1981 SAR Case off Atlantic City

[PACS Steve Carleton]

We received a request for information on the Clam Boat Funny Face that sank off Atlantic City in 1981.

I can't seem to find anything in our historical records, would anyone know anything about the case or have responded to it (Bill, Wray or any of the other retirees?)

[AMTCM John Long]

Call the PAO at Atlantic City and have them look in the CGAS Cape May scrap book. Often times some great info from days gone by can be found in there.

John

[PACS Steve Carleton]

Call the PAO at Atlantic City and have them look in the CGAS Cape May scrap book. Often times some great info from days gone by can be found in there.

John


My PA Detachment in Atlantic City tried that angle and no luck. If memory serves AS AC wasn't stood up until mid 90s when Brooklyn and Cape May were merged.

[AMTCM John Long]

"My PA Detachment in Atlantic City tried that angle and no luck. If memory serves AS AC wasn't stood up until mid 90s when Brooklyn and Cape May were merged."

Steve,

Sounds about right. Often times the units will retain the scrap books when they merge or shift. I can check out the Historian's Office if you want. Send me an email at work and let me know.

John

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Since this was probably a small case, the best source would be the local press. I did a LEXIS-NEXIS search and nothing popped up.

Also the offical Coast Guard records may not have been released to the National Archives as yet. I am not sure which station would have handled the case. However, the National Archives has regionalized records and a New Jersey station (as well as the old D3 records) may have its old records at Suitland, MD. or in Waltham, Mass.

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

Did you check STA Atlantic City for a scapbook?

As you are finding out, it is extremely difficult to find out info on rescues in the modern day USCG, which is why many people do not write on the subject. Bill is correct in trying to locate something in local newspapers.


See if you can find out who was CO or OinC of STA Atlantic City and try that approach.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

We have the LANTAREA Historian right here in our office. This is actually one of his research requests he received.

We are going to try the angle of looking up Station CO and working through the channel. - Thanks for the tip.

The problem with this "modern" CG History is that everyone does a decent job of cataloging the large cases, but it is those day-in-day-out cases that seem to slip through the cracks.

We are still working this, but not pressing front burner stuff.

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

Actually, many of the "big" cases slip through the cracks.

Believe all units are supposed to send an electronic SAR message to district. Also, check on STA Atlantic City and see where they send their SAR case folders. Might even have still in their files.

[BMCM Bill James]

I know a certain LT Thad Allen was the Commander of Group Atlantic City, but that was probably before 1981...maybe he'd know some names? Might also try BMCM Tom Baker...he was in NJ around then...

[CWO Dana Lewis (QMC) (Ret)]

Another source possibly, the archives/back issues from the National Fisherman magazine out of Camden, Maine. It may have been called Maine Coast Fisherman back then, but they had a section on the various industry happenings along the coastlines.

[BMCS Dave Considine]

I think your best best is the National Archives as mentioned. Make a day out of it. There are some historians in the North East I can point you toward that have down the Archive trip before.

I have packed the SAR case files for a station before, fairly straight forward. The items inside are listed, and inside is another index. It shouldn't take you that long once you get there.

Let me know if you want the name of the guy who has "been there, done that." I am fairly certain the time frame was 7 years at the station - then archive, since this was 1981 I'd bet they are there.

[GMCM Bill Wells (Ret)]

Dave,

One rule of working at the National Archives is never assume it will take but a day. It could be the Coast Guard has not released these records to the National Archives.

My suggestion before going to the national archives is send an email to them to see if the file is there or if the CG has released it. I've had pretty good luck with getting information for a single topic.

[PACS Steve Carleton]

Dr. Browning, Thiesen and I think the PACAREA Historian along with a few Auxiliarists were involved in reviewing a massive records pull from NARA last fall, sverel hundred boxes of CG Records, included case logs, etc.

Since it is hard to say what someone is likely to want to research later on down the road, I think all of these records need to be scanned and maintained in some sort of searchable digital and retrievable archive within the Coast Guard prior to releasing them to NARA.

If I can pull the hand written note that Elvis penned to President Nixon, why can't I pull a case log from a SAR Case in 1981?

[MSTCS Dennis Noble (Ret.)]

As one who has researched USCG records in both the National Archives and Federal Records Center (FRC)--where you are apt to find the SAR records--for over 30 years now, I would take Bill Wells' suggestion very seriously. First find out which Federal Records Center the station falls under. Then E-mail them and find out if they can find the records. (It will be in Record Group 26(RG26)) Otherwise, you might spend over a day waiting to see if they can find the records, only to be told there is nothing, or come back later while they continue searching. I have done this too many times. There is nothing more frustrating than waiting in a FRC. (Many years ago when I used the FRC in Suitland, MD., the service in RG26 you got depended, literally, on how the archivist felt that day, or if he did not like your looks--I am not making this up! If he felt bad, or did not like your looks, it took him forever to get the records. Again, I am not making this up!)

Next, if the Federal Records Center does not have the records, then go to the main Archives in Washington, D.C., and go through the same procedure. I think, however, if you can find them they are going to be in the FRC--they are a part of the National Archives, they act as a sorting place and takes the pressure off the main archives.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but why you can find something written to President Nixon by Elvis and not a case file is because: 1) presidental papers are considered much more important than RG26; 2) presidental papers have people trained in archival work and management--there is as far as I know, no one in the USCG that is trained in that field, thus it is very lucky that anything makes it to the archives or FRC; 3) most of the time a FRC receives boxes from the USCG poorly labeled, etc., and because of reason 1) above, the material is just left sitting in the box on a back shelve that is forgotten.

But, you may be lucky and have an archivist find what you are looking for. Again, save yourself a lot of time and frustration. E-mail, or call, the FRC that services the region the station is located within. If that is not successful, repeat the process at the archives. (Believe the FRCs have a web site that tells which region they service.)