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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