The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-09-06
ObservotlOns
Coast Guardsmen
Spend Little Time
in Home Waters

Chances are a lot OF folks still
think that the Coast Guard pro-
tects the coast and let it go at
that. The Guardsmen have known
differently for a long time.
Some OF them found It out last
November, when they LANDED ele'
ments Of the American Ninth Di-
vision east OF Algiers under heavy
German aerial bombardment at
the opening OF the North African
invasion. And if they needed any
additional proof that their organ
ization is now striking force
rather than a defensive patrol out
fit they got II several weeks ago
when they again used their as
sault boats to take American sol
diers ashore on Sicily.
The Coast Guard has participat-
ed in every American amphibious
invasion OF the war TO date and It
certainly will be in on all OF them
in the future Ability OF the Coast
Guardsmen TO handle small boats
made It certain that a good many
Of them would spend a very small
portion OF the war in American
territorial waters.
Perhaps il is unnecessary 10 sep
arate the Coast Guard from the
Navy, since II actually becomes
a part Of the Navy in wartime.
Yet. the men OF the Coast Guard
retain their identity and although
they work hand in hand with the
Navy. many of them have the feel
ing that their own organization
never gets credit for The share it
stases 49, = :. > Sasser ssy">Ne,s-.
successes.
And who are these men and Of
ficers Of the L. 5, Coast Guard?
Well. they comprise a cross section
OF American citizens just like the
other services do.
Yes, there are all types in the
Coast Guard. There's Lieut. Com
mander James s. Hunt, for exam
pie. Hunt was an automobile deal
err in Detroit before his country
got into World War II. and he re-
sided at 500 Whitmore Road In
the Motor city. He has Two boys,
one OF whom, Jim Hunt. Jr, Is in
the Army's Armored command.
Jim Hunt wanted 10 get into the
First World War badly enough 10
enlist in the Lafayette Escadrllle
as a fighter pilot. Later he Joined
Britain's Royal Flying Corps. the
forerunner of the Raj He won't
talk much about that last scrap,
but he hung around long enough
TO pick up the Distinguished Fly
ing Cross.
After the war he went In for
stunt flying around Detroit He
was an officer in the Army Air
Corps reserve, but knew he would
never be permitted 10 fly in com
bat in this war because of his
age. So he resigned his commits.
sion and Joined the Coast Guard
Neither was Lew Jenkins. the
former boxing champion. when he
Joined the Coast Guard You only
have to look once at the battle
SCARED face Of the puncher from
Sweetwater. Tex. to know that he
means il when he says he is anx-
iously awaiting the next assault
wave
Coast Guardsmen come from all
parts of the United States. Sea
man first class Thomas A. Sheri-
dan, who swan ashore in choppy
surf nine times with soldiers who
were being carried out to sea by
the undertow during the Sicilian
invasion, is from Brooklyn t2O5i
Kimball Street,: So is his signal
man, Fireman second class Henry
Meyers. But his engineer. Seaman
second class Louis Meyer is from
Cincinnati. and his bowman. Sea
man first class Martin W, Gray
heal is frDm Chester, Pa.
Seaman first class Calvin r
Cooper and Fireman first class
Frank Freeman are both from
Oklahoma, where the only sizeable
body Of water is Lake O the Cher
okees, created by Grand River
dam. Cooper is from Oklahoma
City and Freeman from Hastings,
Boatswain's Mate first class Phil
ip Kearney OF Westlake. o.. came
into the Coast Guard naturally
enough because he watched IL op-
crate out of nearby Cleveland. but
how could you account for Boat
SWANS Mate second class Robert
McCaulley OF Sigourney. Iowa?