February 10, 2022

Letter-writing "Coast Guard Lady" dies at 102

By The American Legion
Honor & Remembrance
Letter-writing “Coast Guard Lady” dies at 102
Lois Bouton is made an honorary chief by six prospective chief petty officers at the Chief's Call to Indoctrination dinner in St. Louis, Oct. 25, 2013. at which she was the guest of honor. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ayla Kelley)

Lois Bouton helped charter an American Legion post in Illinois.

Lois Bouton, the World War II Coast Guard veteran who wrote as many as 100,000 letters to her fellow Coast Guardsmen over 50 years, died on Feb. 5 at 102 in Rogers, Ark.

Born Lois Guenette in Illinois in 1919, she and her late husband William had lived in Rogers since 1974. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported that she had admired the Coast Guard since her teaching days reading about their rescue work on the Great Lakes. After Pearl Harbor she tried to enlist with the service, but was turned down.

But in 1942 the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve (or SPAR) was established, and Bouton joined it in 1943. She served as a radio operator, and was discharged in November 1945. The Boutons moved back to Illinois and she went back to teaching, retiring in 1972. In 1974, she began writing letters of support to Coast Guard members in locations from “isolated stations” to lighthouses.

With 100,000 letters going out over the decades, many servicemembers received them who later rose to leadership positions in the Coast Guard. Retired Master Chief Petty Officer Vince Patton (a member of American Legion Post 67 in Hampton, Va.) first heard from Bouton in 1986 and commented to the Democrat-Gazette, “It was refreshing, when you are stationed on a ship, deployed away from home, this cheery letter comes with encouraging words …. When you read the letter, you couldn't help but smile.” As she had reached out to them, they reached out to her, with visits – including from commandants and master chief petty officers – and honors. The Guard gave her its Distinguished Public Service Award, the Coast Guard Auxiliary made her an honorary commodore, and the Department of Defense presented her with its Spirit of Hope Award. On her 100th birthday, she was named an honorary master chief petty officer.

Rick Trent, who preceded Patton as the Guard's master chief petty officer and is a member of American Legion Post 10 in San Antonio, told the Legion that "Lois Bouton is recognized as a true Coast Guard treasure.," adding that a permanent display has been set up at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, N.J., that includes her writing desk. Trent and his wife began traveling to Rogers to visit Bouton after his 2010 retirement. "She will be sorely missed," he concluded, "but never forgotten."

Bouton was a 75-year member of The American Legion, the bulk of that time with Lake County Women Post 1122 in Illinois, which she had helped charter in 1947.

  • Honor & Remembrance