Coast Guardsman Clarence Alexander

Clarence Alexander

Coast Guardsman Clarence Alexander (SC3c) and seven other guardsmen drowned when their boat, CG-238, sank.

Guardsman Alexander was a U.S. Navy veteran and had served with the United States Coast Guard for three months. He was survived by his wife and parents.

CG-238 floundered and sank while on prohibition enforcement patrol off the coast of Cape Code (Highland) Light, Massachusetts, on February 20, 1927.

The boat, which was four miles east of the lighthouse, encountered a severe gale and snow squalls. She attempted to anchor but the surf was too rough and the anchors would not hold. She was able to radio a distress call to the Coast Guard but, due to the severe weather, rescue attempts failed before she sank.

Her entire crew of eight Coast Guard crewmen was lost.