The bowsprit [vol. 2, no. 2]

              THE BOWSPRIT
DECEMBER 16, 1944
Palm   Beach," Florida
Vol. 2, No. 2
SPAR BIRTHDAY" THANKSGIVING
CADETS GRADUATE
Forty-one cadets received reserve
commissions as Ensigns in the United
States Coast Guard at appropriate ceremonies 5 December here.
Distinguished visitors on the station
who took part in the commissioning
services were Rear-Admiral Walter S.
Anderson, USN, Commander of the
7th Naval District; Rear-Admiral
Lloyd T. Chalker, Assistant Commandant of the United States Coast Guard;
Col. Bayard Johnson, Commander
Caribbean Wing A.T.C.; Captain J. E.
Whitbeck, DCGO 7th Naval District.
The graduation exercises followed a
review of the cadets held in the patio
at  1000. -*f
The principal address on the program was delivered by Admiral Chalker who charged the class to maintain
the high standards set by other SPAR
pay and  supply officers.
The delightful wit of Admiral An*
derson was revealed in a brief congratulatory speech. Lt. Chaiken, officer in charge of the Pay and Supply
School, praised the class as being particularly cooperative in making an
earnest effort to master a "stiff"
course. Captain W. W. Kenner presided.
Musical selections by the station
band   and   HA2c   Shirley   Plaice  were
A buffet luncheon was served in
the wardroom at noon in honor of
the visiting dignitaries and the graduating class. A reception was held at
the Sun and Surf Club and 1700.
These new Ensigns complete the
SPAR officer quota under present
plans. Rose Zilka, last to receive her
commission at these ceremonies is the
921st SPAR so cotfunissioned. Of
these, 106 have received their com
missions  on   this   station.
OVERSEAS SERVICE
FOR SPARS
Captain Dorothy C. Stratton, National Director of SPARs, has returned
from Hawaii, where she has been investigating housing facilities for women reservists soon to be assigned
there. SPARs under the "petticoat
Navy'' bill will go on duty in Honolulu and Ketchikan, Alaska. It is estimated that between 100 and 200
members of the Coast Guard Reserve
will receive such assignments to Honolulu and it is expected that they will
arrive  sometime  during  January.
In Alaska, where housing facilities
are not yet available, billets will be
open to about 300 SPARs.
Duty overseas may be expected to
last at least 18 months. Qualifier
(Continued  on  Page  Eight)
23 November 1944 was cause for
double celebration. It was the Second
Anniversary of the organization of
the U. S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve as well as Thanksgiving Day.
In accordance with Miss Stratton's
anniversary message to SPARs, the day
was observed with SPARs remaining
"on the job" carrying on "business as
usual." The Regimental Review was
held at Poinciana Drill Field and
troops were reviewed by Colonel Richard T. Kight, Commanding Officer,
Morrison  Field.
As the SPARs round out their second year of service they bring to a
culmination the program undertaken
on 23 November 1942. The goal of
10,000 enlisted women and 1,000 officers is almost reached. Now SPARs
are doing the equivalent of 76 civilian
jobs and  hold  26 specialty ratings.
After Regimental Review Thanksgiving Dinner was served to all personnel and  their immediate families.
At 6:00 a movie was shown in the
Library and at 8:30 a Ship's Birthday
Dance was held in the patio. The party was climaxed with Captain Kenner
cutting the Birthday Cake with his
sword.
SPAR BAND PERFORMS
IN MIAMI
On Friday the 24th of November,
the station band left to play at the
Orange Bowl Football game. The
band marched onto the field at the
half, followed by the SPAR drill team
from Miami, and a company of the
SPARs  stationed  in Miami.
The Auburn vs. Miami game was
held at the famous Florida Orange
Bowl on Friday evening, so the band
members stayed in Miami overnight,
and returned on Saturday. Most of
the band stayed in the SPAR barracks there, and paid for the hospitality they received by playing a short
concert  before   chow  Friday.
The performance by the SPARs at
the half was part of the second birthday celebration. Several SPAR officers from our station were there to
see the band perform and to watch an
exciting  game.