The Coast Artillery Corps was primarily stationed along the American coastlines and at outposts of U.S. foreign territories. Coast Artillery installations were mostly harbor defenses and were located at a fort or fortified gun emplacements. These units have their roots in early U.S. history as protectors of coastlines and harbors from foreign enemies sailing in to attack key areas. The guns were of large caliber and could be found on different platforms, mounted stationary, wheeled, or on rail.
The following is from Corporal Walter A. Dangel, a soldier stationed at Camp McQuaide: “I went to the National Guard Summer camp at Camp McQuaide in 1938 and left there in the summer of 1941 for Alaska. The guns we had in California and Alaska were 155mm cannon that is 6.1 inch. I was in communications so I was not a gunner although I knew what was going on at the guns.”
“As we were not issued what we called suntan uniforms in the 1930's we sometimes drilled [marched] wearing the blue denims with side arms and rifles. Also we didn't wear any chevrons or other insignia on the blues. I can’t really say that those blue denim fatigue outfits were very dressy. They consisted of trousers and jacket and a brimmed hat similar to the so called boonie hat that was issued later. The outfit was cut large and although comfortable were sloppy looking. We wore them on KP and other details where we had to do dirty work. We used to say that we looked like garbage men. They were functional and we didn't mind them. As far as I know all branches of the Army wore them for similar duties. We started getting the green herringbone twill one and two piece outfits in 1941. And the blue ones were phased out about that time.”
Special thanks to Walter Dangel, a real life GI Joe, for allowing me to share the above info. I recommend his website for more details on the 250th Coast Artillery at Camp McQuaide. |
