United States Coast Guard Academy - Tide Rips Yearbook (New London, CT)

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AND thus it all began in the lethargic pause of mid-July. For some, this was the first step toward a career and fol- lowed closely upon the solemnity of high school commencement a few days before. For others, older and more seasoned by years on the campus or in the factory, it was the taking up of a new career, and all felt that curious ache in the stomach experienced by the master of a ship when he ventures into unknown waters. Certainly, the question uppermost in the minds of all of us was What will this day bring? Somewhere in the vast area of the United States, a train sped over the rails, each click of the wheels diminishing the dis- tance between the Class of 1945 and New London, Connecticut. The long ride provided a lot of time for meditation. Letters of recommendation, exams, physical exams accompanied by the usual questioning and probing — all these preliminaries were of the past, and the appointment to cadetship was an accomplished fact. Few of us knew much of the Coast Guard and what sort of reception we would receive here. The Academy was sort of CAPTAIN (E) W. M. PRALL Maintenance Officer CAPTAIN N. F. HAUGEN Executive Ofiicei

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REAR ADMIRAL JAMES PINE Superintendent of the Academy COMMANDER H. S. SHARP Commandant of Cadets ' H

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an etiiereal goal to reach and pass, and our knowledge of it was limited to the information passed out hy hooks and movies hased on military academies and service school life. Tlie thing that we were envisioning with romantic fervor was not very definite in our minds, hut it had something to do with gold and hlue and dress parades. Anyhow, we wished the long ride were over. The sun heamed hotly at high noon as the sigh of released steam and tlic grind of steel signified arrival at New London. Stepping from tlie train, we found that the gloom and sootincss of the small station oI)scurcd the hright sunlight. What sort of town was tliis going to he? The looks of the station were not very heartening. Taxi drivers with greasy caps puHed down over their eyes assured us that there were no husscs going to the Academy within walking distance, and vied with one another to sell rides. The winding streets struck a somewhat dismal