Pinnacle Coast Guard grouping

[Paul R]

Not my biggest or most expensive set, but it is perhaps one of the more significant in regard to Coast Guard history. It consists of what would be a 40 dollar ribbon bar, some photographs, and a small hand written note on a named letterhead, and a large set of Rear Admiral stars.

This set is to Vice Admiral Kenneth Cowart.  

As the Engineering Officer onboard CGC CAMPBELL during WW2, the then LDCR Cowart was awarded the Silver Star for saving the cutter after it rammed U-606 in 1943, sinking it. The story of the CAMPBELL and the U-boat is in our Blue Jacket's Manual. Here is his official bio. I feel so lucky to the guardian of such a valuable piece of Coast Guard history.

bio:https://www.uscg.mil/history/people/Flags/CowartKBio.pdf

[Rogi]

Beautiful addition Paul a great gem in the collection

[Hugh]

I served with a Ken Cowart (Navy) in Viet Nam.  Wonder if it was his son.  He never mentioned it.

Hugh

[Paul R]

Thanks guys.

Hugh, the weirdest thing is that I found a lot on Vice Admiral Cowart online, but unusually, nothing about this family.  In most official bios, they list the names of the wife and kids.  Nothing on his family. Strange.  

[Paul R]

OK- I found his Obituary.  No sons.... Perhaps a grandson?  You were not in Vietnam in 1968, were you?

 

KENNETH K. COWART

U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral

Kenneth K. Cowart, 91, a retired U.S. Coast Guard vice admiral, died of congestive heart failure March 4 at his home in McLean.

Adm. Cowart received the Silver Star for gallantry as engineer officer aboard the cutter Campbell when that vessel rammed and sank a German submarine in 1943. He directed damage control of the Campbell, which suffered a large tear in its side plating from its fight with the submarine while on convoy escort operations.

He served as a district engineer officer and assistant engineer in chief before his appointment in 1950 to engineer in chief of the Coast Guard with rank of rear admiral. He served two consecutive four-year terms, and he retired from the Coast Guard in 1959,

He was born in Twin City, Ga., and entered the Coast Guard in 1923. He graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn., and received a master's degree in science from the University of California at Berkeley.

Adm. Cowart, who served as an engineer officer on several cutters in the 1920s and early 1930s, taught science and engineering at the Coast Guard Academy in 1934 and later at Fort Trumbull in New London.

He was a past president of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association, the Propeller Club and the American Society of Naval Engineers.

His wife, Adah Hatch Cowart, died in 1983.

Survivors include a daughter, Brinda Cowart Hollywood of Washington; a sister, Virginia M. Dixon of Orange, Va.; a brother, D. Roy Cowart of Swainsboro, Ga.; and two grandsons.

 

[Hugh]

Seems as though grandsons would have a different last name.  Maybe a nephew / great nephew. 

 

I was in Viet Nam in '69-70. 

 

Best,

Hugh

[Paul R]

Doh- your right.  It was late when I wrote my last response.  LOL