Surfman: The Adventures Of A Coast Guard Dog

by S.P. Meek

Surfman is a fearless Chesapeake retriever who has many adventures as a Coast Guard dog on the Carolina Coast. Many of the incidents narrated are based on true experiences.

267 pages, Hardcover

First published October 15, 2011

About the author

Sterner St. Paul Meek was a US military chemist, early science fiction author, and children's author. He published much of his work first as Capt. S.P. Meek, then, briefly, as Major S.P. Meek and, after 1933, as Col. S.P. Meek. He also published one story as Sterner St. Paul.

Reviews

[Stephen Wallace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was published in 1950. The author; Sterner St. Paul Meek (April 8, 1894 in Chicago, Illinois – June 10, 1972) was an American military chemist, early science fiction author, and children's author. He published much of his work first as Capt. S.P. Meek, then, briefly, as Major S.P. Meek and, after 1933, as Col. S. P. Meek. Wikipedia has this as one of his ‘Children’s novels.

Meek’s books often cover various areas of the military. In his preface he tells how he came to consider writing about the Coast Guard. Then he discusses his choice of dog:

‘Once my locale was decided upon, the choice of my hero became automatic. The most popular breed of dogs along the Outer Banks (and at Life Boat Stations in general, for that matter) is the Chesapeake retriever, or the Chesapeake Bay dog, as he is also frequently called. The Chesapeake is probably the finest performer in the water of any breed. They are tremendously powerful swimmers, and no surf will daunt them or make their courage fail.’

Our hero, Morgan Graham, usually called ‘Curley,’ and his canine hero ‘Surfman’ are assigned to the Cape Hatteras Life boat Station. He is there to serve in the Coast Guard but also to clear up a family mystery.

Overall, a good story with some dramatic adventures saving people from the sea using the tools and skills of the day. I got a little lost with the nautical terms. For anyone really interested in the Coast Guard and watercraft, this book would really be a big hit, for me not quite so much.

The exploits of the dog were as you would expect but of the kind that never gets old to me. After reading a book with a specific breed, it makes you want to go out and get one. In this case it makes me think of my previous Newfoundland dogs who could have played the role in the book, but even then the size and slobber may have gotten in the way.

The appendix has two parts, one on the history of the United States Coast Guard, that I found very interesting. It is apparently the ‘Oldest Seagoing Armed Force.” Originally the Revenue cutter Service, dates back to August 4, 1790, when the Congress passed an act to provide for a more effective method of collecting the customs. During the colonial period, smuggling, which was evading the “taxation without representation” levied was not only laudable, but also a patriotic act. Not so after independence, so the “Treasury fleet” was put into commission. The Navy Department didn’t come into being until April 30, 1798.

The second organization which was consolidated with the Revenue Cutter Service to form the Coast Guard was the Lifesaving Service of the Treasury established officially by Congress in 1847. Later, on January 28. 1915, the Revenue Cutter Service and the Lifesaving Service were combined to form the United States Coast Guard. Then lastly the Lighthouse service was consolidated into the Coast Guard in 1939. I know I picked out just the dates but I found the history interesting.

The second part of the appendix is a chapter on the Cape Hatteras Light. Interesting it is in North Carolina, which after living her for two years having not yet spent much time exploring the state, didn’t know about. The history of this lighthouse was not so interesting to me, but it is there for people who might. It is different to think of a time when we couldn’t just pick up our smartphone to learn about anything we want.

Overall a good book, but not quite so good that I want to put it in my best dog books of all time. I do enjoy Meeks writing and will eventually read all of his dog books.

Here are all of Meek’s books that Wikipedia lists as his Children’s novels:
• Jerry, the Adventures of an Army Dog. New York, London, The Century co, 1932, 235pp.
• Frog: The Horse That Knew No Master, New York, Grosset & Dunlap, 1933, 302pp.
• Gypsy Lad: the Story of a Champion Setter. New York, W. Morrow, 1934, 314pp.
• Franz : A Dog of the Police. Wm. Penn Publishing, 1935, 319pp.
• Dignity: a Springer Spaniel. Wm. Penn Publishing, 1937, 304pp.
• Island Born [as by J. P. Meek], New York, Godwin, 1937, 271 pp.
• Rusty, A Cocker Spaniel. Philadelphia, The Penn publishing company, 1938, 296pp.
• Gustav, a Son of Franz: a Police Dog in Panama. The Penn Publishing Co., 1940, 296pp.
• Pat: the Story of a Seeing Eye Dog. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1947, 190pp.
• Boots, the Story of a Working Sheep Dog. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1948, 234pp.
• Midnight, a Cow Pony. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1949, 217pp.
• Ranger, a Dog of the Forest Service. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1949, 232pp.
• Hans, A Dog of the Border Patrol, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1950, 253pp.
• Surfman: The Adventures of a Coast Guard Dog, New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1950, 267pp.
• Pagan, A Border Patrol Horse. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1951, 238pp.
• Red, a Trailing Bloodhound. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1951, 225pp.
• Boy, An Ozark Coon Hound. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1952, 238pp.
• Rip, a Game Protector. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1952, 266pp.
• Omar, a State Police Dog. New York, Alfred A. Knopf, 1953, 240pp.
• Bellfarm Star: the Story of a Pacer. New York, Dodd, Mead, 1955, 213pp.
• Pierre of the Big Top: the Story of a Circus Poodle. New York, Dodd, Mead, 1956, 208pp.

Since his old books are hard to find and/or expensive, it may take me a while to read all of his dog books.