The Ancient Albatross
The Ancient Albatross award honors the Coast Guard aviator on active duty who has held that designation for the longest time. The award is in the form of a large bronze and wooded plaque on which the names of the recipients are inscribed. VADM W.D. Shields was the first Ancient Albatross. ADCM James T. Woltz became the first enlisted Ancient Albatross when he accepted the title on 8 June 1990.
The Ancient Mariner
The Ancient Mariner is a ceremonial title given to the officer and enlisted person with the earliest date of qualification as a cutterman. The cutterman designation comes after five years of sea-service but the person must have a minimum of 10 years sea-duty to qualify for the award. The Ancient Mariner is charged with keeping a close watch to ensure the sea-service tradtion is continued and that the time-honored reputation of the Coast Guard is maintained. During the ceremony, the new Ancient Mariner dons the traditional Ancient Mariner "garb" consisted of a fore and aft style hat, gold braided shoulder epaulets, a Revenue Cutter log book and a nautical long glass. The first commissioned Ancient Mariner was CAPT Axel J. Hagstrom who assumed the title in 1980. The first enlisted Ancient Mariner was QMCM Clarence E. Dowden who accepted the honor in 1980.
Dining In and Mess Night
The tradition of Dining In, or Mess Night, can be traced to the days when the Roman Legions held great banquets to celebrate their victories or paraded the prizes of their conquests. The Vikings had a tradition of celebrating great battles and feats by formal ceremony. It is from these customs of celebrating special events that we have formal dinners today.
The Dining In is a formal dinner function for the officers of a military organization or unit. Originally, such functions provided an excellent setting to recognize both individual and unit achievements, as well as to bid farewell to departing officers and welcome new ones. Today, they are primarily an occasion to gather socially at a formal function. But the protocol and traditional amenities remain intact.
The Chief Petty Officer Academy continues the tradition calling it "Chiefs’ Mess Night." Chiefs’ Mess Night is a formal military function, like the Dining In, but the Mess Members are Chiefs and guests. It provides an occasion for Chiefs to meet socially and give recognition to a dignitary, individual or unit. It also may simply be a pleasant way for individuals to become better acquainted.
In early eighteenth century Europe, various regiments of the established monarchies would gather for an evening of good food, drinking and fellowship to honor individuals and organizations. More recently this custom can be traced to the "messes" of the Royal Navy and Regimental "Messes" of the British Army. Our early leaders gained background and training from either British regulars or colonial militia in the French and Indian Wars. It is most likely that they became indoctrinated in the formal aspects of military life as practiced by the men of that period.
Prior to World War II, Mess Night had reached its greatest prominence. While the occasion became less of a celebration for individual achievements, the protocol became more formalized. The uniforms prescribed were evening dress with medals. Down through the ages, people have enjoyed each other’s company at dinner making them more elaborate and formal. Dining In and Mess In are strictly for military people, while Mess Out and Dining Out are for military as well as invited guests.
Mascots of the sea
Animals have served as mascots on board Coast Guard vessels since the early days of the Revenue Cutter Service. The practice of keeping pets may have started when cats were brought on board to combat the rat population. But for years, pets have helped keep the crew’s morale high during their many lonely days at sea.
During the first half of this century, nearly every ship had at least one mascot and some had menageries that were the envy of a small zoo. Captain Mike Healy, commanding officer of the Revenue Cutter Bear, kept his parrot on board for company. Dogs have been the most common of mascots, though, and one of the most famous was Sinbad.
Sinbad served on board the cutter Campbell during World War II. He came on board the ship in 1937 when Campbell made a port call in Portugal. Sinbad remained on the ship throughout the war. A "salty sea dog" all the way, Sinbad stood watches, ate his meals and slept with the crew. Every time the Campbell would make a port call and liberty was granted, Sinbad would be the first off and along with his shipmates, hit the bars. A typical liberty would see him march right into a bar, spot an empty bar stool, jump on it and bark once. The bartenders would automatically pour a shot of whiskey with a beer chaser. Sinbad would lap them up, jump down and leave, heading for the next bar. His tab was always picked up, no questions asked. Sinbad was as much a part of the Campbell as his two-legged shipmates. His contributions to that ship were incalculable in terms of the morale boost he provided. To his shipmates he was their talisman, their good luck charm that brought them through battles with submarines, storms, and the terrible North Atlantic ice.
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