Cape May and the Coast Guard ‘Community’ in 1967

“What I remember the most about the town of Cape May was the friendliness of the residents and visitors…when walking through Cape May in uniform I was greeted with smiles, a nod of the head or a hello and good luck.” (Recruit Bruce Rhoades) 
In 1967, Cape May County residents, like the rest of the country, tried to reconcile a new conflict that emerged between their deeply-held traditional values learned during and immediately after World War II, and the beginning of a new and radical era of self-absorption and rebellion by some younger elements of society in the 1960s.
This penchant for challenging authority of any kind by many young people contrasted, sometimes violently, with the need for discipline and dedication to duty during the war in Southeast Asia.
By 1967, America suffered both overseas and at home because of that struggle. 
That year, 1967, was also the year that gave birth to the Avalon (later Cape May County) Herald. Just as the Herald was beginning its life as a new chronicler of life in the county, the Coast Guard began a new chapter in its history that included going to war in Vietnam.
Training Center (TRACEN) Cape May trained the sailors that the Coast Guard needed to fulfill its mission at home and abroad.
TRACEN Cape May was, and still is the U.S. Coast Guard’s “home town.”
That expression pertains to the fact that all Coast Guard enlisted and some officers began their Coast Guard “experience” at the basic training base in Cape May.
The Herald takes a 50-year step back in county history to tell the stories of a few Coast Guardsmen who reported to Cape May during the “days of rage” to proudly serve their country and their community while the rest of society seemed intent on tearing itself apart.
So what was the participation by the Coast Guard in the war 50 years ago when the Herald was born?
Coast Guard War Begins in Cape May
TRACEN Cape May trained 8,000 Coast Guardsmen who fought alongside their Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine brothers.
The war in Vietnam was reaching an unprecedented level of violence by the time that the first edition of the Avalon Herald was published in August 1967. 
According to Eugene N. Tulich of the Coast Guard Historian’s Office, “Fifty-six different combatant vessels were assigned to duty there. They participated in and were normally the primary unit in all trawler destructions.
“This alone set the VC (Viet Cong) and NVA  (North Vietnamese Army) back many months. The statistics show that Coast Guard units boarded nearly a quarter of a million junks and sampans in the attempt to stop infiltration.
“These cutters also participated in nearly 6,000 NGFS (Naval Gunfire Support) missions causing extensive damage to the enemy.”
The Coast Guard sustained seven Coast Guardsmen killed in action, with 59 wounded in action during the war.
The Herald has managed to track down some of those veterans who have a story to tell, beginning with their Cape May County experiences at TRACEN Cape May.
After 50 years, their memories are clear; to a man, their memories are fond and warm hearted expressions of gratitude to the people of Cape May County.
Cape May “Coasties” Tell Their Story
“I, my highly-polished rifle, and my pride lay flat out on the blacktop.” (Recruit Dale L. Veach)
Dale L. Veach’s Coast Guard career began with an embarrassing tumble in Cape May, and nearly ended a few months later when he was wounded after his boat was hit by a rocket propelled grenade in Vietnam.
“Cape May was a nice area, but we saw little of it in 1967.  My biggest memory of boot (camp) was Hurricane Doria that came ashore on Sept 15-16 along the Atlantic coast. 
“I remember being in boot only a few days when we got trucked to town (Cape May) and filled and stacked sand bags. Raining like all get out, blowing sideways, and all of us wet to the bone. 
“It was a very long two days.  Wet, tired and cold. Everyone on liberty was called back, and it was a full base effort to do what we could.”
“Another memory, embarrassing as it was, was when I was in Honor Guard.  We were doing a graduating ceremony for one of the companies. I was colors captain for the Honor Guard. While on the parade grounds outside, standing at attention during the grad ceremony, in front of every living soul in attendance, including family friends, graduates, shipmates, officers, commandant, you name it, I passed out cold and dropped like a rock. 
“I felt myself slowly going, and said to the shipmate next to me I was “going down.”  He tried to slow my descent.  My highly-polished rifle and my pride lay flat out on the blacktop.  Next thing I remember, I’m being walked off to sickbay.” 
 “From August of 1969 to June of 1970, I was with USCG Squadron 1, Division 13, in Cat Lo, Vietnam.
“Cat Lo was on the Song Dinh River directly northeast of, and a part of, the Mekong Delta river region where I spent time on board the CGC Point Grace, (CG82323).   
“The objective was to stop enemy infiltration and movement in the Mekong River Delta complex along with the U.S. Navy.  Patrols would cruise rivers and canals in efforts to capture enemy forces and their supplies, weapons, etc. Some rivers and canals were very narrow.  The cutter would have to back out to a cross canal or wider area to attempt to turn the 180 degrees needed to exit the waterway. 
“VC (Viet Cong) would attempt to disable and ground the 82-footer which would then be blocking the canal thus trapping the Navy boat upstream with no way to exit.  I don’t remember the date or river name, but we took considerable small arms fire as well as a rocket attack from both sides of the canal. 
“The picture attached shows a damage control man, welding a plate over the RPG (rocket propelled grenade) hole with the Point Grace back in Cat Lo.
“I received several burns on my side and right knee as a result of that firefight and rocket attack.” 
Dale was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio and resides in Greenville, S.C.
