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Pages That Mention COAST GUARD

Coast Guard District narrative histories 1945

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units furnished the paint for camouflaging and structures. The last of the stations was returned to its normal peace time color by the end of the summer, 1945.

DISTRICT OFFICE PERSONNEL

Prior to, and for almost a year following the consolidation of the Lighthouse Service and the Coast Guard, the Aids to Navigation Section was administered by an Associate Mechanical Engineer with the assistance of two clerks and a stenographer. Both operational and engineering activities were combined in this section until the District was reorganized according to the Coast Guard organization plan. Engineering duties were then delegated to a separate Engineering Section and the operation and maintenance of aids to navigation became the responsibility of the Section. The Associate Mechanical Engineer, later promoted to Nautical Scientist, administered the department until the assignment of an Aids to Navigation Officer in 1944. Until that time, however the staff had increased to two Coast Guard Officers (R) (male) and one SPAR Officer, three enlisted Coast Guardsmen and six enlisted SPARS. In 1945, an Assistant Aids to Navigation Officer, trained especially in electronic aids was assigned to the section.

There was a little overlapping of activities between the Aids to Navigation Section and other departments, although its duties followed closely, in many instances, those of the Engineering Section, Vessel Operations, Port Security, Communications and Communications Engineering. These parallels were, respectively, in regards to surveying sites and deteraining??? structures, the movements of tenders, position of buoys and restricted areas, the monitoring of stations at North Head and Meadowdale and the activities of RACONS and the LORAN systems.

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HISTORY OF

AIDS TO NAVIGATION OFFICE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD

Thirteenth Naval District

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FILE COPY

Return to Historical Section Public Information Division U.S. Coast Guard

HISTORY OF AIDS TO NAVIGATION OFFICE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD Thirteenth Naval District

Written and Prepared by Aids to Navigation Office Under Direction and Supervision of District Historical Office 13th Naval District UNITED STATES COAST GUARD 1945

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FOREWORD

A history of Aids to Navigation is, prior to 1939, a history of the Lighthouse Service. Since 1789, the Lighthouse Service had established and maintained navigational aids along all coasts of the United States and all its inland waters. In 1939, the Reorganization Plan II provided for the consolidation of the Bureau of Lighthouses with the Coast Guard. The transfer of the duties from the Bureau to the Coast Guard were made mainly to reduce expenditures to the fullest extent for the efficient operation of the Government. It was appreciated and understood that there was a natural reluctance of personnel to change from the Bureau to another Service. To overcome this hesitation, the transfer was effected by avoiding discharges wherever possible and "cutting" the personnel by not filling vacancies which were in effect at the time of the transfer.

The Secretary of the Treasury authorized the induction of officers and crew of tenders and Lightships, Keepers of Lighthouses and Depots, Light Attendants, Radio Electricians, Examiners and Maintenance Supervisors, as the duties of those positions were comparable with duties performed in the military service of the Coast Guard. In addition to those positions, there was a large group of positions which were analogous to those now held by civilian employees of the Coast Guard, such as draftsmen, mechanics, laborers, watchmen, messengers in the sub-professional and custodial duties and various positions in the clerical, administrative and physical service. This group continued exactly as before and received promotions and increase in

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pay in the same manner as other civilian employees of the Coast Guard. Personnel of the former Lighthouse Service were inducted into the grades and ratings of the Coast Guard on the same basis as other men of the Coast Guard in the same grades and ratings with respect to increase in the promotion and increase in pay. Because of the physical defects, some Lighthouse Servicemen were not inducted but were given every consideration when assignments, promotions and increases of pay were made. Some, who did not desire induction, retained their current civil status and were transferred to positions in the civil establishment either within the Coast Guard or some other department of the Government, as rapidly as positions permitted. Some of officers of the Lighthouse Service indicated that because they were classed as officers in their own service, they were not to be placed in an enlisted status. This opinion arose from a misconception of the duties of a Chief Petty Officer. Such an officer averaged about 14 years of Coast Guard or Naval Service, was trained in the military responsibilities of his position and was highly proficient in his specialty. As all Warrant Officers were selected from the grade of Chief Petty Officer, he was in direct line for promotion, and, since the number of Warrant and Chief Warrant Officers was more than half of that of Chief Petty Officers, his opportunities for promotion were excellent.

Thus it was seen that personnel of the Lighthouse Service who accepted appointments were placed in a very favorable position. They not only retained their higher pay status but they became eligible for promotions, increases in pay and other benefits accorded similar Coast Guard personnel.

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