On this day in 1920, a future U.S. Coast Guardsman is born. John “Jack” Cullen is best known for his role in finding and stopping Nazi saboteurs as they attempted to invade America during World War II.
He received a Legion of Merit for his actions.
Cullen was once described as “a thoroughly wholesome, typically American boy” with “a modest demeanor.” When the Japanese attacked at Pearl Harbor, he did what so many in that generation did: He signed up to help.
Before too long, Cullen was a Coast Guardsman stationed near Amagansett, New York.
Until that time, of course, the duties of the Coast Guard had included tasks such as helping disabled craft or rescuing people stranded at sea. The advent of the war would add to their duties.
Would Nazi saboteurs attempt to infiltrate the country? The Coast Guard took on the task of patrolling the beaches, just in case.
Cullen was among these “sand pounders” who began walking up and down the beaches, looking for signs of suspicious activity. Initially, these men carried only a flashlight and a flare gun, and it would seem that most of the patrols were pretty uneventful.
“Once in a while you might run into somebody,” Cullen later told an interviewer, “but very rare.”
That would all change on the night of June 12-13. Seaman second class Cullen had begun his patrol in misty weather, and he would describe it as “so foggy that I couldn’t see my shoes.”
Before too long, he spotted figures up ahead in the mist. He shone his flashlight toward them, asking who they were. At first, the men pretended to be fishermen run aground, but Cullen had noticed that some men were speaking German.
The conversation that followed has been recounted multiple times from differing perspectives, but the Naval History & Heritage Command reports that Cullen then encouraged the alleged fishermen: “Come up to the station and wait for daybreak.”
The atmosphere became more tense, and the apparent leader of the Germans implied that he might have to kill Cullen. Just then, one of the Germans came further ashore, lugging a bag. Cullen feigned naivety and asked if the bag contained clams.
He was well aware that no clams could be collected on those shores. His ruse appeared to work, though, as the German changed tactics.
“Why don’t you forget the whole thing?” the German reportedly said. “Here is some money. One hundred dollars.” “I don’t want it,” Cullen replied. “Then take $300,” the German said, pulling out more money.
Cullen took the money, giving the appearance of acquiescing to a bribe. “Would you recognize me if you saw me again?” the German demanded. “No,” Cullen pretended before leisurely walking off, as if he didn’t have a care in the world.
Once out of sight, he bolted for a Coast Guard station and reported what he’d seen. At first, it seemed that Coast Guard reinforcements would be too late. When a team arrived at the beach, the Germans had left. It wasn’t until morning that a stash of German explosives was found buried nearby.
Ultimately, eight men were arrested, tried, and convicted because of their plan to sabotage American railroads, bridges, water facilities, and factories. (One of the Germans claimed innocence and an attempt to help Americans catch his own team, but that is a story for another day.)
In the meantime, Cullen was celebrated as a hero. He participated in parades and war bond drives. He received the Legion of Merit.
He didn’t think he’d done much. “The German fellow was nervous,” he explained in a 1942 news conference, “but I think I was more nervous.”
Yet another member of the Greatest Generation, just doing what needed to be done.
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Primary Sources:
Dan Rattiner, Cullen's Encounter: The Local Hero Whose Actions Changed WWII (Dan’s papers; Oct. 6, 2011)
Eastern Sea Frontier War Diary (Naval History & Heritage Command)
Malcolm F. Willoughby, The U.S. Coast Guard in World War II (1957) (rev. printing 1989)
Reg Ingraham, First Fleet: The Story Of The U.S. Coast Guard At War (1944)
Richard Goldstein, John Cullen, Coast Guardsman Who Detected Spies, Dies at 90 (N.Y. Times; Sept. 2, 2011)
William H. Thiesen, The Coast Guard's World War II Crucible (Naval History Mag., Oct. 2016)
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