To Guard: To Protect

A gimlet-eyed, barrel-chested Coast Guard commander boarded the Streamliner in Los Angeles last week and left behind a list of legends that would do credit to the crustiest admiral. After two and a half years as the colorfully efficient guardian of the vital port of Los Angeles, 46-year-old Commander Frank David Higbee had a new assignment where he would undoubtedly originate more forecastle tales. With him he carried the thanks of Mayor Fletcher Bowron and a scroll from his enlisted men: "Just blow that whistle from Greenland's icy mountain to India's coral strand and there won't be a man jack of us left in California."

So assiduously did the CAPPORT, L.A. carry on his constant inspections that civilian port guards said: "There are two things to watch out for: the Japs and Higbee." He loved to demonstrate that Los Angeles was inadequately guarded against fire and the enemy. Harbor industrialists and merchants were shocked out of their complacency when Higbee took them on tour. Some Higbee legends:

> On an oil dock Commander Higbee found a puddle of oil, threw a cigaret in it, watched it blaze, ordered a coxswain to put it out. Then on a dry lumber stack near by he pinned his card: "Dear Watchman: I was here; where were you?"

> Horrified spectators watched the Commander grab a revolver, drill a hole in a ten-gallon can. He explained: "It's just water, but it's been hanging there nine days labeled 'dynamite' and nobody noticed it."

> Whenever he found guards sleeping, Higbee pushed them off the piers. Then he sent his men to rescue them.

> Higbee noted proudly that a general court-martial had never been necessary for any of his coastguardmen. One reason: Higbee in a seaman's uniform tried once to board a vessel, was ordered off by the guard. Pulling his dinghy to the other side, he tried again. This time he was knocked over the side. Next day Higbee commended his alert guard. Said he: "You don't get around only to catch up with the bums."

Last week, while Commander Higbee was headed east, fire crackled up a scaffolding, damaged a Liberty ship abuilding in Los Angeles harbor, delayed its launching.

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