Capt richard etheridge coast
Born into slavery, Captain Richard Etheridge led a life of adventure, courage, bravery, and respect. As the first African American Keeper of a United States Life Saving Service Station, Etheridge and his all-black crew at the Pea Island Life Saving Station paved the way for generations of African American men and women in the
United States Life Saving Service and the United States Coast Guard.
Early Life and Civil War
Richard Etheridge was born on North Carolina’s Roanoke Island on January 16, Thought to be the son of his owner, John B. Etheridge, Richard had an unconventional experience as a slave – he was raised within the Etheridge household and was educated having been taught by the family how to read and write.
Richard etheridge wikipedia
Skip to global NPS navigation Skip to this park navigation Skip to the main content Skip to this park information section Skip to the footer section. National Park Service Search Search. Exiting nps. Info Alerts Maps Calendar Fees. Loading alerts.In , During the American Civil War, Etheridge joined the Union war effort, serving in the 36th U.S. Colored Infantry until Afterwards, Etheridge returned to Roanoke Island, married in , and worked as a fisherman, farmer, and inlet pilot. Skills amassed from his wartime service and making a living in the Outer Banks contributed to Etheridge’s success when he made the life-altering decision to join the United States Life Saving Service (USLSS) in
Etheridge first served on the Bodie IslandUSLSS crew as Surfman #6 – the lowest ranking surfman.
At the time, the USLSS did not allow African Americans to hold a higher rank in integrated “checkerboard” crews. While at Bodie Island, Etheridge honed his skills through the rigorous drilling which became synonymous with the Life Saving Service.
Capt richard etheridge coast guard It was the first life-saving station in the country to have an all-black crew, and it was the first in the nation to have a black man, Richard Etheridge, as commanding officer. Richard Etheridge was born a slave on January 16, , the son and the property of John B. Etheridge, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Large plantations didn't exist in the Outer Banks; African Americans were relatively few and slavery limited. During his early life, Richard Etheridge, like most Outer Bankers, learned to work the sea, fishing, piloting boats, and combing the beach for the refuse of wrecks.His persistence, skill, dedication, and education did not go unnoticed. In , the keeper of Pea Island Life Saving Station was relieved of duty after an extensive investigation into the ineffectiveness of the Outer Banks Life Saving Stations following a succession of failed rescue attempts. Persuaded by the recommendations of the district inspectors, USLSS Superintendent Summer Kimball appointed Richard Etheridge as Keeper of the Pea Island Life Saving Station, making Etheridge the first African American to serve in this position.
When Etheridge assumed command of the Pea Island Life Saving Station in February , the unit underwent an upheaval as the station’s white crewmembers resigned refusing to serve underneath him. Subsequently, African American surfmen from nearby units were transferred to Pea Island, forming the first and only all-black crew in the United States Lifesaving Service.
Etheridge ran a tight ship and commanded what has often been described as the best crew in the Outer Banks.
Their training was put to the test on the night of October 11, , when the E.S. Newman, a schooner sailing from Providence, Rhode Island, grounded off the coast during a terrible hurricane. Unable to launch the lifeboat or fire the Lyle Gun, Etheridge turned to sheer manpower as his final option.
Capt richard etheridge coast Shoemaker, noted that Etheridge was "one of the best surfmen on this part of the coast of North Carolina. Determined to execute his duties with expert commitment, Etheridge supervised the construction of a new station on the original site. He also developed rigorous lifesaving drills that enabled his crew to tackle all lifesaving tasks. His station earned the reputation of "one of the tautest on the Carolina Coast," with its keeper well-known as one of the most courageous and ingenious lifesavers in the Service. On October 11, , Etheridge's rigorous training drills proved to be invaluable.Asking for two volunteer crewmen, Etheridge commanded they tie ropes around themselves and swim to the wreck, the remaining crew on shore would hold the ropes as a lifeline between land and sea. That night, the Pea Island crew rescued all nine aboard the E.S. Newman, including the captain’s wife and his three-year-old son. For their efforts, Etheridge and his crew were posthumously awarded the U.S.
Coast Guard’s Gold Life-Saving Medal in
Captain Richard Etheridge passed away at the Pea Island Life Saving Station in at the age of He is buried alongside his family at the Pea Island Life Saving Station Memorial on the grounds of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.
The Pea Island Life Saving Station continued to operate with an all-black crew until it was decommissioned in Today, the only remaining structure from the unit is the Pea Island Cookhouse, preserved by the Pea Island Preservation Society. The cookhouse is now a museum dedicated to Richard Etheridge and the Pea Island crew.
Richard etheridge pea island I examined this man, and found him to be 38 years of age, strong, robust physique, intelligent and able to read and write. He is reputed one of the best surfmen on this part of the coast of North Carolina. Charles Shoemaker, U. Revenue Cutter Service, This quote comes from an letter from U.
On August 3, , the United States Coast Guard commissioned one of its Sentinel-class cutters named the USCGC Richard Etheridge in his honor. The vessel is based in Miami, Florida, a reminder of the man who dared to challenge the norm and commanded one of the finest crews in the history of the United States Life Saving Service.