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About The Siuslaw news. (Florence, Lane County, Or.) 1960-current | View Entire Issue (March 23, 2019)
10A | SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019 | SIUSLAW NEWS Women’s History Month Celebrating women of character and courage at U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River A weekly roundup of shopping, savings and doings around town. Story & Photos by By Deborah Heldt Cordone USCGAUX PA3 Residential Organizing & Senior Downsizing Assistance M arch is National Wom- en’s History Month and an opportunity to celebrate women who serve in our ac- tive-duty military at U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River. During this month of tribute, observed annually in the U.S. since 1987, we embrace and highlight women’s contribu- tions to society, culture, and history. DEBORAH MOYER - CRTS, CPC Owner/President Our Services Include: • Certified Senior Downsizing Assistance • Home & Office Organizing • 3D Space Planning • Certified Life Transitions Coach Phone: 541-999-7972 FREE Initial Consultation! yourorganizinganswer@earthlink.net www.YourOrganizingAnswer.com THE OLD SCHOOL FURNITURE STORE 1550 HWY 101 & 6TH 541-997-9424 Monday - Saturday 10-6 FREE FLORENCE DELIVERY History of Women in the Coast Guard Women have played a major role in the U.S. Coast Guard and its predecessor services for a nearly 228- year history. The organization has been cutting edge in empowering and em- bracing women as equals in a normally male-dominated field, allowing for many “firsts” in military history. Women began performing lighthouse duties as early as 1776 in Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War. By 1830, women were officially appointed as lighthouse keep- ers, after assisting their hus- bands as keepers for genera- tions, in the predecessor U.S. Lighthouse Service. One of the most famous lighthouse keepers, the coura- geous Ida Lewis, began help- ing her parents tend a Rhode Island light when she was only 15 years old. She was appoint- ed as a lighthouse keeper in 1879 and is credited with sav- ing at least 18 lives during her tenure. She was awarded the Gold Lifesaving Medal, named a Carnegie Hero beneficiary, and had a 175 ft. USCG buoy tender named after her. For her heroics, she was visited by many dignitaries including presidents and even Elizabeth Stanton of the women’s suf- frage movement. In 2018, Ida Lewis became the first woman to have a road named after her at Arlington National Ceme- tery. In World War I, women served in a uniformed capaci- ty for the Coast Guard as Yeo- men, or office clerks. In World War II, women were recruited for the female SPARS corps as enlisted personnel and offi- cers. After the war, all women’s military reserve branches were disbanded and the SPARs end- ed their duties, although a few SPARs remained in the Coast Guard Reserve. During the Ko- rean conflict, about 200 wom- en volunteered for active-duty. In the early 1970s, the Coast Guard emerged as a policy leader for women in the mili- tary. Congressional legislation allowed women to serve along- side men in both the regular Coast Guard and Coast Guard Reserves. In 1973, the first small group of female officer candidates attended Officer Candidate School, being the first military agency to allow such. Those five female officer candidates trained aboard a cutter — the first time in U.S. history that women trained aboard a U.S. military vessel beside male counterparts. All five of those officer can- didates graduated. By the end 1973, the Coast Guard was also integrating women into its enlisted ranks, with the first group of wom- en sworn in, and then attend- ing Cape May for training in 1974, resulting in 30 female graduates. In 1975, continuing to assure equal opportunities for women, the Coast Guard allowed women to apply and eventually attend the Coast Guard Academy. Another first, as the Coast Guard made military history by offering appointments to female appli- cants. NEW FURNITURE ARRIVING WEEKLY FROM GREAT MANUFACTURES The women who serve at U.S. Coast Guard Station Siuslaw River (from left): BM2 Sierra Schlager (who can be seen above at the helm of a 47-foot motor lifeboat, crossing the bar of the Siuslaw River), CS3 Savannah Leffler, BM3 Brooke Crosley and SN Sarah San Pedro. The first female to lead a U.S. military academy, now retired Vice Admiral Sandra Stosz, was in the Coast Guard. The first female to command a U.S. military vessel, now Captain Beverly Kelley, also occurred in the Coast Guard in 1979. Two women, now retired Vice Admiral Vivian Crea and retired Vice Admi- ral Sally Brice-O’Hara, served as Vice-Commandants of the Coast Guard, second-in-com- mand officers of the entire ser- vice. No other military branch has