Monday, March 21, 2005
Credit for the Coast Guard
My friend, Capt. Lou Colbus (U.S. Navy, ret.), emails me a copy of a letter sent to several flag and general officers (and others) by Coast Guard veteran Marvin Perrett that attempts to redress a number of oversights that must not continue. The letter published in its unedited entirety below speaks for itself.
Mr. Perrett, a former combat coxswain whose heroics in action during several of the most celebrated albeit hellish amphibious assaults of World War II, is the subject of a fascinating feature that was published in the January 2005 issue of COAST GUARD magazine.
We owe these guys so much more than any of us can ever repay. And slights like what you are about to see are simply unacceptable!
Mr. Perrett's letter follows:
TO:
The Honorable Francis J. Harvey, U.S. Army
Admiral Vernon E. Clark, U.S. Navy
General John P. Jumper, U.S. Air Force
General Michael Hagee, U.S. Marine Corps
Honorable David Vitter, Congressman
I have just returned from a 60th Anniversary visit to Iwo Jima. I was the sole D-Day Iwo Jima U.S. Coast Guardsman on tour with about 60 contemporary U.S. Marines. I departed this emotional and memorable ceremony misty eyed. The impressive and elite U. S. Marine Corps Band, failed to include the Coast Guard Marching Song “Semper Paratus!” in their musical Services salute! With Mt. Suribachi in the background, this slight was difficult to embrace.
History “101”
Just for the record, I was “Coxswain” of a HIGGINS boat (LCVP/PA33-21) stationed aboard the U.S.S. BAYFIELD (APA33) a U.S. Coast Guard manned Navy Assault troop transport, Atlantic and Pacific.
At D-Day Normandy, our dedicated and decorated Captain Lyndon Spencer, U.S.C.G., Combat Citation/Normandy; Croix de Guerre/with Gold Star, hosted RADM Don Pardee Moon, U.S.N., Maj. Gen. R.O. Barton, U.S. Army and Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., U.S. Army, as “Flagship” Utah Beach.
At the Invasion of Southern France the U.S.S. BAYFIELD hosted RADM S.S. Lewis, U.S.N., rendering us a “Flagship” for that engagement.
On February 19th 1945 (D-DAY Iwo Jima) we hosted Maj. Gen. Clifton B. Cates, U.S.M.C., Commanding General, with elements of his 4th Marine Division. I landed 4th Marines on D-DAY at Blue Beach One and lost my HIGGINS boat on my first trip in to the beach. It sunk out from under me! I have vivid memories of Iwo Jima to this day.
I have every reason to believe that if any of the aforementioned departed Officers were with us today, they would support my plea for UNITED STATES COAST GUARD recognition as a Sister Service Organization of WWII!!! We are not seeking favors. We deserve better. We earned it…the hard way!
It started with S/M 1/c Douglas A. Munro, U.S.C.G., Congressional Medal of Honor, 9/27/1942. He evacuated some 500 U.S. Marines via HIGGINS boats destined for extermination off Guadalcanal.
I am given to understand that the second American Flag and staff that was erected upon Mt. Suribachi was donated by Quartermaster Bob Resnick, U.S.C.G., from his LST-758. The Coast Guard was present, Big Time!
I humbly beseech you honorable and decorated Leaders to issue a directive to your Band Masters to include the U. S. Coast Guard marching song “Semper Paratus” henceforth and hereafter, at ALL SERVICE related programs where such is presented.
Respectfully yours,
Marvin Perrett, U.S.C.G.
“Coxswain” PA33-21 (WWII)
CC: Admiral Tom H. Collins, U.S. Coast Guard
P.S. I have just been advised that there is posted on Saipan, Service Ensigns, without that of the Coast Guard.
Please correct this! The Coast Guard was there also!! Not to mention OKINAWA, as well!
After publishing the letter, this morning, we received the following email from Marvin Perrett:
It was difficult to read amidst the tears of joy and pride still rolling down my cheeks at this writing!
We "Coasties" have suffered this slight down through the years.
Iwo Jima was the last straw for me. I was compelled to speak out on this, the biggest day of my life. It was more than I could bear. Sorry it came to this; however, this one is for my COAST GUARD shipmates, past, present, and future.
