Surfman Insignia, USLSS or Coast Guard Surfman

Description

Heavy cast bronze insignia with a tab on the back. Tab holds a set screw, which when tightened, holds the insignia on to the brass rod.

Each of the over 200 Life Saving stations in the US had a crew of at least 6 Surfmen. They were numbered from Surfman #1 to #8, the Number One man being the most senior. In the absence of the Keeper, he would be in charge of any rescue operations. In the US Coast Guard today the designation “Surfman” is considered the highest level a motor lifeboat crew person can attain. There are over 160 of them in the Coast Guard, and are found at Surf Stations on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts.