‘A Liking for the Sea’ | JFK and the USCG Eagle

A Continuous Lean ^ | 7/21/15 | Jared Paul Stern

[LibWhacker]

‘A Liking for the Sea’ | JFK and the USCG Eagle Jul 21st, 2015 | Categories: Americana, Jared Paul Stern | by Jared Paul Stern

A majestic sight greeted visitors to Portland, Maine’s waterfront the other day: the only active commissioned sailing vessel in American military service. The 295-ft. USCG Eagle, used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard, visited the city as part of the Tall Ships Portland Festival. The ship has a rather interesting history. Built as the German training vessel Horst Wessel in 1936, Adolf Hitler presided at its launch and once used living quarters aboard ship. It served to train German sailors in sail techniques until decommissioned at the start of World War II, then was re-commissioned in 1942 fitted with anti-aircraft guns. At the end of the conflict it was taken by the U.S. as part of war reparations and re-christened Eagle.

In August of 1962 President John F. Kennedy addressed cadets aboard the Eagle at the Navy Yard Annex in Washington, D.C. “The mission of the Coast Guard in your manual is to graduate young men with sound bodies, stout hearts, and alert minds, with a liking for the sea and its lore, and with that high sense of honor, loyalty, and obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership, well grounded in seamanship, the sciences, and the amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions of the commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard,” he reminded them. “The words I like best in this very important mission are ‘to graduate men with a liking for the sea,’ and I know that all of you share the great affection we have for that ever-changing ocean upon which we so much depend.”

Based at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, the ship is the is the seventh Coast Guard cutter to bear the name in a line dating back to 1792, including the Revenue Cutter Eagle which fought the British man-of-war Dispatch during the War of 1812. In 1976 the Coast Guard added their “racing stripe”, officially known as the Service Mark, to the Eagle’s hull – another Kennedy connection. The Service Mark was designed in 1964 by the industrial design office of Raymond Loewy Associates to help modernize the Coast Guard’s image. Loewy had worked with Jackie Kennedy to design colors for the Air Force One fleet, and the story goes JFK was so impressed with his work he suggested the entire Federal Government should have Loewy re-design its vessels and aircraft, starting with the Coast Guard.

 

 

[Fiddlstix]

[doorgunner69]

"Three" steering wheels? Power steering I suppose.

I like that shot of ol' Harry at the helm. He was a character, even if a democrat. If democrats these days were like him or Sam Evin, we would not be in such deep shiite. They were Americans first, democrats second.

[onedoug]

Beautiful ship.

[LibWhacker]

Three steering wheels

Yes, I was wondering about that, too. I'm a total landlubber and have no clue.

One thing that really gets me about these old sailing ships is... You could not be afraid of heights and make it as a sailor on one of those ships, right? Or did they let people who were afraid of heights do other jobs on the ship?

[BradyLS]

All my understanding stems from reading about the Age of Fighting Sail during the Napeolonic Wars. I’m sure others will furnish more precise information...

Generally, all sailors that were strong, sound, and whole of body were described as “able-bodied.” As a volunteer with a letter of recommendation, you were a prime candidate to join the crew of any ship taking on sailors. If you “knew the ropes” and could perform any task the petty officers demanded (handling the sails along the topmost yards of the mast, for example), you were rated or described as a “foretopman.” (The very best of the able-bodied handled the sails of the fore mast.)

But in those days, particularly in the British Navy, a lot of “volunteers” for the Royal Navy were involuntarily “impressed” into service by press gangs led by the junior commissioned and petty officers of ship to take anyone of able body to swell the ranks of the crew (often diminished by death, infirmity, or going AWOL as soon the ship reached a home port.)

In “working up the crew” during the first few weeks of a new cruise or commission, the officers would determine the ability, skills, and aptitude of their new mates and rate them accordingly. Most had no skills or no ability at handling sail (such as a deathly fear of heights in an older man) but they still might be able to do something. So, until they could learn the skills their new career as (un)willing seaman required, they were often stationed in the hold or “waist” of the ship to assist in the daily, routine, and inglorious tasks of their senior mates. And so they were called “waisters.”

[dfwgator]

After PT-109 I wouldn’t have let JFK anywhere near control of a ship.

[doorgunner69]

Heights be damned, they had to climb up there in the wind with the ship heeling all over the place.

Men were different then. My grandfather ran away from Ireland when he was 17-18 to go sailing on those things around the turn or the century. He had some stories that I was too young and ignorant to listen to.

[exnavy]

Correct in the no power steering catagory. Imaging trying to steer that vessel in 15 foot seas by yourself.

[LibWhacker]

Thank you, fascinating.

[MarchonDC09122009]

Thank you for posting this history and rare pictures of the USCG Eagle.
My son served aboard her at during his time at the Coast Guard Academy.
He said it was exhilarating standing on a 1 inch cable up 130’ feet working the sails, always ensuring one hand for you, one hand for the ship.
You can see the Eagle at dock at the Fort Trumbull Coast Guard station in CT during Christmas.
Beautiful ship and great Coasties.

[GreenLanternCorps]

Also, it is a handy ship to have to have aound if Natucket Island is thrown back in time several thousand years...

[BTCM]

What kind of commanding zero allows sleeping on watch?

[IncPen]

Sailing ping