quote:

COAST GUARD: 1942 vs Today

For the Swab Jockeys and Puddle Pirates on your list.

Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two;
About the way we ran the CG in Nineteen Forty Two.

When wooden ships and iron men were barely out of sight;
I am going to give you some facts just to set the record right.

We wore the ole bell bottoms, with a flat hat on our head;
Always hit the rack at night and never "went to bed."

Our uniforms were worn ashore and we were mighty proud;
Never thought of wearing civvies, in fact they were never allowed.

Now when a ship puts out to sea I'll tell you Son it hurts;
When suddenly you notice that half the crew is wearing skirts.

And it's hard for me to imagine, a female Boatswains Mate;
Stopping on the Quarterdeck to make sure her stockings are straight.

What happened to the KiYi brush, and the old salt-water bath;
Holy stoning decks at night cause you stirred old Bosn's wrath!

We always had our gedunk stand and lots of pogey bait;
And it always took a hitch or two ,just to make a rate.

In your seabag all your skivvies, were neatly stopped and rolled;
And the blankets on your sack had better have a three-inch fold.

Your little ditty bag, it is hard to believe just how much it held;
You wouldn't go ashore with pants that hadn't been spiked and belled.

We had scullery maids and succotash and good old SOS;
And when you felt like topping off, you headed for the mess.

Oh we had our belly robbers but there weren't too many gripes;
For the deck apes were never hungry and there were no starving snipes.
Now you never hear of Davy Jones, Shellbacks or Polliwogs;
And you never splice the main brace to receive your daily grog.

Now you never have to dog a watch or stand the main vent;
You even tie your lines today, back in my time they were bent.

We were all two-fisted drinkers and no one thought you sinned;
If you staggered back aboard your ship, three sheets to the wind.

And with just a couple hours of sleep you regained your usual luster;
Bright eyed and bushy tailed- you still made morning muster.

Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and now it's UCMJ;
Then the old man handled every thing if you should go astray.

Now they steer the ships with dials, and I wouldn't be surprised;
If some day they sailed the damned things from the beach computerized.

So when my earthly hitch is over, and the good Lord picks the best;
I'll walk right up to HIM and say, "Sir, I have but one request.

Let me sail the seas of Heaven in a coat of navy blue;
Like I did so long ago on earth way back in nineteen-forty-two.

quote:

Originally posted by geejaydee:
This showed up in my inbox today:

quote:

COAST GUARD: 1942 vs Today

For the Swab Jockeys and Puddle Pirates on your list.

Come gather round me lads and I'll tell you a thing or two;
About the way we ran the CG in Nineteen Forty Two.

When wooden ships and iron men were barely out of sight;
I am going to give you some facts just to set the record right.


Rocks and shoals have long since gone, and now it's UCMJ;
Then the old man handled every thing if you should go astray.

So when my earthly hitch is over, and the good Lord picks the best;
I'll walk right up to HIM and say, "Sir, I have but one request.

Let me sail the seas of Heaven in a coat of navy blue;
Like I did so long ago on earth way back in nineteen-forty-two.

quote:

Originally posted by CVA66er:

GJD,
Good post.

Wish my dad was here so I could discuss with him his time on the Greenland Patrol in '42....a conversation we sadly never had.

"Wooden ships and iron men."...
'Nuff said.

Thanks

quote:

Wish my dad was here so I could discuss with him his time on the Greenland Patrol in '42....a conversation we sadly never had.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

quote:

Wish my dad was here so I could discuss with him his time on the Greenland Patrol in '42....a conversation we sadly never had.

The CG historian's site used to have a lengthy article (nearly a book) called
"Deeath of a Wooden Shoe". Excellent read about the Greenland Patrol.

You may want to see if it is still posted there.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

quote:

Wish my dad was here so I could discuss with him his time on the Greenland Patrol in '42....a conversation we sadly never had.

The CG historian's site used to have a lengthy article (nearly a book) called
"Deeath of a Wooden Shoe". Excellent read about the Greenland Patrol.

You may want to see if it is still posted there.

quote:

Originally posted by CVA66er:

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

quote:

Wish my dad was here so I could discuss with him his time on the Greenland Patrol in '42....a conversation we sadly never had.

The CG historian's site used to have a lengthy article (nearly a book) called
"Deeath of a Wooden Shoe". Excellent read about the Greenland Patrol.

You may want to see if it is still posted there.

Thanks for the heads up. I'll try to find it.

I have had some comm. with John Long, who was kind enough to help me get in touch with a Coastie Greenlander from way back in the day and he shed some light on sub chaser duty that he (dad) likely had aboard the SC527 in '42-43. He also told me about a book titled "Splinter Fleet" about WWII subchasers, which I ordered and look forward to reading.

Thanks all for the leads.

quote:

Originally posted by Ex_CG_GM:

quote:

Wish my dad was here so I could discuss with him his time on the Greenland Patrol in '42....a conversation we sadly never had.

The CG historian's site used to have a lengthy article (nearly a book) called
"Deeath of a Wooden Shoe". Excellent read
about the Greenland Patrol.

You may want to see if it is still posted there.

quote:

Yes, it's still there! Thanks a million for mentioning it.

What a great, great story. I encourage everyone to read it.