Well, this is because it wasnt here yet, and actually, I almost went myself. I was appointed to the Academy right after high school but went and got all girl crazy and blew it. Couldnt get the appt. reinstated after that. So after a few years, i ended up joining the Air Force. (Not that it was a second choice, it was just the right choice at the time)


Any Coasties in the mix?

 

Berg, here.

1970-1974. CGC Rockaway WAGO 377 then Barnegat Station, Barnegat Light, NJ

 

Cool! I was hoping there would be a few around. We went out with the Pararescue guys & S&R a few times to let them off with the CG AST's out of Sitka AK, it was cool flying that low over the ocean at night in a storm (in a completly scare the shit out of you type of way)

 

Costies have the most fun.

 

The guard has changed big time from when I was in. I saw The Guardian with my wife. She asked me if it was that tough. I laughed. When I on the Rock in '71 a Chief came up to me and asked if I could swim well. I said yeah OK. He said "then you are a rescue swimmer"

Barnegat Station was like a combination firehouse and frat house. We had a reunion there in 2002. Cripes! the Coasties carry guns now! Back in '73 we would have shot the windows out of the place

 

Marines and Coasties always had one thing in common. We hated the Navy.

 

The S&R and Pararescue guys where in it for some joint training, i was along for the ride playing with some nightvision/highspeed camera prototypes. It was crazynuts what those guys do, my hats off to them.

I havent seen that movie you mentioned, at least i dont remember it if i did, was it any good/realistic or just hollywood hype?

 

(tipping my hat to the Coasties)

 

It was a pretty good story. Starred Kevin Costner and Ashton Kutchner(spelling?). I don't know how realistic it is. Back when I was in, it wasn't so hard core; at least where I was stationed.

We did do our share of rescues. This was before the days of Sea Tow. So we also pulled in boats that were out of gas or just stuck on sand bars. We called ourselves Uncle Sam's Towing Service at times. 12 to 15 hundred cases in summer at Barnegat was the norm. Most were minor, but we got into some serious shit many times also.

Had a lot of cases of beer thrown aboard.

 

That alone is a reason to become a diver...