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