Ron J
Active member
After the Ceremony was completed, the crowd wandered over to the Stations Repair Facility where there were tables set up in a buffet style. Salad, sandwich's of all kinds, and of course, good ol New England Clam Chowder!! The crowd mingled in different groups, while chowing down. During one of the conversations, Pete, learned by accident, from one of the enlistees, that 44301 was indeed heading to Connecticut, but not until Monday! So we quickly asked, where did she cruise to dock in between? We learned she was berthed at the Stage Harbor Marina, a mile down the road.....Guess where we were headed..... I have neglected to write a bit of history, and why the #44301 is so special! The #301 was the very FIRST production 44 footer. Prior to Her, was the #44300 preproduction model, (which if i have my facts straight) had her Sea Trials at Chatham Station. The production serial numbers started with 301, the 44, meaning the length. So it was very fitting, the #44301 started her career at the Chatham Station, which was March 25th,1963 and lasted till December 30, 1971! Then transferred to Station Cape Cod Canal Dec.1971 thru June 1981. Next she was transported to the West Coast, and served at the National Motor Lifeboat School from June 1981 thru July 2002, and then...Returned to Station Chatham July 8, 2002 and finally retired Friday May 8, 2009. Quite a career!! I have heard stories, that she returned to Chatham, because a 47 footer had been assigned to Chatham, but was not practical, drawing too much draft, for the changing bars in Chatham. Now she has been replaced by two 42' "Special Purpose Craft-Near Shore Lifeboats"........For the record, The Coast Guard describes the 44's as "a high endurance boat designed to perform search and rescue missions in adverse weather and sea conditions." "They were self bailing,self righting, built by the Coast Guard Yard, in Curtis Bay, Maryland. Cost in 1967? $125,000. Since 1961 the 44 MLB has been one of the most successful boat designs in Coast Guard history. The Crews with the help of the 44's, saved thousands of lives over their career. The 44's were the core of heavy weather search and rescue for 46 years." You have all heard it before... Semper Paratus. I can't imagine the Sea's the Crews and the boats withstood.. .........................................Well like i mentioned, next stop, the Marina...for a photo op! Jack, Bill,Pete,and a couple other retired Coasties, made the short drive and walked out to the slip, where the LAST 44' MLB was berthed for the next couple of days.Note the GOLD numbers...that is the distinguished honer given to any Coast Guard Vessel in Service, meaning its the LAST of its kind in Service.[attachment 126453 DSC08085.jpg] The crew in their Mustangs,were just departing, checking the lines for security.[attachment 126457 DSC08091.jpg] A couple of young Coasties in their Dress Uniforms were also there. I was ecstatic being this close to the 44301 for the last time, (although i plan on visiting her in the coming years, at the future museum someday). After many photo's, i asked one of the Coasties, if we could come aboard? He replied "Sure!".
Finally i was actually on board, after seeing her many times, tied at slips, but at a distance. Pete and i exchanged camera's, i took his picture and vice-versa. Something i will never forget..... Hate to say it, But " Goodbye MLB 44301" [attachment 126454 DSC08080.jpg][attachment 126455 DSC08092.jpg] ( Note: Any Coasties reading this, i hope i got the facts straight! ) Thanks to Bill Collette, and Jack of the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, in Barnstable Massachusetts, for dragging me along!! [attachment 126460 DSC08105.jpg] And if any of you ever visit the area, Please , stop in, view the displays, and say "Hello" to the crew! Here is my last look at the MLB 44301..... Rj .............. [attachment 126461 DSC08123.jpg] Hmmmm, if i could untie the lines...and take Her for a short spin..... 
Finally i was actually on board, after seeing her many times, tied at slips, but at a distance. Pete and i exchanged camera's, i took his picture and vice-versa. Something i will never forget..... Hate to say it, But " Goodbye MLB 44301" [attachment 126454 DSC08080.jpg][attachment 126455 DSC08092.jpg] ( Note: Any Coasties reading this, i hope i got the facts straight! ) Thanks to Bill Collette, and Jack of the Coast Guard Heritage Museum, in Barnstable Massachusetts, for dragging me along!! [attachment 126460 DSC08105.jpg] And if any of you ever visit the area, Please , stop in, view the displays, and say "Hello" to the crew! Here is my last look at the MLB 44301..... Rj .............. [attachment 126461 DSC08123.jpg] Hmmmm, if i could untie the lines...and take Her for a short spin..... 
