Page of stuff under construction.
That's John W. Willmott at age four who went to war against The Hun in 1918
He survived and thought he'd like to join the Life Saving Service of the USCG.
***
But sh..... - watch your language, kid -- uh shucks, when I applied, they said you
be too young, not growed up and ain't got no education yet. Said get smart and git
yo nose and mind into everything and come back when you is graduated.
Anyway, out of kindergarten and into second grade at the big school up on the hill
I got much education including that there are bullies in the school yard and on the
streets who on account of their size, power and tagalong punks try to run everything
by brute force. I found most kids didn't like these bullies any more than I did. But
it seemed the janitor in charge and teachers were afraid of this one bully so we kids
suffered a while - but not forever.
One day some of the bigger boys lured him way out back, holding him against the
fence, punched him some. They called us smaller kids to get a lick or two in before
letting hm go. I didn't want to hit him like shooting a fish in the barrel but they said
he deserved a couple of whacks from me. So I gets close and hauled back to swat
him a good one when he kicked me in the shin bone which hurt like He.. - watch yo
language boy - hurt like all git out! I got angry and swung my foot high and mighty
into his crotch an he doubled up, smashed to the ground and laid in a head to toe
"fatal position" yellin' like a stuck pig and moanin' an whimpering like a sick girl!
From that, he never hit another kid and I learned that most kids and people are good
folks who just want to be left along and get on with their lives.
I also learned the value of rules that everyone must obey or people get hurt. I also
learned the value of having more good friends for protection than the few bullies had!
)ne day when my class was about to be promoted, the teacher took a picture of some
of us. In a few days she gave it to me for my mother who kept it for many years.
See it below:
Well, I got promoted but not graduated yet. Notice the "funny" clothes we all wore!
I, like most kids didn't get out of knee pants of knickers until High School unless we
belonged to the Boy Scouts and got to wear long as well as short pants, not knickers.
***
So what about the USCG? - Click to join The United States Coast Guard!
Did you know the USCG is the oldest U.S. military service. It was founded
in 1790 as the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service charged with preventing smugglers
beating the import tax?
It then became the U.S. Life Saving Service with it's duty to save lives along the
coasts and at sea as well as guard the coasts and enforce the law. The men were
called Surfmen because they launched small boats directly into the ocean surf to
rescue people from ships at sea in distress and which were wrecked on rocks or
the seacoast.
Surfman also stood watches in watchtowers for ships in distress or rockets fired by
the ship as a signal of distress.
And they did beach patrols along the ocean beach where they punched a time clock
theycarried with a key at a post standing above the high water mark which proved
they had completed their patrol on time.
In addition, they did picket duty in 38 foot picket boats sometimes anchored with
lights out in the inlets where smugglers sneaking in could be stopped.
The motto of the Surfman was "You have to go out. But you do not have to return!"
The Surfman was an enlisted man with high boat handling capabilites and experience
who received $60.00 per month, third class petty officer's pay plus per diem. And
his specialty was launching the 16 to 20 foot rowing boats directly into the high surf.
And the insignia was a gold life ring with crossed oars as on my unform below. The
gold shield on the sleeve cuff identified the wearer as part of the USCG.
Note too: I was taught to tie the necktie with a perfect dimple - or - do it over!
***
***
Gosh! I'm haunted by that huge picture. I shall put in a smaller one later so as not to scare you!
This was my official USCG photo taken in early 1935 shortly after high school graduation in 1934.
***
I served at the Fire Island USCG Life Saving Station off Bayshore, Long Island from 4 March 1935
until September 1935 when I was transferred to the Coast Guard - Fort Trumbull Radio Training
School (FTTS) at New london CT where I "converted" my advanced amateur radio experience into
the ability to operate all the Coast Guard radio equipment aboard ships and at shore stations.
More on that later Meantime:
For openers, I tack on an old faded picture I took of some of my shipmates of the
USCG Tampa at target practice using Colt 45 7 shot pistols on the firing range at
Egmont Key, Florida. I will come up with the date later from records.
But there was much before this and much after this before my 3 years enlistment
which began on 4, March 1935 and ended on 4 March, 1938 with an Honorable
Discharge in the name of one -
John W. Willmott, Service Number number 211-137!
Talk with, not to me by clicking this line!
Page original Sept. 10, 2005
Rev. Dec. 08, 2005 at 1538 EST
Rev. Apr. 30, 2006 at 1847 EDT
Rev. Sep. 18, 2006 at 1708 EDT