Sinbad (USCG)
Encyclopedia
K9C Sinbad, USCG, Retired (b. around 1937, d. 30 December 1951) was a mixed-breed canine sailor aboard the US Coast Guard Cutter George W. Campbell
. Sinbad holds the distinction of having been enlisted in the United States Military, serving 11 years sea duty including combat in WWII, never having an owner or master, and having been the only Coastguardsman to be the subject of a biography until the dawn of the twenty-first century.
who intended the dog as a gift for a girlfriend. She did not take him in due to a restriction against pets in her apartment building leaving "Blackie" with the dog as he returned from liberty in 1937. He displayed the attributes of a sailor: namely drinking coffee, whiskey with beer chasers at port bars, having regular and general quarters
duty stations, and generally demonstrating seamanship. Sinbad was enlisted into the service with his pawprint on enlistment papers, his own service and Red Cross identification numbers, service record, and bunk. He was subject to military disciplinary proceedings twice and was promoted and busted in rank on several occasions. Sinbad retained the rank of Chief Petty Officer
- Dog, Retired (K9C (Ret)) following his retirement. He was also a member of the Society of Polar Explorers
throughout the Second World War. The Campbell was assigned to convoy escort duty in the Atlantic. Although publicity photos depicted Sinbad standing helmeted on the barrel of a large gun, his actual general quarters
duty post was below decks assigned to damage control where his canine ears would not be damaged by the sound of gunfire.
The Campbell
's most significant action involved combat with, and sinking by ramming of, the German submarine U-606. When the cutter suffered severe damage, becoming disabled and without power due to flooding, Sinbad was among the "essential crew" left aboard the otherwise evacuated ship to keep it afloat as it was towed to Canada
for repair. It was Captain James Hirschfield's belief that nothing could befall the ship if Sinbad remained aboard. That superstition may be credited with the presence of Sinbad's statue in the mess hall of the current USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909)
.
Sinbad was a veteran of other anti-submarine warfare as well as surviving strafing attacks by enemy aircraft.
Sinbad was ultimately awarded the following : American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-MiddleEastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal.
, where he was also the guest of honor at a dinner in Guild Hall.
New York papers featured the story of the clash with U-606, though without photographs as Sinbad was sequestered below after a night on the town. The Boston Globe's Martin Sheridan described Sinbad in a December 1943 Life Magazine story as "liberty-rum-chow-hound, with a bit of bulldog, doberman pinscher, and what-not. Mostly what-not." which appealed to blue collar and farm town America.
Photo sessions and network news interviews when the Campbell was in port served the home-front morale effort and gave Sinbad nationwide recognition. His celebrity further increased following the end of the war and the publication of George F. Foley's "Sinbad of the Coast Guard", for which Sinbad went on a book signing tour and which gave him the distinction of being the first Coastguardsman to be the subject of a biography.
Sinbad's track record in public relations was not all positive. He also had his share of run-ins in port towns while on Liberty and caused international diplomatic incidents in Casablanca
and Greenland
.
After serving 11 years, mostly at sea, Sinbad was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard
on 21 September 1948. He then retired to inactive duty at the Barnegat Light
station in New Jersey. The dog once characterized by Life Magazine with the words "An old sea dog has favorite bars and plenty of girls in every port", lived another 3 years quietly ashore, frequenting Kubel's bar on Seventh in Barnegat Light
and looking out to sea from the station.
Throughout his service life and into retirement, besides a beer at the local pub, Sinbad's favorite pastime was playing with a simple metal washer that he balanced on his nose (much as his statue on the later Campbell balances a rawhide bone), tossed in the air, and caught.
Sinbad died on 30 December 1951 and was buried beneath a granite monument at the base of the light station's flagpole. The decommissioned station has since become the Emergency Operations Center for Barnegat Light
.
USCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Campbell was a Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1935-1936 and commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury...
. Sinbad holds the distinction of having been enlisted in the United States Military, serving 11 years sea duty including combat in WWII, never having an owner or master, and having been the only Coastguardsman to be the subject of a biography until the dawn of the twenty-first century.
Joining-up
Sinbad's birth is not recorded, but he was first obtained by CBM A.A. "Blackie" Rother of the CampbellUSCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Campbell was a Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1935-1936 and commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury...
who intended the dog as a gift for a girlfriend. She did not take him in due to a restriction against pets in her apartment building leaving "Blackie" with the dog as he returned from liberty in 1937. He displayed the attributes of a sailor: namely drinking coffee, whiskey with beer chasers at port bars, having regular and general quarters
General quarters
General Quarters or Battle Stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship to signal the crew to prepare for battle or imminent damage....
duty stations, and generally demonstrating seamanship. Sinbad was enlisted into the service with his pawprint on enlistment papers, his own service and Red Cross identification numbers, service record, and bunk. He was subject to military disciplinary proceedings twice and was promoted and busted in rank on several occasions. Sinbad retained the rank of Chief Petty Officer
Chief Petty Officer
A chief petty officer is a senior non-commissioned officer in many navies and coast guards.-Canada:"Chief Petty Officer" refers to two ranks in the Canadian Navy...