Semper Paratus!
~Marvin~
Semper Fidelis,
WTSjr
Mr. Perrett, a former combat coxswain whose heroics in action during several of the most celebrated albeit hellish amphibious assaults of World War II, is the subject of a fascinating feature that was published in the January 2005 issue of COAST GUARD magazine.
We owe these guys so much more than any of us can ever repay. And slights like what you are about to see are simply unacceptable!
Mr. Perrett's letter follows:
TO:
The Honorable Francis J. Harvey, U.S. Army
Admiral Vernon E. Clark, U.S. Navy
General John P. Jumper, U.S. Air Force
General Michael Hagee, U.S. Marine Corps
Honorable David Vitter, Congressman
I have just returned from a 60th Anniversary visit to Iwo Jima. I was the sole D-Day Iwo Jima U.S. Coast Guardsman on tour with about 60 contemporary U.S. Marines. I departed this emotional and memorable ceremony misty eyed. The impressive and elite U. S. Marine Corps Band, failed to include the Coast Guard Marching Song “Semper Paratus!” in their musical Services salute! With Mt. Suribachi in the background, this slight was difficult to embrace.
History “101”
Just for the record, I was “Coxswain” of a HIGGINS boat (LCVP/PA33-21) stationed aboard the U.S.S. BAYFIELD (APA33) a U.S. Coast Guard manned Navy Assault troop transport, Atlantic and Pacific.
At D-Day Normandy, our dedicated and decorated Captain Lyndon Spencer, U.S.C.G., Combat Citation/Normandy; Croix de Guerre/with Gold Star, hosted RADM Don Pardee Moon, U.S.N., Maj. Gen. R.O. Barton, U.S. Army and Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., U.S. Army, as “Flagship” Utah Beach.
At the Invasion of Southern France the U.S.S. BAYFIELD hosted RADM S.S. Lewis, U.S.N., rendering us a “Flagship” for that engagement.
On February 19th 1945 (D-DAY Iwo Jima) we hosted Maj. Gen. Clifton B. Cates, U.S.M.C., Commanding General, with elements of his 4th Marine Division. I landed 4th Marines on D-DAY at Blue Beach One and lost my HIGGINS boat on my first trip in to the beach. It sunk out from under me! I have vivid memories of Iwo Jima to this day.
I have every reason to believe that if any of the aforementioned departed Officers were with us today, they would support my plea for UNITED STATES COAST GUARD recognition as a Sister Service Organization of WWII!!! We are not seeking favors. We deserve better. We earned it…the hard way!
It started with S/M 1/c Douglas A. Munro, U.S.C.G., Congressional Medal of Honor, 9/27/1942. He evacuated some 500 U.S. Marines via HIGGINS boats destined for extermination off Guadalcanal.
I am given to understand that the second American Flag and staff that was erected upon Mt. Suribachi was donated by Quartermaster Bob Resnick, U.S.C.G., from his LST-758. The Coast Guard was present, Big Time!
I humbly beseech you honorable and decorated Leaders to issue a directive to your Band Masters to include the U. S. Coast Guard marching song “Semper Paratus” henceforth and hereafter, at ALL SERVICE related programs where such is presented.
Respectfully yours,
Marvin Perrett, U.S.C.G.
“Coxswain” PA33-21 (WWII)
CC: Admiral Tom H. Collins, U.S. Coast Guard
P.S. I have just been advised that there is posted on Saipan, Service Ensigns, without that of the Coast Guard.
Please correct this! The Coast Guard was there also!! Not to mention OKINAWA, as well!
After publishing the letter, this morning, we received the following email from Marvin Perrett:
It was difficult to read amidst the tears of joy and pride still rolling down my cheeks at this writing!
We "Coasties" have suffered this slight down through the years.
Iwo Jima was the last straw for me. I was compelled to speak out on this, the biggest day of my life. It was more than I could bear. Sorry it came to this; however, this one is for my COAST GUARD shipmates, past, present, and future.
Semper Paratus!
~Marvin~
Semper Fidelis,
WTSjr
# posted by W. Thomas Smith, Jr. @ 9:28 AM 
