry Bemis, Pascagoula, Mississippi Mr. David S. Harriss, Wilmington, North Carolina
TTC
Mr. Stuart E. Blanchard, Washington, North Carolina Jesse K. Rogers, U.S.C.G. (ret.), Nogales,
Mr. Earl Blevins, Wheatland, Wyoming Arizona
Mr. Dayrel C. Brown, Excelsior Springs, Missouri Mr. William H. Watts, LaJolla, California
Mr. Ned B. Brown, Beaufort, South Carolina Lt. Commander Don Wicklander, U.S.C.G.R. (ret.),
Mr. Delmar M. Bryant, Odessa, Texas Fairhope, Alabama
Mr. Leland Burrow, Grandview, Missouri
Mr. Whitfield H. Davis, Pascagoula, Mississippi Families
Mr. Albert DeBrase, Daytona Beach, Florida Mrs. Raymond Mauerman (Frances), widow of
J.
Mr. Arthur E. Dobney, Bandon, Oregon Vice Rear Admiral RaymondJ. Mauerman, first
Commander Cecil W. Dossett, U.S.C.G.R. (ret.), Head of the Beach Patrol Division, U.S. Coast
Highland, California Guard.
CWO-4 Gale B. Feick, U.S.C.G. (ret.), Anaheim, Mrs. Donald Bradley, wife ofLieutenant (j.g.) Donald
California Bradley, commanding officer, Coast Guard
Mr. Fred Futchs, Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina Mounted Patrol, Corolla, N.C. and Patuxent
CWO-4 Lance Gordon, U.S.C.G. (ret.), Houston, Naval Air Station, Patuxent, Md.
Texas Mrs. Morris Cooke (Georgianna McTeer), daughterof
Mr. Carroll W. Guillot, Moss Point, Mississippi Commander Charles McTeer, commanding
Mr. Harold M. Hayes, Montclair, California officer, Coast Guard Mounted Patrol, 6th Naval
Mr. Roy Hobson, Salem, Massachusetts District, Charleston, S.C..
CWO-4
A.L. Hutto, U.S.C.G. (ret.), Beaumont, Mr. John Finney, son of Humphrey S. Finney,
Texas civilian technologist, U.S. Coast Guard.
T
Mr. Robert lies, Lansdale, Pennsylvania Mr. William Beauchamp, son of Chief William A.
Mr. Joseph H. Inman, Tuckerton, NewJersey Beauchamp, commanding officer, Bethany Beach,
Mr. Carl D. James, Lancaster, Ohio Del. Mounted Patrol Station.
Mr. Rufus C. Jefferson, Wayzata, Minnesota Mrs. Jane H. Bailey, daughter of Ralph C. Horton,
Mr. Walter A. Kelley, Coral Gables, Florida member of the beach patrol at Morro Bay,
Commander R.S. Luttrell, U.S.C.G.R. (ret.) California.
Mr. Eugene E. Martin, Dickinson, Texas Mr. Crook Stewart, teenager at Panama City, Florida,
Mr. Matt Novak, Carlinville, Illinois who witnessed the mounted patrol in action there.
CWO-4Jay Owen, U.S.C.G. (ret.), Portland, Oregon
Mr. George E. Paisley, Portland, Oregon And to the following wives who so graciously extended
Mr. G.K. "Pat" Patterson, Garibaldi, Oregon their hospitality and provided additional information.
Mr. James D. Paulk, Sparks, Georgia Mrs. William R. Barger
Mr. Harry Pennewell, Alexandria, Virginia Mrs. Arthur E. Dobney
Mr. Clyde A. Quigley Sr., Lewes, Delaware Mrs. Matt Novak
Mr. Charles Requard, Washington, North Carolina Mrs. George Paisley
Mr. Henry H. Rogers, Baltimore, Maryland Mrs. Charles Requard
Mr. frank Schembri, St. Louis, Missouri Mrs. E.F. Zimmerman
-vi
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements v
A Special Salute vi CHAPTER THREE
Preface viii Virginia to Key West 33
Prologue
ix Virginia, the Carolinas 33
and Georgia
CHAPTER ONE: Jacksonville to Key West; 40
Key West to Tampa
Organization and Formation of
1
the Coast Guard Beach Patrol
CHAPTER FOUR
The Mounted Patrols
1
The Dog Patrol 16 West Florida to South Texas 43
Lookout Towers and 22
CHAPTER
FIVE
Picket Patrols
Emergency Procedures 22 Seattle to San Diego 53
Washington and Oregon 53
CHAPTER TWO
California 58
Maine to Delmarva 23
CHAPTER
New England 23 SIX
Connecticut, New York and 24 Curtailment, Cessation and 73
Northern New Jersey Contributions of the Beach Patrol
Southern New Jersey and 26
Delaware Epilogue 76
Maryland and the Eastern Shore 30 Bibliography 77
of Virginia
Index 79
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D E D C AT O N
I I
This book is dedicated with love and gratitude to
the memory of my dear mother,
Marceil Greenhalgh Bishop
who began the many research journeys with me
and to my dear sister,
Deirdre Bishop O'Donnell
who completed thejourneys and gave the book
its title, Prints in the Sand.
AC
P R E F E
Many little-known facts have emerged in the ever-
constant study ofWorld War II and in the role America
played to bring about victory for the Allies.
The well-known leaders, the heroes, the great bat-
tles, the famous ships and planes, the far-flung places of
action have all taken their places in the history of the
conflict and in the history ofour great nation.
To those who went thousands of miles from their
homes to often unpronounceable spots on the globe and
fought, were wounded or died courageously, the tri-
butes have been well deserved and well reported. To
those who never left the United States or had what was
known as stateside duty, little has beenwritten and even
less have received due credit for ajob well done!
One such group was the U.S. Coast Guard Beach
Patrol, made up ofmen and boys in ages from 17 to 73,
who protected the continental borders ofAmerica from
any kind ofenemy invasion afterJune 1942.
There is a twist to the story which makes it an
unusual tale. Faced with thousands and thousands of
miles ofcoastline to protect, horses and dogs, man's best
friends, were put into action in many places. For those
in the mounted patrol, they were"sailors on horseback,"
a strange connotation for seagoing patriots, andjust as
unusual were seamen walking dogs. Only those in the
picket patrol boats fitted the description of a mariner,
but success cameon land and seato man and beast alike
in the pursuit of protecting America's coastline.
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