Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Bi-monthly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/140140
auxilarist Matthew Krogh, a member of the historic ship's company, explains 19th century weaponry to students from franklin County High School here at fort gadsden on the apalachicola national forest in florida. fort gadsden is the only historic landmark listed on the national Register of Historic Places in the U.S. forest Service's Southern Region. long event also included an interpretive tour of the site hosted by Forest Service archaeologists. "The historic ship's company enables us to reach the public in a more direct way; educating young people about the Coast Guard and its role throughout this nation's history," said Lt. Cmdr. Juan Torres, a reservist and HSC member. In period naval uniforms, the ship's company showed students navigation techniques, depth finding with lead lines, weapons use and what can now be considered primitive surgical and medical practices. "Life was not so easy for sailors during the 19th century. If you were biting the bullet, most likely you were having a limb amputated and a ration of food might contain a weevil-infested sea biscuit," said Matthew Krogh, HSC member and Coast Guard Auxiliarist. Fort Gadsden, about 25 miles from Franklin County High School in Eastport, Fla., and 75 miles southwest of Tallahassee, Fla., flourished as a military installation during the 19th century. The area's rich maritime history spans Spanish and British occupations, the War of 1812, the acquisition of Florida by the United States in 1819 and the Civil War. Escaped slaves also found refuge within its walls. "Places of international historical significance can be in your backyard," said Rhonda Kimbrough, Forest Service archaeologist. "Strategically situated on the east bank of the Apalachicola River, the location was remote, but ideal for waterway transportation and commerce with its direct river access connecting the Gulf of Mexico with inland plantations and other resources." Last year, during the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, the ship's company gave living history presentations at several ports of call starting in New Orleans, working their way up the Eastern Seaboard and ending in the Great Lakes. "The main goal of the unit was to get the Coast Guard's history out there from the War of 1812. It's one of the least studied wars in U.S. history and probably the most significant and important. After the American Revolution, the War of 1812 really solidified that nationalized idea of the United States," said Master Chief Petty Officer Jeffery Ryan, an active duty Coast Guardsman and HSC member. The students, in grades eighth and tenth were able to directly correlate the living history presentation with their current high school history curriculum. In addition, they could relate the historical significance to Franklin County's rich maritime history. "Teaching hands-on like this with discussion about the importance of the historical significance allows the students to touch, feel and hear history. It's a very, very powerful thing," said eighth-grade teacher Kris Bray. Issue 2 • 2013 � RESERVIST 41