About 3 years ago, i mentioned a Great Friend, a Veteran off WWII , and the man who hired me, personally in March of 1966, had a stroke. I never followed up, it bothered me to see him partially paralyzed. Roland D Kelly, was the founder of Roland D. Kelly Inc. in 1965. Roland had been a Salesman at Whitten Buick, in Salem Mass. Whittens had 3 locations back in the 50's and 60's, and finally sold the Buick franchise. Now Kell, (as his friends,customers,and most employees called him) after working for Whitten since after the war, took a chance of his life, and purchased the Whitten property in Beverly Mass. He opened in Sept. 1965, posted a couple of signs, "Honest Service / Honest Sales" and "Buick Men". He did business just as the sign said. Basically the location was a large (at the time) repair shop, and sold Used Cars. But, strictly Buick's. When Roland opened, he had brought some of the crew from the former Whittens. There was Harry, an old fart, but great heart,the Service Manager, Jack, Parts/Cashier/Receptionist, John, a mechanic and John's father, Jack, Lube tech. There was a separate 1 room "Sales Office" where Kell sat, and was the only Salesman. Kell had an arrangement with the new Buick dealer in Lynn Mass.,Bob Brest Buick, to arrange the sale of New Buick's to Kells former client's, and keep the trade in. Back then there was strict loyalty to car brands, specially Buick, (as did Cadillac.) So all Roland had on the front line, was Buick's. The Crew new Buick's inside and out. Now, back to me....I was a senior at the Beverly Trade School, yes, Trade School,not "Vocational" as their called now. I was able to go on "co-op", another words, get a job in the Trade i was about to graduate from, Work every other week during school hours,and attend regular classes in between. The Instructor, Mr. Steedman, had asked me if i would like to go interview at Roland D. Kelly's, as a mechanic. Why not? of coarse i would! I drove my 57 Caddy to Rantoul St., walked in an introduced myself, most likely poorly, like " Hi, I was sent by the Trade School to see you, Mr. Kelly!" I remember talking to him in his Office, Suit on, hair back,he may have been smoking....He asked me a few questions, like "what can i do" etc. Anyway i was hired.... I need to say, what i didn't know, and Kell always liked to tell this story,(and let it be known,he liked to tell stories! He was extremely knowledgeable) It goes like this...The Instructor called Kell, and asked if he needed any help?, Kell replied yes. Mr. Steedman informed Kell, he had two students, one with short hair, one with long hair. Which do you want? You know the answer to that, send the short hair kid... Kell would go on to say, Guess who shows up for the job? The Long hair kid! And the rest is history! I guess my hair was long, but not that long,after all it was the Sixties...It wasn't too my shoulders like long haired hippie freaks back then.Ya it may have covered my collar, but what the heck, had to look slick for the chicks!
Turns out, i have been told, i was the First Employee he actually hired. ........................... Well anyway, I would like to Personally Salute Roland D. Kelly this Veterans Day! Kell was a pilot during WWII, flying B17 Flying Fortress's to and from the Aleution Islands. And Proud of his Service in the Army Air Corps. You know, during his sickness, i was luck enough to visit him in the rehab center, or hospital stays, or at his house. Not once did he ever loose his personal touch to any story's or loose his sense of humor or his Wit. He was a Man, whom I would do anything for when asked, and he knew it, But Never took advantage. He knew he could count on me if need be. One last thing, in the old days, if a customer's car would not start, Kell and I would drive the Sixty something, Red Ford Truck we had, go and Tow it with a chain! We had put some slack in the chain,attached a hood spring from a Buick, so it would "give" a bit, without jerking the car in tow. Wouldn't even charge the customer for the "Tow". Try that now? You would get a Ticket real quick. We could tow each other, and you would not even feel it, like we were reading each others minds, when to brake, and release. Again, I Salute all Veterans, But this one is for You, Roland! I Salute You! RIP August 1925 - September 2008 RJ
Well, the next day, he had her graces to go! So i made a list of where i would take him. Barry may have been as far as the Cape Cod Canal, but not actually on the Cape, and that was years and years ago. I informed him, we need to leave at least by 4:30 or 5:00 A.M. This is nescessary,for a few reasons. # 1 its at least 2 to 21/2 hours to the tip, Provincetown. #2 its Tourist Season, which means Traffic, and Fee's to enter the various Beach's, Lighthouse's, former Coast Guard Station.Life Saving Station's, etc. The Nat'l Park Service has hefty fees, such as $15.00 to park at a Beach! If you can get in! I usually go in the off season, no fee's,no Tourists. Barry arrived about 4:30 at my house, I had the Suburban running,he threw in his goodie bag of candy, Camera etc.,and we took off. A couple hours later, and we were at Cahoon Hollow. Currently a Nightclub, formerly a U.S. Life Saving Station / Coast Guard Station, where my Dad had walked or thumbed in 1924,and started his Coast Guard Career of almost 27 years.[attachment 127664 DSC08190.jpg][attachment 127665 DSC08197.jpg][attachment 127666 DSC08202.jpg][attachment 127667 DSC08199.jpg] After our "photoshoot" were off to our next destination......Highland Light, also known as Cape Cod Light...The area is just fantastic, pictures nor words do it justice...[attachment 127668 DSC08210.jpg][attachment 127669 DSC08212.jpg] See what i mean? Much more to come..... Rj