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Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers Some Suggestions To Assure Safe BoatingBr SCOTTY CAMPBILLKtwTrllNuM Staff WriterNational Safe Boiling Week, now being obwrved, might be t dry ittbjtct to, say, « firmer in Kansas, but Chief Warrant Officer Martin Hacker, commander of the local Coast Guard and William Uhl, commanding the CG Auxiliary fcere, point out- that it is 1 period •{ deep concern to residents of a ■witet'»urrourjd*d community such at Fort Pierce.Aa always, Chief Hacker points •tit, when a good cause or a need for assistance arises, the little understood and slightly * known Coast Guard Auxiliary is in there batting a thousand.What Is the Auxiliary, anyhow?In the early years of World War H, when the CG went under military control, there was need of aid from every boatman.available. — whether he plied a commercial fishing rig or a sportsman’s yacht.So, ia February, 1942, 12 interested boatmen of Fort Pierce formed the nucleus of Flottila 8, Division 5, Coast Guard Auxiliary, the local unit, The original group, under command of Frank Rowell, took active part in patrolling the coast line from Stewart to Melbourne and was at the beck and eall et the CG when emergencies aroee.Their aid during the war years was beyond dollar-ind-cenls valuation to the taxpayers/' Chief Hack* «T -Mated.Wow, during the safety week, the Auxiliary It In full action. Sunday, rix qualified members .held free inspections of boats; members are making regular patrols of waterways; safety instructions are being fiyen; and if there’s anything you rmd to know concerning rtiki *od regulations along the riven and canals of the community, consult any member erf the CGA.FuMte-InstructionPublic instruction concerning any phase of boating is one of the primary objects of the Auxiliary, While emphasis is given safety measures — such as proper equipment. aboard your boat, regular ■afcty check!, etc. — the unit also *ott overboard to instruct novices In the handling of their craft, mooring and docking procedures, rules -of inland waterways and the open hi, and many other valuable tip*.All this is gratis; the Auxiliarywork It voluntary.Other projects of the local CGA include sponsoring (and building) of the new Sea Scout Cabin on Seaway Drive; reorganising that Scout* • 1 '... •. a*Jer St:.:' ir: •. r(.( , ^HOLLYWOOD, California — Preston Foster, Honorary Commodore of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, awards the “Skipper rating to Kathleen Crowley, Miss Boating Safely, after she scored 100% on the “What's Your Boating LQ.?” quiz. The two stars of the television series “Waterfront are helping publicize National Boating Week, June 29.to July Z, which is being observed through theSt. Lucie county area. The Coast Guard has in past years sponsored the observance through its voluntary civilian affiliate, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, Industry and other boating organizations are joining with the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard in focusing public attention on the need to observe safe boating practices and keep this favorite recreation pleasurable and safe.group, which has been dormant until recently; sponsoring of the annual tri-Gounty Boat show here; and cleaning up and “fixing up” of' in island off St, Lucie into a boatman’s picnic area.•This week, from June 30 through July G, has been proclaimed National Safe Boating Week by President Eisenhower, and is sponsored by the Coast Guard Auxiliary — another of its projects. Using the slogan: “Sane Sailors Sail Safely, the CGA offers these suggestions, and points out that: “Many uninformed water enthusiasts, Who lost their lives last year, would be alive today had they followed these rules:”Follow Thttt Rulti1. Don't go out in bad or treating weather. (Are small craft warnings flying?)2. Wear your life preserver, (The wash from a steamer may capsize you — even on a calm day.)3. Tell people when and where you are going — don’t go elsewhere. (Your chances of rescueare improved 100 per cent.)4. Equip your boat properly, (a) Anchor? lt;b) Life preserver? (c) Oars?, (d) Spare gas? (e) Spare line? (f) Flashlight?) THEY MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE.5. Avoid excessive or sudden bursts of speed, (a) You may be thrown overboard by . a sudden turn,.suddenly gunning the throttle, or hitting a floating object or unnoticed sharp wave, (b) Many injuries have occurred by the owner's run-away-boat — to you, yourself — not to mention oilier boatmen or bathers.)6. BE A SWIMMER.7. Teli relatives that if you don’t return within a reasonable time to notify the. Coast Guard, giving the CG full information.8. If you capsize, HANG ONTO THE BOAT,9. THINK — don’t panic. (Thinking prevents accidents and aids rescue.)10. Don’t overload the boat. (Have plenty of freeboard.)Chief Hacker, in commenting on the IQ suggestions above as sub-milled by the Auxiliary, was in full accord.“If every boatman in St, Lucie County followed these suggestions, you'd find a lot fewer calls on our registers,” he said.Now Nvmbvrs 35 Mtmbtrt Most of the dozen men. Who launched the Auxiliary here during early days of the war are still active in the.organization — which now numbers 35 members with a flotilla of 12 craft and a radio station. 'Frank Rowell, as mentioned, was the initial commander, and .Robert Uhl now is in command. In between, down through the years, thefollowing have served as commanding officer of Flotilla 8, Division 5, U, S, Coast Guard Auxiliary:Robert Gladwin, Hybert Smith, Rulii Koblegard, Sr., S. Jennings, Jack Prindible, Don Thompson,Art Pottorff, and Harold Ankeny.
Newspaper Details
Fort Pierce News Tribune
Fort Pierce, Florida, US
Tue, Jul 01, 1958
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Beau B.
USA 27 Feb 2020
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