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

Page 33 text:

i»Sa- Corps ' «air and ipper ■son Lieu- was ibn Dan- ni»- m llip ihal lore rhe )ur or- nee ries k- la oli Salem Air Station — our introduction to the Coast Guard 4ir Arr Now for what niade things worthwhile. Lib- erty was granted every other night. Most of the boys made interesting connections as a re- sult of a big dance thrown for us by the local belles of Salem Town. The most popular spttt of all was the SPAR barracks at Marblehead where intra-ser ice morale was heightened no little. Just ask Patty Shuff or Red Starr about the Marblehead rugcutting and you will get either a blush, a wink, or a story. The Salem venture remained one of the most pleasant experiences in our four years at Uncle Sam ' s Academy. 0 ' i 9 Ready for thr first hop.

Page 32 text:

S ctn ( %uc ie I he hoys (.(iptdin Kmitc Hiinscii. First Mate lAtn dVdttd. Second Mali ' Hornirr. I lliril Male Aci sc i. Tlie first rare Itreatli of freefhiin — that is the way the cUjss leineiiihers our little trip to Sa- lem. After being the door mats of the Corps for one year, we rereived a taste of free air when we went on board the Danmark and ' Atlantic . We were to be away from the upper class for the first time, for we had left the Class of 47 preparing for their exams. We were ready for a three weeks rest at Salem Air Station. Those on the Atlantic found themselves on a well-run sliip. I nder the command of Lieu- tenant Connnander Winstead, emphasis was placed on getting the work done rather than on regulations. Those sentenced to the Dan- mark found themselves enmeshed in a strug- gle w ith the elements in order to keep the great white boat white, the brass polished, and the engine unused. When we arrived at Salem, we found that we were to live on board ship, and go ashore every other day to receive instruction. The pertinent question was how to get ashore. Our running boats succeeded in staying out of or- der most of the time, but we managed. Once ashore, the training, which consisted of a series of restful training films and non-technical lec- tures, was relaxing. Then came the big thrill our first hop in a PB-Y. We were allowed to handle the controls and got the feel of a flying boat. Our imagina- tittns bridged the years to when we could pin on those silver wings. The hot pilots were our heroes. your htiik into it. Sum!

Page 34 text:

TViZ e Cdd Between the COBB an. I MACKINAW cruises came the pleasant sojourn to Wakefield. Mas- sachusetts, for a week of firinj: at llie Kifle Range. Instead of eiicoiiiilerinf: new kinds of paint to scrape, we found ourselves resting coni- forlahly in non-rocking l)arrarks. With 45 min- utes hefore the first formation in the morning. we could get up gradually, like the old civilian times. The day ' s activity included eight pleas- ant hours of firing with Miss Springfield and Squeeze That SIidI Off. Realistic demonslralioii i f ulxil lite Kr .s Vi If ill Do Brother Coll. In the evenings our time was free to spend in the well-stocked canteen or playing softhall in the field. When the weekend came, liberty was ex- tended for all hands, with those living in the icinity receiving a weekend. It was amazing how many boys suddenly developed near rela- tives around Boston. How they managed to hide a Boston background behind a Southern drawl and Western twang was hard to under- stand. Lest we forget, there was Chief Warrant Bur- bine who demonstrated, one peaceful after noon, that a Reising. held loosely in a hori- zontal plane, could spray bullets in a wide arc around the wielder. We were convinced. Where Experts Are Made