New book, social media highlight Coast Guard’s past and present

Written by Mary Linehan Sunday, January 06, 2013 01:00 am

 ERMA – The NAS Wildwood Museum is offering a new history of the U.S. Coast Guard for sale at its museum shop for military aficionados.

Released on Dec. 10, the Arcadia Publishing book is titled “US Coast Guard Training Center at Cape May” and was co-authored by local historian Joseph E. Salvatore and architectural historian Joan Berkey.

Salvatore, a physician, is on the board of firectors for the NAS museum. Berkey has done architectural surveys for preservation efforts in the past, including a report for Cape May officials on the Beach Theatre.

Their previous collaboration, “Naval Air Station Wildwood,” was also published by Arcadia.

The new book details the history of the Coast Guard’s recruit training center in Cape May. It relies on hundred of photographs to chronicle the history of the base from its commissioning as a U.S. Navy base in 1917, through its present day mission training enlisted Coast Guard recruits.

The book is part of Arcadia’s “Images of America” series.

The release of the book, focusing on the past, dovetails with the Training Center’s debut on social media last fall. An online journal and Facebook page detail the experiences of seamen recruits attending basic training – while the newest service members are schooled on their service’s storied history.

Founded in 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service, the modern Coast Guard comprises the former cutter service, the lighthouse service and lifesaving service. Although its members are part of the U.S. Armed Forces, the Coast Guard has been overseen by the federal departments of transportation, commerce and – at present – homeland security.

During World War II, Coast Guard members served under the Department of the Navy.

“We see our Facebook page as a tool to engage in two-way communication with our audience and hopefully build a higher level of trust and understanding,” said Captain William Kelly, the commanding officer of Training Center Cape May. “It’s our mission to secure the trust of those family and friends who entrust us with the care of their loved ones.”

The site will also be an informational resource for potential recruits waiting for the opportunity to attend Coast Guard basic training.