1. QMCM Clarence Dowden (1980) 2. HSCM Clarence Sheffield (1988) 3. QMC Frank Albright (1989) 4. BMCM Donald Urquhart (1990) 5. BMCS Charles Buckley (1995) 6. BMCM Micheal Gibbs (1997) 7. DCCM Amritt Villa (2006) 8. GMCS Chris Kukla ( 2007 ) The plaque hangs outside of the Cutter Forces office at HQ. With everything else that is on the historians web site, I am still surprised this isn't listed there.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mastersmate,
I know Commander Gutorsome (sp) was the Gold Ancient Mariner from 1989 until he retired. I just don't remember when he retired. I also believe Admiral Yost was the Gold before him. I am sure Master Chief Rolfe will chime and correct the spelling and help verify this.
I had the privilege as a young man to serve for BMCM Urquhart and at the same duty station as HSCM Sheffield. Master chief Urquhart was known as the "screamin' deamon" of the Mississippi river and all other inland waters. He was a tough old bird and i think if i remember right he had 36 yrs in in 1989. It was my first duty station out of boot camp, what an awakening for a SA. I was a YN3 when i worked with Clarence Sheffield. He was brought back out of retirement to add his expertise in his rating training. I believe he entered the CG as a steward, (one of only two ratings available to a black man when he joined the CG) and later switched HS. Very fortunate to have met to men of such stature in my short time in the branch. Wish I would have asked more questions. Semper Paratus.
MM; Yes among many things Guts was a BOSN. I believe he had been an SA, SN, QM3, QM2, QM1, QMC, Bosun, LCDR and CDR on the Tamaroa alone! It was around 2003 when he retired I believe!
As to the USLHS device, perhaps someone rightfully recognized that of all the organizations that eventually made up the USCG, the USLHS was the oldest.
You also may have forgotten that many in the USLHS had sea duty on lightships and buoy tenders. I would consider these people mariners, right?
This proves I should look up things before commenting. Also teach me about making comments too early in the morning.
As I remember, and I could be wrong, when the Bureau of Lighthouses came into the USCG, keepers had the choice of becoming enlisted or remaining civilian. Believe most remained civilian. So all those forward would be considered enlisted. I believe all the mates and skippers of the buoy tenders became officers, but not too high up the chain of command. They may also have had the choice.
Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM: I must be getting old. I wast stationed with Dowden on the Taney in 1960 when he was a first class.
I worked for then QMCS "Pappy" Dowden at Alameda about 38 years ago when I was a young SA just out of boot camp and waiting for Radioman School
In a short half-hour session, the Senior Chief taught me the basics of Coast Guard communications and how to use the island's one teletype which is where I was assigned until I left for Governors Island.
quote:
Clarence "Ed" Dowden still comes to the Golden Gate Chapter CPOA meetings and often attends our weekly hamburger and hot dog sales.
I'm sure that Pappy doesn't remember me but next time you see him, please tell him thanks for being a great leadership inspiration for the couple of months that I worked for him (August, 1970). Thanks!
As I remember, and I could be wrong, when the Bureau of Lighthouses came into the USCG, keepers had the choice of becoming enlisted or remaining civilian. Believe most remained civilian. So all those forward would be considered enlisted. I believe all the mates and skippers of the buoy tenders became officers, but not too high up the chain of command. They may also have had the choice.
So, again, I stand corrected!
-------------------- Doc, The last line about corrected, is, I don't think applicable. I have a doubt about the Keepers status.
Re-checked on the Historians web site and the uniform regs for the Masters and Mates show a gold chin strap - surely indicating semi-royalty. The Keepers though, show the same cap insignia but with a black patent leather chin strap.
So now I'm confused, were they considered officers or something else ???
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mastersmate,
Even during the USLHS period the Mates on their ships were considered officers. I believe when the Bureau of Lighthouses came into the USCG they remained officers. The question is whether they were commissioned USCG officers of did they stay in the status of like merchant marine. Keepers of lighthouses, as I remember, had the choice of remaining civilian keepers or becoming enlisted. I know there were still a number of civilian lighthouse keepers when I came into the USCG. I recall reading a letter in some archive, or a very early book, that many of the keepers wanted nothing to do with the USCG. I think the feeling was that way among the officer corps in the USCG. By the time the Bureau joined the USCG, probably the enlisted force was signed aboard for more than a year.
You might check with the U.S. Lighthouse Society to find this out. I admit I should know, but do not. I will almost bet there is a group of Lightship Sailors out there on the internet.
In running a search on this subject I came across this excerpt from a chronology of a man who was in the USLHS and subsequently brought into the Coast Guard. While the writer speaks of all these events as fact, I haven’t found any official documents to substantiate them.
“On May 9, 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced his reorganization plan II, under which the Lighthouse Service under the Department of Commerce would be transferred to the Treasury Department, and eventually to the U.S. Coast Guard. The transfer became effective on July 1, 1939. In one stroke of a pen, the Coast Guard expanded its ranks from 10,164 to 14,283 personnel, but there were complications. All of the 4,119 Lighthouse personnel were civilian employees not military. The process of incorporating these civilians into the Coast Guard would not be an easy task. Transfer of the Staff and equipment of the Bureau of Light Houses to Coast Guard headquarters was completed in less than a week. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Waesche appointed boards composed of three officers in each district to decide which lighthouse service employees would be permitted into induction into the coast guard, and also recommend ranks and rates for them. Light Keepers general became Chief or First Class Petty Officers, Junior Officers in tenders were offered warrant officer appointments and most tender masters and chief engineers were commissioned chief boatswains and chief machinist mate warrant officers.”
This seems about right. Believe some who held higher positions in D.C., were offered higher commissions. And I believe the keepers could remain civilian if they wished.
Thanx guys, that cleared up a whole lot. I guess then I'll recharge my pace-maker and let the silver ancient keep the LHS cap device, as long as the chin strap remains black patent leather. Now just need to figure out if the other one is wearing the chapeau backwards, or if it is just constructed bass ackwards.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Mastersmate,
I am running in tight right circles now because of a number of things, but you should try to look up one of the Masters of one of the tenders in Alaska that worked the chain, he is supposed to have been quite the character. I believe his service extended from USLHS and into USCG.
Being as I am running in circles I do not have the time right now, but if someone will remind me toward the end of January, I will see if I can dig up his name. (I will be gone for a while in January.)
As I recall between Hagstrom and Yost wereRAdm W. Stewart, Capt J. Webb, Capt E.O'Donnell, and RAdm R. Cueroni..........Glad to hear ol Clkarence Dowden is still alive and kicking. He was my striker on the Magnolia in 1947.
