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- OTHER SERVICES VOICES:
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- COAST GUARD
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An up close and personal interview with Coast Guard Veteran and Togetherweserved.com Member:
MCPO Maurice Poulin (USCG 1941-1966)
WHAT PERSUADED YOU TO JOIN THE SERVICE?
 I enlisted the US Coast Guard in Nov. 1941 from the recruiting office in Boston, MA. The enlistment ceremony was held New York City's Battery Park. There was a handful of us who were boarded on a train bound for New Orleans, LA for Boot Camp. We were rushed through training due to the war approaching.
BRIEFLY, WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER PATH IN THE SERVICE?
After graduation, I was assigned to the 5th Coast Guard District in Norfolk, VA and sent to the Cape Lookout Lifeboat Station for guard duty at the radio station. During my stay at this station in late 1941 we could see when ships were torpedoed offshore. This was at the time when most Coast Guard stations along the East Coast were sending lifeboats to rescue people from sinking ships. It was a very trying time for me and my shipmates.
In March 1942, I was transferred to what was then called Boatswain’s Mate School in Manhattan Beach, NY. We spent about six weeks there in-training and learning basic seamanship. I was there at the same time when famous boxers Jack Dempsey and Marty Servo were stationed at Manhattan Beach.
DID YOU PARTICIPATE IN COMBAT OPERATIONS?
In April 1942 I was transferred back to the 5th Coast Guard District and sent to Chicamicomico Lifeboat Station. After staying there two days, I was transferred to the USS Leonard Wood (APA-12), anchored in Chesapeake Bay off Hampton Roads. This was to be my home for the next 3 + years. 
(EDITOR'S NOTE: USS Leonard Wood was an amphibious transport 520' in length, a 72' beam, and a draft of 34', displacing around 22 tons. It included a compliment of 32 LVPs and LCVPs, two 50' tank lighters, and two 36' support boats. It had a crew compliment of some 60 officers and 650 crewmen. Troop hauling capacity was 120 officers and 1800 enlisteds.)
During my time on board the USS Leonard Wood, from April 1942 to June 1945, our ship participated in nine major invasions; included several smaller landings and assaults as part of major invasions. I was an interpreter for the invasion of North Africa at Casablanca and very proud of being selected for it.
My duties during these invasions were to land with the US Army as part of the Beach Party to handle operations ashore and interpret for the Beach Party commander.
FROM YOUR ENTIRE SERVICE CAREER WHAT PARTICULAR MEMORY STANDS OUT?
The North Africa invasion at Fedela, Morocco on Nov. 8, 1942. The enemy for this invasion included troops of France, Germany and Italy. The (Vichy) French manned the heavy guns that fired on the landing forces. German Officers commanded the Vichy French and Italians to resist the invading troops.
 I went into this landing aboard a 3rd Army tank being transported ashore in an LCVP and got ashore safely. Once on the beach, the enemy held us under machine-gun fire, so we all crept low to the ground in our advance.
Also on the beach with me was Army General George Patton -- who was a two-star (major) general at the time commanding the 3rd Army. I was in a foxhole on the beach a few feet away from him with his aide, who was toting a tommy gun. Patton was larger-than-life; bullets and shells were flying all-around and he was just standing there, exposed, barking orders to his troops on the beach wearing his helmet, tanker jacket, pearl-handled revolvers and riding pants. He was truly a sight to see!
After securing the beachhead, we were then tasked to make sure all supplies and fuel were forwarded to our troops on the line. There were about 35 of us in the Beach Party from several ships and we stayed on the beach for some nine days with the troops. We were continuously under small arms fire and air attacks, and the ships at anchor were enduring torpedo attacks. Five transports were sunk over the next few days with heavy casualties - this was my introduction to the horrors of total war.
WHICH INDIVIDUAL PERSON FROM YOUR SERVICE STANDS OUT AS THE ONE WHO HAD THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON YOU...AND WHY? 
I had a great mentor when I was aboard USS Leonard Wood -- Chief Boatswain's Mate Robert Kolscher. He was in-charge of 2nd Division aboard the ship. He mentored me in how to be a good, if not better, seaman and took me under his wing. He kept me in-line, and I learned a lot about being a good leader, teacher and mentor from him. I was also fortunate to have good Officers and Chiefs over me during my entire career. Much of what I passed-on to my shipmates came from their knowledge and wisdom.
WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER THE SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW?
 Personally, I'd never thought I'd retire! I build ships in bottles.One ship I built is in the Smithsonian, on loan from the Coast Guard Academy Museum. I have another one on-display in the Barnstable Coast Guard Museum (MA). I constructed another for a new Coast Guard Museum to be built near Coast Guard Base Boston. Another is in the Newburyport Maritime Museum, another four for the Nahant Historical Society; and around 400 others I've built for friends and relatives -- many of them for former WW2 shipmates in 35 states.
HOW HAS SERVING IN THE COAST GUARD INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU NOW APPROACH YOUR LIFE AND CAREER? 
I feel very fortunate to be 88 and expect to celebrate my 89th on Dec. 5. I still march in my town's parades. I believe that the rigors of service in the Coast Guard created an acceptance of an active lifestyle that has kept me healthy over the years.
HOW HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU TO MAINTAIN A BOND WITH THE SERVICE AND THOSE YOU SERVED WITH?
I enjoy being online on my computer and meeting new military and civilian friends. I am greatly thankful for the staff of TWS for their help and friendliness. TWS provides a unique and focused venue where we can become immersed in the history and culture of the service. I appreciate the opportunity to record our entire service and memories in this unique scrapbook.
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MCPO Maurice Poulin
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TWS VOICES
TWS Voices are the personal stories of men and women who served in the US Military and convey how serving their Country has made a positive impact on their lives. If you would like to participate in a future edition of Voices, or know someone who might be interested, please contact Major Wesley Prater HERE.
This edition of CoastGuard Voices was supported by:
CoastGuard.Togetherweserved.com
For current and former serving Members of the US Coast Guard and US Coast Guard Reserve, TogetherWeServed is a unique, feature-rich resource enabling Coast Guardsmen to re-connect with lost Shipmates, share memories and tell their Coast Guard story.
To join CoastGuard.Togetherweserved.com, please click HERE.
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