Early History and Efforts to Organize

As early as 1919, warrant officers were beginning to organize. Local associations, often referred to as “Clubs,” emerged across the United States. Many of these groups were composed primarily of former Lifesaving Service surfmen. One such club was established at the Coast Guard Depot in Baltimore, Maryland. However, approximately ten years later, it was reportedly disbanded and declared no longer active.

Some of the most valuable insights into the Association’s formative years come from letters, written accounts, and interviews collected by CWO4 Fay K. Thompson, who served as president of the Cape Island Chief Warrant and Warrant Officers Club in the late 1960s.
On March 25, 1969, Thompson mailed a letter and questionnaire to approximately 250 individuals, seeking information about the origins of the Association. He specifically hoped to locate members who had been stationed aboard Division One or Division Two patrol vessels, or who had served in the Boston area during the late 1920s.
More than 100 warrant officers, former members, and retirees responded. While their recollections varied, and not all agreed on the exact timing, location, or circumstances surrounding the Association’s formation, their responses provided important pieces of the historical record.
Despite differences in memory and perspective, available historical documents suggest that several factors influenced the creation of the Association. Among them were World War I military pay legislation, the Volstead Act, Prohibition, and the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment. These developments collectively shaped the operational and professional environment that ultimately motivated warrant officers to organize.