The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-01-12
OUTLOOK is FOR
REVIVAL OF
COAST GUARD
By AYCOCK BROWN

H0danChe.-Old-Clm o n g
the coast are predicting that the
Coast Guard is coming back. AS
matter of fact it has been here
all along but since World War II
in a somewhat reduced status.
Mny of the stations made active
during the war were decommis-
stoned when hostilities ceased,
and it has taken hardly more than
skeleton crews to man units such
as famed Chicamacomico here in
Rodanthe and others on Hatteras,
Ocracoke and the coastal islands
between Virginia and South Car
DINA.
Another national emergency ex-
lists. Things generally in the
shore stations seem to be on the
verge of an alerting. It was the
same way back in 1910 and al,
before Pearl Harbor. Then came
full scale war, and in q matter
Of weeks stations along the coast
that had been abandoned were
manned again, and the personnel
was increased at the stations al.
ready active including some Of
the new and larger stations Of
decade ago-called approximations
in those days. It was a general
idea during the late Thirties that
a few approximations would take
care Of the peacetime duties.
The day Of sailing ships was
past, and it was not necessary to
have stations so near each other
where there could be constant foot
and horse patrols during time of
storms. Modern equipment 1T SUI
per-stations would replace the
horses at units which were once
located almost within sight Of the
next station along the beach. Foot
patrols at that time were no long
er necessary. The patrols could be
made in trucks or jeeps.
Idea Changed Quickly
Pearl Harbor changed the Tic-
ture and quickly. It was discover
ed that it was necessary for full
protection of the coast to have
constant patrols. There is no rec
ord Of any enemy agents being
landed on North Carolina beaches
from submarines, but it happened
early in the war on the shore Of
s Long Island and also in Florida.
One did not know what would
happen in early 1912, but it was
not long until the Coast Guard
was being needed constantly along
the shore and for nearby offshore
duties. Ships, being sunk by ene-
my submarines, were casting sur
vivors and bodies ashore following
torpedoings. There was much flot-
sam to be salvaged along the
beach. 1t was necessary to have
complete Investigations of all
fotsam. Much of it contained in
formation about unreported ships
being lost at sea due to enemy
action. .
Never given much publicity was
the intensive enemy submarine
activity close to the North Caro-
lima coast. Many now living mere
and on adjacent islands remember
seeing crippled and burning ships
going to the bottom or drifting
landward. In all there were scores
of ships sent to the bottom, in
many cases, within sight Of the
coast.
The old timers of the coast
guard in 1912, some of whom had
been in the service since the name
was changed from the us. Life
Saving Service, were needed a.
board ships of the transports in
the amphibious forces. The coast
guard knew how to handle small
troop-laden boats in a surf while
landings were being made. The
coast guard proved it's worth at
such places as Guadalcanal.
That the coast guard is COM
ing back seemed to be indicated
by many recent enlistments. Whe-
Their the recruits now in boot
camp will be sent to stations re-
mains to be seen-but if there is
a shooting war with Russia, for
instance, personnel will be neces-
sary in coastal stations, as enc
my sub activities begin offshore
- NJ n