Oswego County Recognizes Anniversary Of U.S. Coast Guard Rescue In Oswego Harbor

by Contributor | December 19, 2022 6:00 am

OSWEGO COUNTY- The Oswego County Legislature issued a proclamation recognizing the 80th Anniversary of the 1942 U.S. Coast Guard Rescue, a disaster that occurred at the West Pierhead Lighthouse. 

On Dec. 4, 1942, a severe storm hit Lake Ontario as a boat of U.S. Coast Guardsmen traveled to the Oswego Lighthouse to relieve Boatswain’s Mate First Class Petty Officer Karl Jackson of his post. Jackson, keeping watch at the West Pierhead Lighthouse, had been stranded there for three days due to severe weather. The storm produced 65 mph winds and large waves. 

On the morning of Dec. 4, winds had slightly subsided and a Pickett boat started its journey from the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Oswego to the lighthouse to relieve Jackson. On board were the station’s commanding officer Alston Wilson, relief keepers Bert Egelston and Carl Sprague, as well as eight U.S. Coast Guardsmen.

Even though they had been battered and beaten by the extraordinary weather conditions, the crew was able to relieve Jackson of his post. Unfortunately, nature’s fury ultimately consumed their vessel; the boat’s engine failed, and the vessel capsized.

Four of the men on board were able to reach the east arrowhead breakwater wall; however, six U.S. Coast Guardsmen perished in the disaster: Lt. j.g., Commanding Officer of U.S. Coast Guard Station Oswego Altson Wilson; Boatswain’s Mate First Class Karl Jackson; Boatswain’s Mate Second Class Eugene J. Sisson; Machinist’s Mate Second Class Ralph J. Sprau; Seaman First Class Leslie J. Holdsworth and Seaman Second Class Irving Ginsburg. 

The H. Lee White Maritime Museum recently honored the six men that bravely lost their lives in the line of duty by naming a newly acquired pontoon boat after them. The boat is named “Honored Six Lighthouse Tender.” The new boat is part of the museum’s educational lighthouse tours and preservation efforts.

The museum commemorated the anniversary with a private ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 4 at the Lake Ontario Event and Conference Center. More than 125 people were in attendance, including U.S. Coast Guardsmen, auxiliaries, first responders, elected officials, family members of the fallen men and members and volunteers from the museum.

Representatives from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, Captain Mark Kuperman and U.S. Coast Guard District 9 out of Cleveland Chaplain Jason Arant attended the event. A wreath was laid near the spot of the accident by the crew of the Oswego Station. 

Retired minister and Town of Oswego Historian George DeMass offered the invocation. USCG Chaplain Arant offered the benediction. 

Canal Corporations Director Brian Stratton read a letter from Governor Kathy Hochul and representative of the governor’s office Tracy DiGenova was in attendance.

Also in attendance were Mark Cisternino and Linda Mandal, children of one of the survivors, and Bob Gode, grandson of another survivor.

“This is a joy for me to be out here today because this is one of the nice events – this is an opportunity where the community, I feel, has really taken a chance to embrace what we do as the Coast Guard, and so it’s good to see,” Kuperman said.

“There’s lots of different ways that you can respond to a tragedy. I feel like at an absolute minimum, you grieve [and] you show sorrow; but this community here in Oswego has done way more than that. I feel like the community has embraced and made this part of their culture – that every couple years they take the Coast Guard under their wing and come out and recognize all the good work that’s taken place. To me, if you have a tragedy, that’s the most you could ask for – is that it acts as something that really forms a tether to the community. And I feel like that’s what’s happening here.”

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Dr. Robert Morgan hosting the 80th Anniversary Coast Guard Rescue Event. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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(L-R) H. Lee White Maritime Museum Executive Director Mercedes Niess, Vice-President Dr. Robert Morgan with others at the Dec. 4 event. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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Oswego Coast Guardsman reading rescue event information. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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Family members of 1942 Coast Guard survivors. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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Slide from Dec. 4 event. Photo by Shea O’Malley.

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Coast Guard boat heading out to the Oswego Harbor to lay a wreath in memory of the six Coast Guardsmen who lost their lives 80 years ago. Photo by Shea O’Malley.

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Coast Guardsmen returning from wreath-laying ceremony. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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HH. Lee White Maritime Museum Executive Director Mercedes Niess (back row, second from right) with Board Officers, Trustees and others at Dec. 4 event. Photo by Shea O’Malley.

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Guests attending Dec. 4 event. Photo by Shea O’Malley.

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Coast Guard personnel reading information about the Dec. 4, 1942 rescue attempt. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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Informational rescue poster with Karl Jackson’s Coast Guard uniform. Photo by Shea O’Malley.

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Official Oswego County Legislature Recognition Document. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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Photo of Coast Guardsmen Karl Jackson, Burt Egleston and Carl Sprague. Photo by Shea O’Malley

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Pictured from left are Paul House, District 8; Noelle Beckwith-Salmonsen, District 21; Mary Ellen Chesbro, District 10; U.S. Coast Guard Senior Chief Brad Wilcox, Station Oswego; museum lighthouse volunteer and grandson of a survivor Robert Gode; President of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum Board of Trustees Bill Schickling; H. Lee White Maritime Museum Executive Director Mercedes Niess; Edward Gilson, District 3; Marie C. Schadt, District 19; and Roy E. Reehil, District 5. Photo from Oswego County.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/community/oswego-county-recognizes-anniversary-of-u-s-coast-guard-rescue-in-oswego-harbor/