seen so many females pro- mote to this extent. Just last year, after 141 years, U.S. Coast Guard Station Cape Disappointment on the southern Washington coast welcomed its first female com- mander, Lt. Jessica Shafer. In Oregon, the Officer-in-Charge at Station Coos Bay, Chief War- rant Officer Beth Slade, was the fourth female Surfman in the Coast Guard, the highest quali- fication a coxswain can receive. waco, Wash. She is also a role model for other women at the station due to her experience and leadership skills. Storekeeper (SK2) Victo- ria Johnson, a native of Biloxi, Miss., is a nine-year veteran of the Coast Guard and “plans to stay another 20.” While many of the Coast Guard stories fea- ture high visibility rescues and training, those activities are only possible because of the support staff who labor behind the scenes to make sure the sta- tion is ready for the mission. SK2 Johnson is one of those crew members. She procures safety equip- ment, supplies and other pro- visions. She also keeps invento- ries, prepares requisitions, and handles logistical functions, in- cluding preparation of financial reports. During her career, SK2 Johnson has received several awards, including a Letter of Commendation for outstand- ing performance of duty while serving in response to the dev- Women at U.S. Coast Guard astation caused by Hurricane Station Siuslaw River Harvey in 2017. She is married Although the Coast Guard to another Coast Guardsman, is the smallest military branch, MK2 Adam Johnson, and they it has large responsibilities for have two children. the safety and security of our coastline and waterways un- Culinary Specialist (CS3) der the umbrella of Homeland Savannah Leffler has been with Security. Coast Guard women the Coast Guard since 2016 and routinely face the front line is originally from Enosburg nationally and internationally, Falls, Vt. After completing ‘A’ and that is represented locally school in Petaluma, CS3 Leffler at Station Siuslaw River. was assigned to STA Siuslaw Women Coast Guard mem- River. She performs all facets of bers often have a female men- food preparation including ad- tor to guide them. They unde- vanced skills in baking and oth- niably have many female role er cooking methods. CS3 Lef- models, shown throughout the fler’s duties also include serving, history of the Coast Guard, accounting and purchasing, in- to which they aspire. There ventory management, nutrition, are currently five active-du- time management, and general- ty women assigned to Station ly keeping the crew fueled and Siuslaw River in various roles, mission ready. with additional female mem- CS3 Leffler hopes to advance bers active in the local Coast her career in the Coast Guard Guard Auxiliary. and possibly become a Special Command Aide. Boatswain Mate (BM2) Sierra Schlager, from James- Boatswain Mate (BM3) town, N.D., has been with the Brooke Crosley, originally Coast Guard since 2008. She is from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has a heavy weather coxswain for been an integral part of the sta- the rugged 47 ft. Motor Life- tion, boat crew and community boat. She is training to be a during her time in Florence. Surfman. The local rough bar She generously volunteered and surf conditions allow her for several community proj- to continuously practice her ects and events. She previously skills to achieve her goal, and earned a bachelor’s degree in satisfy her deeply imbued sense criminal justice with a minor of mission. She enjoys the “dy- in psychology. namic decisions” her boat han- At the end of this month, she dling experiences create. is leaving the Coast Guard, on Of the nearly 200 boat sta- a high note, to pursue her mas- tions in the Coast Guard, only ter’s degree in counseling, at 21 stations are located in ar- the University of Colorado. eas with surf conditions that require Surfmen. Of the 547 Seaman (SN) Sarah San Pe- pinned Surfmen in the Coast dro, from Rancho Cucamonga, Guard, there are less than a Calif., entered the Coast Guard dozen women who hold that in 2016 and arrived at STA prestigious title. BM2 Schlager Siuslaw River the same year. is well on her way to such a She is an important part of the distinction with amazing boat boat crew and trains for tow- driving skills, Surfman men- ing, search and rescue, basic tors at the station, and a strong first aid and firefighting. She is belief in the long-standing currently in charge of medical Coast Guard adage, “service supplies for the boats and keeps before self.” She has already inventory. She is hoping to at- graduated from the advanced tend Coast Guard classes in the Surfman course at the National near future to become a Health Motor Lifeboat School in Il- Services Technician. 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