USCG - USLSS LIFEBOAT STATIONS

[BuoyJumper]

Great photos.

The first one, with the District Superintendant just answered a nagging question. When the LSS superintendants were given CG commissions, what was the rank?? Third Lieutenant 

For the trivia file if of any interest. 1 July 1964 the title, Coast Guard Lifeboat Station was changed to Coast Guard Station.

The WW2 photo is interesting because it shows some of the crew wearing the "shore establishment" uniform and some the square rig uniform.  That "shore establishment" single breasted uniform is the model for the present day service dress (Bender Blues).

Oh well, off to the coffee pot for the rest of the A.M.

Dana ... Once again you have answered a question for me.  I always wondered why my Uncle BMC Newt Mathis was wearing a double breasted uniform in this 1943 photo of him with my Aunt Ruth and her dad EMC Harry Newell (USN) when in the photo of CGSTA #109 he was wearing a single breasted uniform.
Now I know, thanks .. it's great to have somebody with your knowledge of CG uniforms on these boards.

 

Chuck said, Your Grandad reminds me of mine.  Did he write on the backs with everybodys name? And did he have little things to say about the photo? I have some of my Grandads photos and he did that.

Chuck ... My grandfather Harold Wilkins usually wrote the names of the crew on the front of the photo with pencil.  I have spent many hours photoshopping photos to remove the names.  If an expanded explanation was needed he would usually write it on the back of the photo explaining what the crew was doing when the photo was taken.

[MastersMate]

Ron

The addition with your Aunt and the 1943 date add some more tidbits.

On your uncles right sleeve you can also see one of the marksman/sharpshooter distinguishing marks that were worn above the shield.

Yoy Aunts Dad, the EMC, is wearing the full size CPO anchor on his cap. The 3/4 version wasn't authorized until late 1944.

The crew at the station in the single breasted, all appear to have a couple of hashmarks. This would have them being in service prior to 1939. My earlier error in calling it the shore establishment. They would have enlisted in the "lifesaving branch" and the non rated would have been called surfman. Petty Officers would have been at the BM2 or MoMM2 rate. After 1939 all hands enlisted in the CG and wore the same square rig seamans uniform.

The 1943 shore establishment would have been the COTP, Dog & Horse Patrol etc. etc.

[SA716]

My Grandfather Norman Sutton was a USLSS Surfman  in 1910 Hereford Inlet,NJ; 1920 he is at USCG at Sea Isle City and Townsend Inlet; 1929 CBM(L) Sutton is OIC at CGS #134 Station Wildwood, (formerly Station Holly Beach), 1930 He is at N. Brigantine CGS # 121.He retired from USCG but was recalled to Active Duty April 1942 and served at Cape May NJ throughout the war. He died 1953 about a year before I was born. At time of his death he was Captain of the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol.
Bouyjumper I bet our GFs knew each other.

[MastersMate]

Might take a peek at this info from the CG Historians website. Click under BRIGANTINE and it has a bit of history about the station, and, it is tough to make out the printing, maybe his picture with the crew.
http://www.uscg.mil/history/stations/StationIndex.asp

[SA716]

It's him. N Sutton. I have the same picture of him. I also have a photo that looks like an official file photo. Has 7 hash stipes on left sleeve and USCG sheild on right Rank is CPO.
Are the hash stripes for 4 years each. My guess photo taken 1942 when recalled to AD.

[BuoyJumper]

My Grandfather Norman Sutton was a USLSS Surfman  in 1910 Hereford Inlet,NJ; 1920 he is at USCG at Sea Isle City and Townsend Inlet; 1929 CBM(L) Sutton is OIC at CGS #134 Station Wildwood, (formerly Station Holly Beach), 1930 He is at N. Brigantine CGS # 121.He retired from USCG but was recalled to Active Duty April 1942 and served at Cape May NJ throughout the war. He died 1953 about a year before I was born. At time of his death he was Captain of the Wildwood Crest Beach Patrol.
Bouyjumper I bet our GFs knew each other.

Rusty ... Welcome aboard.  They probably did know each other.  The surfman on the Jersey shore were a pretty tight knit bunch.  I know my grandfather spent quite a bit of time down in Brigantine.  His family was from Barnegat and Waretown.  In fact our family plot is in Waretown.
Gotta run, catch you later ....... Ron

[vftb]

Are the hash stripes for 4 years each.

Yep.  Welcome aboard Rusty, and thanks for posting