Chart shows number of Merchant Marine seamen increasing as World War 2 progresses. Agents of the Coast Guard, the U.S. Maritime Commission, and the Public Health Service collaborate to assure fitness of Merchant Marine seamen. Some are seen being given physical exams by a physician. A prospective seaman demonstrates his skill with ropes. Coastguardsman observes skills of a candidate seaman at the wheel of a ship. A candidate receiving his Merchant Seaman's Certificate from the Coast Guard. Officers enter the Marine License Examination Room. Inside, men are seen taking exams to qualify for licenses as Masters, Mates, Engineers, and Pilots. Merchant Marine seamen being sworn in. Licensed seamen engineers being finger printed. Coast Guard officers supervise the signing of Shipping Articles (contracts between masters and crewmen). A line of seamen waiting to sign on to a ship. Coast Guard offices on shore where seamen may sign on to a ship. Seamen receiving pay under supervision of the Coast Guard.
A U.S. Coast Guard officer boards a ship for inspection in the United States. Merchant seamen try on gas masks and life jackets. Chains of lifeboats are unattached from the ship. The seamen get into the lifeboats and perform a life boat drill.
Animated chart illustrates points included in annual Coast Guard inspections of Commercial ships. Coast Guard officers examine safety equipment on the deck of a merchant vessel. Seamen open safety equipment on a lifeboat, under as Coast Guard inspector looks on. Coast Guard inspector measures length of a life boat oar and checks its strength. Life jackets are examined for deterioration and date-stamped. Wartime escape hatch is inspected. Seaman demonstrates using it to exit in emergency. Marker lights are inspected. Inspectors examine the ship's Lyle gun (for firing a line during rescues) and its gun powder. Seamen empty liquid fire extinguishers so they can be re-charged. Fire-fighting nozzles are measured and fire hoses are tested. (One springs a leak at a connection.) Inspectors conduct hydrostatic tests of the ship's boilers and then inspect interior of a boiler. View of inspector climbing out of a boiler. A ship in dry dock for inspection is also inspected by the Coast Guard, at the same time. Inspectors examining ships screws and hull thickness. Inspectors deep in hull compartments of the ship. View of Certificate of Inspection being completed. (World War II period).
Opening scene shows an animated map of the United States and its inland waterways. An extremely long barge assembly is seen moving along a waterway, with industrial plant on shore in background. Another view of barges being pushed, View from a ship passing a city skyline. A Coast Guard ship passing an inland passenger ship in icy waters. View from bow of the Coast Guard ship moving through the ice. he U.S. Coast Guard side paddlewheel river tender, "Willow" is seen docked on the Mississippi River. Black smoke is rising from one of her funnels. A team of men works at a river bank, installing an aid to navigation. View of another such aid. A Coast Guard riverboat for installing and maintaining navigation aids, moving on a river. Closeup of a Coastguardsman wearing flotation vest, on deck. A buoy being raised by a crane on the ship. Glimpse of a buoy floating in the water. A new buoy being lowered from the ship into the water. Closeup of two Coast Guard officers watching as the buoy is set in place. View from deck of ship as the buoy is lowered overboard. Aerial view of a lighthouse. View of lighthouse from ground nearby. Glimpse of a Coast Guard station on a sandy shore. A Coast Guard boathouse with three rescue dories visible inside. A pontoon equipped Coast Guard helicopter taking off from a moving ship.
The old Southern Railway Building, 13th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C., housing the U. S. Coast Guard Headquarters during World War 2. Persons are entering the building. Sign identifies the office of the Commandant. The Commandant, Russell Randolph Waesche holds a meeting in the office. Map of the world covers one wall. American and Coast Guard flags are displayed. Commandant Waesche is explaining the mission of the Coast Guard. Closeup of him speaking. Outside, on the street, a contingent of uniformed armed Coastguardsmen stands in formation. Officials reviewing a parade that includes a Coast Guard contingent. Glimpse of ships docked in a port.
Short World War II propaganda film 'Troop Train' about the role of railroad transportation of military divisions in the United States. Men, tanks, troops, Jeeps and guns are moved to the battlefronts. A man talks over a phone. A sign: 'Clear the Tracks'. Transportation system in Washington. Men work in an office. A sign on a door : 'Transportation Corps'. Men talk over a phone. A sign on a door: 'Chief of Staff, Army Ground Forces'. Officers sitting around a conference table. A man speaks about the movement of 201st Armored Division by train. Army vehicles driven on a road. A train arrives.
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