THE SAND POUNDERS OF THE U.S. COAST GUARD DURING WWII

 It's not your fault if you have never heard of the Sand Pounders...most people haven't! 

For two years during World War 2, the U.S. Coast Guard had a mounted beach patrol. After the U.S. was attacked by Japan on December 7th, 1941 at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the call went out to Horsemen across the country to enlist in the new division of the Coast Guard called the Sand Pounders. Their job was threefold: 

“We have been tasked with protecting American shores against sabotage, enemy submarines, and enemy landings. We have three basic functions: to detect and observe enemy vessels operating in coastal waters and to transmit information thus obtained to the appropriate Navy and Army commands, to report attempts of landing by the enemy and to assist in preventing such activity, and to prevent communication between persons on shore and the enemy at sea.” (The Sand Pounder pg. 66)

Cowboys, jockeys, show jumpers, horse trainers, and rodeo riders answered the call. In all, 24,000 men signed up to patrol 3700 miles of coastline on the east coast, the west coast, and along the Gulf coast. 

I was born in 1951, just a few years after WWII ended. My family lived in Oregon and we often went to the Oregon Coast. My father took us to Fort Stevens, the only place in the continental U.S. that was shelled during the war. He talked to us about the war but he never mentioned the Sand Pounders!

It was just a few years ago that I stumbled upon them. I began researching. I was able to get a copy of the newly released confidential report that the Coast Guard had submitted so many years before. I researched for a year. (Which is why I haven't written a blog post for so long!)

Thus...my new novel was born! 

"The Sand Pounder - Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII" is a young adult to adult historical fiction. Set on the Oregon coast, it is the story of an older teen who wants to become a sand pounder. The only problem is, SHE is a girl and they are only taking men. Let's just say it is a "Mulan" story- if you know what I mean! I mixed in a lot of horse stuff, a little romance, and information about both the Sand Pounders and what life was like for citizens during world war 2. 

I am honored to receive the Maincrest Media Award for outstanding Historical Fiction before the book was even released. The release date is September 28th, 2021. 

Here is what the critics are saying: 

“Evans’ writing and use of descriptive imagery is incredible.” Maincrest Media Awards

 “The Sand Pounder is one of those rare historical novels with a charm that appeals to both young and old readers.” Vincent Dublado for Readers’ Favorite

 “M.J. Evans does an excellent job of winding the era's history and the lesser-known job of the Sand Pounders into a realistic story of a mature teen's determination to make a difference in her world.” Diane Donovan for Midwest Book Review:

 “A gripping YA historical novel packed full of twists, turns, and memorable characters. Highly recommended!”  The Wishing Shelf Book Review(UK)

This fun and informative book is available NOW on my website: 

www.dancinghorsepress.com

and wherever books are sold. 

Bold Minstrel - A Heroic Horse For All Seasons!

 Bold Minstrel ridden by owner William Haggard at Devon in the hunter classes.

    When I was growing up in Lake Oswego, Oregon, I purchased a dapple gray 3/4 Arabian with my own money. Because Tai was such a wonderful horse, dapple-gray became my favorite color! As a result of my love of dapple-gray horses, I want to share some information with you about a fabulous, famous horse named Bold Minstrel. 

    Bold Minstrel is the only horse in history to medal in three Pan American Games and one Olympic Games in two different disciplines: Eventing and show jumping. This amazingly talented thoroughbred was born in 1952 (or 1951 depending on the source,) in Camargo, Ohio. He was purchased by William Haggard as a five-year-old. Haggard loved riding him in hunter classes and eventing. (Dressage, cross-country jumping, and stadium jumping.) Because he was such a big, stocky horse, Billy nicknamed him "Fatty." By jumper standards, he was quite fat. 

    Haggard began showing Fatty in hunter classes, his flashy looks and beautiful form winning him numerous championships. Then Haggard switched to eventing, earning a spot on the U.S. Team in the Pan Am Games in 1959 where the team came home with the silver medal. Four years later, the team came home with the gold in San Paulo, Brazil. Between the two games, Haggard and Bold Minstrel still had fun winning in the hunter ring. 

    Surprisingly, the team was not selected for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. However, when J. Michael Plumb's horse, Markham, had to be euthanized on the flight over, Haggard loaned Bold Minstrel to the veteran rider. Bold Minstrel was flown over to Japan just two weeks before the competition. You and I might be awfully nervous about riding a new, strange horse in the OLYMPICS after only two weeks of training.  The talented horse caught the eye of the famous Olympic Equestrian, William Steinkraus. For several years, Steinkraus tried to convince Haggard to compete with the horse in Jumpers, or let him do it. So, when the horse was twelve years old, Haggard loaned him to Steinkraus.

    

Bold Minstral being shown by Bill Steinkraus

    Steinkraus remarked that the horse was not only brave and talented, but had a mind of his own when it came to completing a jump course of enormous jumps.Nothing made owner William Haggard more proud than when Fatty broke the world record in the old Madison Square Garden, winning the International Puissance by clearing the 7'3" wall!

Fatty was retired from competition at the age of 18. After that, he returned to the Haggard farm where he enjoyed a life of Fox Hunting. Bold Minstrel has been inducted into the National Show Hunter Hall of Fame. 

Learn about another famous horse: "PINTO" the holder of the record for the longest horseback ride in history!

Click here to get the book about him from Amazon: 

PINTO-Based Upon the Longest Horseback Ride in History

Click here to get the book from Barnes and Noble:

PINTO! Based Upon the True Story of the Longest Horseback Ride in History