The Women's Reserve of the Coast Guard was established in November 1942. Previously a part of the Department of the Treasury, the Coast Guard the had been transferred to the U.S. Navy shortly before World War II. Dorothy C. Stratton, the former dean of women at Purdue University and a WAVES lieutenant, became the first director of what became know as the Coast Guard SPARs, the name having been derived from the Coast Guard motto “Semper Paratus — Always Ready.”
Most SPARs served in Coast Guard offices near the oceans coasts and along the Mississippi River coast. While a large portion became yeoman and storekeepers, they also served as parachute riggers, chaplains assistants, air control tower operators, Link trainers, boatswains mates, coxswains, radiomen, ship's cooks, and vehicle drivers, and in many more positions.
In June 1946, the 10,000 SPARs that served during the war were demobilized. The SPARs were not permanently integrated into the military several years later as were the other women's branches; after the war the Coast Guard had gone back to being part of the Treasury.
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SPARS recruiting blotter, 1943. (Women Veterans General Printed Material Collection, #WV-0002) |
SPARS leaving Seattle aboard the SS Prince George en route to Ketchikan, Alaska, 1945. SPARS could not serve overseas until near the end of the war, when they were sent to Hawaii and Alaska. Both places were considered overseas since they were territories rather than states. (Mary Angelyn Giles Kelly Collection, #WV-0006) |
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Scene from Columbia Pictures film Tars and SPARS, 1946. The cast contained actual members of the Coast Guard SPARS, and was based upon a traveling Coast Guard show. (Coralee Burson Davis Collection, #WV-0222) |
Postcard of SPARS on an obstacle course during basic training in Palm Beach, Fla. The Biltmore Hotel in that city became the primary training center for the Coast Guard women in June 1943. Prior to that, SPARs had trained in Oklahoma and Iowa as well as with WAVES at Hunter College and Smith College. (Lucy Phillips Pugh Collection, #WV-0074) |
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The Coast Guard uniform was designed by prominent fashion designer Mainbocher, who was known for his elegant evening clothes. He introduced the strapless evening gown and made the wedding dress for the Duchess of Windsor. The uniform for the WAVES was the same except for the lapel insignia. (Women Veterans General Textile Collection, #WV-0001) |
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