With Admiral Paul F. Zukunft
Commandant, United States Coast Guard

Keeper James represents the United States Life-Saving Service (1871-1915), a direct predecessor of the United States Coast Guard.


(Left) Dr. Tom Crouch, Senior Curator, Smithsonain Air & Space Museum and author of the definitive WB story, The Bishop's Boys.

VIDEOS

Celebration of the Rescue of the Sarah D. J. Rawson, Core Sound Museum, Harkers Island, Feb 11, 2017

The most solumn moments of the Ceremony was as each Life-Savers' name was read, the bell once rung with silent pauses in between.  The honorees were Surfman Kilby Gutherie, Walter Yeomans, Tyre Moore, John Gutherie, James Fulture, John Kirkman, Calupt Jarvis and Joseph Lewis.

​North Carolina State Fair, Dorton Arena, Raleigh, NC October 2015

Interacting with the crowd after ceremonies conclude. A fine day!

Linda's dramatic account of the incredible rescue of the schooner E. S. Newman by the Pea Island Surfmen.

Welcome to My World!

GALLERY

This is an extremely informative and entertaining program, as you can see.  The mantra becomes "I didn't know that!" and it is heard with laughter quite a few times throughout this eye-opening presentation.

Laying of the Wreath at the Bolder,  Concluding Ceremony. Dr Tom Crouch (back to us), Ranger Darrell Collins and Keeper James reciting the Surfman's duties for the Beach Apparatus Drill.

PA 3 Corinne Zilnicki, US Coast Guard Public Affairs, District 5, Portsmouth, VA.

During the presentation in their beautiful theater

Presenting the Program "Wright or Wrong- Little Known Facts about the Wright Brothers...and a few common misconceptions,"

WRIGHT BROTHERS PROGRAM GALLERY SECTION

James explains the basics of what the U.S. Life-Saving Service was and what it did.

Presenting the Program "Wright or Wrong- Little Known Facts about the Wright Brothers...and a few common misconceptions,"

At the Wright Brothers National Memorial, December 17, 2016.  This was the 113th Anniversary of the First Flight and the 100th Anniversary of Coast Guard Aviation. 

Sharing a lighter moment with the Honorable Congressman Walter B. Jones, Jr., NC 3rd District, US House of Representatives, another hero present.

"Surfmen, Freedmen, Heroes" Presentation, NC Aquarium, Roanoke Island, NC, February 19, 2017

With Ira Lewis,98, USCG BMC (ret)

Copyright 2013 James D. Charlet.

Impressive Coast Guard presence.  The U.S. Life-Saving Service was the direct predecessor of today's Coast Guard. Near center in dress uniform is Rear Admiral Meredith Austin, Commander US Coast Guard Fifth District, Portsmouth

First, the NC beaches were patrolled, then then NC highways, all to keep you safe!

Continued:


It was a good lecture.

~ ~ ~ Casey, Age 11, Arapahoe, NC

Great!  Thank you, James

~ ~ ~ J. Salter, New Bern, NC

Outstanding program.

~ ~ ~  The Haggetts, New Bern, NC

Very Interesting.  Loved the outfit!  

~ ~ ~  Lorelie Schaffhausen, New Bern, NC

This was a wonderful presentation—so very interesting….I was just at Portsmouth Island and Cape Lookout this summer and you gave “Life” to the displays I saw at their museums.
~ ~ ~  Jennifer I. Nance, New Bern, NC

Linda and James in garb, representing the US Life-Saving Service on the NC Outer Banks.  Joan Collins (faar left) and cousin Darrell Collins (far right), representing the all-black crew of the Pea Island Life-Saving Station. 

Presenting the United States Life-Saving Service

This above copyrighted image is available for reproduction. Fee is $500 per use.

Credit "Copyright and Permission by James D. Charlet."

Rear Admiral Meredith Austin (Commander, USCG Fifth District), Keeper James and Event Photographer, Linda Molloy

Keeper James with the other World War One re-enactors at the Tryon Palace North Carolina History Center

Part of "NC Military Through the Ages" Exhibit

Talking with audience members after the presentation

​        ​​Camp Hatteras at Waves, NC

Outer Banks hospitality -- October 2015

Keeper James with dress uniform Coasties prior to laying of wreath ceremony.