- Dog, Retired (K9C (Ret)) following his retirement. He was also a member of the Society of Polar Explorers
Combat Service
Sinbad served aboard the USCGC CampbellUSCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Campbell was a Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1935-1936 and commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury...
throughout the Second World War. The Campbell was assigned to convoy escort duty in the Atlantic. Although publicity photos depicted Sinbad standing helmeted on the barrel of a large gun, his actual general quarters
General quarters
General Quarters or Battle Stations is an announcement made aboard a naval warship to signal the crew to prepare for battle or imminent damage....
duty post was below decks assigned to damage control where his canine ears would not be damaged by the sound of gunfire.
The Campbell
USCGC Campbell (WPG-32)
USCGC Campbell was a Secretary-Class Coast Guard ship built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1935-1936 and commissioned in 1936. Seven similar "combat cutters" were built and named for secretaries of the United States Treasury...
's most significant action involved combat with, and sinking by ramming of, the German submarine U-606. When the cutter suffered severe damage, becoming disabled and without power due to flooding, Sinbad was among the "essential crew" left aboard the otherwise evacuated ship to keep it afloat as it was towed to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
for repair. It was Captain James Hirschfield's belief that nothing could befall the ship if Sinbad remained aboard. That superstition may be credited with the presence of Sinbad's statue in the mess hall of the current USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909)
USCGC Campbell (WMEC-909)
USCGC Campbell is a United States Coast Guard medium endurance cutter based at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery, Maine. Campbell is the 6th Coast Guard Cutter to bear the name and is assigned to the Atlantic...
.
Sinbad was a veteran of other anti-submarine warfare as well as surviving strafing attacks by enemy aircraft.
Sinbad was ultimately awarded the following : American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-MiddleEastern Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal and Navy Occupation Service Medal.
Public Relations
Sinbad became a public figure through media attention first garnered by his presence in bars in ports of call. He also frequented Red Cross facilities such as his alleged favorite in LondonderryLondonderry Port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
, where he was also the guest of honor at a dinner in Guild Hall.
New York papers featured the story of the clash with U-606, though without photographs as Sinbad was sequestered below after a night on the town. The Boston Globe's Martin Sheridan described Sinbad in a December 1943 Life Magazine story as "liberty-rum-chow-hound, with a bit of bulldog, doberman pinscher, and what-not. Mostly what-not." which appealed to blue collar and farm town America.
Photo sessions and network news interviews when the Campbell was in port served the home-front morale effort and gave Sinbad nationwide recognition. His celebrity further increased following the end of the war and the publication of George F. Foley's "Sinbad of the Coast Guard", for which Sinbad went on a book signing tour and which gave him the distinction of being the first Coastguardsman to be the subject of a biography.
Sinbad's track record in public relations was not all positive. He also had his share of run-ins in port towns while on Liberty and caused international diplomatic incidents in Casablanca
Casablanca, Chile
Casablanca, meaning "white house", is a Chilean city and commune located in Valparaíso Province, Valparaíso Region.- Geography :The city of Casablanca is located on Route 68 between Santiago and the city of Valparaíso, at about 30 minutes southeast of Valparaíso and 50 minutes northwest of Santiago...
and Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
.
Retirement
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
on 21 September 1948. He then retired to inactive duty at the Barnegat Light
Barnegat Lighthouse
Barnegat Lighthouse or Barnegat Light, colloquially known as "Old Barney", is a historic lighthouse located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, in the borough of Barnegat Light, New Jersey, on the south side of Barnegat Inlet.-19th century:The development of...
station in New Jersey. The dog once characterized by Life Magazine with the words "An old sea dog has favorite bars and plenty of girls in every port", lived another 3 years quietly ashore, frequenting Kubel's bar on Seventh in Barnegat Light
Barnegat Light, New Jersey
Barnegat Light is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 574. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island and is home to Barnegat Lighthouse....
and looking out to sea from the station.
Throughout his service life and into retirement, besides a beer at the local pub, Sinbad's favorite pastime was playing with a simple metal washer that he balanced on his nose (much as his statue on the later Campbell balances a rawhide bone), tossed in the air, and caught.
Sinbad died on 30 December 1951 and was buried beneath a granite monument at the base of the light station's flagpole. The decommissioned station has since become the Emergency Operations Center for Barnegat Light
Barnegat Light, New Jersey
Barnegat Light is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the borough population was 574. The borough borders the Atlantic Ocean on Long Beach Island and is home to Barnegat Lighthouse....
.
Sources
- Foley, CS George F. Jr. (USCGR), Sinbad of the Coast Guard, Dodd, Mead and Company, New York, 1945
- Foley(2), Chief Specialist George F. Jr. (USCGR), Sinbad!, Boys Life Magazine, December 1943
- Dumas, CDR Joe (USCGR), Sinbad, USCG (Ret), US Coast Guard History Website, http://www.uscg.mil/history/faqs/Sinbad.asp, retrieved 2/13/2011
- CGCVA (Coast Guard Combat Veterans Association), Coast Guard Combat Veterans: Semper Paratus, Turner Publishing Company, 1994
- Walling, Michael G., Sinbad-of-the-Coast-Guard, Suite101.com essay, 22 April 2009, retrieved 2/13/2011
- Walling(2), Mike, Stories of Sinbad, http://www.mikewalling.com/books/campbell.shtml, retrieved 2/14/2011
- Karch, Mary Montgomery, Under the Lighthouse: Memories of Barnegat City, Down the Shore Publishing, 2004