“The storms had torn a gash in the five-inch gun mount (quarter-inch armor plating), tore away deck gear and stripped the paint from the bow to amidships.” (Recruit Fred Pininski)
Fred Pininski enlisted at 17 after high school graduation. He recalled, “My family was upset, but I returned my acceptance letter to the University of Massachusetts and went to see the recruiter.  I chose the Coast Guard because my favorite uncle had flown anti-submarine warfare patrols during World War II with the Coast Guard. The experiences and places visited shaped the rest of my life.  Cape May did remind me of the small beach towns of Cape Cod.”
“The training was intense,” he stated.
Recruits had to run the quad with port arms, learn firefighting, that included walking into the flames in a mock-up ship, but he felt gratified by learning this critical skill. 
In Vietnam, Pininski spent endless days patrolling for “Operation Market Time,” with time firing on suspected VC camps. 
“My last year in the Coast Guard was on another 255-foot cutter; the Owasco homeported in New London, Conn.  We left a week before Christmas; we refueled in St John’s (Newfoundland) where I called home to my wife. It was my 21st birthday. 
“On New Year’s Eve, we were hit by a North Atlantic gale, 50-foot-plus seas and 70-knot (80.5 mph) winds. There are no atheists at sea.  “Three weeks later as we pulled into New London, people were shocked.  The storms had torn a gash in the five-inch gun mount (quarter-inch “armor plating), tore away deck gear and stripped the paint from the bow to amidships.”
“After separation, I went to college on the GI Bill while working full time. I spent the next 45 years working in the Information Technology field.  I just joined the Coast Guard Auxiliary. “
“I had to provide the poor mosquito a proper burial in front of the entire company that included a prayer and the singing of the National Anthem.” (Recruit Bruce Rhoades)
Bruce Rhoades grew up in Hershey, Pa.
“In many respects, Cape May reminded me of Hershey. Both were small tourist towns where everyone seemed to know everyone else. What I remember the most about the town of Cape May was the friendliness of the residents and visitors…when walking through Cape May in uniform I was greeted with smiles, a nod of the head or a hello and good luck.
“My experience from the residents was most respectful. This was a time when men and women in uniform were seen very differently from the general populace. (Note: the war caused lots of friction between the military and some civilians)”
“I remember one evening our company was mustered outside of the barracks. Since it was summer, the mosquitoes were terrible and were eating us alive. I didn’t know if this was part of the training or we were just mosquito food. Anyway, I brushed the mosquitoes off my nose hoping no one would notice. Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky and got caught.
“As a result, I had to provide the poor mosquito a proper burial in front of the entire company that included a prayer and the singing of the National Anthem.”
“There was also a rumor that a Coast Guard cutter was being readied for a tour of duty off the coast of Vietnam. After two to three weeks, I was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WHEC-32).
“The Campbell patrolled the Vietnamese coast from the Mekong (River) to the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) for the purpose of searching vessels for contraband arms and ammunition by the Viet Cong, gun fire support for U.S. troops onshore and the support of Naval Swift Boats (PCFs – Patrol Craft Fast). “
“I have a lot of memories of the time on the Campbell during its deployment off the coast of Vietnam. Especially the crew and the ports of call. Guam, Subic Bay, Thailand, Singapore, Formosa, Japan, Hong Kong.
“One bad memory I have is when the Campbell was one of the first ships on the scene after the sinking of PCF-19 (June 16, 1968) by what was told to us was the result of friendly fire. The Campbell was called to general quarters. When we arrived on the scene, which was just after midnight, we could smell JP5 fuel and could see only a fuel slick.
“The boat was gone with four crew members killed and two badly injured. The Campbell had just serviced PCF-19 just hours earlier along with PCF-12.”
Rhoades completed his education at Penn State and has been married for 47 years with two children and a grandchild.
“I will always remember how nice and welcoming the people from Wildwood and Cape May were to all of us.” (Recruit Russ A. Allyson)
As an 18-year-old from New Hampshire, Russ A. Allyson spent the next eight weeks in Cape May, a time that would “change my life forever.” 
“From the time we were picked up by the USCG bus in Cape May until our graduation eight weeks later, we were molded from young kids to responsible adults.
“Every time we left a building, we had to be running unless there was a quick stop to salute an officer, then we were back to double-time. Our meals in the mess hall had to be eaten without talking and your “eyes in the boat” (straight ahead) and we had to make sure that we finished everything we were served.
“After the fourth week, we got to go to the commissary. This was a glorious treat. I never thought I would miss the simple things in life like a burger or soda.
“After our sixth week, we were granted a weekend pass, and we went to Wildwood and cruised the boardwalk. I will always remember how nice and welcoming the people from Wildwood, and Cape May were to all of us.  It was a great feeling as this was the first time many of us had been away from home.”
The U.S. Coast Guard in Cape May County has a long history that includes preparing men, and now women, for their roles as guardians of the sea in peace time and war.
In 1967, the Herald began its close association with the Coast Guard that has blossomed into a full-scale romance of sorts as residents, the Herald and “Coasties” came together as a community; the recognition of that special relationship came in 2015 when the Cape May County area was declared a “Coast Guard Community.”
Cape May County residents may not realize the deep and affectionate feelings those guardians have for Cape May since their days at TRACEN in 1967, but it seems clear that these men recall Cape May County fondly.