Replicas of the Gold Medals each crew member received. Later, each were donated the gold to the WW II.  Heros to the end.  Congressman Walter Jones was instrumental in getting those done for this ceremony. The top photo is the 1888 Cape Lookout U.S. Life-Saving Station responding to this wreck. 

Dave Hallac, Superintendant, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, National Park Service.

Keeper James & Linda Molloy Videos
Cut & Paste links below into your browser one at a time.


Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, PBS:  https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=chicamacomico+life-saving+station&&view=detail&mid=55C9ED631990E61F582355C9ED631990E61F5823&&FORM=VRDGAR

The Chicamacomico Life Saving Station, by NOAA Sanctuaries: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=chicamacomico+life-saving+station&&view=detail&mid=0294893299267498629C0294893299267498629C&&FORM=VDRVRV

NC Weekend | Chicamacomico Life-Saving station Architecture with Linda Molloy | UNCTV: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=chicamacomico+life-saving+station&&view=detail&mid=4F18FAB411DEABE5C0704F18FAB411DEABE5C070&&FORM=VDRVRV

NC Weekend | How do you say Chicamacomico and Rodanthe? By Linda Molloy | UNCTV: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=chicamacomico+life-saving+station&&view=detail&mid=07C91CFEA9F20765EBD407C91CFEA9F20765EBD4&&FORM=VDRVRV

The Chicamacomico Life Saving Station by NOAA: https://monitor.noaa.gov/obxtrail/videos_lss.html

Rescue Men Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1KM_G5POeA

Opening Ceremonies CLSS 2010: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuEzUaWrgJk

Chicamacomico Life Saving Station Historic Site & HMS Bounty Rescue: https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=chicamacomico+life-saving+station&&view=detail&mid=5E8A60D1C7842D2654BD5E8A60D1C7842D2654BD&&FORM=VDRVRV

National Coast Guard Day and American Heroes Day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YMUsXN1IdU

The CLSS Station, ups & downs 2010: https://www.youtube.com/user/chicamacomico2010

Following In The Footsteps: The Breeches Buoy Drill - Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ogBI5yng6g

Following In The Footsteps: The Breeches Buoy Drill - Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRsduEeOa4k

Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station Video Winning Entry from the Outer Banks Community Foundation!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMB7NH-jbF4

Chicamacomico Life Saving Station, North Carolina, Allan R. Smith Productions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwgzoM0bHDo

 

 

Center, keeper James, then Ira Lewis, then CAPT Patricia Hill, Commander, USCG Sector North Carolina

SAMPLE

The following are audience testimonials from the presentation at Tryon Palace, North Carolina History Center, New Bern, NC, July 18, 2015

Very informative presentation and inspirational.  The presenter was very dramatic and helped the audience to envision the actual rescue of the Mirlo on August 16, 1918 by the U.S. Life-Saving Service… 

~ ~ ~ David Babcock, Harbor Springs, Michigan.

 Very informative and well presented about a piece of forgotten history.

~ ~ ~ Robert Papasodero, Brooklyn, NY

 So informative.  I had no idea.  So important to let the public know about these historic heroes.  Thank you and keep it going!

~ ~ ~  P. Toth, New Bern, NC

 Keeper James, you bring forward  the greatest of our times… No one can claim knowledge of U.S. History until they’ve heard about the U.S. Life-Saving Service.

~ ~ ~ Gloria Schraud, New Bern, NC

 Don’t miss this thrilling piece of history that America has forgotten! This should be taught in all American History classes in all schools!

~ ~ ~ James Brown, Bridgeport, CT


 

Darrell Collins (left),  NPS Park Ranger, Wright Brothers National Memorial Historian and world authority on Wright Brothers, United States Coast Guard Commandant Zukunft (center) and Keeper James prior to event.

Featured Speaker,Tryon Palace, North Carolina History Center, New Bern, NC, Saturday, July 18, 2015 "North Carolina in the Great War Weekend"