| The 1940s bring memories of tearful
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| | whole. Since fairness and individual
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| train-station good-byes, war bond drives,
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| | consideration of personnel had long been
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| ration cards and much-feared telegrams.
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| | standard, if not a tradition for the
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| To the soldiers, sailors and airmen of
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| | Coast Guard, the service welcomed the
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| that era, World War II was not just a
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| | newest ranks - women reservists - in the
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| far-off conflict, it was a reality. These
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| | same manner as those before them. The
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| young men were in the forefront in
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| | Coast Guard's policy did not change with
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| war-torn Europe and the battle grounds of
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| | the onset of women. It remained to make
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| the Pacific.
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| | use of its personnel to carry out the
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| A photo of Coast Guard spars But for the
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| | varied duties and responsibilities and to
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| women left behind, the reality of war was
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| | equally reward those who gave faithful
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| also close to home. These mothers,
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| | service.
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| daughters, sisters, wives and fiancées
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| | 10,000 women volunteer
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| of the brave young men wanted to do their
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| | The Coast Guard and the nation were in
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| part too and became soldiers, sailors and
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| | need, and America's young women
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| airmen - and even Coast Guardsmen in the
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| | responded. More than 10,000 women
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| global war.
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| | volunteered for service between 1942 and
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| On Nov. 23, 1942, legislation was
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| | 1946. This reserve corps also had its own
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| approved creating yet another arm of the
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| | commanding officer, Dorothy C. Stratton.
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| U.S. Coast Guard, one that would pave the
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| | A photo of Coast Guard spars Stratton was
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| way for Coast Guard women of today - The
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| | the dean of women on leave from Purdue
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| U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve, also
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| | University and a lieutenant in the Navy
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| known as the SPARs.
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| | Women's Reserve, also known as WAVEs. She
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| Although the Coast Guard had done many
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| | was promoted to lieutenant commander when
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| jobs since 1790 without taking women into
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| | she became the director of the SPARs and
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| its enlisted or officer ranks, the onset
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| | was later promoted to captain. In fact,
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| of a world war changed the course of
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| | it is believed that she was the
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| history for women in all the armed
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| | originator of the nickname SPARs. Their
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| services. When World War II came, the
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| | original name, WORCOGS, gave way to the
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| Coast Guard and the other services found
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| | nautical term and the contraction of the
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| themselves in great need of more men at
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| | Coast Guard's motto - Semper Paratus,
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| sea and more troops on foreign soil. They
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| | Always Ready.
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| acknowledged that filling U.S. shore jobs
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| | Patriotism is key
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| with women would allow more men to serve
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| | There were many reasons why these young
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| elsewhere and hasten the war effort.
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| | women joined the SPARs. One of the main
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| A photo of Coast Guard sparsSPARs provide
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| | reasons enlisted SPARs joined was
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| the answer
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| | patriotism. They expressed a desire to be
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| The SPARs were the answer to the Coast
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| | of more direct help in the war effort.
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| Guard's problem. These women were under
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| | Other reasons included a wish to relieve
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| military direction, and they were subject
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| | a man for active combat elsewhere, a
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| to assignment according to the needs of
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| | chance for self improvement or
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| the service. This was one of the key
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| | advancement, an opportunity for travel,
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| factors in using women as part of the
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| | and a desire for excitement and
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| military force. The jobs they were
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| | adventure.
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| filling could not have been done by
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| | Soon after the legislation was passed in
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| civilians working for the armed forces
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| | November 1942, a recruiting drive began
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| because they were not as mobile and did
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| | to build the SPAR corps. Although
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| not fall under military law and
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| | military services had been recruiting
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| discipline.
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| | their members for many years, SPAR
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| The establishment of the SPARs also
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| | recruiters faced two challenges -
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| showed legislative recognition of a
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| | recruiting women and recruiting them for
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| democratic woman's right to directly
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| | one of the least-known services.
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| participate as members of the armed
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| | In fact, in early 1944, Coast Guard
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| services in the joint war effort. Even
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| | Headquarters in Washington, issued a
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| their male counterparts thought highly of
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| | guidance memorandum for SPAR recruiting
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| the SPARs. "Uncle Sam needs the SPARs or
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| | officers. The recruiters were told not to
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| he'd never have them in uniform," said
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| | sit in an office and wait for the women
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| Coxswain Frank Bartlett. "They are a
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| | to walk in; they should go to the field
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| saving to the government. If they were
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| | and talk to prospective applicants and
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| civilian employees in civil service, they
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| | their families.
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| would be drawing high wages."
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| | They did just that, according to LT Kay
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| "As it is, they are drawing the same as
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| | Arthur, a former SPAR and co-author of
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| we are for the same job we once had," he
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| | Three Years Behind the Mast: The Story of
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| said. "We welcome them. They gave us our
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| | the Coast Guard SPARs. "When the memo
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| one and only chance for the job we want,
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| | arrived at a southern recruiting office,
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| - the sea."
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| | the staff had just returned from a trek
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| This new influx of personnel on the
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| | through a cotton field to secure
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| horizon raised some questions for the
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| | enlistment permission from a girl's irate
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| previously all-male service. Separate
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| | parents who were at work there," Arthur
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| housing and messing facilities and
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| | said.
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| personnel policies were among the issues
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| | Another aspect of SPAR recruiting was the
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| under consideration with this
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| | much-debated Tars and Spars music and
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| revolutionary concept. The service dealt
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| | dance show. The show was on the road in
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| with the berthing and messing problem by
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| | East Coast cities during the summer of
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| providing separate housing - often
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| | 1944. It is not known how much the show
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| dormitory style - for the newest Coast
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| | drew the attention of applicants, but
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| Guard personnel.
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| | SPAR officers did agree that the show
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| When it came to personnel policies, the
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| | raised the level of Coast
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| Coast Guard reflected on the issue as a
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| | Guard-consciousness as a whole.
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