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