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Richard Stevenson (0:05)
Welcome, welcome to the oral history interviews by Team Coast Guard. I'm Richard Stevenson, the National Auxilary Historian, your host. The purpose of Team Coast Guard oral history interview is to gather and record the experiences of Coast Guard veterans and auxilary. This the interview you are about to see is with a legendary golf professional Arnold Palmer. In 1951, Mr. Palmer enlisted in the Coast Guard, we will learn about Mr. Palmer's experiences in the Coast Guard, and what the Coast Guard has meant to Mr. Palmer.

Arnold Palmer (0:39)
Of course I'm very proud of the fact that I wasn't the Coast Guard. I think it's a wonderful outfit.

Richard Stevenson (0:46)
Do you think that the young people today, including athletes could be better grounded in their focus if they had the same kind of experience in the military?

Arnold Palmer (0:58)
Well, I've been a little outspoken on that subject. And the reason is that I feel that young people need the kind of training that they would get in in one of the military outfits, whether it's the the Coast Guard, or Marines, or Army, Navy, whatever it might be. I found that some of us are not as quick learning as others. And my own part by case, I was at Wake Forest for three and a half years and my roommate got killed automobile accident, and I was pretty distraught over that and decided that I would, I needed to get away. And I joined the Coast Guard, and three years into Coast Guard, and then back to Wake Forest. And and that was tremendous difference. The knowledge that that I gained the maturity that I gained in the Coast Guard was unbelievable, it matured me it made me a better person for the world. And I believe that in my own right. So the military isn't just restrictions and, and military duties, it's learning and it's very important that young people have that opportunity to, to learn and to know themselves a little better. And I think the military helps put that in the right perspective.

Arnold Palmer (2:33)
What made you decide to join the Coast Guard? I thought it was an outfit that I wanted, it was special, I thought it was special in that it specialized in something. And being a Coast Guardsmen I was a lab ended up being a lifeguard for on the in the ocean for a while in Cape May. And all the things that the Coast Guard did, I thought were very excited. And had I stayed and longer, I would have probably gone into the flight end of the Coast Guard, which I also think and what they're doing now, if you watch some of the shows that are on television, I think that's specifically one of the reasons that I liked the Coast Guard so much.

Richard Stevenson (3:24)
When you enlisted in the Coast Guard from Wake Forest, you went to Washington DC to enlist. Is that correct?

Arnold Palmer (3:34)
That is correct.

Richard Stevenson (3:35)
Then you went on to Cape May.

Arnold Palmer (3:37)
For my basic training, basic training. My first assignment after training at Cape May was a, I was in the training department. I was I was kept on to do physical education, to teach various maneuvers as far as personal protection was concerned for recruits, such as judo, and some of the things that were common, but help troops know a little more about what to do in a case of confrontation. And, and in that process. I was there for over six months doing that and special training. And And like always, you always have someone in your group that is objective, let's say and guy thought he knew more about what I was doing than I did. And unfortunately I had an accident with him. And I didn't have a captain's mast, but I was close to it. A captain understood the situation and that's when I was transferred but then he he gave me a choice of selecting my station. And I took either Washington DC he said name two or three and I named Washington and Cleveland. And as it turned out, I got Cleveland, which was really great for me. And I spent the remainder of my enlistment in Cleveland, Ohio.

Richard Stevenson (5:22)
I was born in Cleveland, and then grew up in Ashtabula. Ohio. I can remember the Coast Guard station there.

Arnold Palmer (5:28)
Well, for a while I was in the Keith building, and then they moved us down to the lake. And I've worked out of there for two years.

Richard Stevenson (5:37)
But only during the week?

Arnold Palmer (5:38)
That's correct. Well, even some days they couldn't find me. I was on the golf course.

Richard Stevenson (5:45)
Okay, in your book, again, it mentions that while you were in Cleveland, and you spent the weekends playing golf and, at headquarters, working with the auxilary. And I would like to know, the kinds of things you did with respect to the auxiliary during the week?

Arnold Palmer (6:04)
Well, I was I was a Yeoman, in charge of the work for the commander, who is in charge of the Ninth Coast Guard District Auxilary. And I worked for him for a number well year or two. And then they moved me back to headquarters, where I became a photographer and I did the identification for all the Coast Guardsmen in the Ninth Coast Guard District. I traveled to all the stations and did photos, and then took those all back to the headquarters and did the identification cards for the all the Coast Guard personnel in the Ninth District.

Richard Stevenson (6:57)
You've been to Ashtabula.

Arnold Palmer (6:59)
Oh, yes. I've been the Mackinac, I've been everywhere. The whole shooting range.

Richard Stevenson (7:05)
Were you involved in any of the auxilary programs at that time, such as public education or patrols or member training?

Arnold Palmer (7:15)
No, I didn't get into the public part of the auxilary. I was, I did all the paperwork did all the checking on the auxilary and was aware of all the things that had to be passed through the auxilary, the rules and regulations for auxilary personnel.

Richard Stevenson (7:38)
From your book, I gathered that, that you had a number of experiences with officers that that really looked out for your well being as well. Would you're telling me some of those experiences?

Arnold Palmer (7:49)
Well, no question about it. My first boss was Commander [inaudible] who was the son of the Commandant of the Coast Guard at the time. And then I had my next leader was Commander Potts, who was in charge of the Ninth Coast Guard District Auxilary. And then eventually modeles transferred back to headquarters was the job that I had a photography job. And my boss was really an admiral, Admiral Rainey, who, when we made a deal, that if I would stay there in the Ninth District, and teach him to play golf, why it would be okay.

Richard Stevenson (8:43)
What was your most enjoyable experience in the Coast Guard?

Arnold Palmer (8:46)
Well, I think simply being in the Coast Guard was something that I enjoyed I was my intentions were to eventually get out and play golf and, and of course, my boss, the Admiral, had suggested that I go to a training and at the Academy, and I, that was fine, and I was flattered that he wanted me to do that. But at the same time, that meant an additional enlistment for me, and I was primarily ready to get out and give my shot at the PGA Tour.

Richard Stevenson (9:29)
When Mr. Palmer entered the Coast Guard, he was already a well known amateur golfer. After completing his tour of duty, there was no doubt in his mind that his service in the Coast Guard made him better prepared for a career in professional golf, and the worldwide experiences to follow. An entrepreneur, philanthropist, and an ambassador of goodwill. We the Coast Guard team thanked Mr. Palmer for his patriotism and support with this interview and more like it. The preservation of the Coast Guard legacy is ensured your support and assistance will be greatly appreciated. Semper paratus.